text: what is a traditional visit to a hindu temple like?   m nt a very religious person..but the place that i visit regularly each year is that is sacred for us hindus n its called mata vaishno devi...its just tooooo beautifulllits situated in the himalayas in the state of jammu n kashmir....the main shrine is 14 kms from the ground level which is a place called katra...from there u start climbing on a hilly track...there r beautiful himalayan mountains all around u... its a difficult task to go 14 kms uphill on foot...but its worth it...there r shops both side of the track...u can rest and have refreshments n carry on... u'll find people of all ages right from infants in tjheir parents arms to grandparents along side u in this journey... the mid point is called ardhkumari..there's a shrine here too...but its a small one...carry on n after that there's a point called haathimatha...mid point to here is the most dificult patch as its just tooo steep, but fun... than comes a 2.5 km almost flat stretch(comparison wid d earlier one) u can see the bhawan(that's what the main shrine area is called)from some distance...n believe the cery site of it adds a fresh spring to ur steps...iutsa damn tiring but fun...we den by the prasad, i.e., the offering of coconut,mauli,sindoor etc for the godess...its important to take a bath...the water is freezing but its fun...then barefeeet u get into the line for ur darshan(it means u get to see the godess) unlike other hindu temples here we dont have any idols...instaed there are 3 stones which are beautifully decorayted... out there when u finally enter the area where the stones are kept u are gifted a coin by the priest which is said to bring you wealth..then u pay ur homage to the godesses..the priest applies a tilak(dnt kno the word but its a mark on ur forehead) we make a wish right there and then..n then come out of the cave...the water flowing at ur feet from the nearby stream,the cave,the holy chanting, the temple bells etc...the whole atmosphere feels so pure and surreal...its worth all those gruelling hours climbing up that mountain path... finally u come back down from the same route..but that's quicker.. if u r not too physically fit..ur limbs will ache like he;ll for the next couple o days...but its brilliant... its all about having faith... oh by the way...thre's a helipad for the vips and special arrangements of mules,palkis etc for those who cant undertake that ardrous 28 km journey... its magical to say the least