Ban Ganga, Vaishno Devi - Timings, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

At a distance of 6 km from Katra Railway Station, and 10 km from Vaishno Devi Temple, Ban Ganga is a sacred place situated near Vaishno Devi, Katra in Jammu & Kashmir, India. Located on the way to Vaishno Devi Temple from Katra, it is one of the holy places to visit in Vaishno Devi.

Ban Ganga is a sacred river where devotees in Katra like to take a dip before continuing the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra. Originating from the southern slope of the Shivalik Range of the Himalayas, Ban Ganga River has two ghats where a large number of Hindu devotees take a holy dip. Ban Ganga is an important tributary of the Chenab River and got its name from two words, Ban meaning Arrow, and Ganga which stands for the sacred river of India, Ganges.

The river has spiritual significance for Hindu Vaishnava and other devotees. According to the legend, Once Mata Vaishnavi was going towards her abode in the cave when the monkey accompanying her felt thirsty. With no water around, the goddess shot an arrow in the earth, out of which the Ganga sprang up. That gave it the name Ban (arrow) Ganga. Interestingly, it is also called Bal (hair) Ganga, as it is believed that Maa washed her hair in it. Ban or Bal Ganga offers relaxation to devotees while on the trek to the Bhawan, the holy cave. Take a dip and feel fresh and blissful before continuing the journey to other tourist places in Katra.

The location of the Banganga temple is splendid as the tourists can get to see the enchanting landscape and stunning hills that offer a mesmerizing experience. There is water in the river all through the year except when there is an acute shortfall of rain or snow during the monsoon and winter respectively.

Timings: 5 AM - 9 PM

Entry: Free