Anjali’s heart clenched. She saw other pilgrims, some elderly, being carried in palkis (palanquins) by sturdy porters whose faces were cracked by the wind. A pony man offered his service, but the fare was more than Anjali had budgeted for the entire trip. She knelt down, wrapping her own shawl around Kavya.
Then, near the Himkoti café, they saw him. An old sadhu, sitting on a flat rock, oblivious to the cold. He wore only a thin saffron robe. His eyes were closed, and his skin was wrinkled like a dried apple. But when they approached, he opened his eyes—clear, warm, and impossibly kind. vaishno devi january
A trip to Vaishno Devi in January is not for the faint-hearted, but it is deeply rewarding. It is a journey where faith warms you up against the winter chill. The snow-capped mountains, the lack of jostling crowds, and the peaceful ambiance make the struggle against the cold entirely worth it. Anjali’s heart clenched
The journey to Vaishno Devi begins from Katra, which is the base camp for the trek. Devotees can hire ponies or take a helicopter to cover part of the distance. The trek is well-marked, and there are numerous stalls and shops selling snacks, water, and other essentials. The journey is not easy, and devotees have to climb steep paths, cross rivers, and navigate through dense forests. However, the scenic beauty of the region and the devotion of the pilgrims make the journey worthwhile. She knelt down, wrapping her own shawl around Kavya
Anjali looked from his face to the sun-drenched peaks, to Kavya who was already running to hug her father. She remembered the sadhu’s words. The cold hadn’t been her enemy. It had been the chisel that cracked her heart open.
So here she was, with Kavya holding her hand, their backpacks light on essentials but heavy with hope.