If you’re staying in Katra, chances are you’re here for one reason — Mata Vaishno Devi. And if you’re doing the yatra, there’s a good chance you’ll be walking through the night and returning exhausted sometime the next day. Every hotel in this town knows this. It’s quite literally why they exist. Which is why our experience at Welcome Hotel was so disappointing. After an overnight trek with family, we came back hoping for a few hours to shower, rest our legs, and recover before the drive home. Instead, we were met with pressure to vacate immediately. Fully booked, they said. Interestingly, their own website told a different story. Look, I understand checkout policies exist for a reason. But hospitality in a pilgrimage town should come with some understanding of what pilgrims actually go through. A small gesture of flexibility would have made all the difference. We didn’t get that here. The room was fine, the location works. But a hotel that treats the Vaishno Devi yatra like any other overnight stay has missed the point of operating in Katra altogether. Something to keep in mind if you’re planning your trip.
