After the darshan, many pilgrims choose to stay overnight at hotels/dormitories at the hilltop and return next day. I didn’t have a choice as I had a train to catch the next day for Delhi.
The downhill journey was simply awesome. The pathway was appropriately lit. It was 11pm -the pilgrims were continuously coming up with ‘Jai Mata Di’ on their lips. Around midnight, I was resting on a bench and when I looked up, I was simply dumbstruck by what I saw. Against the dark background of the hill, the string of electric lights of the temple seemed like a white garland around the neck of a sage !
A middle aged man came up panting and sat beside me. After catching his breath and seeing my cool disposition, he asked me whether I was going up or down the hill. The question was so very apt for our spiritual life too. Just by looking at the face, it is hard to determine whether a person is going upwards in his spiritual path. Religion is a matter of realization. I replied accordingly. And it turned out that he along with his family members had started the journey at the same time as I did. I mentioned that light body and lone walking were my two major advantages. 
I was noticing the lightning in the sky for some time. Now it started raining. Soon the pathway, railings and leaves were all glistening. I was listening to the rain drops falling on the tin shed above. Everybody was willing to make space for others under the shed. The rain was like blessings of Mata on me L
It was 2.30am of 2nd July when I reached Katra. I looked up the hill, paid my final homage to the goddess and got into the bus for Jammu.
I had started for Sri Amarnathji with no intention of visiting Vaishno Devi. But the Lord had planned something else for me.
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