JAMMU, INDIA, January 2, 2002: Despite falling temperatures at the holy cave shrine, over 123,000 lakh pilgrims from the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India visited the abode dedicated to Mata Vaishno Devi during the last week of December 2001. On December 31 alone, around 33,000 pilgrims paid their respects to the Goddess. Facilities for devotees at the base camp of Katra have vastly improved since the formation of a shrine board. Pilgrims now have access to accommodations, transportation, banking and medical aid. Launching a detailed campaign, the department of tourism in Katra has organized several programs during the year. In 2001, 5,556,000 pilgrims visited the cave shrine.
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