Holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi

Place: Jammu & Kashmir
Best time to visit: Throughout the year except during winters

The holy cave shrine of Vaishno-Devi is situated in the Trikuta Mountains of lower Himalayas in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The shrine is approachable on foot along a 12-km trek from Katra town at the foot of the hills. Vaishno Devi is Mother Goddess worshiped here in the forms of Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati and Maha Lakshmi. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world visit the holy shrine.
Vaishno Devi, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, used to pray to Lord Rama and had taken vow of celibacy. One day, Bhairon Nath, a Demon-God, saw her and gave chase. The Goddess felt thirsty at Banganga (1 km from Katra) and shot an arrow into the earth from where water gushed out. Charan Paduka, marked by the imprints of her feet, is the place where she rested. She then meditated in the cave at Ardhkanwari (6 km) now a temple. It took Bhairon Nath nine months to locate her.
Vaishno Devi assumed the form of Maha Kali and cut off Bhairon Nath’s head, which fell at the place where the Bhairon Temple is now located. Vaishno Devi journeyed up to the mountains and took the present cave shrine as her home. The boulder at the mouth of the holy cave, according to the legend, is the petrified torso of Bhairon Nath, who was granted divine forgiveness by the benevolent Mata in his dying moments.
The offerings for the Goddess include coconut, mauli (sacred thread), red scarf with gold/silver trimmings, dry fruits, bangles, and incense and vermilion powder. Other offerings include mehndi (henna), supari (areca nut) and chattar (umbrella).
All pilgrims are required to get passes at Katra for the yatra (pilgrimage) from Tourism Reception Centre at Katra bus stand. Facilities for food, water and public utility are available all along the trek.
Overnight accommodation is available en route at Sanji Chhat and also at the shrine. Pony or palanquin services are available for those, who find it difficult to climb the trek.

How to reach
Katra, the base camp, is 50 km from Jammu and 650 km from Delhi.

Air: Jammu is the nearest airport. Jammu’s civil airport at Ranibagh is 9 km from the city center.

Rail: Jammu is the nearest railhead, which lies on the other side of the Tawi River.

Road: Taxis and buses are available from Jammu to Katra at frequent intervals. Regular bus services to Katra are also available from a number of north Indian towns.