The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is one of the most visited pilgrim sites in India. Situated at a height of 5,300 ft., the site is located inside a cave in a hill.

One of the most visited pilgrim sites in India, the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located in a cave, amidst the folds of the Trikuta Bhagwati hill at a height of 5, 300 ft., in the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J & K). This cave temple is at a distance of 61 kms from Jammu and the last 13 kms of the way have to be negotiated on foot by the yatris, as the devotees are called. Once at the entrance to the cave, the path turns into a narrow tunnel with a cold stream named the Charan Ganga running through it. The pilgrim has to wade through this to reach the sanctum sanctorum.

The temple of Vaishno Devi is dedicated to Vaishnavi, the human manifestation of Goddess Shakti. Within the temple is the deity in the form of a five and half feet tall rock with three Pindies or heads. It is written that the Goddess, to achieve her destiny of finally merging with Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a human and was born as Vaishnavi, in the household of one Ratnakar. Even as a young girl, Vaishnavi displayed an immense thirst for knowledge that soon outthought her teachers. Soon she started to search within herself for the answers that she couldn't find elsewhere and learnt the art of meditation. Realizing the importance of Tapasya (meditation) Vaishnavi renounced all worldly comforts and betook herself to the forest to meditate in peace.

Legend has it that while Vaishnavi was in the forest she encountered the Lord King Rama, Prince of Ayodhya, who was in exile. Recognizing him immediately as an Avatar of Lord Vishnu, she begged him to merge with her, but Lord Rama, knowing that the time was not ripe, promised her that on the completion of his exile, he would again pass that way. If she recognized him then he would fulfil her wishes. True to his word he returned in the guise of an old man, but Vaishnavi failed to recognize him. Rama consoled her and advised her to set up an ashram at the base of the Trikuta Hills and continue with her penance.

Following these instructions Vaishnavi left for the Trikuta Hills (in Jammu) and founded an ashram there. Her fame soon spread far and wide and attracted the attention of a tantrik (a cult of worshippers of Goddess Kali) priest Gorakh Nath. Curious to know more about her, he sent his disciple Bhairon, or Bhairav as he is called, to spy on her. Bhairon was surprised to see that Vaishnavi, though a sadhvi, (holy woman who had renounced all worldly things), always went armed accompanied by apes and a lion. Captivated by her beauty, he lost caution and proceeded to solicit her hand in marriage.

Matters came to a head when Bhairon tried to grab her at a feast and Vaishnavi had to flee in order to avoid a confrontation. Lost to all good sense, Bhairon pursued her as she made her way up the mountain, from Banganga to Charan Paduka to Adhkunwari. At all these spots there are shrines dedicated to the Goddess as the pilgrim makes his way towards the cave temple.

When Vaishnavi finally reached the cave she was compelled to slay Bhairon at the doorstep. His head fell onto a distant hilltop with the force of the blow and Bhairon repenting his rash act at the very moment of death, invoked the pardon of the Mother Goddess. And at that very place, a temple was built in his honor. Durga, in her infinite compassion, granted him a boon saying that all devotees must visit his shrine for their pilgrimage to be complete. Thus ends the story of Vaishno Devi who thereafter transformed herself into a rock, shedding her human body. This rock with its three heads is worshipped as Mata Vaishno Devi.

By air
For the devotee the trip to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi commences at Jammu. Indian Airlines operates daily 50-minutes flights from Delhi and 20-minutes flights from Srinagar.

By rail:
For those who prefer railroads Jammu is connected directly with many parts of the country including Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Delhi, Bhopal, Kanyakumari, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Patna.

By road
J & K State Road Transport Corporations have regular buses plying between Jammu and almost all of North India.

From Jammu the devotees head for Katra, which is the next port of call. At a distance of 48 kms from Jammu, it takes approximately an hour and a half by road to Katra. A large number of taxis are available at the airport as well as the railway station to carry the passengers to Katra. Besides these, the J & K State Road Transport Corporation runs a regular bus service between the railway station and Katra. In addition to all this, buses leave for Katra every fifteen minutes from 6 am to 8 pm from the general bus stand in Jammu daily.

Once the yatri/devotee reaches Katra, the rest of the trip has to be made on foot for a distance of 13 kms up a steep path. For the convenience of the yatris the road has been tiled and is well lit by electricity. Mules are available for hire to those who are ill or physically unable to cope with the climb. At Katra the yatri has to buy a Yatra ticket. Only upon showing this ticket can one go for darshan (visit to the temple).

Along the route there is ample provision of refreshments in the form of small restaurants serving tea/coffee, soft drinks and light snacks where the devotee can stop for a rest.

Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Office
Vir Marg,
Jammu-180001,
India
Tel No: (91-191) 544527/548172

At the entrance to the cave is a place called Bhavan where the worshipper/devotee buys prasad (offering to the God, a little of which is returned to the devotee for distribution amongst his near and dear ones) and other offerings. Here the yatri is issued a token number on showing the Yatra ticket. The group no. and the time for the yatri's turn is mentioned on the token.

At Bhavan there are cloakrooms, lockers for your belongings and change rooms. It is customary to bathe and change clothes before joining the queue for the darshan. Amidst the continuous chanting of Jai Mata Di, pilgrims wait patiently for their turn after depositing their coconut at the entrance, for which they are given tokens. Each one has to enter the cave alone as the tunnel to the shrine is very narrow and has to be negotiated with care. Once inside it widens out to provide darshan of the Goddess. The return is via a different route that takes the devotee to the shrine of Bhairon and then back to Katra.

The Yatra to Vaishno Devi is on throughout the year, but it is during the festival of Navratri in the months of October and November that the crowds are the thickest. In many parts of India the festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga. At Katra and Bhavan there is plenty of festivity during this period. Another favored period is between April and June as the mercury remains at a moderate 30 degrees centigrade. The monsoon months of July-September and winter (December-early March) are best avoided, as the winters are very cold with temperatures reaching minus five degrees centigrade. During the monsoons the path is difficult to negotiate due to the rain and during winter there is often snow on the road.

Transport and Accomodation Fee is subject to change.
Currency exchange rate: 1 US Dollar = INR 49 (Subject to International Fluctuations)