The abode of the Goddess Vaishno Devi is in the Mountains of Trikuta Hills, in the Jammu and Kashmir State of Northern India. The Goddess resides in a beautiful cave in the form of 3 'Pindis' namely, “Maha Kali”, “Maha Laxmi” and “Maha Sarawati”. The Goddess Durga is said to have killed the demon Bhairon here. The cave is at an elevation of 1,700m (5,100ft) and is 30m (93 ft) long and just 1.5m (5ft) high. There are many who journey here year after year to pay obeisance, regardless of their faith or belief, creed or class, caste or religion, for Mata Vaishno Devi transcends all such barriers.
Four objectives of human life as brought forward by Indian spiritual beliefs are—Dharm (righteousness), Kaam (Pleasure), Moksh (Knowledge) and Arth (Wealth). When people visit the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi all these four blessings are conferred on them. It is believed that no one goes empty handed from the great pilgrimage of Vaishno Devi Maa.
How to Get There
Vaishno Devi is located 14-km from the town of Katra and 52-km north of Jammu. Katra is situated at 2,800 feet and takes about 2 hours to reach from Jammu by bus.
Air:
The nearest airport is in Jammu, which is 48-km from Katra. There is a helicopter service that departs from the airport at Sanjhi Chat in Jammu in the morning.
Rail:
The nearest railway station is in Jammu, which is well connected to all the major cities in India.
Road:
There are regular buses leaving for the 52-km trip from the central bus stand in Jammu to where the road ends at Katra (2 hr). Walking From Katra it is a steep 13-km walk
Best Season
The shrine is visited throughout the year, but owing to snowfall in winter, it can get difficult. The heaviest rush is during the Navratra periods in March-April and September-October.
Where to Stay
The most convenient place to stay is Jammu, just over 60 km away. Jammu has a number of good hotels, guest houses and inns, both private and government-owned. Katra itself has a number of guesthouses where it is possible to get a room.
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