Vaishno Devi Temple Tour

Perched at a height of around 5200ft on Trikuta Hill in Jammu, Vaishno Devi?s shrine is accessible only after a 12km strenuous hike. An epitome of faith, Vaishno Devi Maata, as the goddess is reverently called by millions of devotees, is believed to fulfill the wishes of those who travel to her shrine in faith.

The Legend of Vaishno Devi
Born in human form, from the collective spiritual strength of Goddess Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati; Vaishno Devi made her dwelling at the base of Trikuta Hill in Jammu. Her glory and fame spread far & wide and a tantric Bhairavnath started pestering the goddess to marry him. He followed her to the cave where the shrine is located and there the Goddess was compelled to behead him.

Upon his death, Bhairavnath realized his error and prayed to the deity. The Goddess granted him Moksha and gave him a boon that no pilgrimage to her shrine would be fulfilled till the pilgrim visits Bhairavnath?s shrine situated on a nearby hill. The Goddess then shed her human form and took the shape of a rock and immersed herself into an eternity of meditation in the cave.

The Sacred Cave
The cave, where the goddess discarded her human form, is the main shrine of Vaishno Devi. The shrine, with a naturally formed rock with three heads or Pindis, representing the three forms of Shakti or Energy, is venerated by her many devotees.
A stream of water, called Charan Ganga, gushes out from the base of the holy rock and has been channelized to create bathing ghats. The devotees take a dip in this holy water before entering the shrine.

The Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage, a physical and a spiritual journey, can be undertaken on foot, mule-back, palanquin or even a helicopter. A rough journey in early days, the facilities have considerably improved with years. Covered walkways with shops and shelters line most of the route where you may relax before continuing your journey.

Best Time to Visit
The road to the shrine is open throughout the year. However, the peak season is during Navratri Festival celebrated biannually, in the month of April/March and October /November, the most auspicious time to pay homage to the goddess.

How to Reach
By Air- Jammu Airport; around 50kms from Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi pilgrimage; is the closest airport.
By Rail- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station serves the town of Katra and the pilgrims undertaking the trek to Vaishno Devi Cave Temple.
By Road- A network of well-developed roads and highways connect Katra with rest of the cities in north India.
By Helicopter- Helicopter services are available from Jammu and Katra to ?Sanjhichat?, the highest point on the route to the temple, after which there is an easy downhill walk to the shrine.

An arduous journey, undertaken with faith and commitment, the pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi is one of the most widespread excursions in north India. Join us on a trip to this spiritual temple for a blessed experience. Our Vaishno Devi Tour Packages are created to ensure utmost comfort and personalized care for all guests on this spiritual journey.