Jammu and Kashmir · North
Katra (Vaishno Devi)
Base town for the Trikuta-hill trek to the Vaishno Devi cave shrine
Photo: Abhishek Chandra · Public domain
- Principal temple
- Vaishno Devi Temple (Bhawan)Vaishno Devi, as three pindis of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati
- Best time to visit
- Open throughout the year; May–July, the Chaitra and Ashvin Navratras and New Year see peak rush, so the Shrine Board advises the monsoon and winter (snowfall in December–January) for a more comfortable darshan.
- Nearest airport
- Jammu Airport (IXJ), ~50 km
- Nearest railway station
- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK), in Katra
- Tradition
- Śākta
Overview
Katra, in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, lies at the foot of the Trikuta Mountains and is the base camp for pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi Temple. The shrine, a cave on Trikuta hill about 12 km from Katra, is dedicated to Vaishno Devi, worshipped as three natural rock forms (pindis) of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, and is counted among the Shakta pithas. Pilgrims register at Katra before the trek, resting at Ardhkuwari on the way, and traditionally also visit the Bhairon temple on the return; the shrine is managed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
See sources [1–9]- Vaishno Devi, as three pindis of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati
- Vaishno Devi (Garbh Joon cave)
