Everyday of the year a mass of humanity surges up steep pathways theat cut across the hillside for mile after mile. This show of faith is finely interwoveen with the cultural strands of the Indian subcontinent, for these pathways to the shrine of the Mother Goddess, Vaishno Devi, have been trod on for many centuries now. Popular belief holds that anybody who walks the Himalayan trail to her abode to ask for a boon rarely goes back disappointed. Whatever be it, a new enterprise or a forthcoming .

Examination, marriage or the birth of a child, the Mata takes care of it all.

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. As the legend goes, more than 1000 years ago Vaishno Devi a devotee of Vishnu, used to pray to Lord Rama and had taken a vow of celibacy. Bhairon Nath, a tantric (demon-God) tried to behold Her. Making use of his tantric powers, Bhairon Nath was able to see Her going towards the Trikuta mountains Banganga 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. The Goddess then meditated in the cave at Adhkawari. It took Bhairon Nath nine months to locate Her, the reason why the cave is known as Garbh Joon. Mata Vaishno Devi blasted an opening at the other end of the cave with Her Trident when the demon-God located Her. On arriving at the Holy Cave at Darbar, she assumed the form of Maha Kali and cut off Bhairon Nath's head which was flung up the mountain by the force of thee blow and fell at the place where the Bhairoon Temple is now located. 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.

Location
Nestled in the folds of the mighty Trikuta mountain 61 kilometres north of Jammu at a height of 5,200 feet from the seaa level, the Cave Shrine of Trikuta Bhagwati has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment for millions of devotees since time immemorial.

How to Reach
Jammu - 48 km from Katra - is the nearest airport and railhead. There are daily Indian Airlines flights from Delhi and Srinagar to Jammu. Indian Airlines also touches Chandigarh and Amritsat on soome days of the week.

By rail, Jammu is connected directly with Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay and Kanya Kumari besides being connected with other major cities of the country. Jammu is also the terminal point of a large number of Inter State Bus Services.

Jammu to Katra
Busees leave for Katra after every 10 minutes from the main bus stand at Jammu between 5.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. During rush periods additional buses are also pressed into service between Jammu and Katra to clear the stranded yatris. Taxis are also available for hire between Jammu and Katra. These can be hired from the Jammu Airport, Jammu Railway Station and the Tourist

Reception Centre at Jammu. A number of travel agencies run conducted tours to Katra regularly from Delhi and other major cities in northern and central India. There are also daily scheduled services to Katra from Taran Taran, Amritsar, Jullunder, Ludhiana, Patiala, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jawala Ji (via Dharamshala) and Srinagar.

Katra to Vaishno Devi
A 13 km distance from Katra to Vaishno Devi Ji (Darbar) can be traversed by pony, Dandi or on foot, Pithus (coolies) are available for carrying small children and luggage.

Where to Stay
Yatri Niwas and Visram Ghar managed by the Shrine Board and the Tourist Dak Bungalow and Retiring Centre manageed by the J&K Tourism Development Corporation provide reasonably priced accommodation at Katra. Sarais, managed by the Shrine Board offer free accommodation at Adhkawari, Sanjichhat and Darbar. Dharamshalas, run by various organisations offer reeasonable accommodation to the pilgrims. Yatris are however advised to keep themselves away from touts promising free Dharamshala accommodation. A number of hotels provide accommodation for different classes of pilgrims.

What to Hire
Canvas shoes, bamboo sticks, cotton bags, caps, torches and waterproofs are available on hire for the trek. Pithus, ponies and dandies (Palki) can be hired for carrying children, aged/ invalid persons or luggage.

What to See
Shalimar Park, Raghunath Mandir, Chintamani Mandir, Kalka Mandir and Bhumika Mandir are places connected with the legend, in Katra town. The temples of Adhkawari, Bairon Ghati, as also Garbh Joon at Adhkawari are places of incidents on the route thee Devi took while fleeing from Bhairon Nath. There are a large number of scenic spots aroound Katra. These include Aghar Jitto, Chamba, Deva Mai, Devi Pindian, Baba Dhansar, Bhim Gharh Fort and Salal Lake, Reasi.

Where to Shop
Narial, Bhaints and other Puja materials are available at the shops at Katra and Darbar. Narial and Bhaints at cheap rates are also available at the Bhaint Shop run at Darbar by the Shrine Board.

A large number of cafetarias-cum-view points are run between Katra and Darbar by the Shrine Board. These provide snacks, coffee and cold drinks to the yatris on no-profit-no-loss basis.

the Shrine Board runs Bhojanalyas at Katra, Adhkawari, Sanjichhat and Durbar for providing hygienically prepared food to the yatris on no profit no loss basis.

Souvenirs from the Shrine in the form of sarees, chunis, bangles, wall clocks, etc., received as offerings before the Goddess can be purchased at cheap rates from the Shrine Board Souvenir shops at Katra and Bhawan.