In the short time during which the Shrine Board Trust has been operating, the development in the area has been tremendous. Vaishno Devi is one of the cleanest and best maintained kshetras in India. This befits the devotion of the yatris who have contributed to the upkeep of the facilities. The natural beauty of the mountains and the well-maintained road, right to the top, is literally out of this world. While one may like to plan the trip meticulously, and it is known that the peak crowds are during the Navaratras, the locals and those who are in the know say that some days are simply unpredictable. Once you have received the bulava (the call), it is best to step forward, go with the flow, and soak in the experience. Whether you find great crowds or are treated to a leisurely darshan, whether you can wait to see a beautiful sunrise and sunset from the mountain top or you return quickly by helicopter, whether you sing energetically with other pilgrims or find yourself breathless on the steep slope, the Vaishno Devi Yatra will surely be an unforgettable journey linked to your very soul.

Legends and mythology
It's believed that Goddess Vaishnavi took birth in human form in the house of Ratnakar Pandit, in Rameswaram. She wished to marry Lord Vishnu, who had taken birth in his incarnation as Lord Ram. At this time, Ram was in exile and Sita had been abducted to Lanka. Vaishnavi approached him. He promised to marry her on his return from Lanka with Sita, provided Vaishnavi could recognise him. When she failed to do so as he was disguised as an old hermit, he asked her to wait for Kaliyug, on the Trikuta Mountain. As he resided in every human being, he said he would visit her as part of every devotee who came to see her. And when all humanity had taken her blessings, he would marry her in his Kalki avatar. The goddess waits to this day.

In search of Trikuta, the goddess appeared as a child to a Brahmin named Shreedhar and asked him to arrange for a mighty feast. Shreedhar was poor but by the goddess' grace, the bhandara was  hugely attended. One of the guests at the feast was Bhairon. He was the disciple of Gorakhnath, a spiritual master of Tantra, who wished to test Vaishnavi's righteousness and virtue. Bhairon tried to force Vaishnavi into serving the guests alcohol and non-vegetarian food. She refused and escaped to continue her journey, with Bhairon in pursuit. Two guards, Veer and Langur, accompanied her. En route, she fired an arrow to quench the thirst of her guards. This spring of water is the Banganga River. The imprints of the goddess' feet are worshipped at Charan Paduka, where she stayed for sometime en route to the holy cave.

Thereafter, the goddess settled herself in Adkuwari, in a womb-shaped cave, which came to be known as Garbha Joon. She meditated here for nine months. But Bhairon followed her here too. She pierced her way out with her trident and escaped to the holy cave where she now resides. When Bhairon refused to heed her warnings, she took the form of Mahakali and severed his head, which fell on a neighbouring mountain. Bhairon, seeing her in the form of the Divine Mother, begged to be forgiven. Seeing his repentance, Ma Vaishno Devi forgave him. For his devotion, she granted him a place near her abode before discarding her human form and changing herself into a rock. She also promised him that a journey to her shrine would be complete only if the pilgrim visited the temple to him on the nearby hill. This is the Bhairon Mandir. The holy cave itself is like a tunnel, at the end of which the mother has revealed herself in a natural rock form called pindi.

It is believed that Shreedhar Pandit discovered the cave 700 years ago when the directions were revealed to him in a dream by the Mata. Before the formation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in 1986, the temple was controlled by a private trust and local residents called baridaars took turns in collecting the offerings. The chief priest is a descendant of Shreedhar Pandit's family.