The Vaishno Devi shrine is located approximately 12 kilometers from Katra, a town that serves as the base for the yatra. It is dedicated to the goddess who is believed to have appeared in the form of a young girl to guide her devotees. The shrine itself is a cave where three natural rock formations, known as the Pindis, represent the three manifestations of the goddess: Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati.