Vaiṣṇo Devī

Vaiṣṇo Devī shrine on Trikuṭa Hill is India's second-most visited Hindu pilgrimage (~10 million annually, after Tirupati). The goddess is worshipped as three natural rock-formations: Mahā-kālī, Mahā-Lakṣmī, Mahā-Sarasvatī — the three guṇas. Pilgrims trek 13 km uphill from Katra base-camp. The shrine is inside a cave; pilgrims enter through narrow passage, pass through the ardha-kuvārī and gupha shrines, and arrive at the Holy Pindies. No animal sacrifice, no leather, no alcohol in the pilgri