Natural Cave at Vaishno Devi Shrine Reopens for Devotees on Makar Sankranti

The natural cave at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir reopened for devotees on Makar Sankranti, offering a rare chance to experience the original sanctum. Typically closed due to high pilgrim numbers, the cave is accessible mainly in January and February when footfall is lower. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, chaired by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, emphasized preserving spiritual heritage while managing crowd flow and assisting elderly and differently-abled pilgrims. Pilgrim visits have increased in early 2026 compared to last year.