Jyotirlinga · 10 temples

The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest abodes of Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped as a self-manifested pillar of radiant light (jyoti). Completing darshan of all twelve is considered one of the highest acts of Shaivite devotion.

1
Bhimashankar Temple
📍 Pune, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga hidden in the forested Sahyadri hills near Pune, cradled within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the source of the Bhima river and a haven of both faith and biodiversity.
🗓️ August to February, when the forest is green and the weather cool; the monsoon makes the Ghats lush but slippery. Mahashivratri is the main festival.
2
Grishneshwar Temple
📍 Aurangabad, Maharashtra
The twelfth and last of the Jyotirlingas, standing close to the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. The present red-stone temple was lovingly rebuilt in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.
🗓️ October to March, ideal for also exploring the Ellora Caves nearby. Mahashivratri is the principal festival.
3
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
One of the holiest of all Shiva temples, rising on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the eternal city of light. Here Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the 'Lord of the Universe'.
🗓️ October to March for comfortable weather. Mahashivratri and Dev Deepawali are spectacular; early-morning darshan and the evening Ganga Aarti are unmissable.
4
Mahakaleshwar Temple
📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the presiding deity of the ancient city of Ujjain. Its lingam is uniquely dakshinamukhi (south-facing), a feature found in no other Jyotirlinga.
🗓️ October to March for pleasant weather. Mahashivratri and the Shravan month are peak devotional seasons; the 4 AM Bhasma Aarti is a must-attend.
5
Mallikarjuna Temple
📍 Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
The second Jyotirlinga, set amid the forested Nallamala Hills on the banks of the Krishna River. It is one of the rare shrines that is simultaneously a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
🗓️ October to March, when the hill weather is cool and comfortable. Mahashivratri is the grandest festival here.
6
Nageshwar Temple
📍 Dwarka, Gujarat
A Jyotirlinga near Dwarka on the Saurashtra coast, marked by a towering 25-metre seated statue of Lord Shiva visible from far away. Its name means 'Lord of the Nagas (serpents)'.
🗓️ October to March, when Gujarat's coastal weather is pleasant. Mahashivratri and the Shravan month are the most auspicious times.
7
Omkareshwar Temple
📍 Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
A Jyotirlinga set on a river island in the Narmada that is itself shaped like the sacred syllable 'Om'. It is one of the most serene Shaivite pilgrimages in central India.
🗓️ October to March, and the monsoon (July–September) when the Narmada is full and the island especially beautiful. Mahashivratri and Kartik Purnima are major festivals.
8
Somnath Temple
📍 Veraval, Gujarat
The first among the 12 Jyotirlingas, standing on the western coast of Gujarat where the Arabian Sea meets the shore. It is among the most sacred and storied Shiva temples in all of India.
🗓️ October to February, when the coastal weather is pleasant. Mahashivratri and Kartik Purnima draw the largest crowds.
9
Trimbakeshwar Temple
📍 Nashik, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga near Nashik at the source of the sacred Godavari river, famous for its rare lingam bearing three faces — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is one of the four sites of the Nashik Kumbh Mela.
🗓️ October to March. The monsoon (July–September) makes the Brahmagiri hills lush; Mahashivratri and the Kumbh Mela years see the largest gatherings.
10
Vaidyanath Temple
📍 Deoghar, Jharkhand
Revered as Baba Baidyanath Dham, this Jyotirlinga is worshipped as the 'divine physician' who heals body and soul. It is also counted among the Shakti Peethas.
🗓️ October to March for pleasant weather. The Shravan month (July–August) is the peak Kanwar Yatra season with enormous crowds; Mahashivratri is also major.

All temples in this circuit

🛕

JyotirlingaShiva

Bhimashankar Temple

📍 Pune, Maharashtra

A Jyotirlinga hidden in the forested Sahyadri hills near Pune, cradled within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the source of the Bhima river and a haven of both faith and biodiversity.

JyotirlingaShiva

Grishneshwar Temple

📍 Aurangabad, Maharashtra

The twelfth and last of the Jyotirlingas, standing close to the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. The present red-stone temple was lovingly rebuilt in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.

JyotirlingaShiva

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

One of the holiest of all Shiva temples, rising on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the eternal city of light. Here Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the 'Lord of the Universe'.

JyotirlingaShiva

Mahakaleshwar Temple

📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

One of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the presiding deity of the ancient city of Ujjain. Its lingam is uniquely dakshinamukhi (south-facing), a feature found in no other Jyotirlinga.

JyotirlingaShiva

Mallikarjuna Temple

📍 Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

The second Jyotirlinga, set amid the forested Nallamala Hills on the banks of the Krishna River. It is one of the rare shrines that is simultaneously a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.

JyotirlingaShiva

Nageshwar Temple

📍 Dwarka, Gujarat

A Jyotirlinga near Dwarka on the Saurashtra coast, marked by a towering 25-metre seated statue of Lord Shiva visible from far away. Its name means 'Lord of the Nagas (serpents)'.

JyotirlingaShiva

Omkareshwar Temple

📍 Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh

A Jyotirlinga set on a river island in the Narmada that is itself shaped like the sacred syllable 'Om'. It is one of the most serene Shaivite pilgrimages in central India.

JyotirlingaShiva

Somnath Temple

📍 Veraval, Gujarat

The first among the 12 Jyotirlingas, standing on the western coast of Gujarat where the Arabian Sea meets the shore. It is among the most sacred and storied Shiva temples in all of India.

JyotirlingaShiva

Trimbakeshwar Temple

📍 Nashik, Maharashtra

A Jyotirlinga near Nashik at the source of the sacred Godavari river, famous for its rare lingam bearing three faces — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is one of the four sites of the Nashik Kumbh Mela.

🛕

JyotirlingaShiva

Vaidyanath Temple

📍 Deoghar, Jharkhand

Revered as Baba Baidyanath Dham, this Jyotirlinga is worshipped as the 'divine physician' who heals body and soul. It is also counted among the Shakti Peethas.

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