The Jyotirlingas of India are considered extremely sacred and powerful. These are the symbols of the infinite forms of Lord Shiva and each Jyotirlinga has its own special belief and story attached to it. It is said that by visiting and worshipping in these Dhams, all the sorrows of the devotees are removed and happiness, peace and prosperity are attained in life. On occasions like Sawan month and Mahashivratri, there is a huge crowd of devotees in these Jyotirlingas. Shiva devotees believe that by visiting all the twelve Jyotirlingas, one attains salvation and the soul becomes pure.
How Many Jyotirlinga are in India?
India is a land of temples and religious places. Among these, the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva are considered to be very special. “Jyotirlinga” means divine pillar of light. Devotees believe that Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a bright pillar of fire and these shrines are considered to be their most sacred abodes. Every year thousands of pilgrims visit these holy places to seek blessings.
Below is given complete information about the 12 Jyotirlingas along with their location and how to reach there.
1) Somnath Jyotirlinga, Gujarat
Somnath Jyotirlinga is considered to be the first and most important Jyotirlinga of India. It is located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Gujarat. The history of this temple is very old and glorious. When it was attacked from time to time, the temple was demolished many times, but every time it was rebuilt by the devotees. Today this temple is a symbol of its grandeur and devotion.
It is said that Lord Shiva appeared here to save the moon from his sorrow and gave him a boon. This is why this place got the name “Somnath”. Devotees believe that by visiting here, wishes are fulfilled and peace and strength are found in life.
Somnath is very special not only from a religious point of view but also due to its historical and cultural importance. Every year lakhs of devotees from the country and abroad come here to worship Lord Shiva and experience the amazing beauty of the temple.
Location: Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Gir Somnath district. It stands on the Arabian Sea coast.
How to Reach:
By air: Diu Airport is the closest. Rajkot and Jamnagar are good options with more flights.
By train: Veraval Junction is the nearest big station.
By road: Good highways connect Somnath with Rajkot, Junagadh and Diu. Buses and cabs are easy to find.
Tip: Reach by evening for the sound and light show and the sea facing aarti.
2) Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Andhra Pradesh
Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is located in Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and is situated on the banks of the holy Krishna river. It is called “Kashi of the South” because its glory is considered equal to Kashi. Here Lord Shiva is seated in the form of Mallikarjuna and Mother Parvati in the form of Bhramaramba.
It is believed that visiting this temple destroys sins and brings happiness and peace in life. This place not only has religious importance but the natural beauty here also attracts the mind. Every year thousands of devotees come here to worship and experience spiritual peace.
Location: Srisailam, in the Nallamala hills on the banks of the Krishna River.
How to reach:
By air: Hyderabad is the best gateway.
By train: Markapur Road is the nearest railhead. Kurnool and Nandyal are also used.
By road: From Hyderabad the drive is about 4 to 5 hours through forested roads.
Tip: Combine your visit with the Srisailam dam and ropeway to Patala Ganga.
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3) Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located in the city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and it is a very famous temple among the twelve Jyotirlingas. It is called the King of Time i.e. the Lord of Time. It is believed that Lord Mahakal frees the devotees from all kinds of fear and evil.
The special thing about this temple is that the self-manifested linga of Lord Shiva is established here, that is, this linga appeared from the earth itself. The Bhasma Aarti of Mahakaleshwar is very famous, which thousands of devotees come from far and wide to see every day.
The city of Ujjain is also considered very sacred from a religious point of view, and devotees experience deep peace and blessings by coming here.
Location: Ujjain city, on the banks of the Shipra River.
How to reach:
By air: Indore Airport is about 55 km away.
By train: Ujjain Junction has wide rail connectivity.
By road: Indore to Ujjain is a smooth one hour drive.
Tip: Book the early morning Bhasma Aarti well in advance.
4) Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is located on a small island in the middle of the Narmada River in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. The shape of this island is like Om (Omkar), hence the name of this place is Omkareshwar. This place is very peaceful, beautiful and full of natural beauty.
Lord Shiva is worshiped here in the form of Omkareshwar. It is believed that by worshiping this Jyotirlinga all sins are erased and happiness and prosperity comes in life. The holy stream of the Narmada River makes this place even more sacred.
Omkareshwar is visited by devotees every day, and especially in the month of Sawan, the atmosphere here is very divine and full of devotion.
Location: Mandhata Island in the Narmada River in Khandwa district. The island is shaped like the sacred Om.
How to reach:
By air: Indore Airport is the most convenient.
By train: Omkareshwar Road station is nearby. Khandwa and Indore have better connectivity.
By road: Indore to Omkareshwar is about 80 km and takes 2.5 to 3 hours.
Tip: Visit both Omkareshwar and Mamleshwar temples. A short boat ride adds to the experience.
Read More: Who is Shri Premanand Ji Maharaj?
5) Kedarnath Jyotirlinga, Uttarakhand
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is located in the lap of the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand, on the banks of the Mandakini River. This Jyotirlinga is covered with snow most of the year due to being
at a very high altitude above sea level. This is the reason why this temple opens only for a few months.
It is believed that the Pandavas worshiped Lord Shiva here after the Mahabharata war, so that they could get rid of their sins. The atmosphere of Kedarnath is very calm and wonderful, where every devotee experiences spiritual peace and the divine power of Lord Shiva.
To reach here, devotees have to climb hard, but the satisfaction and blessings received after darshan erases every fatigue.
Location: Kedarnath town in Rudraprayag district, high in the Garhwal Himalayas.
How to reach:
By air: Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport is the gateway.
By train: Rishikesh and Haridwar are the nearest major stations.
By road: Drive up to Gaurikund. From Gaurikund it is a trek of about 16 to 18 km. Pony, palanquin and helicopter services are available in season.
Tip: Keep warm clothes and rain gear. Weather changes fast in the mountains.
6) Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is located near Pune, in the beautiful valleys of Sahyadri Mountains of Maharashtra. This place is surrounded by dense forests and natural beauty, so the devotees coming here enjoy nature along with religion.
It is said that Lord Shiva killed the demon Bhima at this place and then appeared here in the form of Jyotirlinga. Since then it is called Bhimashankar.
This temple is not only a center of faith, but the calm atmosphere and lush green hills here give immense peace to the mind. Also, the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary located nearby is also famous.
Location: Bhorgiri village area, in the Sahyadri hills, north of Pune.
How to Reach:
By Air: Pune Airport is the nearest.
By Train: You can get down at Pune Junction or Karjat, based on your route.
By Road: Pune to Bhimashankar is about 110 km, and the last part goes through hilly roads.
Tip: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is well-known for its thick forests and the large Indian squirrel.
Read More: Mahakaleshwar Temple Ujjain Guide – Travel, Stay, Aarti info
7) Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is located on the banks of the river Ganges in Varanasi (Kashi) in Uttar Pradesh. It is called the “Gateway to Salvation”, because it is believed that by seeing Lord Shiva here, one gets freedom from the bondage of birth and death.
In this temple, Lord Shiva is seated in the form of Vishwanath or Vishweshwar, that is, the lord of the whole world. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a major pilgrimage site of Hinduism, where millions of devotees from the country and abroad come to take a bath in the Ganges and see the Shivalinga.
It is believed that whichever devotee worships here with a true heart, Lord Shiva fulfills his every wish and he gets the blessings of peace and salvation.
Location: Varanasi old city near the ghats of the Ganga.
How to reach:
By air: Varanasi Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport.
By train: Varanasi Junction and Banaras station have excellent links.
By road: Highways connect Varanasi with Prayagraj, Lucknow, Patna and more.
Tip: Do the evening Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat and then walk to the temple lanes.
8) Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga – Nashik, Maharashtra
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is located in the foothills of Brahmagiri mountain in Nashik district of Maharashtra. This temple is considered very sacred and special, because the Godavari river originates from here, which is also known as Dakshin Ganga.
In this temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Trimbakeshwar. It means – three-eyed God, who is a symbol of creation, sustenance and destruction. The Shivlinga installed here is very unique, in which the forms of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh – all three are visible.
It is believed that worshiping here removes many obstacles related to Pitra Dosh and horoscope. Devotees come here and especially get Narayan Nagbali Puja and Tripindi Shraddha done.
Location: Trimbak town near Nashik at the foothills of Brahmagiri.
How to reach:
By air: Nashik Airport has limited flights. Mumbai is a common gateway.
By train: Nashik Road is the main station.
By road: Nashik to Trimbak is about 30 km and very scenic.
Tip: The temple is known for the unique three faced linga and Kumbh Mela links.
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9) Nageshwar Jyotirlinga ,Gujarat
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is located between Dwarka and Bet Dwarka in Gujarat. This temple is built on the seashore and its tall statue of Lord Shiva is visible from a distance.
It is believed that here Lord Shiva protected his devotees from a demon named Daruka and at the same time he appeared in the form of Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. Therefore, Shiva is also considered as the protector deity here.
It is said that by seeing Nageshwar, a person is freed from all kinds of poison (both physical and mental). This temple is full of very calm and divine atmosphere and is a big center of faith for Shiva devotees.
How to reach here:
By Rail: Dwarka Railway Station is the nearest station, which is about 18 km from the temple.
By Road: Bus and taxi facilities are available from Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Jamnagar in Gujarat to Dwarka.
By Air: The nearest airport is Jamnagar Airport, which is about 145 km from Dwarka.
Tip: Club your darshan with Dwarkadhish Temple and the short ferry to Beyt Dwarka.
10) Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga – Deoghar, Jharkhand
Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is located in Deoghar district of Jharkhand and is also known as Baba Baidyanath Dham. This Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in India.
It is said that the demon king Ravana had pleased Lord Shiva by doing rigorous penance and when he was going to Lanka with a Shivling, the Shivling was established at this place. Since then this place is worshiped as a holy Jyotirlinga.
Lord Shiva is called Vaidyanath here, which means physician. It is believed that by worshiping here with a true heart, all kinds of diseases and sorrows are cured. In the month of Sawan, lakhs of devotees bring Ganga water by doing Kanwar Yatra and offer it to Baba Baidyanath.
How to reach here:
By train: Jasidih Junction and Deoghar railway stations are the nearest. The temple is about 8 km from Jasidih, where taxis and autos are easily available.
By road: Deoghar is connected by road to many major cities of Jharkhand and Bihar. Bus and private vehicles are available.
By air: A new airport has been built in Deoghar, from where flights have started to many major cities.
Tip: The Shravani Mela is very popular. Expect big crowds in monsoon months.
11) Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga, Tamil Nadu
Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is located on the Rameshwaram island of Tamil Nadu and this Jyotirlinga holds a very special significance in Hinduism. This temple is built on the seashore and its grandeur and architecture is amazing.
It is believed that when Lord Shri Ram was about to cross the sea to conquer Lanka, he first worshiped Lord Shiva here. Shri Ram himself installed the Shivalinga, which is called Ramanathaswamy. Rameshwaram temple is famous for its long corridors and huge pillars. Taking a sea bath here and then visiting the Shivalinga is considered very auspicious. It is said that by worshiping here all the sins of life are erased and salvation is attained.
Location: Ramanathaswamy Temple on Rameswaram Island connected by the iconic Pamban Bridge.
How to reach:
By air: Madurai is the main gateway. Tiruchirappalli is another option.
By train: Rameswaram station has direct trains from many cities in the south.
By road: NH roads connect Madurai to Rameswaram in about 3 to 4 hours.
Tip: The temple has long corridors and sacred wells. Early morning is the best time.
12) Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga – Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is located near the famous caves of Ellora in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. It is considered to be the smallest temple among the twelve Jyotirlingas, but its faith and glory is very great.
It is said that Lord Shiva appeared here in the form of Jyotirlinga after being pleased with the devotion of a pious woman Grishna. This place was named Grishneshwar after her name.
The temple is built in South Indian style and its carvings are worth seeing. It is believed that by worshipping here with a true heart, happiness, peace and love remain in the home and family.
Location: Verul near Ellora Caves in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
How to reach:
By air: Aurangabad Airport is nearby.
By train: Aurangabad station is the main railhead.
By road: A brief drive from Aurangabad to Ellora on a good road.
Tip: Combine the darshan with Ellora Caves and Daulatabad Fort for a great day trip.
Best time to Visit
Kedarnath: May to June and September to October.
Somnath and Nageshwar: All year, pleasant in winter.
Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar: All year, avoid peak heat if possible.
Rameshwaram and Srisailam: October to March is comfortable.
Baidyanath: Shravani Mela is sacred but crowded.
Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar: All year, monsoon drives are lush but roads can be slow.
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Conclusion
The twelve Jyotirlingas are spread across different regions of India. Each one has its own legend, way of worship, and cultural traditions. You can start with the temples closest to you or choose a route that suits your time and plan.
To keep the trip simple, it is better to stay near the temple, go early for darshan, and carry only the necessary items inside. This will make your journey smooth and trouble-free.
If you want a comfortable group trip without switching vehicles or dealing with parking at every stop, plan your route with AC Tempo Traveller rental. It will help you cover more places in less time and enjoy peaceful, stress-free darshan at every shrine.
We will make your travel safe and comfortable, so your mind stays focused only on devotion and receiving blessings from Lord Shiva.
