12 Jyotirlingas in India: Names, Locations, States and Complete Travel Guide

Travelling to the holiest spiritual sites in India is incomplete without visiting the 12 Jyotirlinga spread across the Indian subcontinent. Travel with us around each of the Shrines virtually, so that you can plan out your journey well in advance. Millions of travellers from around the world visit these holy temples yearly and seek blessings from Lord Shiva.

The 12 Jyotirlinga in India are spread across eight states, and a pilgrimage to Lord Shiva feels incomplete until you’ve stood before all twelve. Devotees from across the world visit these holy temples every year, some for a single darshan and others for the full Dwadash Jyotirlinga Yatra. We’ve put every 12 Jyotirlinga name, place and state on one page, along with timings, routes, days and costs, so you can plan the trip well before you pack your bag.

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12 Jyotirlinga Names with State and Temple Location

What a Jyotirlinga means

Jyoti means light and linga means the form of Shiva. A Jyotirlinga is Shiva appearing as a column of light. Together, the 12 Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva mark twelve places where he’s believed to have done so. Temples across India hold countless Shivlings, but only these twelve carry the Jyotirlinga title. Pilgrims treat the visit as a vow, and the tradition says it clears the sins of many lifetimes.

12 Jyotirlinga Names in Hindi with State and Temple Location

Why do People Worship Shiva Linga or the Jyotirlingas?

According to the Indian belief system, God is omnipresent, which implies that God exists everywhere, in trees, animals, rivers, air and even the soil (or rock). Hence, the traditions of practising spirituality with a stone/wood carved or clay moulded idol have been going on for centuries in the Indian subcontinent. In addition, this also helps in focusing and transcending their consciousness on a fixed representation of Lord Shiva in a shaped, yet shapeless idol. Moreover, the temples are considered a focal point of energy centres that foster meditation and spiritual growth. Hence, people worship a Shivalinga as it depicts the formless and limitless nature of Lord Shiva. 

The 12 Jyotirlingas and Their Importance in India

There are many legends behind the occurrences and establishment of these Jyotirlingas, which may vary from folklore to the official citations in the Vedic and Puranic inscriptions. Hence, we have tried to bring out more reliable and popular stories behind these 12 names of Jyotirlinga to improve your knowledge regarding these holy sites. Get ready to explore and feel the divine aura on your Dwadash Jyotirlinga Yatra with the following list of Jyotirlingas in India.

1. Shree Somnath – Gir Somnath in Gujarat

Darshan Timing: 

6:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 7:00 AM

Noon Aarti: 12:00 PM

Evening Aarti: 7:00 PM

Light and Sound Show: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Except rain)

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Local Sightseen cab for Somnath Temple Private Transport Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Somnath Railway Station, 1.5 km away from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Diu Airport, 85 km away from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities: Diu (60 km), Veraval (7 km), and Junagarh (60 km)

2. Mallikarjuna – Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh

Darshan Timing: 

5:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5:20 PM – 10:00 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning: From 05:15 AM

Evening: From 06:00 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Hyderabad to Mallikarjun Taxi Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Markapur Railway Station, 85 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Hyderabad Airport, 140 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major City: Hyderabad (220 km)

3. Shree Mahakaleshwar – Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh

Darshan Timing: 

4:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Aarti Timing:

• Morning Aarti: 4:00 AM
• Naivedya Aarti: 7:30 PM
• Evening Aarti: 5:00 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct Taxi Service in Ujjain and local vehicles Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Ujjain Railway Station, 2 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Indore Airport (Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport), 55 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Ujjain: Indore (60 km), Omkareshwar (150 km) and Bhopal (180 km).

4. Shri Omkareshwar – Madhya Pradesh

Darshan Timing: 

5:00 AM – 3:50 PM

4:15 PM – 9:30 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 5:00 AM

Evening Aarti: 8:20 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct taxi service in Omkareshwar Temple and local vehicles Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Omkareshwar Road Railway Station, 14 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Indore Airport (Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport), 77 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Omkareshwar: Indore (80 km), Ujjain (150 km) and Bhopal (180 km).

5. Shri Kedarnath – Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand

Darshan Timing: 

6:00 AM – 3:00 PM

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 4:00 AM

Evening Aarti: 7:00 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity – vehicle permitted only till Gaurikund, 16 km away. Hire a pony/palanquin if you cannot trek the 16 km trek to Kedarnath Dham tour Package.
• Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh Railway Station, 225 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, 240 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Kedarnath: Rudraprayag (78 km), Rishikesh (220 km) and Haridwar (220 km).

6. Bhimashankar Mahadev – Sahyadri Range, Maharashtra

Darshan Timing: 

5:00 AM – 9:30 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 5:00 AM

Noon Aarti: 1:00 PM

Evening Aarti: 7:30 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct Cab Service in Pune and local vehicles Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Pune Jn Railway Station, 125 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Pune Airport, 120 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga: Pune (110 km) and Mumbai (180 km).

7. Shri Kashi Vishwanath – Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh

Darshan Timing: 

2:30 AM – 11:00 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 3:00 AM

Noon Aarti: 11:15 AM

Evening Aarti: 7:00 PM

Shayan (Night) Aarti: 10:30 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct Cab Service in Varanasi and local Transport Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Varanasi Jn, Kashi, and Banaras Railway Stations, almost within 6 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur, Varanasi, 26 km away from the Kashi Vishwanatha Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Varanasi: Mirzapur (40 km), Prayagraj (120 km) and Gorakhpur (200 km).

8. Rameshwaram – Tamil Nadu

Darshan Timing: 

5:00 AM – 1:00 PM

3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 5:00 AM

Evening Aarti: 8:45 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct Cab Service in Rameshwaram Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Rameshwaram Railway Station, 1 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Madurai Airport, 180 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Rameswaram: Ramanathapuram (60 km), Madurai (170 km) and Karaikudi (140 km).

9. Shri Nageshwar – Near Dwarka in Gujarat

Darshan Timing: 

6:00 AM – 12:30 PM

5:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 6:00 AM

Evening Aarti: 7:00 PM

Night Aarti: 9:00 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct Buses and local vehicles – Public and Private Transport Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Dwarka Railway Station, 16 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Jamnagar Airport, 130 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Nageshwar: Dwarka (20 km) and Jamnagar (135 km).

10. Baba Baidyanath – Jharkhand

Darshan Timing: 

4:00 AM – 3:30 PM

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 4:00 AM

Noon Aarti: 12:00 PM

Evening Aarti: 6:00 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct Buses and local vehicles – Public and Private Transport Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Deoghar Railway Station, 3 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Deoghar Airport, 12 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Deoghar: Dhanbad (80 km), Bhagalpur (90 km) and Asansol (90 km)

11. Trimbakeshwar Dham – Maharashtra

Darshan Timing: 

5:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Aarti Timing:

Morning Aarti: 5:30 AM

Evening Aarti: 7:00 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct Buses and local vehicles – Public and Private Transport Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Nashik Road Railway Station, 40 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Nashik Airport, 40 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Trimbakeshwar: Nashik (30 km), Mumbai (180 km) and Pune (240 km).

12. Grishneshwar Mahadev – Near Ellora, Maharashtra

Darshan Timing: 

5:30 AM – 9:30 PM

Aarti Timing:

Kakad Aarti: 5:30 AM

Rudrabhishek: 7:00 AM

Madhyan Aarti: 6:30 PM

Sheja Aarti: 9:00 PM

How to Reach?

• By Road: Excellent Road Connectivity. Direct Buses and local vehicles – Public and Private Transport Available
• Nearest Railway Station: Aurangabad Railway Station, 30 km from the Temple
• Nearest Airport: Aurangabad Airport, 30 km from the Temple
• Nearest Major Cities to Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga: Ellora Caves (2 km), Aurangabad (30 km) and Nashik (170 km).

Dwadash Jyotirlinga Strotam

Make sure to recite the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Strotam (द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग स्तोत्रम्) on your trip to these holy sites. 

भावार्थ (संक्षिप्त):

जो मनुष्य इन द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंगों का नाम प्रातः और संध्या समय श्रद्धा से स्मरण करता है, उसके सात जन्मों के पाप भी नष्ट हो जाते हैं।

South India often calls the set Dwadasa Jyotirlinga, and a Dwadasa Jyotirlinga list reads the same as the one above. Sanskrit texts say Dwadash Jyotirlinga, and the Dwadash Jyotirlinga name list appears in the stotram. The 12 jyotirlinga naam stays the same in every language. Devotees who call Shiva Mahadev often say Mahadev 12 Jyotirlinga when they mean the whole set.

The verse that names all twelve is the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम्।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालं ओंकारं ममलेश्वरम्॥
केदारं हिमवद्गीरेः डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम्।
वाराणस्यां च विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे॥
वैद्यनाथं चिताभूमौ नागेशं दारुकावने।
सेतुबंधे तु रामेशं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये॥
एतानि ज्योतिर्लिङ्गानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः।
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति॥

The last two lines promise that anyone who recites these names morning and evening is freed from the sins of seven births.

12 Jyotirlinga Map of India with All Temple Locations

The map shows the 12 Jyotirlinga location in India for every temple, and the pattern is easy to read. Two stand on Gujarat’s coast, three cluster in Maharashtra’s Sahyadri and Deccan country, and two lie in Madhya Pradesh. One rises in the Nallamala hills of Andhra Pradesh. Rameshwaram holds the southern tip on a Tamil Nadu island, Kashi Vishwanath faces the Ganga in Varanasi, Baidyanath lies in Jharkhand, and Kedarnath rises in the Garhwal Himalayas.

Nearest railway station and airport

Typical darshan and aarti timings

Hours at the Jyotirlinga temples follow a usual pattern. They shift on Mondays, Mahashivratri and during Shravan, so confirm with the temple trust a day before you travel.

Somnath also holds a light and sound show in the evening, which pauses during heavy rain. Mahakaleshwar moves the Bhasma Aarti to 3:00 to 5:00 AM between July 30 and September 7 in 2026, so check the date before you book the pass.

12 Jyotirlinga List State-Wise: Which State Has the Most?

Maharashtra has the most Jyotirlingas with three, they are Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Grishneshwar. Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh follow with two each, while Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand have only one shrines.

12 Jyotirlinga Yatra: Complete Route Map and Travel Plan

The twelve temples don’t form a neat loop. Somnath faces the western coast, Kedarnath stands in the Himalayas, and Rameshwaram marks the southern tip, so a careless order burns days on the road. The route sections one pilgrimage operator lists add up to more than 12,000 km even before Kedarnath. Planning by region removes most of that.

Somnath to Dwarka is about 240 km and takes four to four and a half hours. Nageshwar lies on the road between Dwarka and Bet Dwarka, roughly 17 km from the Dwarkadhish temple, so most pilgrims cover it in one morning. Our Gujarat drivers plan the sea facing evening at Somnath around the light show, which starts after dusk.

In Maharashtra, Trimbak is about 30 km from Nashik, Bhimashankar is roughly 110 km from Pune, and Grishneshwar stands beside the Ellora caves, about 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the city many people still call Aurangabad. The ghat roads to Bhimashankar slow down in monsoon fog, and our Pune drivers leave early to beat it.

Ujjain and Omkareshwar suit one trip. Pilgrims for the Bhasma Aarti in Ujjain should be at temple around 1:00 to 2:00 AM. Omkareshwar is the next stop, on an island in the Narmada shaped like the Om symbol. Our list of places to visit in Ujjain helps you fill the hours between aartis.

Varanasi works differently. Cars can’t enter the lanes around Vishwanath Gali, so our drivers drop you at the edge of the old city and you finish on foot. Dashashwamedh Ghat is about 500 metres from the temple, which makes the evening Ganga aarti an easy add on. Deoghar is the other eastern shrine, where Kanwar pilgrims carry Ganga water on foot from Sultanganj during Shravan.

Kedarnath needs the most care. The motor road ends at Gaurikund, and the trek to the temple is 16 km. Ponies and palanquins carry those who can’t walk it. Heavy rain paused the yatra briefly in June 2026 before it resumed, so tell your driver your dates early and keep one day spare. Our guide to Kedarnath kapat opening and closing dates lists the season window.

Srisailam is about 200 km from Hyderabad and the road crosses the Nallamala forest, so daylight driving is the norm. Our Srisailam to Hyderabad road trip guide covers the drive in detail. Rameshwaram lies on Pamban Island, and pilgrims bathe at Agni Theertham and in the 22 wells inside the temple before darshan.

What Is the Best Order to Visit All 12 Jyotirlingas?

No rule forces a single sequence, and most pilgrims simply go by geography. The temples themselves don’t ask for a fixed order.

The traditional sequence of 12 Jyotirlinga follows the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram. Somnath is the first Jyotirlinga in India, and it’s often called the first on earth, which is why many pilgrims begin on the Gujarat coast. Mallikarjuna is the second Jyotirlinga, and Mahakaleshwar is the third. Grishneshwar is the last Jyotirlinga, the twelfth. Yatra planners often label Somnath the 1st Jyotirlinga and Mallikarjuna the 2nd Jyotirlinga. A few pilgrims follow that sequence step by step, but it’s hard on the body. Somnath to Srisailam alone covers about 1,800 km. A regional order saves roughly 15 days according to pilgrimage planners, because it keeps neighbouring temples together.

Mondays, Mahashivratri and the month of Shravan are the most sacred days for Shiva, and they’re also the most crowded. October to March gives the easiest weather across most of India, while Kedarnath follows its own season from late April to early November.

How Many Days Are Required for 12 Jyotirlinga Darshan?

Different tour planners will give you different estimates, so it usually comes down to how you prefer to travel.

Keep at least one spare day around Kedarnath, because weather decides that part of the trip. Add a rest day after any night drive, especially before the Ujjain Bhasma Aarti.

You don’t have to finish all twelve in one go. A 4 Jyotirlinga trip takes roughly a week when you pair neighbours, such as the Maharashtra trio with Omkareshwar. Many families complete the yatra in two or three seasons, one region at a time.

12 Jyotirlinga Yatra Cost: Budget, Hotels, Transport and Food

Indian Railways also operates tourist train packages for seven Jyotirlingas, namely Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Nageshwar, Somnath, Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Grishneshwar.

Temple fees are small. A Mangala Aarti ticket at Kashi Vishwanath costs about ₹500, Sheeghra Darshan at Mahakaleshwar costs ₹250, and the Somnath light show ticket costs ₹25 to ₹50. Bhasma Aarti passes at Ujjain are booked only through the temple’s official portal, and they sell out fast.

Hotels and food change with the season more than the city. Temple run dharamshalas are the cheapest beds, but they fill on Mondays and through Shravan. Hotels near Kashi, Ujjain and Rameshwaram raise rates around Mahashivratri. Vegetarian meals at local bhojanalayas keep daily food costs low everywhere on the route.

On the road, your cost comes down to distance, vehicle size and days. A sedan suits two to four pilgrims, an SUV carries a larger family, and a tempo traveller handles groups. You can check the fare for any of them on our app, or call 844-844-5504, before you confirm. Discounted tour packages also appear on the app.

12 Jyotirlingas: Stories, Religious Significance and History

How the Jyotirlingas came to be

According to The Shiva Purana, once there was a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu over who was greater. Shiva ended it by appearing as an endless column of fire. Vishnu took the form of a boar and dug downward, Brahma became a swan and flew upward, and neither found an end. Brahma lied about reaching the top, and Shiva cursed him. Tradition counts twelve of the most sacred places where that column of light is believed to have touched the earth. That’s the usual account of how 12 Jyotirlinga formed. The 12 Jyotirlinga history as a group is medieval, since scholars trace the grouping of exactly twelve to Shaiva texts between the 9th and 13th centuries.

Jyotirlinga and Shivling are not the same

Every Jyotirlinga is a Shivling, but not every Shivling is a Jyotirlinga. Homes, village shrines and roadside temples hold Shivlings by the thousand, so nobody can count how many lingas India has. A Shivling is installed by devotees, while a Jyotirlinga is believed to have appeared on its own.

The twelve stories

Somnath. The moon god Chandra was cursed to fade because he favoured one of his 27 wives, and he prayed to Shiva here to be cured. Mahmud of Ghazni destroyed the temple in 1026, and it was rebuilt many times. The present temple was completed in 1951 in Chalukya style.

Mallikarjuna. Shiva and Parvati came to Srisailam to meet their son Kartikeya, who had left home in anger. The shrine also holds a Shakti Peetha, so one visit covers two sacred sites.

Mahakaleshwar. Shiva appeared here as Mahakal to protect his devotees from the demon Dushan. This is the only south facing Jyotirlinga, and Shiva is worshipped as the lord of time.

Omkareshwar. The Vindhya mountain prayed to Shiva here for years, and Shiva appeared as two lingas, Omkareshwar and Mamleshwar. King Mandhata is also said to have prayed on this island, which carries his name and resembles the sacred Om in shape.

Kedarnath. The Pandavas sought Shiva after the Mahabharata war, and he hid as a bull. Bhima caught the hump, which is worshipped here, and the temple stands at 3,583 metres.

Bhimashankar. Shiva destroyed the demon Tripurasur here, and the sweat from his body is said to have formed the Bhima river. The shrine lies in the forested Sahyadri hills.

Kashi Vishwanath. Varanasi is called the city that Shiva never leaves. Present day Kashi Vishwanath was rebuilt in 1780 by Ahilyabai Holkar, and the redeveloped complex now links the temple to the Ganga.

Trimbakeshwar. The Godavari rises on the nearby Brahmagiri hill, and the lingam here has three faces for Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Sage Gautama’s prayers are said to have brought the river down.

Baidyanath. The demon king Ravana offered his ten heads to Shiva and received a linga to carry to Lanka, on one condition. It could never touch the ground. The devas tricked him into setting it down here, and it stayed. Shiva is also said to have healed Ravana as a divine physician, which gave the shrine the name Vaidyanath. Some retellings call the linga Ravana carried an Atma Linga.

Nageshwar. Shiva appeared to save his devotee Supriya from the demons Daruka and Daruki. Pilgrims turn to this Jyotirlinga for protection from poison.

Rameshwaram. Lord Rama is said to have worshipped Shiva here to seek forgiveness after the war with Ravana. The temple is also one of the four Char Dhams.

Grishneshwar. The devout woman Ghushma prayed to Shiva daily and dipped 101 lingas in the pond each day, and Shiva restored her son to life. The temple is said to be the smallest of the twelve.

Importance of the 12 Jyotirlingas

The importance of 12 Jyotirlinga rests on one belief. Devotees say a visit brings moksha, freedom from the cycle of birth and death, and the significance of 12 Jyotirlinga worship is the same at every temple. The Shiva Purana records twelve sites, and the stotram promises that remembering their names clears the sins of seven births. People often ask which is the biggest Jyotirlinga in India. Nobody measures them that way. Kedarnath is the highest, Mahakaleshwar is the only one facing south, and Kashi is the city Shiva is said to protect himself.

12 Jyotirlinga Yatra Checklist: Documents, Clothes and Essentials

Documents to keep ready

• Carry a government photo ID for every traveller, since temples and booking portals ask for it.
• Register for Kedarnath before you leave, because the yatra is limited by daily visitor numbers.
• Print or save your Bhasma Aarti pass and your Mangala Aarti ticket, which Kashi Vishwanath opens for booking 30 days ahead.
• Keep train tickets, hotel vouchers and cab details in one folder.

Clothes and dress codes

• At Mahakaleshwar’s Bhasma Aarti, men wear a dhoti inside the sanctum and women wear a saree.
• Pack modest, full length clothing for every temple.
• For Kedarnath, bring thermals, rain jackets, warm caps and trekking shoes, as the cold hits hard after sunset.
• Somnath enforces tight security, so leave large bags in the hotel.

Essentials for the road

• Fill a small kit with medicines, glucose, a power bank and water bottles.
• Carry some cash alongside UPI, as small shops near temples may not accept digital payments.
• Expect mobiles and cameras to be restricted inside several sanctums, and Kedarnath has banned mobile use and reels in the temple area in 2026.
• Start early everywhere. Lines at Kashi, Ujjain and Somnath are shortest before sunrise.

Save your driver’s number before every early darshan, since temple lanes fill up well before dawn. To book your cab for the Jyotirlinga yatra, download the Chiku Cab app, call us on 844-844-5504 or message us on WhatsApp at 6280820037. New customers get up to ₹500 off the first booking with the code GET500.

FAQs About 12 Jyotirlinga in India

What are the 12 Jyotirlingas in India?

They’re the twelve shrines where Lord Shiva is believed to have appeared as a column of light. They are Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Baidyanath, Nageshwar, Rameshwaram and Grishneshwar. Eight Indian states hold them.

Which are the 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India with their locations?

Somnath stands near Veraval in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna in Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand. Madhya Pradesh holds two, Mahakaleshwar at Ujjain and Omkareshwar on Mandhata Island. Kashi Vishwanath is in Varanasi, Baidyanath in Deoghar, Nageshwar near Dwarka and Rameshwaram on Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra holds the last three, Bhimashankar near Pune, Trimbakeshwar near Nashik and Grishneshwar beside Ellora.

Which is the first Jyotirlinga in India?

Somnath in Gujarat comes first in the stotram’s traditional order. Many pilgrims also call it the first on earth, so they begin the yatra on the Veraval coast.

Which is the most powerful Jyotirlinga in India?

Tradition doesn’t rank one Jyotirlinga above the others, and all twelve carry equal merit. Some devotees feel drawn to a particular shrine, such as Kashi for moksha, Mahakal for its Bhasma Aarti or Kedarnath for the Himalayan trek, but that’s personal devotion rather than a ranking.

Which Jyotirlinga is located in Varanasi?

Kashi Vishwanath is the Jyotirlinga in Varanasi, and it’s the only one in Uttar Pradesh. Vehicles can’t enter the narrow lanes around the temple, so you walk the final part of the way. Dashashwamedh Ghat lies close by for the evening Ganga aarti.

Which Jyotirlinga is famous for Bhasma Aarti?

Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain is the Jyotirlinga known for Bhasma Aarti. The ritual takes place before dawn, usually between 4:00 and 6:00 AM, and you need a pass booked in advance on the temple’s official portal. Devotees reach the temple between 1:00 and 2:00 AM, so plan the night around it.

Which Jyotirlinga is situated in the Himalayas?

Kedarnath in Uttarakhand is the Himalayan Jyotirlinga, standing at 3,583 metres. Vehicles go only as far as Gaurikund, where a 16 km trek begins, and the temple opens only between late April and early November.

Which Jyotirlingas are located in Maharashtra?

There are three. Bhimashankar lies in the Sahyadri hills near Pune, Trimbakeshwar stands close to where the Godavari rises near Nashik, and Grishneshwar lies beside the Ellora caves.

Which Jyotirlingas are located in Gujarat?

Gujarat has two, Somnath near Veraval and Nageshwar close to Dwarka. They’re about 240 km apart, which is a drive of four hours or a little more, so most pilgrims cover both on one coastal trip.

What is the difference between a Jyotirlinga and a regular Shiva Lingam?

A Shivling is a symbol of Shiva that devotees install in homes, village shrines and large temples. A Jyotirlinga is said to have appeared by itself as his column of light, and only twelve sites carry that title. Every Jyotirlinga is worshipped as a Shivling, but nobody can count the Shivlings in India.

What is the best time to visit the 12 Jyotirlingas in India?

Most of the route is easiest in the cooler months, October through March. Kedarnath follows its own season, late April to early November, and monsoon fog makes the Bhimashankar ghat roads slower. Mondays, Mahashivratri and Shravan bring the heaviest crowds, so book early if you travel then.

How many days are required to visit all 12 Jyotirlingas?

Most traveller planners say the full yatra needs three to four weeks. A regional plan by road takes about 25 days, while following the stotram order step by step takes 35 to 40 days or more.

Can I visit all 12 Jyotirlingas in one trip?

Yes, many pilgrims finish all twelve in about a month, provided they group temples by region and reach Kedarnath while it’s open. Others spread the yatra over two or three seasons, which gives more rest between regions.

What is the correct order to visit the 12 Jyotirlingas?

The stotram lists Somnath first and Grishneshwar last, but no rule forces that sequence. Most pilgrims travel region by region and start with the shrine nearest their home city, which one planner says saves roughly 15 days.

Which Jyotirlinga is near the Ellora Caves?

The Jyotirlinga beside the Ellora caves is Grishneshwar, in Verul village, only about 2 km from the caves. You’ll reach it after a 30 km drive out of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Which Jyotirlinga is near Rameswaram?

Rameshwaram is itself the Jyotirlinga, standing on Pamban Island, and it’s the only one in Tamil Nadu. The next closest, Mallikarjuna in Srisailam, lies in Andhra Pradesh and needs a long drive, so most pilgrims base themselves in Madurai, about 170 to 180 km away.

What are the benefits of visiting the 12 Jyotirlingas in India?

Devotees believe a visit brings moksha, release from repeated rebirth, and that chanting the twelve names every morning and evening wipes out the sins of seven lifetimes. The yatra also takes you through eight states, so you see varied temple styles, regional food and landscapes that range across coast, plateau and mountain.

How can I plan a road trip to the 12 Jyotirlingas?

Group the temples into regional clusters and pick a base city for each, such as Veraval and Dwarka for Gujarat, Nashik and Pune for Maharashtra, and Ujjain and Indore for Madhya Pradesh. Drive forest and ghat roads in daylight, keep a spare day around Kedarnath, and leave early on days that include a Bhasma Aarti or the Mangala Aarti at Kashi.

Can I book a taxi or tempo traveller for a 12 Jyotirlinga tour?

Yes. We provide sedans, SUVs and tempo travellers for local sightseeing, outstation and one way trips in every Jyotirlinga city, and our drivers know the lane and parking rules around each temple. See fares on the Chiku Cab app before you confirm, or ring 844-844-5504.

Abhishek Singh

I’m a wanderer who loves venturing on to unknown and unseen places. I explore freely to various fun and adventurous places, whether it be spiritual temple tours, captivating landscapes, and more. I wonder around in search of hidden gems and tourist attractions, temples, and other places.