A Jyotirlinga is also known as the devotional representation of Lord Shiva. There is a total of 12 Jyotirlinga sites in India. These places are considered to be highly sacred and holy places. Millions of devotees of Lord Shiva visit these places every year to offer their prayers and receive blessings.
You might have come across the word ‘Jyotirlinga’ quite a number of times. If not, remember that a Jyotirlinga site is such a place where the Lord is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam. The radiant sign of the Shiva Linga is called a Jyoritlinga because the word ‘Jyoti’ means light.
In this blog today, we are going to present you with the top 8 Jyotirlinga sites in India.
| SL. NO. | Sacred Holiday Packages | Place | State/country | How to visit |
| 1. | Somnath Temple | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | Buses, taxis, cabs, and trains |
| 2. | Mahakaleshwar Temple | Ujjain | Madhya Pradesh | Flights, buses, cars, trains |
| 3. | Omkareshwar Temple | Ujjain | Madhya Pradesh | Cars, flight, buses, trains |
| 4. | Bhimashankar Temple | Pune | Maharashtra | Buses, taxi, cabs, private car rentals |
| 5. | Rameshwaram Temple | Ramanathipuram | Tamil Nadu | Bus, taxi, car, train, local cabs |
| 6. | Kashi Vishwanath Temple | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | Local buses, trains, taxi, cabs |
| 7. | Kedarnath Temple | Rudraprayag | Uttarakhand | Cabs and car rental services |
| 8. | Grishneshwar Temple | Daulatabad | Maharashtra | Buses, taxi, cabs, private car rentals |
1. Somnath Jyotirlinga, Gujarat
This is considered to be the first of the Jyotirlinga sites in India. It is the Somnath Temple in Gujarat located in the Kathiawad District. The Somnath Temple in India is one of the most precious and precise architectural illustrations.
This is also a highly popular pilgrimage in the country. Somnath Temple was an extremely popular pilgrimage site from ancient times because it was the confluence of three majestic rivers in India. They are the Kaveri, Saraswati, and the Hiran River.
On the walls of the Somnath Temple, you can also see the sculptures of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. An interesting fact about the Somnath Temple is, you will not find a piece of land in a straight line between the Somnath seashore till Antarctica.
You can use the Dwarka Somnath tour package to visit this pious Jyotirlinga site.
2. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Madhya Pradesh
This is the temple located on the banks of the river Kshipra in the Mahakal forest of Ujjain. This Jyotirlinga site in Central India is one of the most important pilgrimage sites also. You can choose the Mahakaleshwar Omkareshwar tour package to visit this Jyotirlinga site in India.
Also, the Mahakaleshwar Temple is popular because it is one of the seven Mukti-Sthal for the Hindus. The place is a sacred location where one can attain liberation. In this place, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Mahakaleshwar, which is also a fierce form of Lord Shiva.
You should know that the Shivling present at Mahakaleshwar Temple is also known as Dakshinamurti because it is faced towards the south. An interesting thing about this temple is, it is also a five-storey construction with the presence of Gods like Ganesh, Parvati, Karttikeya, Nandi, and Nagchandreshwar in each storey.
For every God, on every storey there is a temple. You will find the Nagchandreshwar Temple open only on the day of Nag Panchami. When you plan to visit the Mahakaleshwar Temple, the best time is during the festival of Mahashivratri.
3. Omkareshwar Temple Jyotirlinga, Madhya Pradesh
When it comes to the Jyotirlingas of India, you cannot miss out on the Omkareshwar Temple at Madhya Pradesh. The Omkareshwar Temple is also known as the Omkareshwar Mahadev Temple. This is located on an island near the Narmada river at Shivpuri. The word Omkareshwar means, he is the Lord of Omkara, the Om sound. The place is highly sacred for the Hindus.
You can reach the temple in two ways. One is, you can use a boat ride, or you can also opt for the Mahakaleshwar Setu. The better option is to take the boat ride one way and then use the Setu while coming back. You will see a series of steps from the ghats that will lead you to the temple. People also believe that Omkareshwar is the NabhiSthal or the navel of the river. This is a perfect place to start and end the Narmada Parikrama.
Crafted with 60 solid stone pillars, the mandapa of the temple is exquisitely carved with the Yakshi figures. Also, you will find multiple images of different Dev and Devis throughout the temple walls. The Shayan or Night Arti of this temple is quite popular. You can witness it at around 8.30 PM every night. Since the River Narmada is one of the seven holy rivers of India, the Omkareshwar Temple visit is not complete without offering your prayers to the river.
You can use the Mahakaleshwar Omkareshwar package to visit this historic place.
4. Bhimshankar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra
This is yet another important Jyotirlinga site located in the Sahayadri region in Pune, Maharashtra. The place is on the banks of the Bhima River. It is also known to be the source of the river. The Shiva Lingam that you will see in this temple is mammoth in size and this is why the temple is also known as Motheshwar Mahadev. The Bhima River flows near the temple and joins the Krishna River.
The Bhimshankar Temple is a melange of old and new Nagara style of architecture. The appearance of the temple was crafted by the ancient Vishwakarma sculptors. Along with the Bhimshankar Temple, you can also visit other places around. These places include the Hanuman Lake, Gupt Bhimshankar, the Nag Phani, Bombay Point, and Sakshi Vinayak.
In fact, while reaching the temple, you will have to pass through the lush jungles of the western ghats. The jungle was also declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1985. To visit this majestic place, you can choose the Bhimshankar Shirdi Girineshwar Aurangabad tour package.
5. Rameshwaram Temple Jyotirlinga, Tamil Nadu
This is another highly popular Jyotirlinga site in India. The Rameshwaram Temple in India is present on the island of Rameshwaram, right off the Sethu Coast. The temple is very popular for the architecture, the long ornate corridors, the towers, and the 36 teerthams.
Along with being one of the Jyotirlingas in India, it is also one of the Chardhams. This is what makes the pilgrimage site so sacred and important for the Hindus. Also, the temple includes two Lingams, one is the Ramalingam and the other is the Vishwalingam.
An interesting fact about this temple is, it has a hall of 1212 pillars in the outer corridor. The height of these pillars is about 30 feet from the floor to the center of the roof. The main tower of Rajagopuram is 53m tall. Most of the pillars are carved with individual compositions.
If you want to visit the majestic Rameshwaram, this popular Jyotirlinga site, then there are multiple packages from My Tirth India. You can opt for the standard, budget, or deluxe package, anyone you want. The Rameshwaram tour package starts from 2 Nights and 3 days.
6. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, Varanasi
The Temple of Kashi Vishwanath is one of the most popular temples, not only in India but also in the world. This is situated amidst the crowded lanes of the sacred city of Benaras. Apart from the majestic ghats, the Shivalinga is the devotional focus for the people visiting the place. People believe that Benaras is the place where the first Jyotirlinga manifested its supremacy over other gods.
It broke through the earth’s crust and then flared towards heaven. People believe that if someone dies here, he/she is liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. Also, they believe that Shiva himself resided here and offered liberation to people.
The present temple was created by the legendary Indian ruler Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar, the Queen of Indore. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple has always retained its significance. An interesting fact about the Kashi Vishwanath Temple is, it has got three domes covered with gold! There is also a golden chatra on the top. People believe that if you wish for something from the core of your heart after seeing the golden chatra, this place will fulfill your wish.
You can opt for the Varanasi Ayodhya Vidhyanchal package to visit this historical place. You can customize the packages according to your requirements.
7. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga, Uttarakhand
Speaking of the Jyotirlingas of India, the Kedarnath Temple is one of the most popular and holiest Jyotirlinga sites in India. It is located in the Rudra Himalayan range at an elevation of 12,000 feet on mount Kedar. It is 150 miles from Haridwar. You will find the temple open for six months of the year and it remains closed for the remaining six months. This due to the extreme weather conditions.
People believe that this temple is protected and indestructible because Lord Bhairon Nath Ji protects it. There is a temple of Lord Bhairon Nath Ji, close to the Kedarnath Temple. Bhairon Nath, who is also known as Kshetrapal, is a fierce avatar of Lord Shiva.
According to the locals, Lord Bhairon Nath drives away all sorts of evil spirits and protects from any kind of damage. Interestingly, the surrounding areas of the temple have gone through a lot of damages, especially after the devastating flood of 2013 in Kedarnath, however, nothing happened to the temple.
According to the traditions, you have to visit Yamunotri, Gangotri and then bring the holy water to offer it at Kedarnath. People believe that if you pray at this place, all your wishes will be fulfilled. You can choose the Kedarnath tour yatra package to experience this majestic location.
8. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra
This is yet another Jyotirlinga site located in a village named Verul. It lies 20km from Daulatabad near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. This location is also very famous because of the Ajanta & Ellora caves. The temple was built by the braveheart Queen of Indore, Ahilyabai Holkar. She also rebuilt the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The outward appearance of the Grishneshwar Temple comprises religious and historical significance. The stone edifice has a distinct band of colors including, pink, rust, and pale yellow. The devotees first visit the small shrine of Kokila Mata after entering the Grishneshwar Temple. The Sabha Mandap is carved with 16 pillars along with a magnificent idol of Nandi facing the Shiva Linga. The doors of the shrine are crafted with sheets of silver etched with images of Lord Shiva.
You might know the Grishneshwar Temple by other names like Kusumeswarar, Ghushmeswara, and Grishneswara. You can choose the Bhimshankar, Shirdi, Girineshwar Aurangabad tour package to visit this beautiful place.
These are the top 8 Jyotirlinga sites in India. If you are planning to take a trip to these amazing locations in India, then My Tirth India can make smooth and seamless arrangements for you. All you need to do is get in touch with us and we shall get things done for you from beginning to the end.
