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12 Jyotirlinga Names in India with Names, Places, Map, Significance, Tour Packages. Comprehensive Jyotirlinga Guide.

What are the 12 Jyotirlingas?

The 12 Jyotirlingas in India are Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, Somnath, Grishneshwar, Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Rameshwaram, Srisailam, Baijnath, Nageshwar, Mahakaleshwar, and Omkareshwar.

If you are planning to visit these places, call us on 7977184437 or e-mail us on info@myoksha.com for best tour packages.

What is a Jyotirlinga?

Jyotirlinga is a holy shrine dedicated to worship Lord Shiva. These shrines worship Lord Shiva in the form of a Light or Jyotirlingam. ‘Jyoti’ meaning ‘radiance or light’ and ‘Lingam’ meaning ‘a sign or a symbol of Lord Shiva’, Jyotirlinga (ज्योतिर्लिंग) means ‘The Radiance of Lord Shiva’.  It is believed that these 12 jyotirlingas are ‘Swayambhu’ or self-manifested. Lord Shiva manifested himself in these places just for his devotees.

There are also 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra which are included in the 12 Jyotirlingas.

Jyotirlinga is also called ‘Dwadash Jyotirlingas’. These Jyotirlingas are considered to be the purest and holiest shrines of Lord Shiva. It is said that if a person visits all the holy shrines, he attains moksha.

How many Jyotirlingas are there in India?

It is believed that there were originally 64 Jyotirlingas. Out of these 12 ज्योतिर्लिंग are considered to be very holy and auspicious. Each of these twelve Jyotirlingas are different manifestations of Lord Shiva. These Jyotirlingas take the name of the presiding deity.

12 Jyotirlinga List with Locations

The list of 12 jyotirlingas in India are:

1. Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gujarat
2. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Madhya Pradesh
3. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga in Madhya Pradesh
4. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga in Andhra Pradesh
5. Vaijnath Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra
6. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga in Uttarakhand
7. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga in Gujarat
8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra
9. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra
10. Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga in Tamil Nadu
11. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra
12. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga in Uttar Pradesh

12 Jyotirlinga Map

What are the 12 jyotirlinga in India?

The 12 jyotirlinga in India are:

1. Somnath Jyotirlinga – Saurashtra, Gujarat

Somnath is considered to be the first Jyotirlinga. It is located on the western coast of Gujarat, in Prabhas Patan in Kathiawad District.  This shrine is one of the oldest and most visited pilgrimage sites in India. ‘Soma’ means ‘The Moon God’ and Somnath means ‘Lord of Soma’.

This mandir is known to have ‘Eternal Shrine‘. It was destroyed for almost 16 times by invaders but was always rebuilt and never lost its beauty. The present jyotirlinga has the Chalukya style architecture and the skills of Sompura Salats.

Somnath Travel Guide

Somnath Tour Package

What are the Somnath Jyotirlinga Timings?

The Somnath darshan timings are from 6 in the morning to 10 in the night.

What is the best time to visit the Somnath Jyotirlinga?

The best time for visiting the Somnath Jyotirlinga is:

Winter Season: The winters season in Gujarat covers the month of October to February. The climate in this season stays cool and is mostly recommended for sight-seeing. The temperature remains between 10 to 32-degree centigrades. The climate remains pleasant and is never bitter.

How to reach Somnath?

• Road – Somnath connects well to major cities in Gujarat like Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Dwarka and Chorwad by state roadways.
• Train – The nearest railway station is Somnath (0.5 km). Regular train service is available from all major cities in Gujarat.
• Air – There are no direct air routes to Somnath. The nearest airport is Diu, which is 85 km away.

2. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located on the banks of Kshipra River, beside Rudra Sagar Lake in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. This shrine is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peetham.

A tale from the Shiv Puranas states that the King of Ujjain, Chandrasena was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Once a five-year-old boy Shrikar overheard him while he was praying to the Lord. When he wanted to pray along with the King, he was forced by the guards to go to the river Kshipra and pray. Shrikar learned that the rivals of Ujjain, King Ripudamana and King Shinghaditya decided to attack Ujjain. Shrikar immediately started praying. The news soon spread and was heard by a priest called Vridhi who then started to pray as well. The Kings with the help of a Demon called Dushan were successful in attacking Ujjain. Dushan was blessed by Lord Brahma to be invisible. Lord Shiva on hearing the pleads of his devotees appeared in his Mahakaal form and defeated all the enemies. On the request of Shrikhar and Vridhi, he decided to reside in Ujjain as a form of light to protect the city and its people.

The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is also one of the ‘Mukti-Sthal’. It is believed that this place can liberate a human. One who worships the lingam is blessed by the Lord and is freed of diseases.

Mahakaleshwar Travel Guide

Mahakaleshwar Tour Package

What are the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Timings?

The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga timings are from 4 in the morning to 11 in the night.

What is the best season to visit the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Mahakaleshwar is:

Winter Season: The months of October to March cover this season. The temperature stays at 20 degrees. The weather remains pleasant and is good for the pilgrims. It is recommended to avoid summers as the temperature can rise up to 45 degrees centigrade.

How to reach Mahakaleshwar?

• Air – There are no direct air routes. The nearest airport is Indore, 53 km away from Ujjain.
• Train – Direct trains are available to Ujjain from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Benaras, Kochi as well as Jaipur.
• Road – Bus services are available from cities like Indore, Surat, Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Nasik and Mathura.

3. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga – Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh

Omkareshwar means ‘Lord of the sound Om’ or ‘Lord of Omkara’. The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is situated in the Khandwa District of Madhya Pradesh. It is situated on an island called Shivpuri on the Narmada River. There are various legends related to this place. One of the stories from the Hindu Puranas states that once there happened a great war between the Gods and the Demons. The Devas or Goda started praying to Lord Shiva when they started to lose against the Demons. Pleased with the prayers, Lord Shiva emerged in the form of Omkareshwar and defeated the Demons. Another legend states that Vindya, who controlled the Vindhyachal Mountain range was once worshipping the Lord. He created a sacred diagram and Lingam of sand and clay. Pleased, Lord Shiva appeared in two forms, Omkareshwar and Amaleshwar.

Amareshar means ‘Immortal Lord’ or ‘Lord of the devas or Immortals’. Amareshwar Temple is situated on the south bank of the River Narmada.

Omkareshwar Travel Guide

Omkareshwar Tour Package

What are the Omkareshwar Temple timings?

The timings of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga are from 5 in the morning to 9 in the night.

What is the best season to visit the Omkareshwar?

The best time to visit the Omkareshwar is:

Winter Season: The months of October to March covers this season. The climate remains pleasant that helps tourists to see the sights with ease. The temperature keeps between 15 to 30-degree centigrade. It is recommended to avoid summers as it gets really hot and uncomfortable.

How to reach Omkareshwar?

• Air: The nearest airport is at Indore and Ujjain. You can drive from there to Omkareshwar.
• Road: There are well-connected roads to Omkareshwar from all major cities.
• Rail: Omkareshwar has its own railway station called Omkareshwar Railway Station which is connected to all major cities.

4. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga – Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

Mallikarjuna Temple is popularly called ‘The Kailash of the South’. This temple is located at Srisailam on the banks of Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. The name Mallikarjauna comes from ‘Mallika’ meaning ‘Goddess Parvati’ and ‘Arjuna’ meaning ‘Lord Shiva’. A tale from the Shiv Puranas says that when Kartikeya returned to Kailash, after taking around of the earth, Narada Muni informed him about Ganesha’s marriage before him. A furious Kartikeya went away to the Kraunch Mountain. All the Gods, including Shiv Parvati, tried consoling him but he turned them all. Witnessing their son in a state like this, Shiv and Parvati assumed the form of a Jyotirlinga and resided on the mountain.

This temple is also amongst the 275 Paadal Petra Shiva Sthangal. This temple is also one of the 18 Shakti Peethas of Goddess Parvati. It is the only temple in India which is both a Shakti Peetha and a Jyotirlinga. It is believed that the person who visits this temple attains moksha and all their desires are fulfilled.

Srisailam Travel Guide

Srisailam Tour Package

What are the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga timings?

The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga timings are from 4:30 to 10.

What is the best time to visit the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga?

The best time to visit the Malikarjuna is:

Winter Season: The weather in this season stays pleasant. The month of October to February covers the winter season. The temperature remains between 15-20 degree centigrade. The climate remains pleasant which helps the pilgrims to have a nice visit.

How to reach Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga?

• Air – There are no direct air routes to Srisailam. The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International airport at Hyderabad. It is 202 km away from Srisailam.
• Road – The Srisailam Temple is present just 1 km away from the Srisailam Bus Stand.
• Train – There are no direct rail routes to Srisailam. The nearest Railway Station is Markapur which is 80 km away followed by Nandyal and Kurnool.

5. Vaijnath Jyotirlinga – Parli, Maharashtra

Vaijnath also known as Vaijnath/Baijnath is located at Parli in Beed District of Maharashtra. Some also refer to it as ‘Baba Dham’. It is believed that the person who visits this shrine attain moksha and gets rid of all miseries.

According to a legend, Ravana, the demon king wanted Lord Shiva to come with him to Srilanka. Shiva permitted him to carry his Atmalinga but on one condition. Ravan was asked not to take a break in his journey and transfer his Lingam to anyone else. If he does so, his lingam would be rooted at that place forever. The Gods knew that if Ravan carried Shiva’s Lingam with him, he would become invincible and destroy the world. They came up with a plan to outwit Ravan. They asked Varuna to enter the belly of Ravan following which he had an urgent urge to release water.  Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a Brahmin in front of Ravan. Ravan handed over the Lingam to the Brahmin, unaware of the mystery. Following this, the Lingam got rooted there forever.

Vaijnath Travel Guide

Vaijnath Tour Package

What are the Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Timings?

The timings of Vaijnath are from 5 to 9.

What is the best season to visit Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga?

Winter Season: The months of October to February covers winters in Maharashtra. The weather during this time remains pleasant. He temperature remain around 25 degrees centigrade. The tourist can visit the temple and the other sights in ease.

How to reach Parli?

• Road: There are direct road routes that connects the temple to the major cities. Several buses connect from Aurangabad, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other nearby cities.
• Train: The nearest train station is Parli. It is 2 km from the Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga. Here are direct trains that operate from Secunderabad, Kakinada, Manmad, Vishakapatnam and Bangalore.
• Air: There are no direct air routes to Parli Vaijnath. The nearest airport is in Nanded, 105 km from the Parli Vaijnath temple. You can also take a flight to Chikkalthana Airport which is 174kms away.

6. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga – Kedarnath, Uttarakhand

Kedarnath is situated at the Rudra Himalayan Range on a mountain named Kedar, at a height of 12,000 feet. It is one of the 4 Dhams along with Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Badrinath. According to the legends, Lord Shiva dwelled here on Nara and Narayana’s request. Due to weather conditions and snowfalls, the shrine remains open to the pilgrims only for a period of 6 months.

One believes that by visiting the shrine and bathing the Jyotirlinga, it can free them of all unhappiness, misfortunes and fulfill their desires.

Kedarnath Travel Guide

Kedarnath Tour Package

What are the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga timings?

The timings of Kedarnath are from 4 in the morning to 9 in the night.

What is the best season to visit Kedarnath Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit Kedarnath is:

The Kedarnath is open to the pilgrims for only a period of 6months. This is due to the harsh weather conditions that the place withstands. The best time to visit the Kedarnath is during Summer Season. The months of May and June covers this season. The temperature remains around 5-degree to 18-degree centigrade. One can also visit the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga in the months of September and October. During these time, the weather remains comparatively pleasant.

How to visit Kedarnath Jyotirlinga?

• Air –There are no direct flight routes to Kedarnath. There is no airport at Kedarnath. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. It is 238 km away from the Temple town.
• Train – There are no direct rail routes to Kedarnath. The nearest railway station is Rishikesh, situated at a distance of 216 km from Kedarnath.
• Road – One can board buses from Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Srinagar and Chamoli.

7. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga – Darukavanam, Gujarat

Nageshwar temple is also known as Nagnath Temple. It is located in Saurashtra, Gujarat, between Gomti Dwarka and Bait Dwarka Island. According to a legend in the Shiv Puranas, there was once a Demon called Daaruka who imprisoned Supriya, a Lord Shiva devotee. Daaruka took Supriya along with many other to his city called Darukavana. It was a city under the sea which had many demons and sea snakes. Supriya along with others started praying to Lord Shiva who appeared before them and vanquished the Demon. Since then, he resided there in the form of a Jyotirlinga.

Nageshwar Travel Guide

Nageshwar Tour Package

What are the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga timings?

The temple timings of Nageshwar are from morning 6 to night 9.

What is the best season to visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit Nageshwar is:

Winter Season: The months of October to February faces winters in Gujarat. The weather is pleasant with cool breezes blowing. The temperature remains between 12-degree to 25-degree centigrade.

How to reach Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?

• Air- There are no direct air routes to Nageshwar. The nearest airport is that of Jamnagar which is 137 km.
• Rail- There are trains which even connect the way down to south through Vadodara, Surat, Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• Road- There are direct buses available from Jamnagar and Ahmedabad.

8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga – Nasik, Maharashtra

Trimbakeshwar Temple is located near Nasik, in the town of Trimbak near Brahmagiri Mountain. The sacred river, Godavari originates near Trimbak. The unique feature about the temple is that the Jyotirlinga in this temple has three faces. These faces represent the three supreme Gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar.

A legend from the Shiv Puranas narrates that Gautam Rishi received a boon from Varuna where he got a free supply of grain. He thus used to call many sages to eat at his house. However, one day he killed a cow for grazing his field.  In order to wash away his sin, he started praying to Lord Shiva, who asked River Ganga to flow from here washing away all his sin.

On the earnest request of Gautam Rishi, River Godavari, and the other Gods, Shiva resided here in the name of Trimbakeshwar.

Trimbakeshwar Travel Guide

Trimbakeshwar Tour Package

What are the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga timings?

The temple timings of Trimbakeshwar are from 5:30 am to 9 pm.

What is the best season to visit the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is:

Winter Season: The months of October to March covers the winters in Trimbakeshwar. It is recommended to visit during these months as the weather remain comparatively pleasant. However, Trimbakeshwar faces extremity in all climatic seasons. The temperature remains between 7-degrees to 34-degrees centigrade.

How to reach Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga?

• Air: There is no direct flight route to Trimbakeshwar. The nearest flight route is at Mumbai, which is 200kms away from Trimbakeshwar.
• Rail: There is no direct rail route to Trimbakeshwar. The nearest rail station is at Nasik. It is also well connected with the Mumbai train station.
• Road: Trimbakeshwar is well-connected with the major cities via road route.

9. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga – Pune, Maharashtra

The Bhimashankar Temple is located in the Ghat Region of the Sahyadri Hills in Pune, Maharashtra. It is also the source of the Bhima River. According to the Legends, Bhima, the son of Karkati and Kumbhkaran lived in the dense forest with his mother. When he learned how his father was killed in the great war between Rama and Ravana he became furious. He started praying to Lord Bramha who blessed him with immense powers. With his powers, he started destroying everything and defeated almost every God. Witnessing this all the Gods along with Lord Bramha started praying to Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva came to the rescue and defeated the demon. Since then, on everyone’s request, he manifested himself in the form of Bhimashankar.

Bhimashankar Travel Guide

Bhimashankar Tour Package

What are the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Timings?

The mandir is open from 4:30 am to 10 pm.

What is the best season to visit the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Bhimashankar is:

Winter Season: Although the temple could be visited at any time, it is the best to pay a visit to the temple during winters. The month of October to February covers the winter season. The temperature stays between 13-degrees to 30-degree centigrade. Trekkers would find it very attractive to trek during the winters here.

How to reach Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga?

• Air– There are no direct air routes to Bhimashankar. The nearest airport is Pune Airport.
• Train – There are no direct rail routes to Bhimashankar Temple. The nearest railway station is Pune, 120 km away from the Temple.
• Road – Regular buses are available from Pune from 5:30 AM to 4 PM. A bus also from Kalyan starts at 9 AM and one from Ghatkopar or Kurla at 11 AM.

10. Rameshwar Jyotirlinga – Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Rameshwaram Temple is located in Rameshwaram island on Tamil Nadu. This is the southernmost Jyotirlinga. A legend in Ramayana narrates that, Rama committed a sin of killing a Brahmin during his war against the Demon King Ravana. He prayed to Lord Shiva to absolve him of his sin. He asked Hanuman to bring a lingam from the Himalayas. Sita made a small lingam out of the sand and started praying when Hanumana was late. This is believed to be the lingam in the sanctum.

This Jyotirlinga is popularly called ‘Varanasi of the South’. Beside the temple is the Dhanushkodi beach. It is here that Rama built the Ram Setu to save his wife, Sita from the Demon, Ravana. This shrine is also amongst the holy Char Dhams.

Rameshwaram Travel Guide

Rameshwaram Tour Package

What are the Rameshwaram Temple timings?

The mandir is open from 6 in the morning to 8:30 in the night.

What is the best season to visit the Rameshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Rameshwaram is:

Winter Season: The month of October to March faces the winters. The temperature stays around 20-degrees to 30-degrees centigrade. It is the peak tourist season. It is best for exploring the various places.

How to reach Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga?

• Air: The nearest airport is in Madurai, which is 174 km from Rameshwaram.
• Road: This major pilgrim site is connected to all cities and towns in Tamil Nadu. Several state-run and private buses are available.
• Train: Rameshwaram Railway station is the nearest railhead, 1 km away from the temple.

11. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga – Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Grishneshwar means ‘Lord of Compassion’. This temple is located in Verul, which is less than a kilometer from Ellora. This temple is also called Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga and Dhushmeshwar Jyotirlinga.

According to a legend in the Shiv Puranas, there lived a childless couple in the called Sudeha and Sudharm in Devagiri Mountain. Sudeha got his husband married to her sister, Ghushma. Soon, Ghushma and Sudharm were blessed with a boy. This left Sudeha jealous. She threw the boy in a lake where Ghushma used to discharge 101 Lingams. On repeated prayers by Ghushma, Lord Shiva returned her son back to her. On the request of Sudharm, Lord Shiva manifested himself here in the name of Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga.

Grishneshwar Travel Guide

Grishneshwar Tour Package

What are the Grishneshwar Jytirlinga timings?

The temple is open from 5:30 am to 11 pm.

TIMINGS	FROM	TO
Darshan	5:30 AM	9:30 PM
Darshan (In Shravan)	3:00 PM	11:00 PM

What the best season to visit the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Grishneshwar is:

Winter Season: The months of October to March cover the winters here. This temperature is recommended as the weather stays pleasant. Tourist can freely visit the sights. The temperature remains between 12-degree centigrade to 30-degree centigrade.

How to reach the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga?

• Road: Grishneshwar Temple is well-connected with all major cities via road. From Pune: 256 km/4.5 hours. From Nasik: 187 km/3 hours. From Shirdi: 122 km/2.5 hours
• Train: There are no rail stations at Grisheshwar Temple. Aurangabad is the nearest railway station. Manmad is also closer and better connected.
• Flight: The nearest airport is in Aurangabad, and there are regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Udaipur.

12. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Kashi Viswanath Jyotirlinga stands on the western bank of River Ganga, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The name ‘Kashi’ comes from the other name of Varanasi, Kashi. ‘Viswanath’ or ‘Vishveshwar’ means the ‘Ruler of the Universe’. The main deity here is called Vishwanath or Vishveshwar. This jyotirlinga is popularly referred to as ‘The Golden Temple of Varanasi’. It is believed that a dip in the holy Ganges followed by a visit to the jyotirlinga help one attain Moksha. It is also believed that a true devotee of Shiva achieves freedom from death. They are taken directly to Mout Kailash by messengers of Lord Shiva and not Yama after their death. It is also believed that Shiva himself says the mantra of salvation in the ears of the people who die naturally here.

Kashi Travel Guide

Kashi Tour Package

What are the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga timings?

• The Kashi Vishwanath Temple opens daily at 2:30 AM and closes at 11 PM.
• The Mangala Aarti is performed between 3 AM to 4 AM.
• The mid-day Bhog Aarti is performed between 11:30 AM to 12 PM.
• The Sapta Rishi Aarti is performed between 7 PM to 8:30 PM.
• The Shringar Bhog and Aarti are performed at 9 PM.
• The Shayan Aarti starts at 10:30 PM.
• The general darshan timings are 4 AM to 11 AM, 12 PM to 7 PM, and from 8:30 PM to 9 PM.
• After 9 PM, pilgrims are allowed to view the Lord from outside the sanctum.

What the best season to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga?

The best season to visit the Kashi Vishwanath is:

Winter Season: The months of November to February covers the winters in Varanasi.  The temperature stays between 5-degrees to 15-degrees centigrade. The weather stays pleasant during this time which makes it comfortable for the visitors.

How to reach the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga?

• Air – The nearest airport to the city is Babatpur which is 22 km from Varanasi. Direct flights are operated by Air India as well as other private airlines from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Agra, Bhubaneswar and Lucknow.
• Train – The nearest Railway Station is Varanasi Junction or the Mughal Sarai Junction. Several trains connect the city to almost all major parts of the country like Delhi, Chennai, Howrah, Jammu, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Guwahati.
• Road – The city is located on NH2 highway linking Kolkata to New Delhi. Several buses are available from places like Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Patna, Nagpur, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, and Gaya.

12 Jyotirlinga Mantra

12 Jyotirlinga Tour Packages

It is not possible to cover all 12 Jyotirlinga in a single trip because of time constraints and long diatances. It is advisable to cover state by state. For instance you can cover all 5 jyotrilingas in maharashtra and then move on to cover two jyotirlingas in MP and then 2 jyotirlingas in Gujarat and so on.

How many Jyotirling in Maharashtra?

There are five Jyotirlinga present in Maharashtra. These are Bhimshankar, Grishneshwar, and Trimbakeshwar. The other Jyotirlingas are Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga.

How many Jyotirling in Gujarat?

There are two Jyotirlinga present in Gujarat. These are Somnath and Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. Somnath Jyotirlinga is located in Somnath. Nageshwar is located in Daarukavanam.

How many Jyotirling in MP?

There are two Jyotirlinga present in Madhya Pradesh. These are Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and Omkareshwar. Mahakaleshwar is situated in Ujjain. Omkareshwar is in Khandwa.

Navratri (“nava” i.e. 9 + “ratri” i.e. nights) means “nine nights”. This ritual is observed twice a year, in spring and in autumn. During Navratri, Hindus undertake nine days of fasting and worshipping. The Divine Mother or Devi is worshipped by her own command for nine days and in different forms. This festival is celebrated with various rites and rituals as believed by the devotees and hence, the commencement of all the rituals makes it more auspicious. Here is a list of some popular rituals undertaken for Navratri. 

Ritual 1 – Worshipping the 9 forms of Goddess Durga

It is believed that Goddess Durga has 9 forms. All these nine manifestations of the goddess are worshipped during the Navratri and each manifestation has its own significance. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one goddess each and the devotees worship accordingly. These 9 forms of the goddess are as follows-

1. Shailputri Mata
2. Brahmacharini Mata
3. Chandraghanta Mata
4. Kushmanda Mata
5. Skanda Mata
6. Katyayani Mata
7. Kalratri Mata
8. Mahagauri Mata
9. Siddhatri Mata

Ritual 2 – Ghatsthapana

During this religious festival, instalment of a pot in one’s pooja room is meant to be auspicious. This installation of a pot is termed as “Ghatsthapana”. This pot symbolises the universe and is filled with a mixture of seven kinds of grains and covered with coconut.

Ritual 3 – Lightening of Akhand Jyoti

As the name suggests “Akhand” means uninterrupted and “Jyoti” means light. During this festival, a lamp is lit for nine days continuously and taken care so that it doesn’t go off. Burning of it for all nine days non-stop is said to put an end to negative energies and make the devotees aware of their consciousness. It is also believed that this Akhand Jyoti is the medium through which one worships “Adi Shakti” i.e. Goddess Durga.

Ritual 4 – Sowing of Barley

In a pot of sand or copper, barley seeds are sown. Barley is the symbol of first fruit and signifies growth, affluence and abundance. Hence, it is worshipped as well as taken care of all nine days. It is believed that the length of the barley shoots determines the quantum of income and prosperity that a family will have.

Ritual 5 – Offerings to Goddess Durga

Different kinds of offerings are made to Goddess during 9 days of Navratri as a token of thanksgiving from the devotees for listening to their prayers and keeping them away from ill happenings. The offerings are in the form of fruits, food, clothes, jewellery, etc.

Ritual 6 – Enchanting of Durga Sapshatti Paath

Reciting of the Durga Sapshatti Paath during Navratri is considered to be extremely auspicious. If not completely one can choose to recite particular Adhyayas as each adhyaya has its own significance. Enchanting the same sanctions the devotee with peace, tranquillity, wealth and prosperity in life.

Ritual 7 – 9 Colours for 9 Days

All the nine days of Navratri have a colour in their name. All these colours hold certain significance and devotees prefer wearing those nine colours accordingly or as per the day. Those nine colours are as follows – Green, Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Indigo, Violet, Pink and clothes with hues of golden.

Ritual 8 – Singing and Dancing

Singing and dancing during Navratri is now a part of festivity and fun and also a reason to dress up and catch up with your friends. But generations back it was believed and is still believed that singing and dancing in front of the idols of Goddess is auspicious and brings good luck. When goddess observes you to be happy and praising her in this form bestows you with more joy and happiness in life.

Ritual 9 – Kanya Bhoj

In Hindu Religion girls from the age group of 1-12 are termed to be as the little goddesses. Hence, on the ninth day, small girls are called over to various people’s houses and then first worshipped and later served with food. Further, they are offered with sweet beetle leaves, chunari, gifts, etc as we offer the goddesses.

Follow all these rituals and your Navratri will be all the more fun, perfect and filled with happiness and prosperity.

Top 50 Famous Temples in India display the variety in architectural styles the country has contained to date. India has been a subject of wonder for the entire world due to its ancient, unique and rich heritage. It has over 1000 rationalized mother tongues, an array of religions and mystic number of traditions, practices, foods and attires.

Out of its more than 6 lakh temples, here is a crisp list of top 50 famous temples in India revered as the most popular and prominent (in no particular order).

1. Badrinath Temple

Badrinath temple is a part of both Chhota Char Dham and Char Dham yatra. Hindu devotees have considered this temple of Uttarakhand a pious pilgrimage by Hindu devotees since ages. Badrinath is a small temple town located in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Furthermore, the majestic River Alaknanda flows beside the temple. Two peaks surround the temple – Nar and Narayan. Apart from the immense religious importance associated with this temple, the scenic beauty of its location also attracts overwhelming number of pilgrims each year. This is one of the top 50 famous temples in India.

2. Rameshwaram Ramanathaswamy Temple

This beautiful temple makes an easy entry into top 50 famous temples in India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to have been constructed in the era of Lord Rama. Centuries ago the rulers of the Pandya Dynasty expanded it. Furthermore, its prominence derives from the fact that it is a part of Charm Dham as well as the 12 Jyotirlingas. Out of the 12 jyotirlingas, five of them are located around Pune. While it is an ancient temple, it has such a beautiful architectural style that it stands at par with the beauty of modern architecture. This temple can be included in any list of top 50 famous temples in India.

3. Vaishno Devi Temple

In the beautiful land of Jammu Kashmir is this famous temple of Vaishno Devi. Since it is on the peak of a Trikuta mountain, most pilgrims trek 13 km to reach the temple. This temple is in the form of a cave. Many believe that Vaishno Devi is the most prominent Shakti Peetha. It is the most visited shrine in Northern India which definitely makes it one of top 50 famous temples in India.

4. Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple is a part of Chota Char Dham. It is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (What are they?) and devotees worship Sri Kedareshwar avatar of Lord Shiva here.  Also one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, the temple is close to the holy river Mandakini. According to belief, the establishment of this temple dates back to the era of Mahabharat.

5. Golden Temple

Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib is very famous, stunningly beautiful and the holiest Sikh shrine. Since it is one of the very few monuments built with something as precious as gold, the beauty of this temple is legendary. The golden dome of the temple weighs 750 kg. Sikh gurus built this temple for a message of peace and acceptance to all religions.

6. Amarnath Temple

Amarnath Yatra is one of the most difficult and yet it is one of the most famous temples in India. Amarnath cave is at an altitude of 3888 meters (12760 feet) in the Himalayan mountain range known as the Chandanwari Hills. The shrine receives more than 4 lakh pilgrims in a 45-day visiting period during the month of Shravan and the Shravani Mela.

7. Jagannath Puri Temple

Situated in Odisha, the Jagannath Puri temple is a very celebrated temple. It is also a part of Char Dham shrines. It is one of the most sacred Vaishnavite Pilgrimage sites. The temple’s deities are Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. The idol of Lord Jagannath is wooden, which is unconventional. Another feather in the cap of this temple is that its kitchen is the largest kitchen in the world!

8. Meenakshi Temple

Meenakshi Temple of Goddess Parvati and Lord Sundareshwara has an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple. An ancient masterpiece of Dravidian architectural style, it is one of most famous temples in India. The Linga of Lord Sundareshwara is one of the 68 Swayambhu Lingas in India.

9. Gangotri Temple

In the town where the holiest of the rivers- the river Ganga- originates, Gangotri is one of the most famous temples in India. The temple is also dedicated to the river Ganga and is at an elevation of 3048 meters above the sea level. While the location makes the journey to this revered temple difficult, it is always worth it. The beautiful scenic beauty adds to its significance.

10. Yamunotri Temple

Another temple in Devbhumi (Land of the Gods) Uttaranchal is Yamunotri Temple. Often cited in close association with Yamunotri, it is the origin of a sacred river too- Yamuna. The Temple of Goddess Yamuna is at an altitude of 3291 meters. Dense forests of the Himalayan ranges surround the temple. It is one of the 4 temples that constitute the Chota Char Dham.

11. Tirupati Balaji

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the most popular and sacred Vaishnavite temple in the world. Devotees worship Lord Venkateshwara in this temple. The Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is at the peak of Tirumala hill also known as Venkatadri. It is a beautiful, ancient temple and one of the most famous temples in India.

12. Khajuraho Temples

Khajuraho temples are a group of Hindu and Jain temples- exhibiting India’s cultural diversity. They are precious UNESCO World Heritage sites. Once spread over an area of 20 square kilometers, they are now a group of 20 surviving temples. The temples are extremely beautiful. Some of the notable ones are Matangeshwar, Devi Jagdambi and Kandariya Mahadeva.

13. Dwarkadhish Temple

The stunning architecture of this temple 2000-2200 years old, as the archaeological findings suggest. Hence, it is one of the oldest and most famous temples in India. Hindus believe that Sri Krishna’s grandson Vajranabha constructed the temple. Dwarka is composed of two words – “Dwar” meaning the Gate and “Ka” meaning Brahma or Moksh. There are two tours you can plan around this temple. Dwarka Somnath Tour and Pancha Dwaraka Yatra.

14. Akshardham

The internationally famous Swaminarayan Akshardham temple was established on 2^nd November 1992. There is a 7 feet gold leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan in this temple. In addition, there are three exhibitions about Indian culture with light and sound shows. The temple is at the center of a beautiful 23 acre complex.

15. Siddhivinayak Temple

Siddhivinayak means “one who grants wishes”. It is situated in Mumbai and is very popular all over India. Like the word Vinayak in its name suggests, it is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The Temple was constructed in late 1801. The Temple is one of the richest temple complexes in Mumbai city, receiving patronage from politicians, Bollywood and businessmen.

16. Lingaraj Temple

This ancient temple is preserved by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the temple’s Trust Board. The temple is one of the most famous temples in India and has 150 smaller shrines inside its huge courtyard. It has a captivating ancient architectural style. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva but Lord Vishnu is also worshiped here.

17. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is one of the richest temples of India owing to the offerings bestowed by Sai Baba’s followers. A great personality loved by all religions, Sai Baba continues to be popular in the nation. Many stories of him performing miracles are known. The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Complex also has Khandoba Temple, Gurusthan, Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai, Chavadi and The Lendi Gardens. Easily one of the top 50 famous temples in India.

18. Iskcon Temple

Iskcon Temple has two more names – ‘Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathy Temple’ also known as ‘Hare Krishna Temple’. The temple is built to inspire people about Sri Krishna and his teachings. Since its establishment in the year 1998, the temple has become one of the most famous temples in India.

19. Har ki Pauri, Haridwar

According to the Garuda Purana, Haridwar is one of the seven holiest places or Moksha Sthalas. Next to the holy river Ganga, this temple sees numerous devotees from all over the country. Moreover, the city is also the gateway of the famed Chhota Char Dham pilgrimage. Haridwar also hosts other famous temples.

20. Konark Temple

Konark Temple is a jewel in the crown of Indian architecture. As a result, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name forms from kon” meaning “angle” and “Ark” meaning “the sun”. King Narsimhadeva I of Eastern Ganga Dynasty constructed it in 13th century.

21. Sabarimala Temple

This temple is not only one of the most famous temples in India but also one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Sastha, popularly known as Lord Ayyapan. The Sabarimala Temple is located at the peak of a hilltop named Sabarimala. It is believed that the installation of the deity Lord Ayyapan was done by Parashurama himself on orders of Lord Dharmasastha.

22. Arunachalam Temple

This temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas- the five Shiva temples, each dedicated to the five elements. The Tiruvannamalai Arunachalam Temple construction dates back to 9^th century AD, by Chola Kings. It is the largest Shiva temple in India.  The area is concentrated with several ashrams and samadhis dedicated to saints and spiritual leaders from all over India.

23. Pashupatinath Temple

A World Heritage Site, the Pashupatinath Temple is not only a sacred temple, but also an attraction for tourists. The Shivalinga of this holy place of worship consists of eight faces. Thousands of pilgrims pay a visit to this temple every day.

24. Durga Temple Aihole

Although its name suggests Durga as the deity, the word in the temple name means “Durg” or “fortress”. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Durga Temple Aihole came into existence between the 7^th and 8^th century by the Chalukya dynasty. It is well maintained and visiting this temple is like a beautiful time travel.

25. Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple

Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple has three shrines of Hindu Gods Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra. There are about 70 pillars at this fabulous 16th-century temple of stone in Vijayanagar style. Its shiva linga has a unique design. Many believe that it is the largest Nagalinga in India.

26. Kamakhya Temple

Kamakhya Temple is a Shakti Peeth. Furthermore, there are ten small sized temples around the premise of the main shrine. These are with respect to the ten avatars of Maa Kali. Many stories about this temple are popular. The devotees call the goddess as ‘Kameshwari’ who is also called as the ‘Great goddess of illusion’.

27. Kalkaji Mandir

Maa Kalka, an avatar of Goddess Durga, is the main deity of Kalkaji Mandir. This temple is made up of marble and black pumic stones. This temple is always crowded with devotees but the apex point is during the festival Navratri. The temple has been in existence since  1764.

28. Somnath Temple

The beautiful Somnath Temple is one of the most famous temples in India. Its history dates back to 649 BC. However, it was attacked and rebuilt several times before reaching its present state. It is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

29. Naina Devi Temple

Naina Devi Temple is a Shakti Peeth. It is based on the mythological story of Godess Sati. Shri Naina Devi Temple is the place where eyes of Goddess Sati fell down. Famous land marks of Bhakra Dam,Anadpur  Sahib and Govind Sagar lake surround the temple. The temple is on a triangular hill which offers a great view of the foothills.

30. Lakshmi Narayan Temple

Sahil Varman built the Lakshmi Narayana Temple in 10th century AD. It is the main temple of Chamba town, and has Shikhara style architecture. The ‘garbhagriha’ or the innermost shrine houses a mandapa (altar) but it is not for public access. In conclusion, it is a great experience to visit this temple.

31. Baijnath Temple

Two regional merchants of Himanchal Pradesh constructed Baijnath Temple in early 13th century. It is an architectural marvel and its shiva linga and Himalayan location attract thousands of devotees. According to legends Lanka Ravana wanted to take away the lingam with him. Since it is a fine example of extremely attractive ancient architecture, it is one of the most famous temples in India.

32. Hoysaleswara Temple

The Hoysaleswara Temple of Halebeedu is another masterpiece of Indian temple architecture. The temple worships Lord Shiva and exhibits Hoysala style of architecture. While built in the 12th century, it has beautiful intricate carvings. There is also a museum within the temple complex.

33. Prati Balaji Temple

The Prati Balaji Temple Narayanpur is a replica of the original Tirupati Temple. Its construction completed in 2003 after decades of work. It occupies 10 acres of land and Sahyadri hills enclose the beautiful complex. The entrance of the shrine is huge and has beautifully stone-crafts.

34. Ekvira Aai Temple

Ekvira Aai Temple is not only a beautiful cave temple, but also one the country’s most popular ones. As per the legend, the Pandavas constructed the temple during their banishment period in the forest. The presiding deity of the temple Goddess Ekvira Aai is the family deity for the Agar Koli people.

35. Ozar Ganpati

Ozar Ganpati is an Ashtavinayak Temple. Furthermore, its construction dates back to the period of the Peshwa reign. Since Lord Ganesh defeated demon Vighnasur at this place, the Lord is called Vighneswar Vinayak – one who removes obstacles. Also, people believe that the Vighneshwar Vinayak idol is self-manifested and is covered in vermillion. This temple of Ganesha is one of the top 50 famous temples in India.

36. Saptashrungi

Saptashrungi is a Shakti Peeth and one of the most popular and religious places for pilgrims. In addition, the image of the Devi is huge-about 10 feet tall with 18 hands, holding various weapons. Since the temple is on a mountain, one has to climb around 500 steps to reach the shrine. Moreover, there are several other shrines close to it.

37. Aundha Nagnath Temple

Aundha Nagnath Temple in Maharashtra is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is known as Lord Nagnath in this region. Most of all, it is the first Jyotirlinga on Earth. Mythology says that Yudhistra first built this majestic temple during exile of the Pandavas. A stone called Dwaraka Shila is used for the Shiva Linga.

38. Brahma Temple Pushkar

Pushkar temple is the not only a legendary temple, but also most prominent of the few dedicated to Lord Brahma. Pushkar city is also famous for yearly Pushkar camel fair in Kartik Poornima. Pilgrims visiting this temple have a lot to see in nearby regions of Rajasthan.

39. Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Kanchipuram’s Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a popular shrine of Lord Vishnu. The Cholas built it in 1053; however, the great Chola kings Kulottunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola expanded it. As a result, it is spread on a 23 acres complex. Furthermore, this popular shrine is famous for its sculptures.

40. Deo Krishna Mandir

Deo Krishna Mandir is one of the most sacred sites as per the beliefs of Hinduism. The site on which the shrine has been constructed is believed to be the exact spot where Lord Vishnu manifested himself as the eighth avatar of Lord Krishna. The oldest mention of Mathura can be traced back to the age of the epic Ramayana.

41. Annavaram Temple

Annavaram is the second most popular pilgrimage after the Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Annavaram temple’s presiding deity is Lord Satyadeva who sits with his consort Shri Anantha Lakshmi on a side and Lord Siva sits on the other side. The main temple is in the form of a chariot that has four wheels at each corner.

42. Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple

This is one the Five Powerful Temples of Lord Shiva which are known as “Pancharamas” in Andhra Pradesh. The literal translation of Draksharamam is ‘Abode of Daksha Prajapathi’, the father of Sati and the father in law of Lord Shiva. Furthermore, there are many smaller shrines inside the main temple.

43. Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple

The Mallikarjuna Linga is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. He is supposed to have appeared in a fiery column of light. The Linga is also supposed to be self-born in nature. The Brahmaramba temple is one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas in India. It is believed that the neck of the Sati Devi fell here when her corpse was cut through by the Sudarshana Chakra in the Daksha Yoga episode.

44. Chattarpur Mandir

The Chattarpur Mandir is spread over 70 acres of sprawling greens and comprises over 20 small and large temples. The sixth avatar of Durga, Katyayani was the one who slayed the evil demon Mahishasur. Also, The stunning white marble architecture with serene surroundings makes the Chattarpur Mandir all the more divine and admirable.

45. Sarangpur Hanuman Temple

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred and holy temples in Swaminarayan Sampraday.  It is a belief that the statue of Lord Hanuman was found in this well before about 350 years and the temple was constructed at the same place. This temple is the place to get rid of the evils and is one of the most famous temples in India.

46. Sheetla Mata Mandir

Sheetala Devi Mandir, Gurugram is in the suburb of Guru Dronacharya’s birth place in the state of Haryana. During the month of Chaitra (March-April), this place looks like a Kumbh-Mela, filled with devotees. Also, Sheetala is a sanskrit term which means ‘one who cools’. Tantric and Puranic literature have clear mentions of Goddess Sheetala. Since people from not only India but various other countries visit it, it is one f the most famous temples in India.

47. Jwalamukhi Temple

Jwalamukhi Temple is a famous Shakti Peetha where Goddess Sati’s tongue fell. The temple consists of a copper pipe from where natural gas emits. Then, priests of this temple lit it to produce a flawless blue flame where worshipers pay respects to this flame- a menifestation of Goddess Sati.

48. Lakshmi Narasimha

The presiding deity of Lakshmi Narasimha Temple of Bhadravathi is Lord Narasimha. He is the protector of humankind and destroyer of demons and evil spirits. The temple has Hoysala architecture style. Soapstone makes up this temple; hence, there is a soapy feeling upon touching its walls.

49. Badami Cave Temples

The Chalukya dynasty constructed the Badami Cave Temples during the 6^th to the 8^th century. There are four primary caves, namely, Cave 1, Cave 2, Cave 3 and Cave 4. Furthermore, two more caves were discovered. The 5th cave is a Buddhist cave. Each cave tells a different concept and story and is a precious Indian heritage. This temples finds a mention in our list of top 50 famous temples in India.

50. Pandharpur Vitthal Temple

Pandharpur Temple receives the largest number of devotees in Maharashtra. Lord Vitthal or Vithoba (form of Lord Krishna) along with his consort Rakhumai or Rukmini preside the holy shrine. Furthermore, the earliest inscriptions of the Temple are the era of the Yadava dynasty in the 12th & 13th century. The Dindi Yatra is a unique feature of the Temple.