12 Jyotirlinga Temples in India – Names, Locations & Significance
The Jyotirlingas are sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped in the form of a lingam of radiant light (jyoti). The word Jyotirlinga is derived from “jyoti,” meaning “divine light,” and “linga,” which represents Shiva’s infinite and formless nature. According to Hindu beliefs, there are 12 prominent Jyotirlingas across India, each with its own unique significance and legend.
These revered temples are spread across different parts of the country, drawing devotees who seek spiritual enlightenment, blessings, and divine grace. Along with their religious importance, these temples also showcase stunning architecture and a peaceful atmosphere that enhances the devotional experience.
In this guide, we will explore the 12 Jyotirlinga temples, their names, locations, and significance, helping you plan your spiritual journey and understand the legends behind these sacred sites.
List Of 12 Jyotirlingas In India With Locations
Spread across the country, Jyotirlingas are visited by devotees and travelers from different parts of the world. From planning to organizing your trip, this 12 Jyotirlinga list can be super helpful. Below is a list of 12 Jyotirlinga images with name and place:
- Somnath Jyotirlinga – Gir, Gujarat
- Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga – Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
- Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
- Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga – Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
- Kedarnath Jyotirlinga – Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand
- Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga – Pune, Maharashtra
- Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga – Nashik, Maharashtra
- Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga – Deoghar, Jharkhand
- Nageshwar Jyotirlinga – Dwarka, Gujarat
- Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga – Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
- Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga – Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Each of these temples has a deep-rooted connection to Hindu mythology and attracts thousands of devotees every year. Visiting all 12 Jyotirlingas is considered highly auspicious and is believed to grant spiritual liberation (moksha).
Jyotirlingas in West India
1. Somnath Jyotirlinga – Gir Somnath, Gujarat
This is one of the most famous Jyotirlingas in India. Somnath is regarded as the first among the twelve aadi jyotirlingas and one of the most worshipped pilgrimage sites in the country. The temple architecture resembles Chalukya style and Lord Shiva is believed to have appeared in this shrine, as a sizzling column of light. Shiv Purana tales reveal that Moon married 27 daughters of Dakshin Prajapati.
But Moon was cursed by Prajapati for neglecting all his wives except one; Rohini. In order to get rid of the curse and regain his lost lustre and beauty, he worshipped Lord Shiva. The almighty granted his wish and resided here as Somnath eternally. Located in Kathiawad region, Somnath jyotirlinga temple was destroyed and rebuilt almost sixteen times. There is no doubt in the fact that this temple comes on the top in the 12 Jyotirlingas’ list and this jyotirlinga in Gujarat is a key landmark for travellers.
Best Time To Visit: October to March (pleasant weather)
Darshan Timings: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Check official website for updates)
Aarti Timings: Usually at 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 7:00 PM (confirm online)
How To Reach:
- By Air: Diu Airport (85 km) has limited flights; Rajkot Airport (200 km) offers better connectivity.
- By Train: Somnath Railway Station (1.5 km) is well-connected to Ahmedabad and other cities.
- By Road: Accessible via NH-51, with buses and taxis from Ahmedabad (410 km) and Rajkot (200 km).
2. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga – Daarukavanam, Gujarat
Located on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat, between Gomati Dwarka and Bait Dwarka, Nageshwar is one of the popular Jyotirlinga tempes in India. Thousands of devotees visit the temple of Nagnath, round the year, to seek blessings from the holy shrine of Nageshwar Mahadev located in an underground sanctum. The 25-m tall statue of Lord Shiva, large garden and unobstructed views of the azure Arabian sea, fascinate the visitors. This is one of the most powerful Jyotirlingas in India, which symbolizes protection of all types of poisons.
Temple opening hours: 5 AM to 9 PM, on all days of the week. Devotees can go for darshan between 6 AM to 12:30 PM and 5 PM to 9 pm.
How to reach: The nearest railway stations for Nageshwar are Dwarka station and Veraval station. Jamnagar Airport (45 Km) is the nearest airport to Dwarka
3. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga – Pune, Maharashtra
On the banks of River Bhima there lies, Bhimashankar temple- a marvellous black rock structure, with Nagara architectural pattern. Surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary of the same name, this jyotirlinga in Maharashtra is believed to be built by Bheema- Kumbhakarna’s son. Huge number of pilgrims visit this shrine, round the year, especially during Maha Shivratri. Devotees visiting Bhimashankar temple, also see Kamalaja temple- an incarnation of Parvati, located close by. This is one of the most popular jyotirlinga in India.
Temple opening hours: All days of the week from 4:30 AM to 12 noon and 4 PM to 9:30 PM. Darshan starts at 5 in the morning and continues till 9:30 in the night. In the afternoon, during Madhyan Aarti, darshan is closed for 45 minutes.
How to reach: The nearest railway station to Bhimashankar is the Karjat station (168 Km). The remaining distance can be covered in a bus or a rickshaw
4. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga – Nashik, Maharashtra
Trimbakeshwar jyotirlinga is located near Brahmagiri mountain, the place of origin of Godavari River, also known as Gautami Ganga. According to Shiv Purana, Godavari River and Gautami Rishi pleaded Lord Shiva to reside here and hence the God emerged in the form of Trimbakeshwar. The most unique part of this jyotirlinga is its shape. Instead of a shrine, there is a void here with three pillars placed inside. The three pillars represent the three most powerful and authoritative Gods, namely, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar.
Temple opening hours: 5:30 AM to 9 PM, all days of the week.
How to reach: Nearest airport to Trimbakeshwar is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The nearest railway station is Igatpuri Raiway station. Located in Nashik, Trimbakeshwar can be reached by road too.
5. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga – Aurangabad, Maharashtra
With impressive red rock 5 storied Shikhara style structure, carvings of Gods and Goddesses and a huge Nandi Bull in the main court hall, Grishneshwar temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Shiva Purana, located near the caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Built by Ahilyabai Holkar, this temple is also known as Gru Someswara and Kusum Eswarar. The sculpture of Vishnu’s Dashavatar, carved on red rock is immensely impressive and fascinates each and every visitor. This is also one of the best places to visit in Aurangabad.
Temple opening hours: For darshan and puja, visit the temple between 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. During shravan, darshan is between 3 PM to 11 PM. Usually, darshan takes about a couple of hours. During the month of shravan, there are huge footfalls and it takes about 6 to 8 hours to complete darshan.
How to reach: You can reach Aurangabad by train or flight from other parts of India. Delhi has direct trains and flights to this city. Aunrangabad is 30 Km away from Grishneshwar and this distance can be covered by road, in a taxi.
Jyotirlingas in East & Central India
6. Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga – Deoghar, Jharkhand
A highly revered jyotirlinga among the 12 Jyotirlinga names in the country, Vaidyanath or Baidyanath or Vaijinath is also one among the 52 shakti pethas shrines of Sati of Hindu religion. Mythological stories believe that Ravana revered Shiva for years and invited Shiva to Lanka. Shiva showed up as shivalinga and ordered Ravana to not to put down anywhere until he reaches Lanka. It is a popular Jyotirling in India.
Vishnu interrupted Ravana in between and influenced him to keep the shivalinga at rest for sometimes. Thus, Ravana disobeyed Shiva and since then he resides as Vaidyanath, here in Deoghar. The month of Shravana receives maximum footfall here as people believe worshipping this shrine of Shiva will help them to get rid of all miseries and attain moksha and salvation.
Temple opening hours: The temple is open on all seven days from 4 AM to 3:30 PM and from 6 PM to 9 PM. During special religious occasions like Maha Shivaratri, darshan timings are stretched.
How to reach: The nearest railway station to Vaidyanath is Jasidih Junction. This station can be reached from Ranchi. The temple is just 15 Km away from the station and can be reached in an auto or cab.
7. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Surrounded by dense Mahakal forest, Mahakaleshwar temple, Ujjain is another the Jyotirling in India that has immense spiritual significance. As one of the popular jyotirlingas of central India, the shrine at Mahakaleshwar is believed to be set up by a five-year-old boy Srikar, who was inspired by the devotion of King Chandrasena of Ujjain. Located by the banks of Kshipra River, Mahakaleshwar jyotirlinga is also among the seven mukti-sthal in India; the place that can liberate a human being to eternity.
Temple opening hours: 4 AM to 11 PM. Devotees can experience darshan 8 AM to 10 AM,10:30 AM to 5 PM, 6 PM to 7 PM and 8 PM to 11 PM.
How to reach: The nearest airport to Mahakaleshwar is Indore (51 Km). Ujjain Junction, Chintaman, Vikram Nagar, and Pingleshwa are the four nearest railway station to Mahakaleshwar.
8. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga – Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar, translating to ‘Lord of the Om Sound’, is one of the most sacred places in India. Situated in an island called Shivapuri, on the Narmada River, this temple has immense mythological significance too. People believe that once there was a war between Devas and Danavas, and the devas prayed to Lord Shiva for victory. Satisfied with the prayer, Lord Shiva appeared as Omkareshwar and helped the devas to achieve triumph over the evils, making it one of the most popular among the 12 jyotirlingas in India.
Temple opening hours: Open on all days of the week from 5 in the morning to 10 in the night. Darshan is between 5:30 AM to 12:20 PM and 4 pm to 8:30 PM.
How to reach: Indore (77km) and Ujjain (133km) are the nearest airports to Omkareshwar. The nearest major railway station is 77 Km away, in Indore.There are also buses running from Indore, Ujjain, and Khandwa to Omkareshwar.
Jyotirlingas in North India
9. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Renowned as Golden Temple in Varanasi, Kashi Vishwanath is a popular one on the Jyotirlinga temples list. Constructed in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar- a Maratha Monarch, this Jyotirlinga is a significant religious place for the Hindus. Devotees believe that Lord Shiva resided here and offered liberation and happiness to all. It is also considered as one of the first Jyotirlingas in the country which showcased its power over other Gods, broke through Earth’s surface and moved towards heaven. It’s among the most sought after 12 Jyotirlingas in India.
Temple opening hours: The temple opens every day from 2:30 AM for 11 PM. Read below for the daily puja rituals and darshan timings.
Mangala Aarti: 3 AM to 4 PM
Sarva Darshan: 4 AM to 11 AM
Bhog Aarti: 11:15 AM to 12:20 PM
Sarva Darshan: 12:20 PM to 7 PM
Sandhya Aarti: 7 PM to 8:15 PM
Shringara Aarti: 9 PM to 10:15 PM
Shayana Aarti: 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM
How to reach: Varanasi Junction is the nearest railway stations and there are several other stations in the city.
10. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga – Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
Situated in the Rudra Himalayan Range, at an altitude of 1200 feet, Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is also considered as one of the 4 dhams of Hindu religion. Due to extremely cold weather and snowfall, the temple remains closed for 6 months during winter and is open only from May to June. Pilgrims on their way to Kedarnath, first visit Gangotri and Yamunotri to take holy water, which they offer to Kedarnath shivalinga.
People believe on visiting Kedarnath temple and bathing the jyotirlinga, one can get rid of all unhappiness, ill luck, and misfortunes. Trekking up to Kedarnath is moderately difficult and people use walking sticks or ride on mules or dolis. The Samadhi of Shankaracharya- the famous Hindu saint is located just behind the main Kedarnath temple.
Temple opening hours: 4 AM to 12 Noon and 3 PM to 9 PM
How to reach: Jolly Grant is the nearest aiport and Rishikesh is the nearest railway station to Kedarnath. The nearest road connectivity is till Gaurkund from where you cna trek to Kedarnath.
Jyotirlingas in South India
11. Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga – Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is believed to be worshipped by Lord Rama, after his phenomenal victory over Ravana. Known as the southernmost jyotirlingas in the country, the temple is surrounded by sea and boasts of its beautiful architecture, decorated corridors, and 36 theerthams.
Popular as ‘Varanasi of the south’, Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is also one of the most visited holy places in India, approached via Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Devotees visiting this jyotirlinga, also visit Dhanushkodi beach, from where Lord Rama had built Ram Setu up to Lanka, to save his wife. This is also one among the char dhams of India.
Temple opening hours: 5 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 9 PM. Darshan is permitted till 8 PM.
How to reach: The nearest airport to Rameshwaram is in Madurai (163 Km). It is also connected by railway from several major South Indian cities including Chennai.
12. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga – Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
Popular as Kailash of the South among the other 12 Jyotirlingas in India; Mallikarjuna jyotirlinga temple is located atop Shri Saila Mountain, on the banks of River Krishna. With beautiful architecture and sculptures, decorated pillars known as gopurams and mukha mandapa hall, the temple of Mallikarjuna consists of deities of Shiva and Bhramaramba or Parvati and is listed as one among the 52 shakti peeths of Sati. Mallikarjuna jyotirlinga is unquestionable, one of the greatest Shaivite shrines of the country.
Temple opening hours: The temple is open from 4:30 AM to 10 pm every day. Darshan is between 6:30 am to 1 pm and 6:30 pm to 9 pm.
How to reach: You can reach Mallikarjuna by road from the nearby towns including Doranala, Markarpur, and Kurichedu. The nearest railway station is Markapur railway station.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Jyotirlingas in Hinduism?
The jyotirlingas are scattered across India and are the focal points of celestial power. In Hinduism, there are 12 Jyotirlingas, each representing different significances. Each Jyotirlinga embodies a distinct attribute of Shiva, enabling devotees to concentrate on various facets of his divine nature. They also offer spiritual enlightenment and liberation (moksha).
What are the 5 main Jyotirlinga?
The main 5 Jyotirlingas are: 1. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga - Situated in Maharashtra, this Jyotirlinga is the major one. The Linga here has three faces representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara. 2. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga - This temple is also located in Maharashtra and is a key pilgrimage site for its devotees. 3. Kashi Vishwanath - Situated in Varanasi, this is one of the most popular Jyotirlingas in India. Devotees visit to attain Moksha(liberation). 4. Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple - Located in Ujjain, this is India's only temple with the idol south facing. As per the Hindu legends, the south direction is believed to be of death. Devotees visit Mahakaleshwar temple to pray Shiva to protect devotees from untimely death. 5. Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga - Situated in Maharastra, this Jyotirlinga is associated with health and well-being.
Which direction do the 12 Jyotirlingas face?
All 11 Jyotirlingas face east, but the Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Ujjain is unique as it features a south-facing idol. This southward orientation is connected to the belief that death comes from the south. Conversely, all other Jyotirlingas are oriented east, which is deemed the direction of Shiva, while Kailash Parvat is positioned north.
Which Jyotirlinga is considered the most powerful?
In Hindu tradition, the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, is regarded as the most powerful among the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is thought to contain a self-manifested Shiva lingam, representing one of Shivas most potent forms. The deity worshipped here embodies the Kala Bhairava aspect of Shiva, which is linked to the concepts of time and transformation
What is the best time to visit the Jyotirlinga temples?
The best time to visit the Jyotirlinga temples is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant for travel. Shravan month (July-August) and Mahashivratri (February-March) are highly auspicious but attract large crowds. Summers (April-June) can be extremely hot, while monsoons (July-September) may cause travel disruptions, especially in hilly regions like Kedarnath. For a peaceful experience, visiting in winter or just after major festivals is ideal.
Is there a specific order to visit all 12 Jyotirlingas?
There is no specific order to visit all the 12 Jyotirlingas; however, as per the Hindu scriptures, many devotees start their pilgrimage by visiting Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gujarat and proceed to other Jyotirlingas, making Grishneshwar in Maharashtra their last pilgrimage stop.
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A book lover and fun-loving, overtly emotional mom with a wanderlust soul, Sukanya has completed her Master Degree in Geography and currently perusing her passion for writing as a profession. Nothing detoxes her more than trying new recipes and travelling to offbeat places is ultimate Therapy for her.
