What is the best time to visit the Jyotirlingas?

October to March is comfortable for most shrines. Kedarnath is open only from around April/May to November due to snow, so plan that leg separately from the rest.

12 Jyotirlinga of Shiva — Names, Locations, Map & Complete Yatra Guide (2026)

Śiva Mahāpurāṇa · 12 Sacred Shrines

The Twelve Jyotirlinga

Q: What are the 12 Jyotirlingas?

The 12 Jyotirlingas are Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Rameshwaram and Grishneshwar — twelve shrines across India where Shiva is worshipped as a pillar of radiant light.

Q: Which state has the most Jyotirlingas?

Maharashtra has three of the twelve — Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, Bhimashankar near Pune, and Grishneshwar near Ellora — more than any other state.

Q: Can all 12 Jyotirlingas be visited in one trip?

Yes, though it is an ambitious journey. A full circuit typically takes 20 to 30 days depending on the route and time spent at each shrine. Most pilgrims instead visit by region or state-wise circuit, such as the three Jyotirlinga of Maharashtra in a single short trip.

Q: What is the correct order to visit the Jyotirlingas?

There is no mandated order, but the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram recites them as Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Vaidyanath, Bhimashankar, Rameshwaram, Nageshwar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Kedarnath and Grishneshwar — most itineraries follow a regional circuit instead for practicality.

Q: How many Jyotirlingas were there originally?

The Shiva Purana mentions 64 original Jyotirlinga shrines, of which 12 are regarded as the most sacred and are the ones commonly referred to today.

Where Shiva appeared as an endless pillar of light. Names, locations, history, and everything you need to plan a darshan — from a single temple to the full 30-day circuit.

Explore All 12 Jyotirlinga Plan Maharashtra Jyotirlinga Yatra

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् · उज्जयिन्यां महाकालम्

Quick Answer

The 12 Jyotirlingas are twelve shrines across India where Lord Shiva is worshipped as a jyoti — a radiant, self-manifested pillar of light. Of the 64 shrines named in the Shiva Purana, these twelve are held to be the most sacred, spread across seven states from the Himalayas to the southern coast.

Jyotirlinga	State
Somnath	Gujarat
Mallikarjuna	Andhra Pradesh
Mahakaleshwar	Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar	Madhya Pradesh
Kedarnath	Uttarakhand
Bhimashankar	Maharashtra
Kashi Vishwanath	Uttar Pradesh
Trimbakeshwar	Maharashtra
Vaidyanath	Jharkhand
Nageshwar	Gujarat
Rameshwaram	Tamil Nadu
Grishneshwar	Maharashtra

In Stotram Order

The 12 Shrines

Ordered as recited in the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram. Open any shrine for temple history, timings, how to reach, and the best time to visit.

West & Central India

7 shrines

Somnath

Prabhas Patan, Gujarat

The first Jyotirlinga — rebuilt sixteen times, on the shore of the Arabian Sea.

Mahakaleshwar

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

The only south-facing Jyotirlinga, famed for the pre-dawn Bhasma Aarti.

Omkareshwar

Narmada River, Madhya Pradesh

An island shaped like the Om symbol, encircled by pilgrims on foot.

Nageshwar

Near Dwarka, Gujarat

Guards against poison and negativity; marked by a colossal Shiva statue.

Trimbakeshwar

Near Nashik, Maharashtra

A single linga with three faces for Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; source of the Godavari.

Bhimashankar

Near Pune, Maharashtra

Deep in the Sahyadri forests, said to mark Shiva’s defeat of Tripurasura.

Grishneshwar

Ellora, Maharashtra

The final Jyotirlinga, steps from the Ellora Caves — smallest, and richly carved.

North & East India

3 shrines

Kashi Vishwanath

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

On the Ganga’s western bank — believed to grant moksha to the departed.

Kedarnath

Rudra Himalaya, Uttarakhand

At 3,583m, open only Apr/May–Nov; built by the Pandavas in penance.

Vaidyanath

Deoghar, Jharkhand

Baba Baidyanath Dham — a 21-temple complex tied to Shiva as healer.

South India

2 shrines

Mallikarjuna

Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

Atop the Nallamala Hills — also a Shakti Peeth, sacred to Shaivites and Shaktas alike.

Rameshwaram

Tamil Nadu

Linked to the Ramayana; India’s longest temple corridor, on the southern coast.

Plan by Region

Three Circuits, One Yatra

Few pilgrims cover all twelve in a single trip. Most travel circuit by circuit — here’s how they group geographically.

West & Central

Somnath GJ
Nageshwar GJ
Omkareshwar MP
Mahakaleshwar MP
Trimbakeshwar MH
Bhimashankar MH
Grishneshwar MH

North & East

Kashi Vishwanath UP
Kedarnath UK
Vaidyanath JH

South

Mallikarjuna AP
Rameshwaram TN

Where the Light Came From

The Origin Story

Once, Brahma and Vishnu argued over who was supreme. To settle it, Shiva tore through the three worlds as an endless, formless pillar of light — the jyotirlinga. Vishnu descended as Varaha to find its base; Brahma rose as a swan to find its crown. Neither could. Vishnu admitted defeat. Brahma lied, claiming he’d found the top, and produced a ketaki flower as false proof.

Shiva cursed Brahma for the lie: he would never be worshipped in a temple of his own. Vishnu, honest in defeat, would be revered until the end of time. Wherever that pillar of light is said to have touched the earth, a Jyotirlinga stands today.

Read the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram ↓

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् ।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोंकारममलेश्वरम् ॥
परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम् ।
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ॥
वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे ।
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ॥

“…at Setubandha, Ramesha; at Darukavana, Nagesha; at Varanasi, Vishwesha; at the Godavari’s bank, Tryambaka; in the Himalayas, Kedara; and at Shivalaya, Ghushmesha.” — reciting these twelve names morning and evening is held to dissolve the sins of seven lifetimes.

Home Ground

Maharashtra: More Jyotirlinga Than Any Other State

Three of the twelve sit within a day’s drive of each other — Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar and Grishneshwar. It’s the most accessible multi-shrine darshan in the country, and it’s ours. Citycabz, Ellora Taxi and Sambhajinagar Cabs run this exact corridor.

Trimbakeshwar

28km from Nashik. Three-faced linga, source of the Godavari. Half-day darshan from Nashik city.

Bhimashankar

Sahyadri hill forest, ~110km from Pune. A scenic drive doubling as a wildlife-sanctuary visit.

Grishneshwar

Beside the Ellora Caves, ~30km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Pair darshan with a heritage tour in one trip.

3 Jyotirlinga Maharashtra Tour — Citycabz Cab to Grishneshwar — Ellora Taxi Sambhajinagar Cabs

Before You Go

Planning Your Jyotirlinga Yatra

20–30

DAYS FOR THE FULL CIRCUIT

Covering all twelve by road across seven states. Most pilgrims instead do one regional circuit per trip.

Oct–Mar

BEST OVERALL WINDOW

Comfortable temperatures for most shrines. Kedarnath is the exception — open only Apr/May through November.

SHRINES IN MAHARASHTRA ALONE

Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar and Grishneshwar can be covered in a single 3–4 day trip by road.

Frequently Asked

Common Questions

What are the 12 Jyotirlingas?

Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Rameshwaram and Grishneshwar — twelve shrines across India where Shiva is worshipped as a pillar of radiant light.

Which is the first Jyotirlinga?

Somnath, in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, is traditionally regarded as the first — and one of the most rebuilt temples in Indian history, restored after repeated destruction.

Which state has the most Jyotirlingas?

Maharashtra, with three: Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, Bhimashankar near Pune, and Grishneshwar near Ellora.

Can all 12 Jyotirlingas be visited in one trip?

Yes, though it’s ambitious — a full circuit typically takes 20 to 30 days. Most pilgrims instead visit region by region, such as the three Jyotirlinga of Maharashtra in a single short trip.

What is the correct order to visit the Jyotirlingas?

There’s no mandated order. The Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram recites them in a traditional sequence, but most itineraries follow a regional circuit instead, for practicality.

What is the best time to visit?

October to March suits most shrines. Kedarnath is the exception, open only from around April/May to November due to Himalayan snow.

What’s the difference between a Jyotirlinga and a Shivling?

Every Jyotirlinga is a Shivling, but not every Shivling is a Jyotirlinga. A Jyotirlinga is one of twelve specific shrines believed to be a self-manifested pillar of light — considered the most sacred among all Shivlings worshipped across India.

How many Jyotirlingas were there originally?

The Shiva Purana names 64 original Jyotirlinga shrines. Twelve are regarded as the most sacred, and those are the ones commonly referred to today.