{"id":5869,"date":"2026-05-09T14:06:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T08:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swantour.com\/blogs\/?p=5869"},"modified":"2026-05-09T14:06:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T08:36:25","slug":"complete-guide-of-12-jyotirlingas-in-india-locations-route-and-travel-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swantour.com\/blogs\/complete-guide-of-12-jyotirlingas-in-india-locations-route-and-travel-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Complete Guide of 12 Jyotirlingas in India: Locations, Route and Travel Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Across India, 12 sacred temples hold a place that no other pilgrimage site quite matches. These are the Jyotirlingas: each one a self-manifested form of Lord Shiva, not built by human hands but believed to have appeared as a pillar of eternal light. For millions of Hindu devotees, visiting all 12 is not just a religious goal; it is a life’s wish. If you have been putting off planning this Yatra because the route feels too big, too spread out, or too difficult to coordinate, this guide breaks it all down for you, clearly and completely.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are the 12 Jyotirlingas and Where Are They Located?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The word “Jyotirlinga” combines two Sanskrit words: <\/span>Jyoti<\/span><\/i> (radiance or light) and <\/span>Linga<\/span><\/i> (sign or form). According to the Shiva Purana, there were originally 64 Jyotirlinga shrines, of which 12 are considered the most sacred. These 12 sites span 9 states across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/b><\/td>\nJyotirlinga<\/b><\/td>\nLocation<\/b><\/td>\nState<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/span><\/td>\nSomnath<\/b><\/td>\nPrabhas Patan, near Veraval<\/span><\/td>\nGujarat<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/span><\/td>\nMallikarjuna<\/b><\/td>\nSrisailam, Nallamala Hills<\/span><\/td>\nAndhra Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/span><\/td>\nMahakaleshwar<\/b><\/td>\nUjjain, banks of Kshipra River<\/span><\/td>\nMadhya Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/span><\/td>\nOmkareshwar<\/b><\/td>\nMandhata Island, Khandwa<\/span><\/td>\nMadhya Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/span><\/td>\nKedarnath<\/b><\/td>\nRudraprayag, altitude 3,553 m<\/span><\/td>\nUttarakhand<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/span><\/td>\nBhimashankar<\/b><\/td>\nNear Pune, dense forest area<\/span><\/td>\nMaharashtra<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/span><\/td>\nKashi Vishwanath<\/b><\/td>\nVaranasi, western bank of Ganga<\/span><\/td>\nUttar Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/span><\/td>\nTrimbakeshwar<\/b><\/td>\n28 km from Nashik<\/span><\/td>\nMaharashtra<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/span><\/td>\nBaidyanath<\/b><\/td>\nDeoghar<\/span><\/td>\nJharkhand<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/span><\/td>\nNageshwar<\/b><\/td>\nBetween Dwarka and Bait Dwarka<\/span><\/td>\nGujarat<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/span><\/td>\nRameshwaram<\/b><\/td>\nRameshwaram Island<\/span><\/td>\nTamil Nadu<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/span><\/td>\nGrishneshwar<\/b><\/td>\nNear Ellora Caves, Aurangabad<\/span><\/td>\nMaharashtra<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Maharashtra holds the highest count with 3 Jyotirlingas. Gujarat has 2, and Madhya Pradesh has 2. This distribution matters a lot when you plan your route, because grouping nearby temples saves you significant travel time.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is the Best Route to Cover All 12 Jyotirlingas?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Most experienced pilgrims and <\/span>travel agents in Delhi<\/b><\/a> recommend completing the Yatra in circuits rather than a single linear journey. There are 2 practical routes depending on where you start from.<\/span><\/p>\n

Route 1: Starting from North India (Delhi, Varanasi, Uttarakhand)<\/b><\/h4>\n

Kedarnath \u2192 Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi) \u2192 Baidyanath (Deoghar) \u2192 Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) \u2192 Omkareshwar \u2192 Grishneshwar \u2192 Bhimashankar \u2192 Trimbakeshwar \u2192 Somnath \u2192 Nageshwar \u2192 Mallikarjuna \u2192 Rameshwaram<\/span><\/p>\n

Route 2: Starting from South India<\/b><\/h4>\n

Rameshwaram \u2192 Mallikarjuna \u2192 Bhimashankar \u2192 Grishneshwar \u2192 Trimbakeshwar \u2192 Omkareshwar \u2192 Mahakaleshwar \u2192 Somnath \u2192 Nageshwar \u2192 Kedarnath \u2192 Baidyanath \u2192 Kashi Vishwanath<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Route Segment<\/b><\/td>\nApproximate Distance<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kedarnath to Varanasi<\/b> (by road\/train)<\/span><\/td>\n~400 km<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Varanasi to Deoghar<\/b><\/td>\n~280 km<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deoghar to Ujjain<\/b><\/td>\n~1,000 km<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ujjain to Omkareshwar<\/b><\/td>\n~80 km<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maharashtra circuit<\/b> (3 temples)<\/span><\/td>\n~550 km total<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maharashtra to Gujarat<\/b> (Somnath)<\/span><\/td>\n~600 km<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Somnath to Nageshwar<\/b><\/td>\n~668 km<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gujarat to Andhra Pradesh<\/b> (Mallikarjuna)<\/span><\/td>\n~1,200 km<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mallikarjuna to Rameshwaram<\/b><\/td>\n~1,019 km<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

The full 12 Jyotirlinga Yatra covers approximately 10,000 to 12,000 km depending on your starting point and mode of transport. Allow 20 to 30 days at minimum for a complete and unhurried pilgrimage.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is the Best Time to Visit Each Jyotirlinga in India?<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is where many pilgrims make errors. Kedarnath, being at 3,553 metres, is only accessible from late April or early May to October. If you plan your Yatra during winter without checking this, you will find the temple doors closed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Jyotirlinga<\/b><\/td>\nBest Visiting Months<\/b><\/td>\nTemple Timings<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kedarnath<\/b><\/td>\nMay to October<\/span><\/td>\n4:00 AM to 9:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Somnath<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to March<\/span><\/td>\n6:00 AM to 9:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mahakaleshwar<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to March<\/span><\/td>\n4:00 AM to 11:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Omkareshwar<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to March<\/span><\/td>\n5:00 AM to 9:30 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rameshwaram<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to April<\/span><\/td>\n5:00 AM to 9:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kashi Vishwanath<\/b><\/td>\nNovember to February<\/span><\/td>\n2:30 AM to 11:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trimbakeshwar<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to March<\/span><\/td>\n5:30 AM to 9:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bhimashankar<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to February<\/span><\/td>\n4:30 AM to 9:30 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mallikarjuna<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to February<\/span><\/td>\n4:30 AM to 10:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grishneshwar<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to March<\/span><\/td>\n5:30 AM to 9:30 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baidyanath<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to February<\/span><\/td>\n4:00 AM to 3:30 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nageshwar<\/b><\/td>\nOctober to March<\/span><\/td>\n5:00 AM to 9:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

The best period to plan the complete Yatra is between October and April, keeping Kedarnath for May onwards. Monsoon months (July to September) are best avoided for the hill shrines due to landslide risk and road closures.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Should Every Pilgrim Know Before Starting This Yatra?<\/b><\/h3>\n