— पुण्यक्षेत्राणि —

द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग

Twelve Jyotirlingas

12 stops · ~21 days · Gujarat · Madhya Pradesh · Uttarakhand · Uttar Pradesh · Jharkhand · Maharashtra · Andhra Pradesh · Tamil Nadu

— पुण्यक्षेत्राणि —

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ओंकारेश्वर

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh

Omkareshwar — on the island of Mandhata in the Narmada, shaped like the sacred syllable Om. Two lingams, Omkareshwar and Amareshwar, considered one Jyotirlinga.

best time

Morning; cross to the island by the old footbridge at sunrise.

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काशी विश्वनाथ

Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Kashi Vishwanath — the most revered Jyotirlinga, on the ghats of the Ganga. Shiva himself is said to whisper the taraka mantra into the ear of the dying at Kashi.

best time

Before sunrise, for Mangala Aarti; pair with a Ganga boat ride.

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रामनाथस्वामी

Ramanathaswamy, Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Ramanathaswamy — southernmost Jyotirlinga, on Pamban island. Rama worshipped Shiva here before invading Lanka. Famous for 22 theerthams (sacred wells) inside the temple.

best time

Bathe in all 22 theerthams before 8 am for the full punya.

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वैद्यनाथ

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga, Deoghar

Deoghar, Jharkhand

Vaidyanath — Shiva as the cosmic physician, at Deoghar in Jharkhand. Centre of the Shravani Mela when millions carry Ganga water from Sultanganj.

best time

Outside Shravan (Jul–Aug) for quieter darshan; Shravan for the pilgrimage experience.

सोमनाथ ज्योतिर्लिंग

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सोमनाथ ज्योतिर्लिंग

Somnath Jyotirlinga

Veraval, Gujarat

Somnath — first of the twelve, on the shore of the Arabian Sea. Destroyed and rebuilt seven times; the current shrine is from 1951. The Chandra shrine — Somnath means 'Lord of the Moon'.

best time

Evening aarti overlooking the sea; October–March for pleasant weather.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 12 Jyotirlingas?

The 12 Jyotirlingas are Somnath (Gujarat), Mallikarjuna (Andhra), Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh), Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Bhimashankar (Maharashtra), Vishwanath (Varanasi), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Vaidyanath (Jharkhand), Nageshwar (Gujarat), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu), and Grishneshwar (Maharashtra).

How many days does the full 12-Jyotirlinga yatra take?

A complete 12-Jyotirlinga yatra typically takes 18–25 days by road or 12–15 days when combining flights with road segments. Pilgrims usually split it into 3–4 trips spread across the year.

Which Jyotirlinga should be visited first?

Tradition recommends starting with Somnath in Gujarat, the first of the 12, and concluding at Grishneshwar near Ellora. The order in the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotra is also accepted as an auspicious sequence.

Are all Jyotirlingas open year-round?

Eleven are open year-round. Kedarnath shuts during winter (typically Nov to Apr) when the deity is moved to Ukhimath; check current opening dates before planning.

may this yatra walk with you.

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