How do I plan a trip to all 12 Jyotirlingas?
Group them by region: Gujarat (Somnath, Nageshwar), Madhya Pradesh (Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar), Maharashtra (Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Grishneshwar, Parli), the north (Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath), the east (Deoghar) and the south (Mallikarjuna, Rameshwaram). Most pilgrims complete them over several trips; Kedarnath is open only in its season.
On this page
The itinerary
A suggested plan by our editors, not an official schedule. Times are approximate; check current temple timings and conditions on the day.
A north Indian circuit (example)
Days 1–2
See the 2-day itinerary.
Days 3–4
By train or road towards Jharkhand.
Later trip (May–Oct)
Via Haridwar or Rishikesh; registration required.
A central and western circuit (example)
Days 1–2
Base at Indore or Ujjain.
Days 3–6
Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar, Bhimashankar
Nashik, Ellora and Pune district.
Days 7–9
A Saurashtra circuit with Dwarka.
Regional clusters
| # | Jyotirlinga | Location | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somnath | Prabhas Patan, near Veraval, Gir Somnath district | Gujarat |
| 2 | Mallikarjuna | Srisailam, Nandyal district | Andhra Pradesh |
| 3 | Mahakaleshwar | Ujjain, on the Shipra river | Madhya Pradesh |
| 4 | Omkareshwar | Mandhata island, Narmada river, Khandwa district | Madhya Pradesh |
| 5 | Kedarnath | Kedarnath, Rudraprayag district, Garhwal Himalaya | Uttarakhand |
| 6 | Bhimashankar | Bhimashankar, Sahyadri hills, Pune district | Maharashtra |
| 7 | Kashi Vishwanath | Vishwanath Gali, Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| 8 | Trimbakeshwar | Trimbak, near Nashik | Maharashtra |
| 9 | Vaidyanath | Deoghar (Baidyanath Dham), Jharkhand — also claimed by Parli Vaijnath, Maharashtra | Jharkhand / Maharashtra |
| 10 | Nageshwar | Near Dwarka, Devbhumi Dwarka district — also claimed by Aundha Nagnath and Jageshwar | Gujarat (also claimed in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand) |
| 11 | Rameshwaram | Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram island, Ramanathapuram district | Tamil Nadu |
| 12 | Grishneshwar | Verul, near the Ellora Caves, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district | Maharashtra |
Seasons
- Kedarnath — only in its opening season (roughly late April/May to October/November).
- Rameshwaram and Srisailam — hot in summer.
- Bhimashankar — heavy rain in the monsoon.
Where Kashi fits
Kashi Vishwanath combines easily with Deoghar in the east and with the Prayagraj–Ayodhya pilgrim circuit by road. See how to reach Varanasi by road.
Frequently asked questions
Can all 12 Jyotirlingas be visited in one trip?
It's possible but demanding — the shrines span the length of India. Most pilgrims visit them over several trips, region by region.
Sources and further reading
We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.
- Jyotirlinga (encyclopaedia entry with cited references) (opens in a new tab)
Wikipedia — Reference work, checked September 2026
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
Related guides
- 12 JyotirlingasAll 12 Jyotirlingas of India with their locations and states — Somnath to Grishneshwar — plus the traditional hymn, disputed identifications and pilgrimage planning.
- What Is a Jyotirlinga?What 'Jyotirlinga' means, the Shiva Purana story of the infinite pillar of light, how Jyotirlingas differ from other Shiva lingas, and why pilgrims visit all twelve.
- ItinerariesSuggested Varanasi itineraries for 1, 2 and 3 days, plus plans for pilgrims, families, spiritual seekers and Jyotirlinga journeys — and a planner to build your own.
- JyotirlingaUnderstand the Jyotirlingas: what the term means, the story behind them, all twelve shrines with locations, and where Kashi Vishwanath fits in the tradition.
- BhimashankarBhimashankar Jyotirlinga in the Sahyadri hills of Pune district: its tradition, the source of the Bhima river, the surrounding sanctuary and visiting tips.
- GrishneshwarGrishneshwar (Ghrishneshwar) Jyotirlinga near Ellora in Maharashtra: the Ghushma tradition, the temple rebuilt under Ahilyabai Holkar and tips for visiting.