12 Jyotirlingas — Complete List, Locations & How to Plan Your Journey (2026)

All 12 Jyotirlingas with exact locations, nearest airports, best months to visit and smart circuit planning. The master guide — updated Oct 2026.

P Team PunyaPaths
10 min read · Updated 2026-10-18

Quick answer: The 12 Jyotirlingas span 8 states — from Somnath in Gujarat to Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. Most pilgrims cover them in regional circuits (not one trip): the Maharashtra trio, the MP pair, and the north and south temples separately. October to March is the best window for most of them; Kedarnath is the exception, open only May–October.

The 12 Jyotirlingas at a glance

#	Jyotirlinga	Location	Nearest airport	Best months
1	Somnath	Prabhas Patan, Gujarat	Diu / Rajkot	Oct–Mar
2	Mallikarjuna	Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh	Hyderabad	Oct–Feb
3	Mahakaleshwar	Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh	Indore	Oct–Mar
4	Omkareshwar	Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh	Indore	Oct–Mar
5	Kedarnath	Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand	Dehradun	May–Jun, Sep–Oct
6	Bhimashankar	Pune district, Maharashtra	Pune	Oct–Feb
7	Kashi Vishwanath	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	Varanasi	Oct–Mar
8	Trimbakeshwar	Nashik, Maharashtra	Nashik / Mumbai	Oct–Feb
9	Vaidyanath	Deoghar, Jharkhand	Deoghar	Oct–Mar
10	Nageshwar	Dwarka, Gujarat	Jamnagar	Oct–Mar
11	Rameshwaram	Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu	Madurai	Oct–Apr
12	Grishneshwar	Aurangabad, Maharashtra	Aurangabad	Oct–Feb

How to plan: think circuits, not one mega-trip

West circuit (7–9 days): Somnath → Nageshwar/Dwarka → (fly) → Trimbakeshwar → Bhimashankar → Grishneshwar. Maharashtra's three are drivable from Pune/Nashik/Aurangabad.

Central circuit (4–5 days): Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar) + Omkareshwar — just 140 km apart, Indore as base. The easiest pair of all twelve.

North (5–6 days): Kedarnath (season-limited) + Kashi Vishwanath. Combine with our Kedarnath guide.

South (6–8 days): Srisailam (Mallikarjuna) → Rameshwaram. Rameshwaram pairs beautifully with Madurai Meenakshi temple.

What will it cost?

A single Jyotirlinga trip typically costs ₹8,000–₹20,000 per person for 2–4 days ex-nearest metro, depending on travel style. Use our yatra cost calculator for a precise estimate. Kedarnath and Amarnath-style high-altitude yatras cost more; the MP and Maharashtra temples are the most budget-friendly.

When to go (and when not to)

Avoid May–June for Kedarnath (peak rush, peak prices) unless that's your only window.
Shravan month (Jul–Aug) brings massive crowds to Ujjain, Varanasi and Deoghar — spiritually electric, logistically intense.
Nashik Simhastha 2027 is approaching — Trimbakeshwar will see exceptional crowds; plan Nashik early or after the Kumbh.

Start with these guides

Kedarnath Yatra 2026 — route, registration, cost
Mahakaleshwar Ujjain guide — coming next
Kashi Vishwanath Varanasi guide — coming next

Honesty note: Temple timings, aarti ticket systems and registration portals change frequently. Every guide on PunyaPaths carries an "Updated" date — if you're planning around it, verify the current season's official announcements before booking.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Jyotirlinga?

A Jyotirlinga is a shrine where Lord Shiva is worshipped as a self-manifested column of light. Twelve such shrines across India are considered the most sacred, and visiting all twelve is a lifelong spiritual goal for many Hindus.

Can all 12 Jyotirlingas be covered in one trip?

Practically, no. They span the length of India. Pilgrims typically do them as regional circuits over multiple trips — for example, the three Maharashtra Jyotirlingas together, or Ujjain + Omkareshwar in one Madhya Pradesh trip.

Which Jyotirlinga should I visit first?

Tradition begins with Somnath in Gujarat, the first of the twelve. But practically, most people start with whichever is nearest — Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi) are the most visited.

Is there any dispute about the 12 Jyotirlingas list?

The core list is settled, but two have competing claims: Vaidyanath is claimed by both Deoghar (Jharkhand) and Parli (Maharashtra), and Nageshwar by Dwarka (Gujarat) and a few other sites. We note the main claim in each guide.