The 12 Jyotirlinga Temples of India

The 12 Jyotirlingas by state

Planning a Jyotirlinga circuit

Visiting all twelve is a major undertaking spanning the country. Done properly it takes about 21 days, or about 17 if Kedarnath — which is only open for part of the year — is left for a trip of its own. Most pilgrims complete them in regional stages instead, which is both gentler and easier to fit around work and family.

Each of the circuits below is a full day-by-day private itinerary, with the driving set out honestly:

• Madhya Pradesh: Mahakaleshwar & Omkareshwar — 4 days, 2 Jyotirlingas. The gentlest of the circuits.
• Gujarat: Somnath & Nageshwar — 5 days, 2 Jyotirlingas, with Dwarka and the Saurashtra coast.
• Maharashtra: Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar & Grishneshwar — 5 days, 3 Jyotirlingas, with Ellora.
• Maharashtra: all five claimed in the state — 8 days, adding Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath.
• South India: Mallikarjuna & Ramanathaswamy — 7 days, Srisailam and Rameshwaram, linked by one flight.
• Kashi Vishwanath & Baidyanath — 6 days, Varanasi to Deoghar through Gaya.
• All twelve Jyotirlingas — 21 days in eight regional legs.

If you are not sure which suits your time and your family, the Jyotirlinga yatra circuit comparison sets the seven side by side with days, hotel bases and longest drives.

Combining with other sites

Kedarnath links to the Char Dham; Kashi Vishwanath to Varanasi; Rameshwaram to a southern temple circuit.