The 12 Jyotirlingas in India: A Guide to the Holiest Shrines
Pilgrimage of a Lifetime: Exploring India’s Jyotirlingas
There are 12 Jyotirlingas in India, each representing a manifestation of Lord Shiva. These sacred shrines are spread across various states and have unique legends and significance. Here’s a brief overview of each Jyotirlinga, along with directions on how to reach them:
1. Somnath Jyotirlinga (Gujarat)
- Uniqueness: Somnath is considered the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas. It symbolizes the eternal nature of Shiva, being destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout history.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Diu (63 km away).
- By Train: The closest railway station is Veraval, just 7 km away.
- By Road: Somnath is well-connected by road with major cities in Gujarat.
2. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (Andhra Pradesh)
- Uniqueness: Located on Srisailam mountain, this Jyotirlinga is unique as it is considered both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Hyderabad (202 km away).
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Markapur, 85 km away.
- By Road: Srisailam is connected by road to Hyderabad and other major cities.
3. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga (Madhya Pradesh)
- Uniqueness: This Jyotirlinga in Ujjain is famous for its Bhasma Aarti, a unique ritual where the deity is worshipped with ash.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is Indore (55 km away).
- By Train: Ujjain Junction is well-connected by rail.
- By Road: Ujjain is accessible by road from Indore and other major cities.
4. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga (Madhya Pradesh)
- Uniqueness: Situated on an island shaped like the Hindu symbol ‘Om,’ Omkareshwar is revered as one of the holiest pilgrimage sites.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Indore (80 km away).
- By Train: Omkareshwar Road railway station is 12 km away.
- By Road: Well-connected by road to Indore and nearby cities.
5. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga (Uttarakhand)
- Uniqueness: Located in the Himalayas, this Jyotirlinga is only accessible by foot or helicopter, making it one of the most remote and revered shrines.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Dehradun (250 km away).
- By Train: The closest railway station is Rishikesh, 229 km away.
- By Road: Reachable by road up to Gaurikund, followed by a 16 km trek.
6. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra)
- Uniqueness: This Jyotirlinga is located in the Sahyadri hills and is surrounded by dense forests, making it a scenic pilgrimage spot.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is Pune (110 km away).
- By Train: Pune railway station is the closest.
- By Road: Well-connected by road to Pune and nearby towns.
7. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga (Uttar Pradesh)
- Uniqueness: Located in Varanasi, this Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous, symbolizing the liberation of the soul.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi, is 25 km away.
- By Train: Varanasi Junction is well-connected by rail.
- By Road: Varanasi is accessible by road from major cities in Uttar Pradesh.
8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra)
- Uniqueness: Located near Nashik, Trimbakeshwar is unique because the Jyotirlinga here has three faces representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Nashik (39 km away).
- By Train: Nashik Road railway station is the closest.
- By Road: Nashik is well-connected by road to Mumbai and Pune.
9. Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga (Jharkhand)
- Uniqueness: Also known as Baidyanath, this Jyotirlinga is believed to be where Ravana worshipped Shiva to gain powers.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Ranchi (270 km away).
- By Train: Jasidih Junction is the nearest railway station.
- By Road: Well-connected by road to Deoghar.
10. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga (Gujarat)
- Uniqueness: Located near Dwarka, this Jyotirlinga symbolizes protection from all poisons and is believed to remove all sins.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Jamnagar (137 km away).
- By Train: Dwarka railway station is the closest.
- By Road: Accessible by road from Dwarka and nearby cities.
11. Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga (Tamil Nadu)
- Uniqueness: Located in Rameswaram, this Jyotirlinga is associated with the Ramayana and is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Madurai (170 km away).
- By Train: Rameswaram railway station is well-connected.
- By Road: Accessible by road from Madurai and other major cities in Tamil Nadu.
12. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra)
- Uniqueness: Situated near Ellora Caves, this Jyotirlinga is the smallest and is closely associated with the history of the Ellora temples.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport is in Aurangabad (36 km away).
- By Train: Aurangabad railway station is the closest.
- By Road: Well-connected by road to Aurangabad and nearby cities.