The 12 jyotirlingas

A jyotirlinga is a shrine where Shiva is said to have appeared as a column of light. The Shiva Purana names twelve, and a verse in praise of them, the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotra, is traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya. Most Hindus try to visit all twelve in a lifetime; some complete the circuit over many years, since the shrines run from the Himalaya to the far south and from Gujarat to Jharkhand.

The list below follows the traditional order. For two of them (Vaidyanath and Nageshwar) more than one place claims the title, and we record that on their pages. Open any page for the story, the place and notes for the visit.

Can I do all twelve in one trip?

It is possible but long. Many people divide the twelve into regions: the west (Somnath, Nageshwar, Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Grishneshwar), the centre (Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar), the north (Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, Vaidyanath) and the south (Mallikarjuna, Rameshwaram). Plan each group as a separate journey.

Temple rules, opening seasons, booking arrangements and routes change. Before you travel, check the official website of the temple or the state tourism board, and be careful of anyone who asks for money to book darshan or a stay by phone or message. We do not sell tours or packages. Information on this page was last checked in November 2026.