Unveiling the Divine: Discovering the Ten Most Famous Shiva Temples of India
Posted on July 7, 2023 by Ghoomophiro
Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism and has been called Mahadev or Supreme God. He is revered and worshipped across India and has numerous Shiva temples throughout the country, each with its own unique significance and architectural beauty. Today we bring you a list of the ten most famous Lord Shiva Temples of Inda.
Ten Most Prominent Shiva Temples of India
Somnath Temple
The first and one of the most famous Lord Shiva Temples in this list, Somnath Temple, is situated on the western coast of Gujarat. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Jyotiglingas are divine representations of Lord Shiva. It has a rich history and has been destroyed and reconstructed sixteen times throughout the centuries. The Dwadash Jyotirlinga pilgrimage begins with the Somnath Temple.
The nearest airport is Diu Airport, and Veraval Railway Station is the closest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Somnath. Various state and private transport buses also connect Somnath with major cities in Gujarat.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Located in the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the holiest sites for Hindus and a prominent temple of Lord Shiva. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to be the centre of the universe.
The anxiety city of Varanasi enjoys good connectivity by air, rail, and road. The nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, and Varanasi Junction is the major railway station. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local means of transportation to reach the temple.
Brihadeeswarar Temple
Another famous Lord Shiva Temple, Brihadeeswarar Temple, is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is also known as the Peruvudaiyar Kovil and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by the Chola dynasty in the 11th century and is still renowned for its magnificent architecture.
The nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli International Airport, and Thanjavur Junction is the closest railway station. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to reach the temple.
Kedarnath Temple
Located in the Garwal Himalyan ranges of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath Temple is another important pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is also believed to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and holds immense religious significance.
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, and the nearest railway station is Rishikesh. From there, you can travel to Gaurikund, the base camp for Kedarnath, by road and then undertake a trek or hire a helicopter to reach the temple
Amarnath Temple
Located in the beautiful Amarnath cave, Jammu and Kashmir, Amarnath Temple is famous and unique for its lingam, which is made of ice that forms naturally inside the cave.
It attracts thousands of devotees during the annual Amarnath Yatra. The temple is situated in the Amarnath cave, which is accessible through Pahalgam or Baltal. Srinagar International Airport is the nearest airport, and Jammu Tawi Railway Station is the closest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach the respective base camp.
Lingaraj Temple
Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is another prominent Lord Shiva Temple of India. Built-in the 11th century, it is dedicated to Harihara, a combined form of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
Bhubaneswar has an airport, Biju Patnaik International Airport, and a railway station, Bhubaneswar Railway Station. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local means of transportation to reach the temple.
Ramanathaswamy Temple
Located in Rameswaram, in the southernmost state of India, Tamil Nadu, Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the most sacred temples in this list. A famous Lord Shiva temple, it is visited, according to a mythical legend, by Lord Rama, the protagonist of the great India epic Ramayana (hence the name of the temple).
Rameswaram has good connectivity by road and rail. The nearest airport is Madurai International Airport, and Rameswaram Railway Station is the major railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to reach the temple.
Nataraja Temple
Nataraja Temple is dedicated to the cosmic dancer form of Lord Shiva. The temple is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. It is renowned for its unique architecture and the Chidambara Rahasya, a hidden deity representation.
The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport, and Chidambaram Railway Station is the closest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to reach the temple.
Mallikarjuna Temple
Situated on the banks of River Krishna in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, this famous Lord Shiva Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and is dedicated to Mallikarjuna, a form of Lord Shiva. It is a significant pilgrimage site in South India. It is a place where Shakti Peetha and Jyotirlingam reside together. Adi Shankara composed his Shivananda Lahari here.
The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, and Markapur Road Railway Station is the closest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Srisailam. State transport buses and private buses also connect Srisailam with major cities in Andhra Pradesh.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s)
There are several questions that the readers may have about the famous Shiva temples of the country. The following are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s):
Question: Name the twelve Jyotirlingas.
Answer: The twelve Jyotirlingas are the following
- Somnath
- Mallikārjuna
- Mahakaleshwar
- Baidyanath
- Omkareshwar
- Bhimashankar
- Vishwanath
- Nageshwar
- Kedarnath
- Rameshwaram
- Trimbakeshwar
- Grishneshwar
Question: What is the best tie to visit these temples?
Answer: Except for Amarnath temple, almost all prominent Lord Shiva temples are best visited on Shivratri.
If the reader has any other questions, they should feel free to ask them here.
