Jyotirlingas (divine stambh pillars). There are 64 Jyotirlingas, Out of which 12 Jyotirlings are considered Maha Jyotirlings and considered as the most sanctified and auspicious dhams which are most visited shrines of Lord shiva by his bhakts.
12 Jyotirlingas across India are listed as
• Somnath (Gujrat)
Somanth in Veraval town of Saurashtra district of Gujrat is most visited shrines among other Jyotirlingas and considered as at first place among others Jyotirlingas.
According to Shiva Purana the Moon was married to 27 daughters of Rishi Prajapati. But he neglected all other wives expect Rohini due to which he was cursed by Rishi Prajapati. To absolve the curse he worshiped Shiva at Somnath in shiva linga form.
People from all over world come to visit Somnath to take shiva blessings.
The nearest railway station to Somnath is veraval Railway station which is around at 5km of distance from Somnath. From there you can take taxi to Somnath ji
• Malikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh)
Malikarjuna dham in located in Sarisailam on the top of Sarisaila mountain in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Situated at the banks of Krishna Malikarjuna temple is also known as Sarisaila Kailash of the south. Here Shakti and Shiva are worshiped together.
Nearest railway station Marakpur railway station. From where taxi services are available for Malikarjuna temple.
• Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh)
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh is situated on the banks of river Kshipra amid Mahakal forest.
Mahakaleshwar is also known as Muktisthal, the place that can lead to human liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Here shiv parvati are worshiped together.
From Indore mandir is around 50 kms. One can take train or bus/cab to Ujjain, Chintaman, Vikramnagar which are nearest town to Mahakaleshwar.
• Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh)
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is located on the Shivpuri island in Narmada river of Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. The Shivpuri island is in the shape of OM. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is the place where dev worshiped Shiva to win over Danavas.
One can reach by road from Ujjain or Khandwa to Omkareshwar.
Kedarnath Ji in Uttrakhand is also a Jyotirlinga and also one of the Chardham of Uttrakhand. Located in Rudraprayag district Kedarnath temple is around 17 km away from Gaurikund from where the pilgrims trek to the Kedarnath temple on foot/horse/ palki/helicopter.
Kedarnath Yatra begins in April end till October/Nov end. One can visit anytime in between these 6 months and have the blessings of Shiva in the beautiful place surrounded by the snow peaks of Gharwal Himalayas of Uttrakhand.
• Bhimashankar (Maharashtra)
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is also one of the auspicious Jyotirlingas of India. Located near banks of river Bhima in Bhorgiri village of Maharashtra near Pune at the stretch of around 50 km from Khed.
• Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh)
Kashi Vishwanath temple is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Kashi Vishwanath temple was rebuilt by Ahilya Bai aholkar at the western banks of river Ganga.
It is also known as Golden temple of Varanasi , holiest of Shiva temples.
• Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra)
Trimbakeshwar temple is located in Nashik district of Maharashtra near trimbak the point where River Godavari also know as the Ganga of South originates.
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is famous for its shape and the three pillars surrounding depicts Brahama, Vishnu and Mahesh.
Trimbakeshwar town is at the distance of 28 km from Nashik from where one can reach by road.
The temple gates are opened from 5 in the morning till 9 pm.
• Nageshwar (Gujrat)
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is considered as one of the most powerful among all other Jyotirlingas that provides protection from poison.
Located in Dwarka district of Gujrat, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is most visited shiv temple where Nageshwar Bhagwan is worshiped by shiv devotees to seek his blessings.
• Baidnath( Jamharkhand)
Baidnath dham is located in Deogarh, Jharkhand. King Ravna worshiped Shiva and offered his 10 heads to seek boon from shiva.
Shiva appeared as Jyotirlinga and Ravna was asked to carry it to Lanka but the shiv linga should not be placed anywhere in between the journey. But due to interruption by bhagwan Vishnu, Ravna place the jyotirlinga at Baidnath.
Baidnath temple is also visited by many pilgrims to remove their sins is life.
One can reach Baidnath by road or by train. The nearest railway station is Jasidh Junction.
• Rameshwaram ( Tamil Nadu)
Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is worshiped by bhagwan Ram in order to seek help to reach Lanka to rescue mata sita from Ravna.
Rameshwaram dham is also one of the Chardham of India.
Rameshwaram dham is located at Pamban island separated from main land by pamban Channel of 40 km. One can reach Rameshwaram by crossing the pamban bridge.
• Grishnehwar (Maharashtra)
Grishneshwra temple is located in ellora near ellora caves of Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Cut out of Red Rock, the temple is famous for its architecture. It was re-built by Ahilya Bai aholkar.
One can reach Grishnehwar temple by road in Aurangabad.