Popular Shiva Temples in India

We can easily find the Shiva temple in almost all the states of India. Shiva or also known as Mahadev (Lord of Lords) is the supreme power and is an important deity in Hinduism who is worshipped by devotees all across the country. Shankar, Maheshwara, Rameshwaram, and Mahakal, are the few names by which Lord Shiva is known amongst his devotees. It is believed that he has a total of 1008 names. If you travel from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (from the extreme north to the extreme south of India) you will find hundreds of Shiva temples along with 12 Jyotirlingas which are built and dedicated to Lord Shiva and attract pilgrims from all over the world. During the month of Sawan (Hindu calendar), all shiva temples in India are offered Milk, bael leaves, and fruits, and temples are decorated with multi colors of flowers.
Here we have shortlisted some famous shiva temples in India so that you can plan your trip accordingly. Scroll through the list and make a visit to as many temples as possible as every temple of shiva has its distinct features.

Amarnath Temple (Jammu and Kashmir)

Starting from the North, One of the most famous temples of Shiva in India is Amarnath, located in extremely hilly terrain and still coveted among Shiva Devotees. Amarnath is situated at a height of 3888m in a cave in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. It is believed to be a pious religious trip that every pilgrim undertakes to worship Lord Shiva. This temple is well known because of the naturally ice-forming Linga of Lord Shiva that happens once a year. 


Best time to visit: Pre-registration is required for the visit. Dates are decided by J&K authority. (Tentative month June to August)

How to reach: Pahalgam is the last bus stand that is connected with road transportation from Jammu as well as Srinagar. You have to reach Chandanwari from where your trek will start.

Also Read- 12 Famous Temples in Jammu Kashmir

Kedarnath Temple (Uttrakhand)

Kedarnath is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and it is a very famous Shiva Temple in India. It is famous among the pilgrims as the facsimile of heaven on earth. The beautiful temple is situated in the lap of Himalaya in Garhwal Himalayan Range and it is visited by pilgrims while they were on their Char Dham yatra. It is also the part of Char Dham yatra which often consists of Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Since this temple is located at a very high altitude, this temple remains closed throughout the winter and open only during the winter season. Due to its location on hilly terrains, this temple cannot be accessed via proper road connectivity and the pilgrims often have to trek for 22 km.


Best time to visit: April to November

How to reach: Guptkashi is the nearest bus stand which is connected with two major cities Rishikesh and Haridwar. You can get a bus early in the morning. You have to trek from Guptkashi to Kedarnath Temple.

Also Read- A List of Popular Temples in Delhi

Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi)

It is a common belief in Hinduism that if a person is taking his last breath in Kashi, he/she can relieve from all further rebirths and his/her soul will attain Moksha. It is said that Kashi Vishwanath is the shelter for all who are ardent devotees of Shiva. This famous temple is located in the world’s oldest city Varanasi which is in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and this temple is visited by pilgrims from all over the world. You can make a visit to this temple on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, as on that time this temple is decorated with beautiful flowers and it is celebrated here in a great manner. Make sure to visit Assi ghat which is nearby this temple and connected by a corridor and attained a Ganga Aarti.


Best time to visit: November to February

How to reach there: Varanasi is connected by air, rail, and road transportation. You can get a train from all the major cities of India.

Also Read - Top 20 Famous Temples in Varanasi

Kailash Nath Temple (Ellora)

One of the finest temples of Lord Shiva in India is Kailash Nath temple which is located in Ellora and is also a must-visit place near Aurangabad. This temple is a brilliant example of Rashtrakutas architecture. There is a total of 34 temples that were in Ellora and Kailash Nath temple is one among them. A megalith carved out from a rock cliff, Kailash Nath is one of the largest rock-cut temples in this country and it acts as an inspiration for many future temples that were built in India at that time.


Best time to visit: June to March

How to reach: Chikalthana Airport which is located in Aurangabad is the nearest airport to Ellora, from where you can hire a cab to Ellora.

Somnath Temple (Gujarat)

Located in the western part of India, Somnath is a Shiva temple which is in the modern state of Gujarat and it is the most Shiva famous temple in India. It is considered the first jyotirlinga temple built in the country. Though this temple has seen several invasions by different Muslim invaders. They looted this temple and destroyed it. Later this temple was reconstructed in Chalukya-style architecture and the latest renovation is completed in the year 1951. Banasstambha or the arrow pillar which is erected on the walls of the temple is a major noteworthy structure. Along with the blessing of Shiva, this temple provides you with panoramic views of the sea.


Best time to visit: October to March

How to reach: Ahmedabad is the nearest airport to Somnath temple. From there you can get a government bus or local taxi which will take you to the temple. Somnath also has a railway station which is at a distance of 8km from the temple

Also Read- 30 Famous Temples in India You Must Visit

Brihadeeshwara Temple Tamil Nadu

Situated on the bank of river Kaveri, Brihadeeshwara temple is an example of Dravidian architecture. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is located in the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu. This is one of the finest and exemplary temples of lord Shiva which was built in the year 1001 AD by king Raja Raja Chola. Later this temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. A granite-made vimana tower which is built above the sanctum of the temple is the tallest in the entire South India. This temple is well known in India because it is home to the largest shiva Linga and Nandi figurine in India. Though there are several temples that were built by Chola rulers, this temple is top on the chart for its impeccable design and architecture.


Best time to Visit: October to March

How to reach: Thanjavur is the nearest city which is well connected with road and rail transportation. Tiruchirapalli is the nearest airport to this temple.

Sri Kalahasthi (Andhra Pradesh)

Sri Kalahasthi is one of the Panch Bhuta Sthalas in the country. At this temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kalahasteeshwara. Situated in the district of Chittor in Andhra Pradesh, this temple is often visited by pilgrims after they made a visit to Tirupati which is the temple of Lord Venkateshwara. There is a famous anecdote that says that Sri Kalahasthi is the site where kannappa who was devoted to Shiva offers both his eyes to Lord Shiva in order to stop the bleeding which is oozing from the Shiva Linga and he was stopped by the lord himself and granted Mukti.


Best time to visit: October to March

How to reach: Tirupati is the nearest airport which is at a distance of 26km from the temple and Srikalahasthi is the nearest railway station to the temple. You can easily get a shared cab and local taxi from the airport and the railway station.

Also Read- 18 Famous Temples in Northeast India

Vadakunnathana Temple Kerela

Located in the Thrissur district of Kerela, Vadakunnathana is one of the most famous shiva temples in South India. This temple is considered to be built by the famous sage Parasurama. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Vadakunnathana here. This temple is one of the best places to visit in Thrissur and is also an important Shiva shrine in India. Vadakunnathana temple is an example of the Kerala style of architecture and is made out of wood and stone with huge towers standing on all four sides of the temple. An interesting fact about this temple is that people offered ghee to Linga here, and as a result, a huge mound of ghee has been created in the form of Shiva Linga which is visible to worshippers. When you make a visit to the temple, the priest of the temple offers you ghee as prasadam after the pooja.


Best time to Visit: April to May, Maha Shivratri, and Thrissur Pooram

How to reach: Thrisur is the nearest railway station and Cochin is the nearest airport.

Murudeshwar Temple Karnataka

Located in the northern part of Karnataka, Murudeshwar temple is the house of the second tallest statue of Lord Shiva in the world. This temple is located near the Arabian sea which provides a magnificent view. The splendid landscape along with the towering statue of lord Shankar will surely make you fall in love with this place. You can also find a 20-storey tall building which is located near the statue of Shiva. Temple authorities have constructed a lift that takes visitors to the top of Raja Gopura so that they can enjoy the picturesque landscape of the area.


Best time to visit: October to May

How to reach: Mangalore is the nearest airport at a distance of 153 km from the temple while murudeshwar is the nearest railway station which is connected with major cities of India.

Also Read - 20 Most Famous Temples in Karnataka

Tarakeshwar Temple West Bengal

Tarakeshwar temple is also known by the name of Baba Taraknath temple and it is one of the most popular Shiva temples in India. Situated in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, this temple is often visited by pilgrims almost all year long, and especially on Monday, you can see a huge rush of devotees who came here to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva. This temple is among the oldest temple in Kolkata and it is believed that this was constructed in the 18th century by Raja Bharamalla. You can find the intricate carving and murals on the walls of this temple which often depict Bengal architecture. You can locate a pond in front of the temple which is also known y the name of Dudhpukur where pilgrims often take a dip before making a visit to the temple.


Best time to visit: All year long

How to reach: Kolkata is well connected by road rail and air transportation from the major city of India. From there you can easily find a local cab and taxi which will take you to the temple.

Also Read- Top Richest Temples in India

Nataraja Temple Tamil Nadu

Thillai Nataraja Temple is one of the most famous temples of South India which is located in Chidambaram. It was built by the Chola dynasty during the 10th century AD. Shiva in the form of Nataraja (dancing from) is worshipped here by his devotees and you can also ding 108 karanas of Natyashastra which are carved on the wall of the temple. The architecture of the temple paints a vivid picture of the beautiful connection between spirituality and the arts. When you were inside the chambers of the temple you can feel a certain unique vibration there. Nrityaanjali is celebrated here on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, you can attain this festival as this is something that will stay with you forever.


Best time to visit: October to March
How to reach: Tiruchirappalli is the nearest airport which is located at a distance of 195 km from Chidambaram. Chidambaram is well-connected with all major railway stations of India.

Kotilingeshwara Temple Karnataka

Dedicated to lord shiva, Kotilingeshwar temple is famous in India because of its uniqueness. As clear from its name Koti means crore, and hence this temple is the house of 1 crore shiva linga. This beautiful temple of Mahadeva is located in the Kolar district of Karnataka and it is quite popular among the locals and shiva devotees worldwide. Apart from 1 crore small shiva linga you can also witness the huge shiva lingam which is 33 meters in height and an 11-meter-tall Nandi in the temple premise. You can find a water tank in front of the temple which devotees often used it to offer lingams.


How to reach: July to January

Best time to visit: Coromandel is the nearest railway station while Bangalore is the nearest airport. From there you can easily get a cab which will take you to the temple.

Lingaraj Temple  Odisha

Located in the old town of Bhubaneshwar of Odisha, Lingaraj is a shiva temple which is a fine example of Kalinga architecture. It is one of the prominent temples of Shiva in India. It is one of the biggest temples in Bhubaneshwar and was built by the Somvamsi Dynasty ruler. This temple is in Deula style with a Vimana and Jagamohana, Natamandira, and Bhoga mandap. This temple witnesses huge flocks of devotees every year from across the world.


Best time to visit: January to March

How to reach: Bhubaneshwar is well connected by air, rail, and road transportation. You can easily get a train and flight from major cities in India.

Baidyanath Temple Jharkhand

Located in the Deogarh district of Jharkhand, Baidyanath is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of India and one of the most famous shiva temples in the whole country. Vaidya is a Sanskrit word that means doctor and Vaidya is the term that is used for the deity here. According to an anecdote, Lord Shiva appeared here in the form of a doctor in front of Ravana who did Tapasya to please him. It is said that Ravana cut his 10 heads to make shiva happy and to seek his boon. This place witnesses a huge crowd of Kanwar Yatri in the month of Sawan (Hindu calendar) (month of July and august) who offers Ganga Jal on Shivalinga.


Best time to visit: March to August

How to reach: Jasidih is the nearest railway station to Baidyanath and it is connected with the major railway station in North India. Patna and Ranchi is the nearest airport as both are located at a distance of 250km.

Trimbakeshwar Temple Maharashtra

one of the most magnanimous temples of Shiva, Trimabakeshwar is located in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. It is an important shrine of Mahadeva which were visited by devotees from all across the country. Godavari is one of the largest rivers in India, and trimak is the origin point of this river. Trimabaeshwar is also one of the 12 Jyotirlinga and a temple which is the house of 3 faces Linga, each of them representing Brahma Vishnu, and Shiva. The current temple is made out of Basalt and it was built was Peshawa Balaji Baji Rao.


Best time to visit: October to March

How to reach: Nashik is well connected with road and rail transportation. Mumbai is located at a distance of 160 km from here and you can easily get a bus from Mumbai to Nashik.

Mahakaleshwar Temple Ujjain

Located in the Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, Mahakaleshwar is another jyotirlinga of India. It is one of the most sacred places among all the Shiva temples in India. Mahakaleshwar temple is located on the bank of river Shipra in Ujjain, According to legend, this temple of Shiva is believed to be Swayambhu means the one who built on its own accord, without installing the lingam by reciting sacred mantras. Another thing that makes this temple different is that it is the only temple of shiva in the world where you can see a south-facing linga. The high Shikhar and façade give a beautiful sight of the temple to the both history buff as well as to the devotees.


Best time to visit: October to March

How to reach: Ujjain is connected with major cities of India through the railway network. You can get a train to Ujjain from Delhi, Mumbai,

Bhimashankar Temple Maharashtra

Located in Khed near the Pune district of Maharasthra, Bhimashankar is away from the hustle and bustle of the city and is peeping from the quilt of white clouds. This temple is located in the lap of Sahyadri Hills, and this temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of India.
This temple was recently in news as the area where the temple is located has been declared as a Wildlife sanctuary, This temple was built in the 13th century AD and you can see the Buddha craving as well here. If you are an adventure seeker then you must visit here because a trek to Bhimashankar temple will add a pinch to your adventurous as well as spiritual journey.
This temple is an example of the Naga style of architecture and the temple brilliantly showcases the work of sculptors of ancient India. As this temple is located on the top of the hill, this is the perfect location for nature lovers and trekkers.


Best time to visit: October to March

How to reach: Pune is well connected with air, rail, and road transportation. You can get a bus or you can hire a local taxi from Pune which will take you to the temple.

Tungnath Uttarakhand

Located on the top of a mountain, Tunganath is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Tunganath is the world’s highest Shiva temple which is situated at ana height of 3680-meter from sea level. It is also one of the Panch Kedar which is located in Uttrakhand and believed that it belongs to an era almost 1000years old. According to a legend, the foundation of this temple is laid down by Arjuna of Mahabharat who was one of the five Pandavas.

Later it was built in the North Indian style of architecture and this temple has dozen of shrines of other Hindu Gods as well. There are several anecdotes that are related to this temple and one among them is Tungnath the place where Lord Rama has done meditation so then he can get rid of the curse of Brahmahatya after killing Ravana. In the last five years, this place has attracted millions of travelers from the country. If you are an adventure lover then this place is the perfect destination for you. As this temple is located at a height, this remains closed throughout the winter and is only open during the summer and rainy seasons.


Best time to visit: May to October

How to reach: Chopta is the nearest town which is connected only by road transportation. You can get a bus from Rishikesh or Haridwar early in the morning which will take you to Chopta from there your trek to Tungnath start.

Popular Uttarakhand Tour Itinerary-


Madhyamaheshwar, Omkareshwar Temple Uttarakhand

One among the five Panch Kedar, Madhyamaheshwar temple a temple which is located in Ukhimath of Uttarakhand. During the winter when the road to the temple of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar is blocked due to heavy snowfall, then idols of the temple are brought down to Ukhimath every year and are being worshipped here for six months. Ukhimath is a small town which is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is said that not a single person who visits this temple, is left empty-handed. Every devotee who visits here is showered with the blessing of Lord Shiva.

Omkareshwar is one of the oldest shiva temples in the country. It is the winter house of the deities of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar. You can trace water being flown from the walls of this temple which is considered highly sacred and even a few drops of it could lead to the completer purification of human beings.


Best time to Visit: All year long

How to reach: Ukhimath is connected only by road transportation. You have to catch a bus from Rishikesh or Haridwar early in the morning which will take you to Ukhimath. Dehradun is the nearest airport.

Bull Temple Bangalore

Also known by the name of Nandi temple, the bull temple is one of the oldest shiva temples which is located in the city of Bangalore. This temple is popularly known as “Dodda Vasavana Gudi” among the locals and it is believed that it is one of the biggest temples of Nandi in the world. Nandi is a bull who is believed to be the Vahana of Lord Shiva/. As Nandi holds great importance to Lord Shiva, that’s why this temple holds great importance among the shiva devotees.
This temple is built in Dravidian style and was constructed by Kempe Gowda. It is also the origin of river Vrishabhavati and people believe that this river originates from the feet of Nandi. The Nandi figurine is carved out of one single granite rock. The statue is 4.5 meters in height and 6.5 meters in length. Butter and coconut milk are regularly offered to this stature. And due to this, the originally grey state of Nandi turns black over time.



Inside the premise of the bull temple, you can also locate the temple of Ganesh who is the son of Mahadeva. And the most interesting fact about the temple is that the statue of Lord Ganesha here is made out of butter. It took more than 110 kilos of butter to make the statue and after every 4 years, a new statue has to be made. And what is more interesting is that during the period of 4 years, the butter sculptures didn’t change. The butter didn’t even melt during that duration. The butter which is used in making the statue is often distributed among the devotee as prasadam.

Best time to visit: September to March

How to reach: Bangalore is well connected by rail, road, and air transportation. You can easily hire a local taxi which will take you to the temple.