Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

About 1 km from Ellora Caves and 29 km from Aurangabad city. The nearest airport is Aurangabad Airport, approximately 30 km away.

Legend: A childless Brahmin couple longed for a son. Following Sudeha’s advice, her sister Ghushma worshipped Shiva daily by making and immersing lingas in a lake. Blessed with a son, she lived happily until a jealous Sudeha killed the boy. Unshaken, Ghushma continued her devotion. Pleased by her faith, Lord Shiva restored her son and appeared as the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga.

What makes it unique: It is the twelfth and final Jyotirlinga described in the Shiva Purana, so for those doing the full Jyotirlinga circuit, this is where the journey ends. Rani Ahilyabai Holkar rebuilt the current red stone temple structure in 1754, the same queen who rebuilt Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Darshan Timings: The temple is open from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. The best darshan time is 5:30 AM to 8:00 AM. General darshan is free, with no official online booking system available.

Tips:

Men are required to enter the sanctum bare-chested. Traditional attire is mandatory inside the garbhagriha.

Since the Ellora Caves are just 1 km away, most travelers prefer visiting both places on the same day.

Photography is restricted inside the sanctum.

Route:

From Aurangabad, frequent buses run directly to Verul/Ellora.

From the railway station, you can hire auto-rickshaws, state buses, private taxis, or shared cabs, all of which operate frequently toward Ellora and Verul.

Private cabs from Pune take 5–6 hours.