Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
Verul (Ellora) · Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
Traditionally listed twelfth in the Jyotirlinga sequence. Its religious story centres on the devotee Ghushma, and the temple stands close to the Ellora Caves UNESCO World Heritage Site. The present structure is associated with Ahilyabai Holkar's 18th-century restoration.
Darshan Information
Darshan Hours
5:00 AM
to 9:00 PM
Daily Aarti
Confirm Locally
Google Maps confirms a 5 AM opening, but no official daily aarti timetable was found · Temple open daily; Ellora Caves close Tuesdays
Entry Fee
Free
General darshan
Dress Code
Modest Attire
Maharashtra Tourism says men remove the upper garment for inner-sanctum entry · Confirm the current rule at the entrance
Best Time to Visit
Year-Round
Tuesday: Ellora Caves closed; plan accordingly · Temple open daily including Tuesday
Security Rules
Confirm at Entrance
Google visitor guidance reports restrictions, but no clear official policy was found · Follow entrance signage and staff instructions
Expected Wait Time
Approximate planning estimate only · Not live or guaranteed
Weekdays
Approx. 30–60 min
Ordinary weekdays, especially near opening
Weekends
Approx. 45 min–2 hrs
Weekends and holidays
Festivals
Approx. 1–3 hrs
Maha Shivratri · Shravan Mondays
Broad editorial range from recent visitor reports; no official live queue estimate is published
* Foreign nationals and visitors of other faiths, please check entry permissions at the main gate before proceeding.
The Ellora Day
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga and Ellora: one combined day
Grishneshwar darshan + Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)
Grishneshwar stands close to the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. Kailasa Temple, Cave 16, is a major monolithic rock-cut Shiva temple carved from basalt. Begin with an early Grishneshwar visit, then allow several hours for Ellora. Confirm the temple's current closing time locally and remember that Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.
1 km
To Ellora Caves
3–5 hrs
For Ellora visit
Tue closed
Ellora closure day
The Ellora Day: Recommended Sequence
- 1
5:30–7:30 AM · Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga. Arrive at opening. Bathe in Ghushma Kunda (the sacred tank adjacent to the temple) before entering. Complete Jyotirlinga darshan in the calm of the early morning, before Ellora opens and tourist groups arrive.
- 2
9:00 AM · Kailasa Temple (Cave 16). Walk or take an auto (5 min, ₹20–30) to Ellora. Begin at the Kailasa Temple, the greatest single monument at Ellora. Spend at least 90 minutes here. The scale becomes clear only when standing at the bottom of the excavated courtyard looking up at the sculpted cliff-face.
- 3
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Hindu Caves (14–29). Seventeen Hindu caves contain extraordinary Shaiva sculptures. The Shiva-Ravana cave (Cave 29), the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29), and the Dashavatara caves are highlights. All depict Shiva legends.
- 4
2:00 – 4:00 PM · Buddhist Caves (1–12) or Jain Caves (30–34). The Vishvakarma cave (Cave 10), a cathedral-like Buddhist space with a massive seated Buddha, is among India's most beautiful interiors. Jain caves (30–34) are elaborately decorated and usually uncrowded.
Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday. Photography is allowed inside Ellora with an additional ASI camera ticket. No photography is permitted inside the Grishneshwar temple; leave your camera at Ellora's cloakroom before temple darshan.
Puja Schedule
Current ritual times are not published reliably
5:00 AM – 9:00 PMConfirm the current ritual timetable
A reliable official daily ritual timetable was not found for this page. Use the official portal or helpdesk where available, or ask at the temple before planning around a specific puja.
Timings may shift during festivals and special occasions. Confirm at maharashtratourism.gov.in before visiting.
Travel and Stay
At a Glance
Jyotirlinga Sequence
Traditionally listed as the twelfth of the 12 Jyotirlingas
Ellora Caves
UNESCO World Heritage site · about 1 km away
Weather and Crowds
October–March has milder weather · Ellora is easy to combine on the same visit
directions_transitHow to Reach Grishneshwar
By Train
Aurangabad Station · 30 km
By Flight
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (IXU) · 30 km
By Road
Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) · 30 km
hotelWhere to Stay
Verul / Ellora for Temple Proximity
Grishneshwar is in Verul and Ellora Caves are about 1 km away. A nearby stay is useful for early darshan and a same-day temple-and-Ellora visit.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as the Main Gateway
The city is about 30 km from the temple and is the primary air and rail gateway. It is a practical base when your trip also includes Daulatabad, Ajanta or other regional sites.
Reserve Ahead for Mahashivratri
The reviewed planning data recommends arranging accommodation 2–4 weeks ahead for Mahashivratri. Shravan Mondays also bring higher visitor numbers.
Check whether your chosen Ellora itinerary falls on Tuesday, when the separate ASI-managed caves are closed.
wb_sunnySeasonal Planning
Oct – Mar · Preferred
These are the preferred months in the reviewed planning data. A weekday morning also works well for combining darshan with the separately managed Ellora Caves.
Shravan Mondays · Busier
Visitor numbers rise on Shravan Mondays. The reviewed guidance recommends arriving around the 5 AM opening and following current queue instructions.
Mahashivratri · Peak
Expect substantially higher crowds and arrange accommodation 2–4 weeks ahead. Confirm special-day hours locally because no official daily ritual timetable is published.
tips_and_updatesVisitor Tips
- check_circleArrive early for a quieter visit. The reviewed planning guidance recommends approximately 5:30–8:30 AM, before larger Ellora visitor groups arrive.
- check_circleMen should confirm the inner-sanctum clothing instruction. Maharashtra Tourism says male devotees remove the upper garment for inner-sanctum entry. Follow current temple directions at the entrance.
- check_circleDo not rely on an unverified aarti timetable. No reliable official daily ritual schedule or afternoon closure was found. Confirm locally before planning around a specific puja.
- check_circleRemember that Ellora is a separate visit. The ASI-managed caves are about 1 km away and are closed on Tuesday. Check current ASI hours and entry rules independently.
- check_circleUse authorised services and current signage. No official priority-darshan fee or detailed phone policy is published here. Avoid agents promising guaranteed access.
Temple Highlights
12th & Final Jyotirlinga
Grishneshwar is the last of the 12 Jyotirlingas, making it the culmination for pilgrims completing the full circuit. Both the 11th (Trimbakeshwar) and 12th are in Maharashtra, allowing pilgrims to complete two Jyotirlingas in one state visit.
Ahilyabai Holkar's Temple
The current temple was rebuilt by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in the 18th century, the same ruler who restored Kashi Vishwanath (1780) and funded temples and ghats across India. The black stone Hemadpanthi-style architecture with its distinctive shikhara is attributed to her patronage.
UNESCO World Heritage: 1 km Away
Kailasa Temple, Cave 16 at the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves, is a major monolithic rock-cut temple near Grishneshwar. Both sites can be visited in one day from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Jyotirlinga + Ellora in One Day
Grishneshwar and the Ellora Caves can be visited on the same day. Allow several hours for Ellora; Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) can serve as a base for both.
Major Festivals
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri brings special worship and heavy crowds to Grishneshwar. Exact ritual and access arrangements can change each year.
What to do: Confirm the festival programme and temple hours locally. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.
Shravan Mondays
Each Monday in Shravan draws devoted Shiva pilgrims for Jal Abhishek. Grishneshwar is typically more manageable during Shravan than the more famous Jyotirlingas, making it a good option for pilgrims seeking the Shravan atmosphere without extreme crowds.
What to do: Arrive before 6 AM on Shravan Mondays. The morning is cool and the crowds, while large, are far more manageable than at Mahakaleshwar or Kashi Vishwanath.
Nag Panchami
Grishneshwar, being associated with Shiva in the region of Ellora, draws special Nag Panchami devotion. Serpent imagery is prominent throughout the Ellora sculpture as well. A meaningful day to visit both the Jyotirlinga and the Ellora Shiva caves on the same trip.
What to do: Combine Nag Panchami darshan at Grishneshwar with a visit to Ellora Cave 29 (Dumar Lena), the most dramatic Shiva sculptural programme in the complex, just 1 km away.
Mondays Year-Round
Grishneshwar is one of the more accessible and uncrowded Jyotirlingas year-round. Even on Mondays, queues are manageable compared to Gujarat or Varanasi Jyotirlingas. This makes it an excellent choice for first-time Jyotirlinga pilgrims who want a meaningful but not overwhelming experience.
What to do: Reach the temple before 7 AM on any Monday for a calm, unhurried darshan. Ellora Caves open at 9 AM and are a natural follow-on for the rest of the day. Remember: Ellora closes on Tuesdays.
The Story of Grishneshwar
The Grishneshwar legend comes from the Shiva Purana. A devout woman named Ghushma worshipped Lord Shiva daily with 101 clay lingas, which she immersed in a nearby lake after puja. Her devoted practice earned her a son, but her jealous co-wife drowned the boy in the same lake. When Ghushma's grief reached Lord Shiva, he appeared in his divine form, restored her son to life, and offered to punish the murderer. Ghushma, moved by grace rather than rage, asked only for forgiveness for the co-wife. Shiva was so moved by her compassion that he declared he would dwell permanently at this spot. The name Grishneshwar (or Ghrishneshwar) derives from “Ghushma + Ishwara”, meaning Lord of Ghushma.
The temple was rebuilt under Queen Ahilyabai Holkar's patronage in the 18th century. She also restored Kashi Vishwanath and supported temples and ghats at other pilgrimage sites. Grishneshwar stands close to the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves and its major monolithic rock-cut Kailasa Temple.
“Where Ghushma's devotion drew Shiva to dwell forever — the twelfth Jyotirlinga, the final grace of the divine light.”
— Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita (paraphrase)
Nearby Sites & Attractions
Kailasa Temple (Cave 16, Ellora)
near_me About 1.5 km
A major monolithic rock-cut temple dedicated to Shiva, carved from basalt at the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays; confirm current opening hours and entry fees before visiting.
Ellora Caves: Buddhist & Jain Sections
near_me 1 km · 15 min walk from Grishneshwar
Ellora contains 34 caves spanning Hindu (Caves 14–29), Buddhist (Caves 1–12), and Jain (Caves 30–34) traditions, all carved between 600–1000 CE. Cave 10 (Vishvakarma) is a cathedral-like Buddhist space with a massive seated Buddha. Jain Caves (30–34) are elaborately decorated and usually uncrowded. 3–5 hours needed for all sections.
Daulatabad Fort & Bibi ka Maqbara
near_me 20–33 km · 30–45 min from Ellora
Daulatabad Fort (20 km) is the impregnable Tughlaq-era fort with a spiral staircase into darkness. Bibi ka Maqbara (33 km, Aurangabad city) is the 'Taj of Deccan', built by Mughal prince Azam Shah for his mother. Together with Ellora and Grishneshwar, this area has Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Islamic monuments within 40 km.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Grishneshwar different from the other 11 Jyotirlingas?
Grishneshwar is traditionally listed twelfth in the Jyotirlinga sequence. Its religious story centres on the devotee Ghushma.
The temple is also close to the Ellora Caves World Heritage Site, so both can be combined in one day. Crowd levels vary; no fixed wait time is promised.
What is the Ghushma legend?
From the Shiva Purana: Ghushma (also called Ghushmaa or Kusuma) was a devout woman who worshipped Shiva every day by immersing 101 clay lingas in the adjacent lake (now Ghushma Kunda). Her jealous co-wife killed her son and threw his body into the same lake.
Ghushma continued her worship with perfect equanimity, undisturbed by grief and unwavering in devotion. Lord Shiva, moved by her unshakeable faith, appeared, resurrected her son, and offered to punish the co-wife. Ghushma, in compassion, asked only that her co-wife be pardoned.
Shiva was so moved by her compassion that he offered to remain at this spot permanently. He was named Ghrishneshwar, "the Lord who is present by the grace of Ghushma." By tradition, this makes Grishneshwar a Jyotirlinga whose story centres on human devotion and compassion.
Can I visit both Grishneshwar and Ellora Caves in one day?
Yes. Google Maps confirms a 5 AM temple opening, and Ellora is nearby. Check the current ASI opening time before setting your itinerary.
Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday. The temple remains open daily, so plan another nearby site if your visit falls on Tuesday.
Photography at Grishneshwar: what is allowed?
Current visitor guidance reports phone and photography restrictions inside the temple, but no clear official policy was found.
Follow entrance signage and staff instructions. Ellora is a separate ASI site with its own current rules.
How do I reach Grishneshwar from Aurangabad and Mumbai?
Grishneshwar is near Ellora, about 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad). Use a current state-bus or taxi service for the final road journey.
From Mumbai, travel first to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar by a suitable current rail, air, or road service, then continue to Ellora. Check live schedules, fares, and Ellora's separate ASI opening rules before travel.
Maharashtra Tourism confirms that Grishneshwar is open year-round and describes the inner-sanctum clothing tradition for men. Google Maps, confirmed by the business in 2026, lists a 5 AM opening. A reliable official daily aarti timetable and detailed visitor-policy page were not found, so confirm closing time, phone rules, and ritual access locally. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.