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
5:30 AM
to 9:30 PM
Daily Aarti
5:30 AM · 12 PM · 7 PM · 9:30 PM
Government tourism timetable · Temple hours are 5:30 AM–9:30 PM; confirm special-day changes
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
No clear official phone or photography policy was found · Follow entrance signage and staff instructions
Expected Wait Time
Approximate planning estimate only · Not live or guaranteed
Weekdays
Not Published
No official typical weekday queue time was found
Weekends
Not Published
Allow buffer time for weekends and Ellora visitor traffic
Festivals
Not Published
Special controls may apply during Maha Shivratri and Shravan
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 about 1 km from the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. Government tourism publishes temple hours of 5:30 AM–9:30 PM and Ellora hours of 9 AM–5 PM; Ellora is closed on Tuesdays. Treat them as separate visits with separate rules and confirm current ASI ticket and last-entry details.
1 km
To Ellora Caves
9 AM–5 PM
Ellora listing
Tue closed
Ellora closure day
A Flexible Same-Day Plan
- 1
Begin with temple darshan if an early visit suits you. The published opening is 5:30 AM. The Ghushma Kunda tradition is optional and is not presented as an entry requirement.
- 2
Continue to Ellora after its published 9 AM opening. The district page places the sites about 1 km apart. Choose a current walking or road transfer and agree any fare before departure.
- 3
Prioritise according to your interests. Kailasa Temple is Cave 16; Ellora also contains Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain cave groups. Allow several hours rather than relying on a rigid cave-by-cave clock.
- 4
Keep the two rule sets separate. Temple sanctum access, dress, phones, and photography follow temple instructions; Ellora tickets, last entry, and photography follow current ASI rules.
Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday. Current government sources reviewed disagree on admission prices, and no reliable official extra-camera-ticket or temple photography rule was found. Check the current ASI ticket portal and follow signs and staff at each site.
Puja Schedule
4 rituals · Daily
5:30 AM – 9:30 PMTimings 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
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar railway station · 29 km
By Flight
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport · 36 km
By Road
Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) · 31 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 district page places the city about 31 km by road from the temple, the railway station about 29 km away, and the airport about 36 km away.
Recheck Festival-Period Availability
Maha Shivaratri and Shravan may affect demand. Compare live availability and cancellation terms rather than relying on a fixed booking lead time.
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 may rise on Shravan Mondays. The official opening is 5:30 AM; follow current queue instructions.
Mahashivratri · Peak
Expect changed access and higher demand. Confirm special-day hours and the current festival programme before travel.
tips_and_updatesVisitor Tips
- check_circleUse the 5:30 AM opening if an early visit suits you. An early visit can leave more time for Ellora, but no quieter queue or fixed wait is guaranteed.
- 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_circleUse the published government aarti timetable. Incredible India lists 5:30 AM, noon, 7 PM, and 9:30 PM. Confirm special-day changes locally.
- 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
Traditionally Listed Twelfth
Grishneshwar is traditionally listed twelfth in the Jyotirlinga sequence. Its religious account centres on the devotee Ghushma.
Ahilyabai Holkar's Temple
Maharashtra Tourism associates the present 18th-century restoration with Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, who also supported temples and ghats elsewhere in India.
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 is a major Shiva observance. Exact rituals, access controls, and hours can change each year.
What to do: Confirm the current festival programme and remember that Ellora follows its separate Tuesday closure.
Shravan Mondays
Shravan Mondays may bring additional Shiva devotees, but no official fixed queue time or comparison with other Jyotirlingas is published.
What to do: Check the current calendar, opening hours, and any special queue arrangements.
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 Buddhist & Jain Caves
near_me About 1 km
Ellora contains Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain cave groups. Current Maharashtra Tourism hours are 9 AM–5 PM; Tuesday is the weekly closure. Confirm ASI ticket and last-entry rules.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Heritage
near_me Separate road visits
Daulatabad Fort and Bibi ka Maqbara can be part of a longer regional visit. Check each site’s current hours, closure day, route, and ticket separately.
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. Incredible India publishes Grishneshwar hours of 5:30 AM–9:30 PM, and the district page places Ellora about 1 km away.
Maharashtra Tourism currently lists Ellora at 9 AM–5 PM; it is closed every Tuesday. Confirm current ASI ticket and last-entry rules.
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 31 km by road from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on the district page. It lists State Transport bus or taxi for the final journey.
The same page places the railway station about 29 km away and the airport about 36 km away. Check live schedules, fares, and Ellora's separate ASI opening rules before travel.
Reviewed on 24 August 2026 against Maharashtra Tourism, Incredible India, and the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district page. Government tourism publishes temple hours of 5:30 AM–9:30 PM and aartis at 5:30 AM, noon, 7 PM, and 9:30 PM; Maharashtra Tourism names Panchamrut Pujan, Rudra Abhishek, and Mahamrityunjay rituals. Men remove the upper garment for inner-sanctum entry. Incredible India says devotees may enter the sanctum and touch the linga, but current access remains subject to staff direction. Ellora is a separate site, closed Tuesdays; confirm current ASI fees and visitor rules.