Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra: VIP Darshan Ticket, Timings, How to Reach, Nearby Restaurants

Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is also called Ghushmeshwar Temple and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is considered to be the smallest of 12 Jyotirlingas and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entry to the temple is open for all, but to enter the inner sanctum, that is, Garbagriha of the Temple, men have to be bare-chested. The Shiva Linga can be touched by bare hands. 

Shivalinga and Garbagriha face east and the Shivalinga measures 289 square feet with a Nandi idol in a passageway. About the Temple, it is mentioned in the Shiva Purana and Padma Purana. 

Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Highlights

Particulars	Details
Name of the Temple	Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
Address of the Temple	Grushneshwar, Girish Temple Road, Ellora, Maharashtra 431102
Timings of the Temple	4 AM to 10:00 PM
The best time to visit	October to March
Deity worshipped	Lord Shiva
Allowances	No leather material and phone
Duration of Darshan	Approx one hour
Entry fees	No entry fees
Phone number	9422714413

Timings of the Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra 

The timings of the temple are from 4 AM to 10:00 PM, but during Shravan Month, the timings of the Temple are 3:00 AM to 11:00 PM. 

Particulars	Details
Mangalarati	4:00 AM
Jalhari Sanghan	8:00 AM
Maha Prasad	12:00 PM
Sandhya Aarti	7:30 PM
Shayana Aarti	10:00 PM

Points to remember before visiting Sri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga: 

• There is no VIP Darshan allowed at the Sri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, therefore, do not fall for scammers. 

• You can offer offerings to the deity and even touch the Shivling. 

• No leather materials and mobile phones are allowed at the Temple. 

• Weekdays are preferred for the visit as it is less crowded than other days. 

• If you are driving to the temple, you can park your car a few kilometers away from the Temple. 

How to reach Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra 

Particulars	Details	Distance to temple
By Railway	Aurangabad Railway station	25 km approx.
By Airport	Aurangabad Airport also, (Chikkalthana Airport)	24 km approx.
By Road	Self-drive	1,227.3 km approx.
By Bus	Chatrapati Sambhaji Bus Stop	28 km approx.

Places to visit near Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra 

Ellora Caves 

Ellora Cave is located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra and is the most visited tourist attraction, known for its multi-religious rock-cut caves. The Ellora Caves is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has stunning rock architecture and features 34 caves in its complex, which includes Jain, Hindu, and Buddhist Temples that showcase India's rich cultural heritage and religious harmony. The best time to visit is from November to February, best for exploration. 

Daulatabad Fort 

Daulatabad Fort, by name, we can guess the historical significance that is, it was the second capital of the Delhi Sultanate made by Muhammad bin Tughlaq and the capital for Yadhuvanshi Rajputs. Daulatabad Fort is also called Devagiri Fort. It is one of the famous tourist attractions because of its historical significance and architectural design. The fort is built on a conical hill or citadel which provides you a scenic view of the surrounding countryside. The Daulatabad Fort features structures like Chand Minar, Chini Mahal, and Bharat Mata Temple, which is a mix of architectural styles. One of the lesser-known facts about the Fort is it has false gates that were made to mislead the attackers, and one of the unique defense mechanisms is a dark passage, Andheri, designed to confide and trap invaders. It is a must-visit, and you can do photography, have guided tours, and explore the fort, especially from November to February. 

Bibi ka Maqbara 

Bibi Ka Maqbara shows the Mughals tradition of building tombs for their loved ones, as we can see the Taj Mahal, Humayun Tomb, etc. Bibi ka Maqbara was not built for his wife but for his mother. Prince Azam Shah built Bibi ka Maqbara in remembrance of his mother, Dilras Bano Begum. Bibi Ka Maqbara is also called Dakkhani Taj (Taj of the Deccan). It bears a resemblance to the Taj Mahal as it was built by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri's son Ata-Ullah. It is a principal monument of Mughal architecture and features a Charbagh-style garden, symbolizing paradise with water channels and pathways enhancing the appeal for visitors. It's best for exploration and photography. 

Bhadra Maruti Temple 

Bhadra Maruti Temple is located a few kilometers away from the Ellora Caves. It is the most visited pilgrimage site of Hindus dedicated to Lord Hanuman, with surrounding gardens. The idol of Hanuman is built in a sleeping position which symbolises tranquillity and devotion. Bhadra Maruti Temple attracts thousands of devotees, especially during festivals like Hanuman Jayanti and Ram Navami. Visitors to the Bhadra Maruti Temple can participate in Temple Pujas, rituals, and other prayers. It has a peaceful environment for meditation and reflection on your deeds. It provides a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtra. 

Jayakwadi Dam 

Jayakwadi Dam is located on the Godavari River and is the largest earthen dam in Asia, inaugurated in the year 1976. Jayakwadi Dam offers picturesque scenery of the reservoir, Nath Sagar, and lush greenery, a perfect spot for nature lovers. Besides just looking at the views, one can do photography, boating, bird watching during migratory seasons, and explore nearby attractions like Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary or Dnyaneshwar Udyan. Besides being a tourist attraction, it serves multiple purposes, including irrigation, fresh water supplies for drinking, and hydroelectric power generation. 

Restaurants near Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra 

Garikipati Restaurant 

Garikipati Restaurant is conveniently situated near the Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra, for visitors, devotees, and tourists to have their dining. It's in Verul, Maharashtra. The ambiance offers a pleasant atmosphere and friendly services and is budget-friendly, too. The restaurant provides vegetarian and Indian Cuisines and the most popular and must-try dishes of Garikipati restaurant is Idli and Sambar. Good quality with good deals. 

Quality restaurant 

The Quality restaurant is the most-rated restaurant for dining options. Its atmosphere is clean and inviting and ideal for visitors, devotees, and tourists. The cuisines offered at the quality restaurant are Indian especially vegetarian dishes with non-vegetarian dishes also. Some of the menu highlights of the Quality restaurant are Samosa, Tea, Sambhar Vada, and Ice cream cones. 

Kailash Hotel restaurant -Ellora 

Kailash Hotel restaurant is situated in Ellora and is within walking distance from Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga and Ellora caves. The Hotel provides you with the surrounding landscape and caves. The cuisines offered here are Indian with continental dishes and are budget-friendly, with prices varying in categories. Besides just having food you can stay over here as it is a restaurant cum hotel. The menu caters to a variety of food like burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and drinks with other options of food. 

Sayaji 

Sayaji restaurant is located in Maharashtra with a landmark, Mayur Park. Sayaji restaurant offers a pleasant atmosphere and local Indian cuisine with other exotic flavors. It is budget-friendly, and some of the standout dishes are vegetable dum biryani, paneer tikka, Veg Lemon Coriander soup, chili garlic noodles, and dim sum. 

Nahush’s Restaurant

Nahush's Restaurant is located near the Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Aurangabad Maharashtra. The ambiance of the restaurant is warm and inviting, and it offers Indian vegetarian dishes. Popular dishes of Nahush's Restaurant are Paneer Tikka, Veg Biryani, Chole Bhature, Dal Tadka, and Mixed Vegetable curry. Since the restaurant is near Temple it provides scenic views of the surrounding area. 

Hotels near Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra 

Hotel name	Address	Distance to temple
Ellora Heritage Resort	Heritage Resort, Ellora Cave Rd, near EVC, Ellora, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra 431102	3,349 INR
Hotel Kailas	NH. 211, Opp Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431102	500 INR
Mayur residency	Near Vishwakarma Temple, Verul, Ellora, Maharashtra 431102	2,217 INR
Rudra Guest House	Ganpati mandir, near Grishneshwar temple, Verul, Ellora, Maharashtra 431102	1, 903 INR
Hotel Great Annapurna	Sulibhanjan NH-211, beside Himroo Showroom, Khuldabad, Maharashtra 431101	2,500 INR

About The Temple

Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is built in South Indian architectural style and is considered to be one of the holiest of all temples. The Temple was destroyed several times, first during the Delhi Sultanate's reign and reconstructed by Maratha ruler Shivaji’s grandfather Maloju Bhosle of Verul in the 16th century. The current architecture of the Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga was built by Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in the 18th century. 

The popular legend about the Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is about Ghushma. 

Ghushma was a devotee of Lord Shiva. The first wife of Sudharm was Sudeha, who could not bear a child; therefore, she pushed Sudharm to marry her sister Ghushma. 

She used to offer prayers to Lord Shiva and make 108 Shiva lingams and immerse them in water. Soon, Ghushma's prayers were answered, and she gave birth to a baby boy. It is believed that Sudeha became jealous of her sister, killed his son, and threw him in the same waterbody where Ghushma immersed Shivalinga. 

The next morning when Ghushma was offering the prayers she began chanting and immersed the Shivalinga into the waterbody and saw her son coming. Lord Shiva was pleased by her devotion and came to ask her for another boon.

Ghushma requested Lord Shiva to reside here eternally and thus manifested himself into the Shivalinga and this place came to be known as Ghushmeshwar. The temple is built in South Indian architectural style made up of red stone in 44,400 square feet with a five-layered tall structure. The walls of the Temple depict legends of Lord Shiva and the Dashavatars of Lord Vishnu. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Ques) Does the Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga have any entry fees?

Ans) No, the entry to the Temple is free. 

Ques) What is the dress code of the Sri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga? 

Ans) There is no special dress code to enter the temple, but for men, before entering the inner sanctum, they have to remove their shirts, and women have to wear a saree or kurta-pajama. 

Ques) What is not allowed inside the Sri Grishneshwar Temple? 

Ans) The devotees are not allowed to do photography, carry leather-made materials, and not to take backpacks inside the temple. 

Ques) What are the Sri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple timings? 

Ans) The Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple timings are 4 AM to 10:00 PM, and during Shravan months, it is 3:00 AM to 11:00 PM. 

Ques) What is the best time to visit the temple? 

Ans) The best time to visit the temple is from October to March and during Mahashivratri festivals to enjoy the darshan.