Ellora Grishneshwar Darshan: Maharashtra Jyotirlinga Yatra

Highlights & Route

Grishneshwar, also spelt Ghrishneshwar or Ghushmeshwar, is traditionally listed as the last of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It stands in the village of Verul, barely a kilometre from the Ellora caves, about 30 km from Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). The red stone temple seen today was rebuilt in the 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, who also restored Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath, and its carved shikhara and pillared hall are among the finest Maratha-period temple work in Maharashtra. The Shiva Purana tells here the story of Ghushma, whose devotion restored her murdered son to life, after which Shiva stayed on as Ghushmeshwar.

This three-day package is a relaxed way to complete the twelfth Jyotirlinga, especially for families who have already visited the others and want to end their circuit without hurry. The first day is arrival and rest; the second combines Ellora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose Kailasa temple was carved downward out of a single hill, with an afternoon darshan at Grishneshwar; the third sees the Mughal-era Bibi Ka Maqbara and the reclining Hanuman at Khuldabad before your departure.

The temple is open through the year, with the heaviest crowds on Mahashivratri, Shravan Mondays and the Kartik month. October to February is the best season for Marathwada’s weather. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays, so we set the day order to avoid it.

Route

Aurangabad airport / railway station → Aurangabad hotel → Ellora Caves → Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (Verul) → Aurangabad → Bibi Ka Maqbara → Khuldabad (Bhadra Maruti) → Aurangabad airport / railway station

Good to know before you book

• Male devotees are asked to remove their shirt and upper garment before entering the inner sanctum at Grishneshwar; women should dress modestly. Phones, cameras and leather items are not allowed inside.
• Ellora Caves are closed on Tuesdays. Entry is ticketed by the Archaeological Survey of India and paid directly.
• Grishneshwar and Ellora are within walking distance of each other, so both are done in one half-day without extra driving.
• Aurangabad has direct flights from Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad and good train connections; the station is in the city centre.
• Summer afternoons (March to June) are very hot; we schedule the cave visit early in the morning in those months.
• If you wish to add Ajanta, it needs a full extra day (and is closed on Mondays).

Darshan, puja and timing notes

Grishneshwar is usually open from early morning (about 5.30 am) until about 9.30 pm, with hours extended in Shravan and on Mahashivratri. It is one of the few Jyotirlingas where devotees are still generally allowed into the garbhagriha to touch the linga and pour jal themselves, which is why the rules at the door matter.

• Dress rule: men remove the shirt and vest before entering the sanctum (a dhoti or trousers is fine); women dress modestly. Keep a small cloth for your shoulders.
• Abhishek: jal and milk abhishek is done by devotees in the general line. A rudrabhishek or laghu rudra with a priest can be booked at the temple; we suggest the morning, before the Ellora crowds arrive.
• Items: phones, cameras and leather go into the lockers outside.
• Quiet hours: weekday mornings and the hour before the evening aarti. Weekends see day visitors from Aurangabad and Ellora.

Festivals to plan around: Maha Shivaratri on 6 March 2027, the Mondays of Shravan (July–August) and the Kartik month. The Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh began with flag hoisting on 31 October 2026; its Amrit snan days (2 August, 31 August and 11–12 September 2027) will raise numbers at all the Maharashtra Jyotirlingas. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays, Ajanta on Mondays.

Is this yatra right for you?

This is one of the easiest Jyotirlinga yatras in India. Verul is at low altitude, the temple has only a few steps, and the drive from Aurangabad is under an hour. Senior citizens and children manage it well. The only real walking is at Ellora, where caves are spread over about 2 km; a vehicle shuttles between the groups.

It may be too short if you also want Ajanta (a full extra day), or if you hope to cover the other Maharashtra Jyotirlingas in one journey. It also fits poorly with a fixed Tuesday, when Ellora is shut. For a longer plan, see the options below, or use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).

How this differs from our other Grishneshwar yatras

For Bhimashankar on its own, see our Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga yatra from Pune.

Getting there and nearby tirthas

Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) airport and station are about 30 km from Verul. Near the temple, the Shivalaya tank and the Lakshavinayak Ganesh shrine at Verul are worth a few minutes, and Khuldabad, 6 km away, has the reclining Bhadra Maruti. Devotees completing all twelve shrines can see our full list of Jyotirlinga yatras.