Jyotirlinga
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga
Khandwa district (Mandhata Island, Narmada river), Madhya Pradesh
A Jyotirlinga on an Om-shaped island in the middle of the Narmada
At a glance
- Location
- Khandwa district (Mandhata Island, Narmada river), Madhya Pradesh
- Presiding deity
- Lord Shiva
- Temple type
- Jyotirlinga
- Tradition
- Shaiva
- Nearest railway station
- Khandwa Junction (~70-77 km, best connectivity); the smaller Omkareshwar Road station (~12 km) has limited trains
- Nearest airport
- Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, Indore (~77 km)
- Best time to visit
- October to March; the Shravan month draws especially large crowds.
History
The Omkareshwar temple stands on Mandhata (Shivpuri) Island in the middle of the Narmada river, whose natural shape is said to resemble the Devanagari "Om" symbol. Legend holds that even the mighty Vindhya mountain worshipped Shiva here after overcoming its pride. The island actually hosts two temples — Omkareshwar and Mamleshwar (Amareshwar) — and tradition often counts the pair together as the twelfth Jyotirlinga.
Spiritual significance
The site lies on the Narmada Parikrama route, one of India's most significant river-circumambulation pilgrimages. Reaching the island involves crossing a bridge over the Narmada, making the approach visually striking as well as spiritually significant.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
5:00 AM to 10:00 PM; the temple closes after the night Shayan Aarti.
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
From Khandwa Junction, Omkareshwar is roughly a 1.5-2 hour taxi or bus ride. Direct road connectivity is also available from Indore.
Continue your Shiva bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.