10 Shiva temples to visit during Maha Shivratri

Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) Kashi, located on the Ganga River, is Lord Shiva's favourite place. Maha Shivratri is celebrated with great spiritualism here.

Somnath Temple (Gujarat) Being one of the 12 Jyotirlingams, the festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm in Somnath.

Bhootnath Temple (Himachal Pradesh) Maha Shivratri is a major festival here. Tourists from all over the world, as well as Indian devotees, look forward to the festivities at this temple in Mandi.

Brihadeeswarar Temple (Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu) Also known as the Big Temple, this UNESCO World Heritage Site honours Lord Shiva. The towering vimana (tower) here is an architectural marvel.

Umananda Temple (Guwahati, Assam) The Umananda Temple, located on Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra River, is said to host one of India's most magnificent Maha Shivratri celebrations.

Kedarnath Temple (Uttarakhand) Nestled among the snow-capped peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath is a Char Dham pilgrimage site that holds great significance for Shiva devotees.

Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu) This temple is known for its long corridor and intricately carved pillars. It contains one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is associated with the epic Ramayana.

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple (Ellora, Maharashtra) This ancient shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is close to the Ellora Caves and is a popular pilgrimage destination.

Kotilingeshwara Temple (Kolar, Karnataka) This temple complex is famous for its extensive lingam collection, which includes thousands of Shiva lingams. The main lingam is thought to be the largest in the world.

Mahakaleshwar Temple (Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh) This temple, located on the banks of the Shipra River, is home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The Bhasma Aarti here is a famous ritual.

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