12 Jyotirlingas in Karthika Masam 2026: State-Wise List, Karthika Specialities, Somavaram and Pournami Visits, Darshan and Travel Guide

Quick answer: Karthika Masam 2026 runs from Tuesday 10 November to Tuesday 8 December in the Telugu (amanta) calendar, with Karthika Somavarams on 16, 23 and 30 November and 7 December and Karthika Pournami on Tuesday 24 November. All twelve Jyotirlingas welcome Karthika pilgrims except one: Kedarnath closes for winter on 11 November 2026, at about 8:30 AM, after which Lord Kedarnath is worshipped at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. For Karthika Pournami, Varanasi's Dev Deepawali on 24 November is the most famous lamp celebration at a Jyotirlinga.

Karthika Masam is one of the most sacred months for devotees of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Across India, devotees keep Karthika Somavaram, perform Rudrabhishekam, light lamps, chant Shiva mantras and visit temples. For many Shiva devotees, the greatest journey of all is the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Yatra, the pilgrimage to the twelve shrines where, according to tradition, Shiva manifested as an infinite pillar of light (jyoti).

This guide is written for Karthika Masam 2026: what is special at each Jyotirlinga this month, which suit a Somavaram or Pournami visit, and how to plan regional circuits. For the full history of each shrine, see our complete guide to the twelve Jyotirlingas and the 12 Jyotirlinga Yatra 2026 guide.

Important: not every Jyotirlinga holds a separate official Karthika festival. This guide separates established local traditions from the general Karthika observances devotees follow everywhere, and you should confirm special pujas with each temple.

Karthika Masam 2026 dates for Shiva devotees

Dates follow the Telugu amanta calendar. The North Indian purnimanta Kartik month runs from 27 October to 24 November 2026; the two calendars name the month differently, but the festival dates are the same. See Karthika Masam 2026 and Karthika Somavaram 2026 dates.

Devotees mark the month with early-morning baths, Shiva abhishekam, bilva archana, Rudram and Chamakam, Monday fasts, lamps by the Tulasi and at temples, deepa daanam and Shiva Purana stories.

The 12 Jyotirlingas, state by state

The order follows the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram.

1. Somnath, Gujarat

Location: Prabhas Patan, near Veraval. Tradition says Chandra, the Moon, worshipped Shiva here to be freed from a curse, so the Lord is called Somnath, Lord of the Moon. The temple has been rebuilt many times over the centuries.

In Karthika: abhishekam, bilva archana, Rudrabhishekam where the temple offers it, and the evening aarti beside the Arabian Sea. On Karthika Pournami, combine darshan with lamps and the evening aarti.

Getting there: Veraval railway station is nearest; road links from Junagadh and Rajkot. Nearby: Triveni Sangam, Bhalka Tirth, Gita Mandir. Official site: somnath.org. More: Somnath temple guide.

2. Mallikarjuna, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

Location: Srisailam, Nandyal district, in the Nallamala hills above the Krishna river. Lord Mallikarjuna is worshipped with Goddess Bhramaramba, and the shrine is revered as both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.

In Karthika: Srisailam is one of the most popular Karthika Somavaram destinations for Telugu devotees, with Rudrabhishekam, bilva archana, Karthika deepotsavam and worship of Bhramaramba. Check the temple's 2026 festival schedule and seva bookings before you travel, as Mondays and Pournami are very crowded.

Getting there: Hyderabad is the main gateway by air and road; Markapur Road is a regional railhead. Nearby: Srisailam Dam, Pathala Ganga, Sakshi Ganapati, Akkamahadevi Caves. Official site: srisailadevasthanam.org. More: Srisailam Mallikarjuna temple guide.

3. Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Location: on the Kshipra river, Ujjain. Shiva is worshipped as Mahakala, beyond time and death, and the lingam is revered as swayambhu (self-manifested).

Bhasma Aarti: the early-morning sacred-ash aarti is the temple's most famous ritual. Advance registration and ID checks apply; follow the temple's official instructions.

In Karthika: Bhasma Aarti darshan, Rudrabhishekam, evening aarti, Kshipra prayers and deepa daanam, plus Ujjain's other Shiva temples.

Getting there: Indore airport; Ujjain Junction by rail. Nearby: Harsiddhi, Kal Bhairav, Mangalnath, Ram Ghat. More: Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga guide.

4. Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh

Location: Mandhata island in the Narmada, Khandwa district; the island is traditionally said to resemble the sacred syllable Om. Omkareshwar and nearby Mamleshwar are worshipped together.

In Karthika: Narmada snan and prayers, abhishekam, bilva archana, deepa daanam and the island parikrama, subject to local conditions. Omkareshwar is also a major centre of the Narmada Parikrama tradition.

Getting there: Indore airport; road from Indore and Khandwa. More: Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga guide.

5. Vaidyanath (Baba Baidyanath), Deoghar, Jharkhand

Location: Deoghar. Tradition links the shrine with Ravana's worship of Shiva, and it is famous for the Shravani Mela, when Kanwar pilgrims bring Ganga water to the Lord.

In Karthika: darshan, abhishekam, bilva offerings, Rudra chanting and Monday prayers; Shravan, not Karthika, is the temple's great season.

Note on location: another tradition identifies the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga with Parli Vaijnath in Maharashtra. This guide describes Baba Baidyanath Dham at Deoghar.

Getting there: Deoghar airport; Jasidih Junction by rail. Nearby: Basukinath, Naulakha Mandir, Trikuta hills. Official site: babadham.org.

6. Bhimashankar, Maharashtra

Location: the Sahyadri hills of Pune district, at the source of the Bhima river. Tradition says Shiva destroyed the demon Bhima here to protect his devotees.

In Karthika: abhishekam, bilva archana, Rudram and Somavaram worship in cool post-monsoon weather; check road conditions on the hill roads.

Getting there: Pune airport and railway station, then by road. Nearby: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gupt Bhimashankar. More: Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga guide.

7. Ramanathaswamy, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

Location: Rameswaram island. According to the Ramayana tradition, Lord Rama worshipped Shiva here before crossing to Lanka. The temple is also one of the four Char Dham and is famous for its long corridors and its 22 sacred wells (theerthams), where pilgrims bathe following temple procedures.

In Karthika: darshan, abhishekam, theertham bathing and deepa daanam; on Karthika Pournami, prayers at the sacred waters around the island.

Getting there: Madurai airport; Rameswaram railway station. Nearby: Agni Theertham, Dhanushkodi, Pamban Bridge. More: Ramanathaswamy temple guide.

8. Nageshwar, near Dwarka, Gujarat

Location: near Dwarka. The shrine is linked with the legend of the devotee Supriya, whom Shiva protected from the demon Daruka. (Another tradition places Nageshwar at Aundha Nagnath in Maharashtra.)

In Karthika: abhishekam, bilva archana and Somavaram prayers, easily combined with the Dwarkadhish temple and Bet Dwarka.

Getting there: Jamnagar airport; Dwarka railway station.

9. Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Location: Varanasi, the city of liberation, where Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, Lord of the Universe.

In Karthika: Kartik is one of Kashi's busiest months, with Ganga snan, abhishekam, Rudrabhishekam, the evening Ganga aarti and lamps on the ghats.

Dev Deepawali, 24 November 2026: on Kartik Purnima the ghats are lit with countless earthen lamps, the most spectacular Karthika Pournami celebration at any Jyotirlinga. See Dev Deepawali 2026.

Getting there: Varanasi airport; Varanasi Junction and Banaras stations. Official site: shrikashivishwanath.org. More: Kashi Vishwanath temple guide.

10. Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Maharashtra

Location: Trimbak, near the source of the Godavari. The lingam has three small forms associated with Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, and the town hosts the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh.

In Karthika: abhishekam, bilva archana, Rudra chanting and a holy dip at Kushavarta Kund, the sacred tank associated with the Godavari.

Getting there: Nashik Road station; Nashik or Mumbai airport. Nearby: Brahmagiri, Anjaneri, Panchavati. More: Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga guide.

11. Kedarnath, Uttarakhand: closes on 11 November

Location: the Garhwal Himalayas by the Mandakini, Rudraprayag district; one of the Char Dham of Uttarakhand and part of the Panch Kedar.

Karthika 2026: the shrine is scheduled to close for winter on Wednesday 11 November 2026, at about 8:30 AM, on Bhai Dooj, the day after Telugu Karthika Masam begins. Through the winter, Lord Kedarnath's utsava murti is worshipped at the Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, which is the place to go for Karthika darshan after the closing. Confirm the closing with the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (official site).

In season: the trek from Gaurikund is about 16–18 km; registration, medical fitness checks and weather alerts apply.

12. Grishneshwar, Maharashtra

Location: Verul, beside the Ellora caves, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Tradition says Shiva manifested here to bless the devoted Ghushma.

In Karthika: abhishekam, bilva archana, Somavaram worship and evening prayers, easily combined with Ellora and Daulatabad.

Getting there: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport and station. More: Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga guide.

Karthika specialities at a glance

Best Jyotirlingas for a Karthika Somavaram visit

Mallikarjuna (Srisailam), Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Somnath, Ramanathaswamy and Grishneshwar all suit a Monday visit. Choose by distance, weather, crowds and darshan arrangements; from Hyderabad, Srisailam is the most convenient.

Karthika Pournami 2026: which Jyotirlinga?

On Tuesday 24 November, the most famous choice is Kashi Vishwanath for Dev Deepawali on the Ganga ghats. Somnath (aarti by the sea), Omkareshwar (Narmada), Trimbakeshwar (Kushavarta Kund) and Srisailam (Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba) are also deeply meaningful. See Karthika Pournami 2026.

Regional circuits for the Jyotirlinga Yatra

• Gujarat (3–5 days): Somnath and Nageshwar, with Dwarkadhish and Bet Dwarka.
• Madhya Pradesh (3–4 days): Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar.
• Maharashtra (5–7 days): Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Grishneshwar, with Ellora.
• Andhra Pradesh (2–3 days): Mallikarjuna, Srisailam.
• North and East (4–7 days or more): Kashi Vishwanath and Vaidyanath; Kedarnath only in season.
• Tamil Nadu (2–3 days): Rameswaram, with Madurai.

Don't try to cover all twelve in one Karthika month: the shrines are far apart, and Kedarnath closes on 11 November.

Karthika Shiva puja at home

1. Bathe early, clean the puja place and light a lamp.
2. Offer water or milk abhishekam to a Shiva lingam or picture, then bilva leaves.
3. Chant Om Namah Shivaya (ॐ नमः शिवाय) 108 times, or the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra:

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

"We worship the three-eyed Lord who nourishes all beings. May he free us from the bondage of death, as a ripe cucumber from its vine, and lead us to immortality."

1. Offer fruit or naivedyam, perform aarti, and light a lamp by the Tulasi in the evening.

Travel and darshan tips for 2026

1. Check each temple's official website for darshan times and festival arrangements.
2. Book sevas and special pujas only through official channels; avoid touts and unofficial VIP darshan.
3. Allow extra time on Somavarams and Karthika Pournami.
4. Follow dress codes and photography rules, and carry ID.
5. Check weather and transport, especially for hill shrines.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva?

Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Vaidyanath, Bhimashankar, Ramanathaswamy, Nageshwar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Kedarnath and Grishneshwar.

Which Jyotirlinga is best to visit in Karthika Masam?

Mallikarjuna (Srisailam), Mahakaleshwar, Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Omkareshwar and Trimbakeshwar are popular choices; pick by distance and darshan arrangements.

When does Karthika Masam start and end in 2026?

In the Telugu amanta calendar, from Tuesday 10 November to Tuesday 8 December 2026.

When is Karthika Pournami in 2026?

Tuesday 24 November 2026, the same day as Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.

Is Kedarnath open during Karthika Masam 2026?

Only until Wednesday 11 November 2026, when it closes for winter at about 8:30 AM. After that, Lord Kedarnath is worshipped at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.

Which Jyotirlinga is famous for the Bhasma Aarti?

Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain.

Which Jyotirlinga is also a Shakti Peetha?

Mallikarjuna at Srisailam, worshipped with Goddess Bhramaramba.

Which Jyotirlinga is closest to Hyderabad?

Mallikarjuna at Srisailam.

Har Har Mahadev! Om Namah Shivaya!

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