Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga temple
The fact that Omkareshwar, a sacred island, is formed like Om, the most sacred symbol of Hinduism, can only be described as a boon from the gods and mother earth. The river Narmada creates a tranquil pool between the high hills that decorate the area.
Overlooking the Narmada River is a cantilever-style bridge. It is a 270-foot hanging bridge that adds to Omkareshwar’s splendour.
The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga temple is the most popular attraction in Omkareshwar. One of India’s 12 Jyotirlinga temples, it is also known as “Omkar Mandhata” in popular culture. Every year, unfathomable numbers of pilgrims come to the shrine to ask Lord Shiva’s grace.
In addition to the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, there is also the three-story Gauri Somnath Temple, which is shaped like a peahen. The list now includes the temples of Mahakaleshwar, Siddhanath, Ashapuri, Khedapati Hanuman, Mamleshwar, Kashi Vishwanath, Rinmukteshwar, and Kedareshwar.
The Govindeshwar Caves, where Adi Shankaracharya is reputed to have attained nirvana, and Gurudwara Omkareshwar Sahib, where Guru Nanak resided when touring the city, are two other places in the holy town that are worthwhile seeing.
The trip to Omkareshwar can be completed by witnessing Narmada and Kaveri merge at the sangam. There are numerous reasons to visit Omkareshwar once, including the vibrant ghats, lapping Narmada, and the presence of deity.
Omkareshwar Temple Highlights
| Deity | Lord Omkareshwar (Lord Shiva) |
| Location | Mandhata, Madhya Pradesh |
| Significance | One of the Jyotirlinga |
| Tours | Mahakaleshwar Omkareshwar Tour |
| Visting hours | 5 to 9:30 PM |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Poojas | Maharudrabhishek, Laghurudrabhishek |
| Best time to visit | From October to March |
| Festivals | Shravan, Shivratri |
| Jyotirlingas in Madhya Pradesh | Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Mahakaleshwar Temple |
History of Omkareshwar
The divinity of the Vindhya range of mountains was praising Lord Shiva, according to the Hindu mythology Vindya, to atone for the crimes he had done. As a result, he produced a lingam composed of both sand and clay as well as a holy rectangular shape. Shiva, gratified by his worship, manifested as Omkareshwar and Amaleswara. Because the muddy mound was shaped like the letter “Om,” this area was known as Omkareshwar.
The second tale concerned the atonement of Mandhata and his son. Before Lord Shiva became a Jyotirlinga, he was revered here by King Mandhata of the Ikshvaku clan, a predecessor of Lord Ram. Many academics also recount how Mandhata’s sons, Ambarish and Muchukunda, underwent arduous penance in order to appease Lord Shiva, giving rise to the mountain’s name of Mandhata.
The third tale was taken from Hindu texts and said that there had once been a fierce battle between both the Devas (Gods) and the Danavas (Demons), which the Danavas ultimately prevailed in. The Devas appealed to Lord Shiva because this was a huge setback for them. Shiva appeared as Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga in response to their pleas and vanquished the Danavas.
Things to do and Places to see in Omkareshwar
- Explore the Omkareshwar Temple, one of India’s most well-known sacred sites, which is located on Mandhata Island and where the Narmada and Kaveri streams converge. The place will enchant you with its magnificent architecture and arresting sculptures & murals.
- From Shri Omkar Mandhata, turn left and ascend 287 steps to Gaudi Somnath’s eleventh century temple, from from which you can descend a slope to the island’s northern province. If not, you can either sit and watch the Baboons and monkeys play or climb the little, interior stairs of the temple.
- Explore Omkareshwar’s exquisitely carved Siddhanatha Temple, which is adorned with beautiful elephant sculptures around its foundation.
- Enjoy the delectable breakfasts, exquisite lassis, and delectable fruit salads at a little café in Getti Chowk on a budget or visit the Om Shiv Restaurant, which serves delectable delicacies like a thali.
- There are numerous more important temples associated with Omkareshwar, such as the Mamaleshwar, Gauri Somnath, Kedareshwar, Ranmukteshwar, and Satmatrika temples.
Where to stay in Omkareshwar
There are several affordable lodging alternatives in Omkareshwar, from luxury resorts to modest hotels. Each hotel is tastefully decorated and equipped with contemporary conveniences. In Omkareshwar, there are roughly 50 Dharmashalas accessible for lodging. The majority of them are brand-new constructions with contemporary conveniences. There are no Dharmashalas or Ashrams operated by the temple management.
In Omkareshwar, some of the top hotels to stay at include:
- Hotel Devansh Palace
- Shri Radhe Krishna Resort
- Hotel Om Shiva
- Hotel Aashirwad
- Maa Kanchan Guest House
- Hotel Geeta Shri & Restaurant
Most Popular Events and Festivals in Omkareshwar
The celebrations of the occasions and holidays at Omkareshwar are really enjoyable. The gala at this location’s festivals is filled with colour and exudes a spirit of fraternity and sincerity.
Mahashivratri: It is a well-known festival that is regarded as Lord Shiva’s night. It is observed during the months of February and March in accordance with the Hindu calendar. Devotees might be seen practising mediation and yoga at night throughout this festival. Additionally, throughout the celebrations, the worshippers observe fasts and offer milk and other items to the statue of Lord Shiva.
Ganesh Chaturthi: This celebration, which is held in August and September, is very grandly observed.
Anant Chaudas: The main pilgrimages are conducted out on the celebratory night of this festival, which would be observed in the month of September, and enormous sculptures of Lord Ganesha are submerged in water.
Makar Sankranti: A harvest festival called Makar Sankranti is celebrated in January. People fly kits enthusiastically in the island on Makar Sankranti.
Holi, Rakshabandhan, and Diwali are some additional Omkareshwar celebrations, and all other Indian festivals are also observed here.
What is the significance of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga?
The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is naturally divided. The Omkareshwar Temple houses one half of the Jyotirlinga, while the Mammaleshwar Temple has the other half. To view the full Jyotirlinga, travellers must go to both of these temples. The Jyotirlingas are self-born because they are Swayambhu, or self-created.
How to reach to Omkareshwar Temple?
By Air: The travel to Omkareshwar from the closest domestic airport, Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore, takes around 2 hours and 21 minutes. Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal, which is another nearby international airport, is situated approximately 264 kilometres from Omkareshwar. This international airport hosts numerous flights to numerous domestic and foreign sites.
By Rail: The closest railhead to the city is Omkareshwar Railway Station, which is situated on the significant Ratlam-Khandwa railway line and is approximately 12 kilometres away. Major Indian cities including New Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore, Lucknow, Kanyakumari, Puri, Jaipur, Ratlam, etc. are connected to it.
By Road: Omkareshwar is connected to major cities such as Indore (86 km), Dewas (114 km), Khnadwa (73 km), Ujjain (133 km), Bhopal (268 km), Jalgaon (222 km), Vadodara (376 km), Nagpur (446 km), and Mumbai (576 km) via a number of state public and private buses.
