The holy month of Sawan is the most auspicious and spiritual month according to the Hindu Calendar, as it is entirely dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is said that when the monsoon clouds gather, the lakes and nature awaken with life, and it is when Sawan begins, which is the fifth month of the Hindu Calendar. The auspicious month is filled with fasting, prayers, and temple visits to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva; however, devotees believe that Sawan brings positivity, peace, divine blessings, and prosperity into their lives. During this time, most Pilgrims visit the oldest, grandest, and most enchanting temples. If you are also planning to start your spiritual journey this year, Sawan 2025, here is the list of 10 must-visit Shiva temples in Sawan that are home to historical significance, mythology, and an incredible location.
1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
2. Somnath Temple, Gujarat
3. Shri Kedarnath JyotirlingaTemple, Uttarakhand
4. Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain
5. Rameshwaram Ramanathaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu
6. Trimbakeshwar Temple, Nashik
7. Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneshwar
8. Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple, Deoghar
9. Taraknath Temple
10. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
Undoubtedly, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the most iconic and famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, also recognised as one of the twelve Jyotirlinga, because the temple holds historical and spiritual significance for Hindus. There is a belief about the temple that whoever visits Kashi Vishwanath may attain Nirvana and be free from the cycle of birth and death, as the temple symbolises the immortal celestial energy and power. In the month of Sawan, thousands of pilgrims visit this temple across the Globe to take blessings.
Location: Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Domari, Uttar Pradesh.
How to reach:
Devotees can reach the temple via Air, Road, and train, as Varanasi is well connected by different transport modes from numerous cities.
See also: 15 most famous temples in Gujarat
The Serpentine-carved Somnath temple is the first among all the twelve Jyotirlinga in India and is located on the western edge of Gujarat. It is believed to be a place where Lord Shiva emerges as a cosmic pillar of light. The temple lies on the banks of the Kapila, Hiran, and Sarasvati rivers, and the Arabian Sea touches the shores. The ancient temple has been rebuilt multiple times, but the modern symmetrical structure was constructed in 1950. Therefore, the best time to visit Somnath Temple is between the Months of October to February; however, Shivratri and Kartik Purnima are celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Location: Somnath Mandir Rd, Somnath, Prabhas Patan, Gujarat.
How to reach:
There are multiple transport modes available to reach the Somnath Temple as listed below.
See also: 15 Famous Temples (Mandir) in Kerala
Kedarnath Temple is one of the most revered Lord Shiva temples, which is known for its intense spirituality and is also a part of the Char Dham Yatra. The Auspicious Hindu Temple is nestled on the Garhwal Himalayan Range close to the Mandakini River, and it is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga. Devotees believe that after the Mahabharata, the Pandavas sought forgiveness for killing their tribe so the Lord Shiva escape and hide in Kedarnath and when found then disappeared into the earth leaving behind his hump at Kedarnath.
Location: Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand.
How to reach:
Pilgrims can visit the Kedarnath temple in Sawan via Air, Road, and Train.
See also: 15 famous temples in Hyderabad
Mahakaleshwar Temple is recognised and popular as the only one Jyotirlinga facing South among twelve Jyotirlinga due to which the temple is also called Dakshinmukhi Jyotirlinga. It is a tremendously powerful and spiritual temple appreciated for its unique Bhasma Aarti ritual, where priests worship Lord Shiva with sacred ash every early morning. It is believed that the temple is entrenched because Lord Shiva protected the city from the Demon called Dushana. Lord Shiva is recognised as Mahakal, the lord of time and death.
Location: inside Mahankal Mandir, Jaisinghpura, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
How to reach:
See also: 15 Famous Temples (Mandir) in Chennai
The incredible Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva; however, it is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga. No Hindu Journey is considered complete without a visit to both Kashi Vishwanath and Rameshwaram temple. Therefore, the temple is a delight by itself for every devotee because of its magnificent structure, long corridors, vibrant colored carved pillars, and divine energy. During the spiritual month of Sawan every year, thousands of Pilgrims come to the Rameshwaram temple to perform the ancestors' rituals that bring peace and prosperity in their lives.
Location: E Car St, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
How to reach:
See also: 10 Most Iconic Temples in Maharashtra
Shri Trimbakeshwar temple is one of the ancient Lord Shiva temples, which is located in the heart of Nashik, Maharashtra. The holy shrine is not only known as one of the twelve Jyotirlinga but also houses three lingams - Brahmas, Vishnu, and Mahesh ( Shiva), which reside near the Holy Godavari River, that also recognised as Gautami Ganga. Trimbakeshwar is not only a place for worship but also carries a living legacy of rich mythology and ancient knowledge.
Location: Trimbak town (30km from Nashik), Maharashtra.
How to reach:
See also: Top 12 Famous Temples in Karnataka
It is one of the ancient and most revered temples in Odisha that was constructed during the 11th century AD, and the temple perfectly depicts the Kalinga-style architecture. Therefore, the temple is dedicated to the Lord Harihara, a combined form of Lord Shiva and Vishnu. Every year in the month of Sawan, the temple hosts a large gathering and rituals performed by pilgrims specifically on every Monday of the Sawan Month. It is believed that the Lord Shiva manifested here as Lingaraj, which is why it is known as Lingaraj Temple.
Location: Lingaraj Temple Rd, Lingaraj Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
How to reach:
See also: 10 Famous Temples in Madhya Pradesh
The iconic Baidyanath Temple is also recognised as the Baba Baidyanath Dham among devotees, which is also one of the Jyotirlinga. The most revered Hindu temple is located in Deoghar, Jharkhand, and the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Here, Pilgrims worshipped Lord Shiva as a healer and visited the temple to seek blessings and Spiritual growth Besides that, the holy place is especially renowned because of the Kanwar Yatra that happens every year in the auspicious month of Sawan where millions of devotees walk barefoot carrying Ganga jal to offer at the temple on the day of Shivratri.
Location: Deoghar, Jharkhand.
How to reach:
See also: Top 10 Famous Temples in Delhi
Taraknath temple is located in Eastern India and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the famous pilgrimage spots of Tarakeshwar town in West Bengal; therefore, the temple was constructed in 1729. During the month of Sawan, thousands of Pilgrims visit the temple to worship Lord Shiva, which is why the temple has become the focal point of religious and traditional observance. It is believed that worship here during Sawan brings gratification of wishes.
Location: Nestled in Tarkeshwar town, Hooghly district, West Bengal.
How to reach:
There are various transport systems available to visit the Taraknath Temple, as listed below.
See also: Top 10 Richest Temples in India
Neelkanth Mahadev temple is one of the famous Lord Shiva temples surrounded by a dense forest and located at an altitude of 1330 mt altitude. The mythology, besides the temple, is that it is a place where Lord Shiva consumed the poison during the Samudra Manthan, and his throat turned blue, so the Neelkanth Temple is considered his throat. The holy temple hosts millions of devotees during the month of Sawan.
Location: The temple is 32 km from Rishikesh, Pauri Garhwal district.
How to reach:
Devotees can visit the temple using different transportation modes as per their preferences.
Sawan is considered the most auspicious and spiritual month of the Hindu Calendar; besides that, it is a path of devotion and divine connection. To make the journey more spiritual, every year, millions of pilgrims visit the above-mentioned 10 holy temples during the month of Sawan to bring a sense of peace, calm, clarity, and spiritual strength, and seek blessings for health and prosperity from Lord Shiva. Also, devotees perform ancient rituals and Rudraabhishek to fulfil their wishes. The above data shows 10 must-visit temples of Lord Shiva.