Journey to Shiva: 5 Living Sanctuaries You Must Visit

The shrine sits at 3,583 metres, locked under snow from November to April. When the doors open each May, the first puja is offered to the same jyotirlinga that survived the 2013 floods, the stone intact while the valley around it was remade by water. The trek from Gaurikund is 16 kilometres. No vehicle reaches the temple. Porters, ponies, and your own legs are the options. Budget three to four days from Haridwar, including acclimatisation. The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary surrounds the route; the walk through rhododendron forest at lower altitude is part of the journey, not a detour from it.

This is the first of the twelve jyotirlingas, rebuilt seven times on the same spot on the Saurashtra coast. The current structure was consecrated in 1951, but the site's continuity is older than any of its buildings. The evening aarti, with the Arabian Sea behind the temple and the sound of the conch carrying across the water, is the reason most visitors come back. Somnath is accessible by road and rail from Ahmedabad, roughly seven hours. The nearest airport is Diu, about 85 kilometres away. Visit between October and March to avoid the coastal heat.


Built by Raja Raja Chola I and completed around 1010 CE, this is a functioning Shaiva temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The vimana rises 66 metres. The shadow of the main tower does not fall on the ground at noon, an engineering precision that still draws architects. The temple is open daily; the morning and evening pujas are the right times to visit if you want the space at its most alive rather than its most crowded. Thanjavur is four hours by road from Chennai, two and a half from Trichy.


One of the twelve jyotirlingas, Trimbakeshwar stands at the source of the Godavari. The linga here is unusual: it has three faces, representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva together. The Kumbh Mela held at Nashik every twelve years draws its sanctity partly from this temple's position at the river's origin. The inner sanctum has entry restrictions for non-Hindus; the architecture of the outer halls and the town itself are accessible to all. Nashik is 30 kilometres away, roughly 45 minutes by road. The best time to visit is October through February, when the Godavari runs clear.


One of the Pancha Bhuta Stalas, the five temples representing the five elements, Ekambareswarar represents earth. The mango tree in the inner courtyard is said to be 3,500 years old. The temple corridor is one of the longest in South India, lined with carved granite pillars that take an hour to walk properly. Entry to the sanctum sanctorum requires traditional dress; dhotis are available for hire at the entrance. Kanchipuram is 75 kilometres from Chennai, under two hours by road. The town's silk weaving is reason enough to spend a night rather than a day.