Jai Shri Omkareswar!
In February of this year, I found myself drawn to the sacred grounds of Shri Omkareswar Jyothirlinga Temple, where every step felt like a pilgrimage of the soul. Surrounded by the lingering fragrance of incense, I embarked on a journey of introspection and reverence, guided by the rhythmic echoes of my heart. Amidst the ancient whispers and timeless devotion, I discovered a profound connection that transcended the constraints of time and space, finding solace in the embrace of faith.
About Shri Omkareswar Jyothirlinga Temple
Situated on an island along the banks of the holy river Narmada in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh is the fourth among 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva – Omkareswar Jyotirling. There are 108 Shivlingas in the temple. It is believed that Lord Shiva travels all the 3 worlds and comes here and rests. There are references to Shri Omkareswar region in Skanda Puran, Shiva Puran, and Vayu Puran. ‘Omkar’ was first uttered by Lord Brahma. It is the same Omkar form of Jyotirlinga present at Shri Omkareswar temple, which means that Lord Shiva appeared in the form of ‘Omkar’.
Quick Information
| Distance from Indore (Nearest Airport) | 80 Kms approximately |
| Travel Time from Indore | 2 Hours 30 minutes approximately by car |
| Travel Options From Indore | Uber from Indore Airport or from within the city / Train from Indore Railway Station / Private Taxi cabs |
| Distance from Ujjain | 140 Kms approximately |
| Travel Time from Ujjain | 3 hours 30 minutes approximately by car |
| Travel Options From Ujjain | There is no Uber cab facility available in Ujjain. However, you can check the app. There may be cabs available which would have come to drop devotees from Indore. There are private taxi services also available |
| Travel by Train | Indian Railways operate trains regularly from cities like Ujjain, Indore, and Bhopal to Omkareswar (Station Code – OM). The railway station is approximately 12 kilometres away from the temple |
| Dress Code | It is expected to wear traditional dress when going for darshan. However, Jeans/Denims are allowed |
| Temple Timings | The temple is open for devotees from 5:30 AM till 9:00 PM |
Deity at Shri Omkareswar Jyothirlinga Temple
The Omkareswar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The deity is in the form of a Swayambhu Linga. Shri Parvati can also be seen in the Garbhagriha.
Architecture beauty of Shri Omkareswar Jyothirlinga Temple
The Omkareshwar Temple has beautiful spires and elaborate sculptures. It is built in the Nagara architectural style. There are 5 stories in total and on each, there is a different Pratishtha. From bottom to top, there are Shri Omkareshwar, Shri Mahakaleshwar, Shri Siddhanath, Shri Gupteshwar, and Shri Dhwajeswar.
Festivals
Maha Shivaratri – Omkareswar being a Lord Shiva temple, Maha Shivaratri is one of the most celebrated. During the time of Maha Shivaratri, the entire island is illuminated, and devotees from across visit the temple and seek Lord Shiva’s blessings.
Kartik Mela – In the month of Kartik, ‘Kartik Mela’ is organised on the island. This is a 10-day festival.
Narmada Jayanti – The Narmada Jayanti is celebrated on the 7th day (Saptami tithi) of Shukla Paksha, in the month of Magha. Devotees from across the country visit the temple on this day take a holy dip in the holy river and perform Pooja, Aarthi.
Darshan
Due to the overwhelming number of devotees visiting the temple every day, one might need to stand in queue for a long time. Hence the darshan that you may get may be for a few seconds. You can offer flowers and water to the deity through a small space in front of the Jyothirlinga which lets you forget all the pain you went through standing in the long queue! The best time for darshan is early morning or late evening.
Accommodation/Transport
There are multiple low-budget and medium-budget stays available near the temple. Madhya Pradesh Tourism stay is also available which is 15 minutes away by walk.
