Maha Shivratri means "the Great Night of Lord Shiva'', it is the time when all his devotees celebrate this festival where they wash away their sins by making offerings to Lord Shiva. There is Shiv Bhakt in every person, who doesn't like Lord Shiva? The Lord Shiva's history and the legendary sagas make us feel that he is a perfect Super Hero or I can say even more. In reality, he is more than everything, known by 108 names and 64 forms of avatars, Lord Shiva is recognized to be the beloved god for his devotees and famous for granting every wish of his devotees. 

Even Aghoris celebrate Shivratri in their own ways by performing various rituals. Aghoris are devotees of Lord Shiva, who seek liberation of the soul - "moksha" from the cycle of rebirth. 

{ Maha Shivratri Date For 2020 - 21st of Feb } 

Here is a list of Famous Lord Shiva Temples to visit in India that is the most divine and holiest places where Lord Shiva worshipped and worth visiting. 

“Jyotirlingas” implies ‘Radiance symbol of Lord Shiva'. As the divine representation of supreme God Shiva, there are 12 Jyotirlingas in India, which is believed that visiting these holy temples is the route to moksha or liberation.

1. Somnath Temple, Saurashtra, Gujrat

It is also known as Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, the holy temple is built in the architectural style of Hindu temple architecture. It is positioned in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western shoreline of Gujarat, India. It is deemed to be the first among the twelve jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. It is a major pilgrimage place in Gujarat. It is also one of the famous Lord Shiva temples in India. 

2. Srisailam, Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh

It is also known as Siva Mallikarjuna Temple, it comes under Hindu temple in Srisailam Project (RFC) Township, Andhra Pradesh. 

This holy shrine is located at Srisailam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to the divinities God Shiva and Goddess Parvati, in the name of Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Parvati). The major festivals celebrated are Maha Shivaratri and Navratri. It is one of the 12 jyotirlingas and one the famous Lord Shiva temple to visit in India during Maha Shivaratri.

3. Ujjain, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Also known as Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is a Hindu temple located in Jaisinghpura town, Ujjain district, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is the most religious Hindu temple devoted to God Shiva. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and holy temples that is said to be the most sacred dwelling of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is worshipped in the name of Mahakaaleshwar here. The temple is settled on the side of the holy river Shipra which gives all the wonderful views in the backdrops of the temple. This holy Hindu temple is the major place of worship for devotees of Lord Shiva. 

4. Omkareshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Omkareshwar is a sacred Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva. It is one of the 12 famous Jyotirlingas of God Shiva in India. It is located on the island called Mandhata or Shivapuri in the Narmada river, situated in Khandwa, Indore Road, Mandhata, Madhya Pradesh.

The shape of the island depicts the powerful Hindu "ॐ" (pronounced as "Om") symbol and hence the temple is known as Omkareshwar. It is one of the famous God Shiva temples to visit in India during Shivratri.

5. Parli Vaijnath Temple, Maharashtra

Also known as Shri Vaijnath Temple, this holy shrine is located in 

Parli, Beed District, in the Indian State of Maharashtra. Parli is one of the 12 most sacred jyotirlingas dedicated to God Shiva. It is considered as the most powerful holy place in India. One of the biggest fairs in Maharashtra is conducted and celebrated joyfully on Maha Shivratri. It is one of the most famous temples in India to visit during Maha Shivratri.

6. Bhimashankar, Dakini, Maharashtra

Also known as Shri Bhimashankar Temple, where God Shiva dwells here in the name of Bhimashankar. The Bhimashankar Temple is one of 12 most sacred Jyotirlinga temples found 50 km northwest of Rajgurunagar, near Pune in the Indian State of Maharashtra. It is located 127 kilometers from Shivajinagar in the Ghat section of the Sahyadri Mountains. Bhimashankar is also the source of the holy river Bhima, which flows towards the southeast and joins the Krishna river near Raichur (Karnataka). 

7. Rameshwaram Temple, Tamilnadu

It is a world-famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva found on Rameswaram island in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. God Shiva is known in the name of Ramanathasway here. It is one of the most divine 12 Jyotirlinga temples. The temple was expanded during the 12th century by the Pandya Dynasty, and its main temple sanctum was renovated by Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan. Rameshwaram Temple owns the longest corridor amongst all the holy Hindu temples in India. The present Vishwalingam is believed to be brought by Lord Hanuman on the instructions of Lord Rama and this Vishwalingam is worshipped till today. Other various sagas can be heard about the history of the temple. This is the most Sacred God Shiva temple in South India and it attracts myriad of pilgrims throughout the year. 

8. Nageshwar Temple, Dharukavanam, Maharashtra

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 most divine jyotirlingas of God Shiva. Nageshvara temple is one of the temples that finds its mentions in the Shiva Purana. As stated in early Shiva Purana, idol Nageshvara Jyotirlinga is in the Darukavana - which means forest in India. 'Darukavana' finds mention in Great Indian epics.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is located in Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat. Maha Shivratri is celebrated gloriously here. It is one of the most famous temples of God Shiva in India to visit during Maha Shivratri.

9. Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the most sacred Hindu temple, found in Varanasi, UP. God Shiva is worshipped here in the name of Vishwanatha which means Lord of Universe. This is the most historic relevance place with a myriad of tourists visiting this place every day. Even after being destroyed many times and tried to be reconstructed into a mosque from a Mughul emperor. At the present day, it still stands next to a mosque with all the equal religious prominence. The temple rests on the western bank of the holy river Ganga and it is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva Temples. 

It is the most famous God Shiva temple in India and you can find many different cultures in this ancient divine city. 

10. Trimbakeshwar Temple, Maharashtra

Shri Trimbakeshwar Shiva Jyotirlinga can be witnessed in the holy Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple. It is an ancient Hindu temple in the city of Trimbak, Nashik District of Maharashtra, India. It is dedicated to the God Shiva and is one of the 12 most sacred Jyotirlingas. The most sacred and longest river - Godavari river's origin is found in the premises of the temple. The present temple was established by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao who was entitled by people as Nanasaheb.

This temple has wonderful architectural work and its backdrop natural surroundings of the Sahyadri mountain range soothes your mind and soul. It is a famous God Shiva temple in India.

11. Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand

Popularly known as Kedarnath Mandir, it is the most prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Positioned on the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river, Kedarnath Temple is found in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The extreme weather conditions make the temple open to the general public only between the months of April from Akshaya Tritiya and November in Kartik Purnima. Throughout the winters, the vigraha (idol) from Kedarnath temple is carried down to Ukhimath and where the god is worshipped for the following six months. Kedarnath is seen as a homogenous form of God Shiva.

This almighty temple of God Shiva is not accessible by road directly, one has to uphill trek from Gaurikund for 22 kilometers to reach the temple. Different services such as Pony and manchan service are available to help you reach the temple. According to the great Hindu sagas, the Kedarnath temple was originally established by Pandavas. It is one of the twelve most famous Jyotirlingas and the most revered Hindu temples of God Shiva.

12. Grishneshwar Temple, Maharashtra

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is also mentioned as the Ghrneshwar or Ghushmeshwar Temple. It is one of the temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, which finds its mentions from ancient Shiva Purana. The temple is a significant pilgrimage site in the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, which is considered as the twelfth last Jyotirlinga among the most revered 12 jyotirlingas in India. This divine place of God Shiva is found in Ellora, about less than a kilometer from world-famous Ellora Caves, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This magnificent temple structure was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate around the 13th century. The temple persisted through numerous cycles of rebuilding ensued by re-destruction through the Mughal-Maratha dispute. It was rebuilt in its current form in the 18th century under the sponsorship of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, Madhya Pradesh after the defeat of the Mughal Empire. 

OTHER FAMOUS LORD SHIVA TEMPLES TO VISIT IN INDIA INCLUDE:

• Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Haridwar, Uttarakhand
• Tilbhandeshwar temple, Varanasi, UP
• Bhootnath Temple, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
• Umananda Temple, Guwahati, Assam
• Matangeshwar temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
• Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
• Loknath temple, Puri, Odisha
• Hindu Kashmiri, Kashmir valley

BOTTOM LINE:

12 Jyotirlingas of God Shiva, Panch Kedar, Sabha temples, Pancharama temples and five major and famous temples of Lord Shiva on Tamil Nadu are significant and popular Lord Shiva temples in India. You can find God Shiva temples in every part of India and other regions. Make sure you experience the bliss by visiting one of them on Maha Shivaratri.