Grishneshwar Temple

Grishneshwar Temple is a Hindu temple to Shiva in the village of Verul, about 1 km from the Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, and it is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the most sacred shrines of Shiva, counted as the last of the twelve. Grishneshwar Temple draws pilgrims from across India, especially during the month of Shravan and on Mahashivratri.

The temple was attacked during the wars of the 13th and 14th centuries and rebuilt several times. It was restored in the 16th century by Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of the Maratha king Shivaji, and the present structure was rebuilt in the 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha queen of Indore, who also restored the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. Grishneshwar Temple is built of red basalt covered with finely carved figures of gods, dancers and animals, with a five-tiered shikhara. According to legend, the linga appeared in answer to the prayers of a devotee named Kusuma, whose son was brought back to life by Shiva.

What to see

• The red basalt walls, carved with scenes from the Dashavatara and other Hindu stories
• The five-tiered shikhara above the sanctum
• The court hall supported by 24 carved pillars
• The large stone Nandi, Shiva's bull, facing the sanctum
• Evening aarti, when the temple is busiest

What to wear

Grishneshwar Temple has a strict dress code: men are asked to remove shirts and vests before entering the inner sanctum, and everyone should cover shoulders and knees. Shoes, leather belts and bags are left outside. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside, so use the counters at the gate. Women often wear a saree or salwar kameez; many male pilgrims wear a dhoti or a simple kurta. The region's traditional dress is the Paithani saree for women and the white kurta with pheta turban for men.

Local food to try

Stalls around Grishneshwar Temple sell prasad of pedas, flowers and bel leaves. The village of Verul and the Ellora road have small dhabas serving Maharashtrian vegetarian thalis, misal pav, poha and chai; food near the temple is vegetarian. Khuldabad, 4 km away, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 30 km away, have wider choice, including the city's well known naan qalia for meat eaters.

Good to know

• Best time: October to March; early morning for shorter queues; avoid Mondays in Shravan, which are packed
• Open daily from early morning to night
• Free entry; paid quicker darshan may be offered at busy times
• Allow an hour, more on festival days
• In Verul village, about 1 km from the Ellora Caves and 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
• No phones or cameras inside the temple

Nearby places

Grishneshwar Temple fits easily into a day at the Ellora Caves, about 1 km away, with Daulatabad Fort on the road back and Bibi Ka Maqbara in the city.