Best Places To Celebrate Maha Shivratri in India
Maha Shivratri, also known as the “Great Night of Shiva” is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India. According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, this festival is celebrated in the month of Phalgun on the 14th day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi). In 2025, Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on 26th February. This day is highly significant in terms of seeking blessings from Lord Shiva for a prosperous and happy future. This makes this day a grand affair in our country.
12 Destinations in India to Experience Grand Maha Shivratri Festivities
So, if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the spiritual energy of Maha Shivratri and witness grand celebrations across India, here are some of the best places to visit. The best part? You can plan an itinerary and explore multiple destinations at your own pace with a self-drive car rental.
1. Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
Also known as “Chhoti Kashi”, Mandi has the temple of Bhootnath that hosts one of the most popular Shivratri celebrations in India. The International Mandi Shivratri Fair is organized here for a week. Besides, the governor of this state organizes a Shova Yatra at the ceremony, which is inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. In this Shova Yatra, more than 200 deities from other temples are carried to the Bhootnath Temple.
2. Rishikesh and Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Among all the prime spiritual destinations in India, Rishikesh and Haridwar are two destinations known for their holy spirits. They are the lands of ghats and temples frequented by devotees to purify their sins. On this trip, you can visit the Prajapati Daksha Mahadev Temple, a shaktisthal in old Kankhal, take a dip at Haridwar’s Har Ki Pauri, and see the thongs of devotees during Mahashivratri. Besides, you can also visit the Neel Kanth Mahadev Temple located on a forested mountain in Rishikesh to enjoy Shivratri’s festive euphoria.
3. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
This place is considered the Spiritual Capital of India and it has one of the major Shiva temples in India. So, if you are planning to celebrate Maha Shivratri in one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites, then nothing can be better than visiting Varanasi. During Maha Shivratri, millions of people from different parts of the globe visit Varanasi to celebrate this auspicious eve and perform sacred rituals about Maha Shivratri. Apart from Kashi Viswanath temple, Varanasi has some other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. All of them are beautifully decorated on this special day. Besides, the streets are abuzz with processions conducted by different temples and Shiva bhajanas.
4. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
This is another place in India where the Maha Shivaratri celebration in India continues with full vigor. During this festival, a fair is organized around the Matangeswar Temple. People from different parts of India visit this temple during this festival to seek blessings and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The devotees take a holy dip in the Sagar tank of this temple. Apart from Khajuraho, there is another temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, namely Mahakaleswar Temple, known for the Maha Shivratri celebrations.
5. Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
The Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain is considered one of the 12 sacred jyotirlingas in India. This is also one of the best places to celebrate Maha Shivratri in India along the banks of Kshipra. During this time, devotees from different parts of the globe visit this destination. Various events, rituals, and shopping stalls are set up in this festival.
6. Puri, Odisha
The Lokanath Temple, Puri is another place in India where Shivratri is celebrated at a grand level. It is believed to be one of the centers of Shiva worship. It is believed that Lord Ramachandra himself installed the shivlinga in the Lokenath Temple. The shivlinga is submerged in water and can only be seen on the Pankodhar Ekadashi before Shivratri when the water is removed from the vat. Devotees from different parts of India come to visit the deity on this day.
7. Guwahati, Assam
If you want to soak yourself in the vibrant colors of Maha Shivratri, then you can visit Guwahati. It is the home of Umananda Temple, located on Peacock Island in the middle of the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati. This is also one of the major hubs of Maha Shivratri celebrations where thousands of devotees across the globe visit this place. Another popular destination in Assam where the Maha Shivratri celebration takes place is Shivsagar.
8. Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
Located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, Srisailam is a popular hill town. Besides, it is the home to many ancient temples including a jyotirlinga of Shiva. According to popular beliefs, this is the place where Lord Shiva performed the legendary Tandava. Another name for this jyotirlinga is mallikarjuna as it is usually worshipped with jasmine flowers.
9. Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
This place is the home of Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram, which is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of India. This temple is associated with Ramayan. It is said that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here on their return to Ayodhya after rescuing Goddess Sita and killing Ravana. Every year, thousands of devotees visit this temple on Maha Shivratri. Before visiting this temple, the devotees take a holy bath in the 22 sacred wells. The main attractions of Maha Shivratri celebration in this temple are Maha rudrabhishekam, special darshan, and special evening pujas. You can easily reach here from Coimbatore by hiring a self-drive car rental in Coimbatore.
10. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
This place houses the world-renowned 112 ft. tall statue of Lord Shiva at the Isha Yoga Center, which is the largest bust statue in this world. So, when you are looking for the best places to celebrate Maha Shivratri in India, you can’t miss Isha Foundation Maha Shivratri. During this festival, all-night-long satsang, bhajans, and dance performances are organized here and all these programs are attended by Sadhguru himself. On this special day, devotees fast and spread charity and goodwill among the needy.
11. Somnath, Gujarat
This is another among 12 sacred jyotirlingas in India and one of the famous pilgrimage sites. The Somnath temple was constructed somewhere in the first millennium. Every year, the Maha Shivratri festival is organized in this temple with much grandeur. The temple is decorated with flowers and lights during this festival and an abhisheka of the Shivlinga is done with milk, ghee, yogurt, honey, and water.
12. Junagarh, Gujarat
The Maha Shivratri celebration is organized here in Bhavnath Taleti. Located at the top of the Girnar Parvat and among the beautiful views of the Gir Forest, this place is the home to many sadhus, who stay around Bhavnath Taleti and the Gir forest. They come out during this time and celebrate Maha Shivratri. Besides, an annual Shivratri fair is organized here for 5 days that attracts people from different parts of the world. You can easily reach this temple from Junagarh in a rented self-drive car from a leading car rental in India provider.
How to Travel Efficiently to be Able to Cover all the Above Destinations?
~ Start in North India (Mandi, Haridwar/Rishikesh, Varanasi)
~ Move toward Central & East India (Khajuraho, Ujjain, Puri, Guwahati)
~ Continue South (Srisailam, Rameswaram, Coimbatore)
~ Finish in West India (Somnath, Junagarh)
Final Thoughts
Maha Shivratri is celebrated throughout India with great enthusiasm. It is also one of the best occasions to embark on the spiritual journey and visit some of the most popular Shiva temples across India. So, if you are planning to visit some of these temples on this Maha Shivratri, start planning now, search for a reliable “car rental near me” and get going with the journey.
