Grishneshwar temple timings today: 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Aartis at 5:30 AM, 12:00 noon, 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM. Darshan is by queue, with no official pass. Men remove their shirt for the garbhagriha. Hours are longer in Shravan and on Mahashivratri. The temple is at Verul, beside the Ellora Caves, about 260 km from Pune.
Last verified: 7 Oct 2026, from the Incredible India listing (Ministry of Tourism) and Maharashtra Tourism. We found no official temple-trust website.
Grishneshwar Darshan and Aarti Timings
| Time | Darshan / aarti |
|---|---|
| 5:30 AM | Temple opens · morning aarti |
| 12:00 noon | Mid-day aarti |
| 7:00 PM | Evening aarti |
| 9:30 PM | Night aarti · temple closes |
Grishneshwar does not have an official trust website we could find, so the timings above come from the Government of India's Incredible India listing. Maharashtra Tourism says only that the temple is open all year round. Hours are usually extended through Shravan and on Mahashivratri. Timings can change on festival days and for special rituals; check the official listing before you travel.
Darshan Rules and Dress Code
- Men enter the garbhagriha bare-chested, with shirt and vest removed, as a mark of humility and respect. Maharashtra Tourism and Incredible India both say so.
- Women should wear a saree, salwar kameez or other modest, full-length clothing.
- Devotees may touch the Jyotirlinga with their bare hands, which most Jyotirlingas do not allow.
- Expect to leave phones and bags outside the sanctum, and don't take photos inside it. Follow the instructions posted at the temple.
- We found no official entry fee or online pass. You join the queue for darshan.
Abhishek and Pooja
Rudrabhishek and other abhisheks are arranged at the temple on the day. Several private websites sell Grishneshwar pooja bookings. Those are priests selling their own services, not the temple. Devotees traditionally take a dip in the Shivalaya Tirtha nearby before darshan.
Best Time to Visit, and the Busiest Days
| When | Crowd | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Busy | Lord Shiva's day |
| Shravan (Jul–Aug), especially Mondays | Very busy | Extended hours; queues run far longer than usual |
| Mahashivratri (Sat 6 Mar 2027) | Peak festival day | The temple's biggest day of the year |
| Weekday mornings, Oct–Mar | Quieter | Cool weather, shortest queues |
Maharashtra Tourism recommends October to March, when the weather is cool. For a quieter darshan, choose a weekday other than Monday and arrive soon after the temple opens.
How to Reach Grishneshwar from Pune
Grishneshwar is at Verul, beside the Ellora Caves, about 250 to 265 km from Pune by road via Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar) and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Allow 5.5 to 6 hours by car each way. Verul is about 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and its airport is about 40 km away. Shirdi is about 100 km from Verul, which is why the two are often paired.
A single-day round trip from Pune is possible but means 11 to 12 hours at the wheel. Most families stay a night in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, or take Grishneshwar as part of a Jyotirlinga circuit. Our Maharashtra Jyotirlinga tour from Pune covers all five (Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar, Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath) in four days, from ₹34,999 for the whole car, with an optional stop at Shirdi and the Ellora Caves on the Grishneshwar day. For the full route, read how many Jyotirlingas are in Maharashtra.
Tolls, parking and driver halts are included. We are a cab service, so pujas, abhishek, offerings and accommodation are yours to arrange.
Sources
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) — Grishneshwar Temple (timings, aartis, dress, touching the lingam; checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Maharashtra Tourism — Ghrishneshwar (open all year, dress code, best season, airport distance)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Grishneshwar temple timings?
The Government of India's official tourism listing (Incredible India) gives Grishneshwar's timings as 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Hours are usually extended during Shravan and on Mahashivratri and can change on festival days, so confirm locally before a festival visit.
What are the Grishneshwar aarti timings?
Four aartis, at 5:30 AM, 12:00 noon, 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM, according to the Incredible India listing. The aarti times shown on other websites vary, so treat them as indicative.
Is Grishneshwar temple closed in the afternoon?
The official tourism listing gives the temple as open from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM and does not mention an afternoon closure. Timings can change for special rituals, so check the official listing before you travel.
What is the dress code at Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga?
Men remove their shirt and vest and enter the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) bare-chested, as a mark of humility and respect. Both Maharashtra Tourism and Incredible India state this. Women should wear a saree, salwar kameez or other modest full-length clothing.
Can devotees touch the Shiva lingam at Grishneshwar?
Yes. Incredible India notes that devotees are allowed to touch the Jyotirlinga with their bare hands, which is not permitted at most other Jyotirlingas.
Is there an entry fee or online pass for Grishneshwar darshan?
We have found no official entry fee or official online darshan pass. General darshan is by joining the queue, and abhishek is arranged at the temple on the day. Private websites that sell Grishneshwar pooja bookings are run by priests offering their services, not by the temple trust.
When is Grishneshwar most crowded?
Mondays, Shravan month (July–August) and Mahashivratri (next on Saturday 6 March 2027) draw the largest gatherings. For a quieter darshan, go on a weekday morning other than Monday between October and March, which is also the cool season.
How far is Grishneshwar from Pune?
About 250 to 265 km by road via Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar) and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, which takes roughly 5.5 to 6 hours by car each way. The temple is at Verul, about 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and about 40 km from its airport.
Can I visit Grishneshwar from Pune in one day?
It is possible but long: 500+ km round trip and 11 to 12 hours of driving, with little time at the temple. Most people stay a night in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar or combine Grishneshwar with Shirdi or the other Maharashtra Jyotirlingas.
Are Grishneshwar temple and Ellora Caves close to each other?
Yes, the temple is next to the Ellora Caves at Verul. Allow two to three hours for the caves; they are closed on Tuesdays.
Which Jyotirlinga is Grishneshwar?
Grishneshwar is traditionally counted as the twelfth and last of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The present red-stone temple was rebuilt by Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century.