Jai Omkar………………………………Omkareshwar Jyotirling
Me and my wife alongwith our two kids are the keen divotees of lord Shiva or in other words we have immense faith in Bhole Baba. We frequently visit to the Jyotirlings and other Shivalayas as a part of our family holidays.
We reside in the Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh which is around 35 KM from Indore the commercial capital of MP. Two out of twelve Jyotirlingams are situated in MP and fortunately both of them are within 100 KM from our residence, they are Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Mamleshwar (Omkareshwar) and we frequently visit these places. We have decided to visit minimum one jyotirling each year and so far we have completed Eight out of 12 jyotirlingas.
After our eight days pilgrimage to Shrisailam Jyotirling (Andhra Pradesh) in October 2010(I will include this trip in my next post ), it was a stretch of Three months that we could not visited lord.
It was a fine morning of Saturday and I was in office, I received a call from my wife and she asked me to go to Omkareshwar as it was my weekly off next day, I happily agreed and we decided to leave for Omkareshwar by our car (Chevrolet Spark) immediately after my returning from office at 3:00 PM (I took short leave from my office). I told her to get prepared with children and pack the necessary stuff.
About Omkareshwar:
Omkareshwar is fourth out of 12 Jyotirlings of lord Shiva according to ancient Hindu epics. It is situated in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh state. It is on an island called Mandhata in the Narmada river. It is about 80 Kms from Indore in Madhya Pradesh. The shape of the island is said to be like the Hindu Om symbol. There are two temples here, one is Omkareshwar (whose name means “Lord of Omkaara or the Lord of the Om Sound”) and another one is Mamleshwar or Amareshwar (whose name means “Immortal lord” or “lord of the Immortals or Devas”).
Omkareshwar is formed by the sacred river Narmada. This is one of the most sacred of rivers in India and is now home to one of the world’s biggest dam projects (Sardar Sarovar Project).
So, We started from our home at 03:00 PM. After approx. 50 km we took Indore – Burhanpur MP SH 27. The highway is in very good condition so we could drive freely and we were enjoying the beauty of nature enroute, there is a Ghat section on the way to Omkareshwar. Both of the sides of the road are full with natural beauty.
Enroute Omkareshwar (SH 27 Indore Burhanpur Road) with our Spark
On the road (SH 27 Indore Burhanpur Road)
On the way to Omkareshwar, after around 30 kms from indore there is a temple of lord Shani dev (Navagrih Mandir) which is claimed as one of the india’s biggest Shani Navagrih temple and worlds biggest temple based on Vastushastra. The entire temple is made by black marble the village where it is situated is called Baigram. The principal deity in this temple is Lord Shani Dev. The statue of Shani dev is placed in the centre and aroud it there are the statues of other navagriha’s. The temple is worth seeing. We were very fortunate to visit this temple on Saturday.
Shani Navagrih Temple Bai Gram (Indore Omkareshwar Highway)
Shani Navagrih Temple Bai Gram (Indore Omkareshwar Highway)
Worlds Biggest temple based on Vastushastra (Indore Omkareshwar Highway)
Indias Biggest Shani Navagrih Temple
Shani Navagrih Temple
Statue of Shani dev in sanctum santctorum
Statues of other Grihas within temple
In front of Shani Navagrih Temple
So after visiting this great temple and after a pause of around half an hour, we again boarded our car and started our journey towards Omkareshwar. There are so many hotels and dhabas enroute. We reached Omkareshwar at around 7:00 PM. Now our first priority was to look for a good place to stay.
There are so many Dharmashalas and lodges in this temple town including the MP Tourism Resort. Here I would like to mention that we had visited Omkareshwar many a times before but it was our first chance to stay there, since it is very near to our home so we always managed to come back same day after darshan, but this time we decided to stay and see omkareshwar and around in leisure. Finally we decided to hire a room with three bed in Shree Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan Guest House.
Shri Gajanan Maharaj Seva Sansthan Guest House.
Our room in Shri Gajanan Maharaj Seva Sansthan Guest House.
The best place to stay in Omkareshwar is Shri Gajanan Maharaj Seva Sansthan Guest House, in all means it is suitable like charges for 24 hrs. stay for 3 bed is Rs. 225 only with all facilities e.g. Hot water, attached lat bath etc. The good food is also available here at a chearge Rs. 20 per thali.
For the viewers of ghumakkar.com I am providing here the contact number of Shri Gajanan Maharaj Bhakt Niwas Omkareshwar. Though they don’t book rooms in advance but anyone can talk them for the availabily of rooms – Phone number is 07280271204.
Cleanliness is the special cherecteristic here, and the overall atmosphere here is very spiritual, at checking out you’ll get the packed prasad, vibhuti and a photograph of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. In the campus there is a beautiful temple of Shri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon(Maharashtra).
Temple of Shri Gajanan Maharaj
In the campus of Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan Guest House
After having Dinner at 8:00 PM , we decided to visit main Jyotirling temple where in night at around 09:00 PM there happens Shayan Aarti which has spiritual importance and it is said that every pilgrim visiting Omkareshwar must attend this Shayan Aarti.
The sanctum Sanctorum of Omkareshwar Jyotirling Temple is decorated with a beautiful bed and a palna on which it is believed that lord Shiva sleeps at night.
A chousar / Chopad (An ancient game played in india like chess ) is placed and it is believed that in the morning the settings of the game is found changed as lord Shiva plays Chosar in the night.
Rare photo of Omkareshwar Jyotirling garbhgriha Shayan aarti (Just near Jyotirling)
Rare photo of Omkareshwar Jyotirling garbhgriha Shayan aarti
Jyotirling during shayan aarti in night 09:30 PM
The aarti is carried out with only instruments (Not vocal) and the prominent instrument played during aarti is Damru. After attending the miraculus shayan aarti we returned to our guest house and slept at around 11:00 PM.
For next days details please don’t forget to see my next post……………………………………..
Dear Mr. Mukesh Bhalse:Thanks for prompt reply. I could not check the reply earlier as i forget where I have asked the question. The site is also not very user friendly and I am new to this.
Being a religious person i would like to cover Devas. What is special in this place ?
Till now I have not visited any religious place outside north India. But i am the regular visitor to Sh. Amarnath Shrine since 2001. Last year I also visited KedarNath and Badrinath ji. Now i have decided to cover the all Jyotirlings in next 3-4 years. So this year have planned to visited Omkareshwar and Mahakaleshwar.
Dear Naresh,
In Dewas, there is an ancient and famous temple of Devi Chamunda which is located on a hilltop and is worth visiting. For an outsider there is nothing remarkable in Indore by tourism point of view. For more info and pictures on Dewas click this link and view my post –
https://www.ghumakkar.com/2011/12/03/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8-%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%81-%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%88/
Thanks.
Hi,
Om Namashivaya.
We have visited 7 jyothilingams out of 12. and we are planning from Chennai to vist Maha Kaleshwar Ujjain and from Ujjain to Om kareshwar / Mamleshwar and back to Ujjain. Starting on 18th Dec from Chennai and will reach on Ujjain at 9.30 PM on 19th Dec. and we have booked the return ticket from Ujjain to Chennai on 24th Dec . Early morning train at 3.20 AM.
Can you pl.any one advise me
1. About the whether conditions ( travelling with my Mother (65 years) and my daughter (11 years) and with my wife Because I head that the temperature will go upto 6 di in the night.
2. About the accommodation in Ujjain. I planned that first I will go to Mahakaleeshwar ji temple and then to Omkareshwar ji darshan. Can I get accommodation easily at Ujjain near the temple. Problem is our train is reaching in Ujjain at 9.30 pm. Whether it is advisable to travel from station to Temple at that time. & Shall I get the accommodation easily on that time.
3. 4 full days are enough to see these 2 places.
Iam little bit confused about this trip, since my return train is early morning 3.00 am from Ujjain.
Could you pl. suggest.
Regards
Jaya prakash
Om Namashivaya.
Sir, I wish to visit Omkareshwar and Mahakaleshwar during Diwali Vacation. (Myself, Spouse and one child), I have made 2 plans, suggestion awaited from you.
Plan I
I wish to travel from Mumbai to Khandwa by train reaching Khandwa at 6.50 a.m.
From Khandwa I wish to catch a passenger train leaving at 7.20 a.m. to Omkareshwar Road.
From railway station by bus or auto to Temple. (reaching around 10.30 a.m.) full day and night at Omkareshwar.
2nd day leave Omkareshwar by bus to Mahakaleshwar leave around 2.00 p.m. and reach around 7.00 p.m. (Online booking of Bhasma Aaarti would be done)
3rd day Morning 4.00 a.m. Bhasma Aarti and Ujjain city tour leave by 5.55 p.m. train to Mumbai
Queries Plan I
Is the passenger train from Khandwar to Omkareshwar crowded, would ticket be available
Would Bus/Auto from Omkareshwar station to temple available(Cost?)
Plan II
I wish to travel from Mumbai to Ujjan by train reaching Ujjain 7.05 a.m.
1st Day Ujjain City Tour (online booking of Bhasma Aarti Done)
2nd Day Morning Bhasma Aarti, leave by bus for Omkareshwar by 8.00 a.m. reaching Omkareshwar by 1.00 p.m.
2nd Day Omkareshwar half day sightseeing and shayan aarti at night
3rd Day Local sightseeing and leave by bus for Khandwa around 6.00 p.m. Catch Punjab Mail leaving at 9.45 p.m.
Queries Plan II
Would bus from Ujjain to Omkareshwar available around 8.00 a.m. and what would be cost
Recommendation with contact nos, if possible – for both plan – Nice place to stay and good food
Regards.
Raju
Hi mukesh, Your blog is very informative. thanks. we are planning to go by car to omkareshwar from bhopal. we will be starting by 4PM. How is the condition of road from Dewas to Omkareshwar? Is it safe to travel at night – ie 7PM to 10PM? Is the ghat road steep?
Dear Venkatesh,
At the outset, I would like to thank you very much for your appreciation. The condition of road from Dewas to Indore and further from Indore to Omkareshwar is very good. Yes at 1-2 places the ghat is steep but not dangerous. So nothing to worry about. My best wishes are with you.
Thanks,
Mukesh….
i am travelling from South Africa.Want to visit both jyotilings here.Mahakaleswar and Omkareshwar.
Firstly should i fly from Mumbai or Delhi.To which airport.
I will have two days here.Want to do one ling on day of arrival and the other on next day.
Will stay at hotel close to airport.What will be distance by car to both Lings and travel time.
I have done 7 Lings already.Please advise.
Beautiful and useful article. Continue your serene effort in sharing your experiences. God bless you.
You could certainly see your skills within the paiintings you write.
The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you
who are not afraid to say hhow they believe. At all times follow your heart.
Thank you for sharing so much of details. Thanks to your blog, will now definitely go for Shayana Aarti and try accommodation at Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan. this was very helpful. Thanks once again, Poornima