Jyotirlinga Guide
ओंकारेश्वर

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Khandwa (Mandhata island)

No. 4 in the stotram list, in Khandwa (Mandhata island), Madhya Pradesh. River island on the Narmada.
Stotram list
No. 4
Season
Oct to Mar
Railhead
Khandwa Jn
about 70 km
Airport
Indore
about 84 km
Stay
Island guest houses, Mamleshwar bank hotels and guest houses

Official website: Shri Omkareshwar Mandir Trust (shriomkareshwar.org)

The emblem here is our own drawing. The trust uses no image logo, and its copyright policy bars showing its material on other websites.

The map loads when it scrolls into view.

© OpenFreeMap ©OpenStreetMap
Map centre: town, not the gateOpen in Google Maps
Drawing of a hilly island with temples, a suspension bridge across the river and small boats
The island and the bridge across the Narmada. Illustration, not a photo.

The story of Omkareshwar

On the Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, where the river splits around Mandhata island, about 4 km long and 2 km wide, also called Shivpuri.

The legend

The trust account has the Vindhya mountain performing penance and worshipping Shiva as a physical lingam, and Shiva appearing and blessing it as the Pranav Lingam. In one version the lingam then divides in two, one half becoming Omkareshwar and the other Mamleshwar, also called Amreshwar. In another version King Mandhata of the Ikshvaku dynasty meditated here and was blessed.

What it is known for

The jyotirlinga stands at Omkareshwar and the physical lingam at Mamleshwar across the water, which is why the two are done as a pair on the same visit.

Where this came from
What a jyotirlinga is, and the traditional order →

Darshan at Omkareshwar

Omkareshwar is an active temple with a daily ritual schedule, not a monument. The free queue is the default: it costs nothing and on a normal weekday it moves well. Paid darshan, if the trust offers one, buys a shorter line rather than a different view of the linga. On festival days the paid line is often suspended entirely.

Aarti is the part worth planning around. Slots are limited, some are booked days ahead, and walk-ins are turned away once the hall is full.

The temple day runs from the 4:30 AM Mangal aarti to the Shayan darshan that ends at 10:30 PM.

Source: shriomkareshwar.org.

Booking and darshan optionsTrain, flight and road
The queue on a normal day

Free darshan runs through the day except during the aartis and the evening shringar, and the trust sells Shighra Darshan for a shorter line. The full clock is on this site's darshan page for Omkareshwar.

What changes at peak

The trust keeps its own festival page, and Mahashivratri and the Shravan Mondays are the days the island fills.

Where this came from

When the crowds arrive

Shravan (July to August), above all the Mondays

The heaviest stretch of the year. In 2026 the district ran a one-way darshan route, stopped outside vehicles entering the town, sent cars to set parking lots and moved the Shighra Darshan counter to Brahmapuri parking. Each Monday the Somvar Sawari procession leaves at 4 PM, and the queue builds from dawn after the Narmada bath.

Mahashivratri, and every Monday through the year

Visitor guides agree these are the peak days, with the general queue running to hours instead of the 30 to 40 minutes of a quiet morning. The trust says its standard rules may not apply at Shivratri, Shravan, fairs and festivals, so check its site before you go.

Where this came from
What Mahashivratri changes at all twelve →

Where to stay

Three ways people stay at Omkareshwar, cheapest and closest first.

Trust guest houses and dharamshalasThe cheapest rooms with the shortest walk. Usually booked by phone or at the counter on the day, and the ones that take online bookings are listed on the stay page.
Hotels and lodges in townIsland guest houses, Mamleshwar bank hotels and guest houses. Price bands and the walk time to the gate are on the stay page, with the booking links.
Staying outside and driving inUseful when the town fills up: the nearest city with a wider choice of rooms, and what that adds to the morning.
All stay options near Omkareshwar →

What is around Omkareshwar

Bridge and boats both reach the island. Most visitors give the temple a few hours and leave the same day, which is a miss: the places worth half a day sit within a short drive, and going early or late avoids the crowd that arrives with the coaches.

  • Mamleshwar (Amreshwar)
  • Annapurna Temple
  • Gurudwara
  • The island and the Narmada ghats
Everything around Omkareshwar, with the sources →
Aerial view of a narrow river gorge crossed by a suspension footbridge, with a town on the hills beyond
The Narmada and a footbridge, seen from the air. Photo: Ms Sarah Welch, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Rules and practicalities

Phones, cameras and bags

The trust's rules list no phone or camera ban, and the 2026 news reports on the darshan routes mention none. A 2026 visitor guide says to carry little more than ID, phone and water across the bridge, since bags slow the security check. Ask the guard before taking photos.

Dress code

The trust states there is no official dress code and advises regular, modest attire for darshan.

Accessibility and the walk

The trust lends wheelchairs free for up to 2 hours from the Yatri Suvidha Kendra near the Jhula Pul, with a helper if one is free. Expect a wait at peak times.

Festival days

Omkareshwar on Mahashivratri and during Shravan runs on a different schedule with far longer queues. See the festival pages for what changes.

Other notices
  • Touching the Shivling is not allowed. Only darshan and water offering are allowed in the sanctum; abhishek is done by the priests at set places.
  • The trust warns that offerings such as bilva leaves, flowers and coconuts are sometimes not allowed into the sanctum.
  • Shighra Darshan is sold only until 8:00 PM. Bring the printed ticket and a photo ID; children under 12 go free with their parents.
  • Omkar Prasadalaya serves meals from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and khichdi from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
  • The trust's only accommodation is Shri Ji Vishramalaya, a community hall with 20 beds and floor bedding for more, separate washrooms, and priority for families, women, children and the elderly. It is booked online for a nominal fee. For private rooms the trust points to Bhakt Niwas and Hotel Temple View. Where to stay.
On-ground detail came from

Sources for this temple: shriomkareshwar.org, enquiry.indianrail.gov.in, freepressjournal.in, openstreetmap.org, shriomkareshwar.org, shriomkareshwar.org, shriomkareshwar.org. What each one covers, and the date it was read, is on the darshan and booking page.

Common questions about Omkareshwar

What are the Omkareshwar temple timings?
The temple day runs from the 4:30 AM Mangal aarti to the Shayan darshan that ends at 10:30 PM. The full day schedule, with the source it was read from and the date, sits on the booking page.
How do I reach Omkareshwar?
The nearest railhead is Khandwa Jn, about 70 km, and the nearest airport is Indore, about 84 km. The how to reach page covers the last mile as well: which transport runs from the station, what it costs and how long it takes.
Where should I stay near Omkareshwar?
Island guest houses, Mamleshwar bank hotels and guest houses. The stay page lists the options by walking distance and price band, including the trust rooms and dharamshalas.
When is the best time to visit Omkareshwar?
Oct to Mar. Open all year. Bridge and boats both reach the island.

Also in the Central group

The other temples in the Central group, malwa and the narmada valley.

MahakaleshwarUjjain, Madhya Pradesh
The Central group: stations, airports and links to the other groups →

Also in Madhya Pradesh

MahakaleshwarUjjain, Madhya Pradesh
Jyotirlingas in Madhya Pradesh →

Plan Omkareshwar

How to reachKhandwa Jn and IndoreWhere to stayIsland guest houses, Mamleshwar bank hotels and guest housesDarshan and bookingFree queue, paid options, aarti slots