At some 11 km from Daulatabad, near Aurangabad in Maharashtra is located the Grishneshwar Temple – a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Also known as Ghushmeshwar, it’s one of the 12 jyotirlingas(the sacred abodes of Shiva) found all over the country. Its closeness to the world-renowned Ellora Caves means even tourists with historical bent of mind visit it quite often along with those looking to find spiritual solace.

Grishneshwar Temple is also known as Dhushmeshwar temple and it’s mentioned in the Shiva Purana. For the followers of Shaivism tradition of Hinduism, the temple is an important pilgrimage which is visited by a huge number of visitors every year. Destroyed in 13^th and 14^th century by the Delhi Sultanate, the temple has seen several rounds of rebuilding and last of them was in the 18^th century under the patronage of a Hindu queen Rani Ahalyabai of Indore.

Long lines of devotees are quite a frequent daily sight at the Grishneshwar Temple and entering the temple premises and its inner chambers is easy. Men however are required to go bare chested while entering the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.Built of red rocks and made in the style and structure of south Indian temple architecture, this smallest Jyotirlinga temple in India is a worth a visit and you should not miss it!