Mahashivrati is widely celebrated across India with fervour and with few days to go, the devout of Lord Shiva has started prepping up for the festival. If you’re someone who loves to travel and wants to soak in the joy of unique celebrations, here are some of the best places to visit during Mahashivratri.

Haridwar & Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

This is an ideal time for a trip to Haridwar and Rishikesh with your friends or family as the weather starts to get warm with sunny days and pleasant temperatures. It is the land of temples and ghats frequented by devotees to purify themselves of sins. 

Take a dip Haridwar’s Har ki Pauri, visit the Prajapati Daksha Mahadev Temple – a shakti-sthal located in old Kankhal area and see throngs of devotees during Mahashivratri. You can also head to the Neel Kanth Mahadev Temple perched on top of a forested mountain in Rishikesh to experience the festive euphoria of Mahashivratri.

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi is home to one of the most important shiva temples in India which is the reason for a grand celebration of Maha Shivratri here. People from all over the country come here to celebrate and perform rituals. A wedding procession of Lord Shiva is organized in several temples with people participating and playing the role of different gods and goddesses. 

The wedding parade starts from Tilbhandeswar temple, moving to the southern part of the city and finally coming back to the temple. The procession lasts about 5 hours, complete with music and dance, and people consuming bhang (a form of marijuana legal in Varanasi) which is considered a blessing of Lord Shiva before returning back to temple for prayers. 

Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

Mandi is also known as “Chhoti Kashi” and is home to the Temple of Bhootnath which hosts one of the biggest Shivaratri celebrations in the country.  A week-long International Mandi Shivratri Fair is held here every year here which was traditionally started by the royal family of Mandi some 500 years ago. Every year on Maha Shivratri, the Governor of the state leads a Shobha Yatra at a ceremony inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and over 200 deities from other temples are carried to the Bhootnath temple, the most visited Shiva temple in the country.

Guwahati, Assam

Umananda Temple, situated on Peacock Island in the middle of Brahmaputra River in Guwahati, is the hub of Maha Shivratri celebrations with thousands of Shiva devotees from all over the country paying a visit on the occasion of Shivaratri. Sibsagar, the capital of the erstwhile Ahom kings, is another major centre of Maha Shivaratri celebrations in the north-eastern state of Assam. Visit Guwahati and Sivasagar to soak the vibrant colours of Maha Shivratri!

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Maha Shivratri is celebrated with full vigour in Khajuraho. As a tradition, devotees take a holy dip in the Sagar tank in the Matangeshwar Temple that also holds a 10 days long fair visited by people from all age-groups, who come here to offer prayers and blessings from Lord Shiva. The display of traditional dance, rural circus shows, magic shows and folk theatre add to the excitement. If you have time, you can also visit Mahakasleshwar temple in Ujjain which is also popular for its Shivratri celebrations.

Junagadh, Gujarat

Junagadh is home to numerous sadhus who stay across the Gir forest and Bhavnath taleti who come out to celebrate Maha Shivratri during the 5 days Shivaratri Mela celebrated here every year. If you’re planning to visit Gujarat during this time, you must attest the annual fair which attracts thousands of people from all over India who come here to experience the culture and festivities. 

Puri, Odisha

Another destination where Shivaratri is celebrated at grand level is Lokanath Temple in Puri which was also believed to be the centre of Shiva worship. It is believed that Lord Ramachandra, himself installed the Lingam in the Lokanath Temple submerged in water and can only be seen on Pankodhar Ekadasi, before Shivaratri when the water is removed from the vat. Thousands of Shiva devotees come here for darshan on this day.

Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

Srisailam is a popular hill town situated on the banks of the River Krishna, in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and is home to several ancient temples including a Jyotirlinga of Shiva. It is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva performed the legendary tandava. This jyotirlinga is also known as Mallikarjuna as it is traditionally worshipped with jasmine flowers which are called ‘Mallika’ in local dialect. There is also a wildlife sanctuary and a dam which could be visited during Srisailam trip.