Maha Shivratri, the night when India literally seems to vibrate. It’s not just any festival; it’s the celebration of the divine marriage between Shiva and Parvati. And like any grand wedding, expect colors, noise, flowers, drums, feasts, and endless celebrations spilling into the streets. Bells clash, lamps flicker, incense curls into the sky, and the scent of sweets hangs in the air, mixing with the chaos of pilgrims and curious travelers. If anyone’s eager to witness devotion in full swing, here are six places to celebrate Maha Shivratri 2026, where rituals, chants, and a little traveler mayhem await at every step.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Image Editorial Credit: AJP/Shutterstock
Varanasi is like the heart of Shiva himself during Mahashivratri. Ghats glowing with thousands of diyas, priests performing Rudra Abhishek with milk, honey, and water, while pilgrims stay awake all night chanting “Om Namah Shivaya.” The air smells of marigolds, street food (kachori, jalebi, chai), and smoke from burning incense. Varanasi is hands-down one of the best places to celebrate MahaShivratri 2026, and it’s impossible not to get swept up in the energy. Grab a room at one of the best hotels in Varanasi by the Ganga, and at night you’ll see the river glitter with floating diyas and celebrations all around.
How to Reach:
- By Air: Cheap flights to Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport available from all the major cities.
- By Train: Varanasi Junction connects major cities.
- By Road: Frequent buses and taxis from Lucknow and Delhi.
2. Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Image Credit: AnilD/Shutterstock
This 6th-century marvel comes alive at night. The temple’s Bhasma Aarti, priests smearing holy ash on the lingam while chanting, is mesmerizing. Devotees offer milk, bel leaves, and fruits; tiny vendors sell brass bells and sweets like it’s a holy fair. The night is thick with chants, drums, and people elbowing each other to get a glimpse of the lingam. This is easily one of the best MahaShivratri celebrations in India. For a quick getaway, just hop on cheap flights to Indore, it’s way easier (and faster) than the train or road.
How to Reach:
- By Air: Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport (~45 min).
- By Train: Ujjain Junction.
- By Road: Taxis and buses from Indore or Bhopal.
3. Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
Image Credit: Saiko3p/Shutterstock
High up in the Himalayas, Kedarnath feels otherworldly. Snow-dusted peaks, pine-scented air, and icy winds mix with the sound of bells and chants. Pilgrims trek in devotion, offering milk and flowers to the Shiva lingam, staying awake all night for prayers. The temple’s history goes back centuries, and legends say Lord Shiva meditated here, adding to the mystical vibe. It’s one of the most spiritually charged places to celebrate Maha Shivratri in India. Cold toes and a heavy backpack are part of the deal, but it’s worth it. If you’d rather avoid the hassle, consider all-inclusive Kedarnath tour packages that take care of transport and stay while you focus on your Shiva bhakti.
How to Reach:
- By Air: Dehradun Airport + ~8 hr drive.
- By Train: Rishikesh or Haridwar, then road/trek.
- By Road/Trek: 16 km trek from Gaurikund; helicopter rides available.
Also Read: Har Har Mahadev! Celebrate Maha Shivratri 2023 At These Holy Places In India
4. Amarnath Cave, Jammu & Kashmir
Image Credit: mukul joshi/Shutterstock
The Amarnath cave hosts a naturally forming ice Shiva lingam. Pilgrims trek through snow and chanting fills the mountain air. People fast, perform night-long vigils, and offer butter, milk, and flowers to the lingam. The crunch of snow underfoot, smell of butter lamps, and winds whipping at your face make the pilgrimage unforgettable. It’s one of the most sacred places to celebrate Maha Shivratri 2026 – just remember to register first. After that, grab cheap flights to Srinagar and you’re good to go.
How to Reach:
- By Air: Jammu Airport, 4–6 hr drive.
- By Train: Jammu Tawi, then road transport.
- By Road: Taxis/buses to Pahalgam/Sonamarg, then trek.
5. Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu
Image Credit: Pavan Kumar Nagendla/Unsplash
Ramanathaswamy Temple is endless stone corridors and holy waters. During Maha Shivratri, devotees perform milk abhishek, chant non-stop, and take dips in temple tanks for purification. Jasmine incense, camphor smoke, temple bells, and the chatter of pilgrims fill the night. It’s vibrant, colorful, and deeply devotional – one of the places to celebrate Maha Shivratri 2026 that truly lingers in memory.
How to Reach:
- By Air: Book cheap flights to Madurai Airport, from there it’s about 3 hr drive.
- By Train: Rameshwaram station.
- By Road: Buses/taxis from Madurai or Ramanathapuram.
6. Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra
Image Credit: Sapna Rajpurohit/Unsplash
Near Nashik, this temple is tucked among forests. Mahashivratri here is a mix of calm and chaos: devotees chant all night, swing bells, offer milk and flowers, and take holy dips in the Godavari. The three lingams representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva make the rituals unique. One of the best places to celebrate Maha Shivratri 2026 if you are near Mumbai.
How to Reach:
- By Air: Nashik Airport (~1 hr drive).
- By Train: Nashik Road station, then taxi/bus.
- By Road: Frequent taxis and buses from Nashik city.
AT Tip: Book your stay at the best hotels in Nashik in advance, it gets extremely crowded during Maha Shivratri.
Wrapping Up
Maha Shivratri festival in India isn’t just another festival, it’s a full-blown devotion-fueled rollercoaster. Bells, chants, diyas, fasting, night-long prayers, holy dips, and rituals at each temple combine into a sensory explosion that’s humbling, devotional, and utterly mesmerizing. Whether it’s northern peaks, southern shores, or sacred ghats, these places to celebrate Mahashivratri let travelers witness faith, tradition, and a little human chaos up close. So pack light, bring patience, and dive headfirst into the magic.
FAQs – Maha Shivratri 2026
Which place is famous for Mahashivratri?
If you are making for Maha Shivratri 2026, Varanasi and Ujjain are the holiest places to visit. They are known for the grand Shiv Baraat (wedding procession) and the sacred Bhasma Aarti.
What are the 12 places of Lord Shiva?
Known as the Jyotirlingas, these include Somnath and Nageshwar in Gujarat; Mallikarjuna in Andhra Pradesh; Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh; Kedarnath in Uttarakhand; Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, and Grishneshwar in Maharashtra; Kashi Vishwanath in Uttar Pradesh; Baidyanath in Jharkhand; and Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu.
Where to go on Mahashivratri in Mumbai?
The hilltop Babulnath Temple near Marine Drive and the historic Walkeshwar Temple by Banganga Tank are top picks for a traditional vibe right in the city. For a more ancient experience, devotees often head to the 11th-century Ambernath Shiv Mandir just a short train ride away.
What to avoid during Shivaratri?
Tradition suggests avoiding black clothing, non-vegetarian food, and grains like rice or wheat if you are fasting. For rituals, strictly avoid offering coconut water, turmeric, or broken Bilva leaves to the Shivalinga, as these are considered inauspicious.
What are the 5 Shiva temples?
The 5 most famous Shiva temples in India are Kedarnath (Himalayas), Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi), Somnath (Gujarat), Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain), and Ramanathaswamy (Rameshwaram).
Discover More Stories:
You Know Famous Indian Monuments, But We Bet You Don’t Know Their Secrets
Top 8 Weird Festivals Around the World That Prove It Can Get Weirder
World’s Tallest Ganesh Statue Is Not In India… But In This Country
Akbar Travels Services
Best Flight Deals
Mumbai to Delhi Flight Tickets | Mumbai to Bangalore Flight Tickets | Kolkata to Mumbai Flight Tickets | Kochi to Abu Dhabi Flight Tickets | Lucknow to Riyadh Flight Tickets | Delhi to Ahmedabad Flight Tickets
Domestic Flights
Pune to Bangalore Flights | Chennai to Delhi Flights | Bangalore to Chennai Flights | Mumbai to Delhi Flights | Bangalore to Hyderabad Flights | Ahmedabad to Goa Flights | Mumbai to Kolkata Flights | Hyderabad to Delhi Flights | Bangalore to Goa Flights | Mumbai to Goa Flights
International Flights
International Flights Booking | Delhi to Dubai Flights | Delhi to Bangkok Flights | Delhi to Toronto Flights | Mumbai to Dubai Flights | Delhi to Singapore Flights | Delhi to London Flights | Delhi to Kathmandu Flights | Mumbai to London Flights | Chennai to Singapore Flights | Mumbai to Singapore Flights | Delhi to New York Flights | Kolkata to Bangkok Flights
Best Hotel Deals
Hotels In Dubai | Hotels In Mumbai India | Hotels In Pune India | Hotels In Singapore | Hotels In Kochi India | Hotels In Munnar India | Hotels In Bangkok Thailand | Hotels In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia | Hotels In Mecca Saudi Arabia | Hotels In Mahabalipuram India
Apply Visa Online
Dubai Visa Online | 14 days Dubai Visa | 30 days Dubai Visa | 60 days Dubai Visa | Dubai Transit Visa | UAE Visa | Singapore Visa | Malaysia Visa | Thailand Visa | Sri Lanka Visa | US Visa | UK Visa | Schengen Visa | Canada Visa | Australia Visa | New Zealand Visa | France Visa | Italy Visa | Turkey Visa Online | Philippines Visa | Cambodia Visa Online | Vietnam Visa Online | Oman Visa
International Tour Packages
Dubai Tour Packages | Singapore Tour Packages | Thailand Tour Packages | Malaysia Tour Packages | Sri Lanka Tour Packages | US Tour Packages | United Kingdom Tour Packages | South Africa Tour Packages | Europe Tour Packages | Bali Tour Packages | Mauritius Tour Packages | Maldives Tour Packages | Cordelia Cruise Packages
Domestic Tour Packages
India Tour Packages | Goa Tour Packages | Kerala Tour Packages | Leh Ladakh Tour Packages | Himachal Tour Packages | Andaman Tour Packages | Rajasthan Tour Packages | Uttarakhand Tour Packages | Jammu and Kashmir Tour Packages
Packages by Themes
Honeymoon Packages | Adventure Packages | Visa on Arrival Packages | Family Packages | Romantic Packages | Weekend Getaways Packages
