Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga - Shiva's Sojourn by the Narmada

Omkareshwar is the only jyotirlinga located by the banks of the holy Narmada. The course of the holy river at this place resembles the word 'om' in Sanskrit, lending the name to the island mentioned in the ancient scriptures of India. The city has 68 teerth (places of spiritual importance) and a group of 108 shivlingas making it an utterly important Shaiva site. River Kaveri confluences with Narmada here.

The place was visited by Adi Shankaracharya who is believed to have composed many of his works by the bank of Narmada in this sacred city. Mythology says that Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati rest here in Omkareshwar hence the shayan aarti (9 pm onwards) of main temple housing the jyotirlinga draws the maximum number of devotees. The devotees in the main temple of Omkareshwar first have the darshan of the giant five faced Ganesh. This Ganesh shrine is the center of special festivities during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Aug- Sept.

The ancient Mamleshwar temple is on the left bank of the Narmada. The walls of this temple have sacred inscriptions written on them which are dated to 1063 AD. Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar gave patronage to this temple and is a protected monument of ASI.