Central India · Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh
Sources: open-meteo, wikimedia
Before you go
An island in the Narmada shaped like the sacred Om; the ~7 km island parikrama is the traditional walk. Often paired with Ujjain and Maheshwar.
About Omkareshwar
- Island
- Riverside
Where it is
Omkareshwar is a temple town in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, on and around Mandhata, an island in the Narmada river where it meets the Kaveri, south of Indore.
History
The island is named after the legendary king Mandhata, said to have worshipped Shiva here, and the Omkareshwar temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Temples on the island date back to the Paramara kings of Malwa around the 11th century, the Holkar queens rebuilt the main shrine in the 18th century, and tradition holds that Adi Shankaracharya met his guru Govinda Bhagavatpada in a cave here.
People
Omkareshwar's people speak Hindi and Nimadi, the language of the Nimar region, and many families work as priests, boatmen and shopkeepers for the pilgrims. The Narmada is revered as a goddess, and pilgrims walking the long Narmada parikrama pass through the town.
Known for
- Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
- Mamleshwar Temple across the river
- The parikrama of Om-shaped Mandhata island
- The Statue of Oneness of Adi Shankaracharya
- Boat rides on the Narmada
Did you know?
Seen from above, Mandhata island is said to resemble the sacred syllable Om, which gives Omkareshwar, Lord of Om, its name.
Shrines and sites
- Omkareshwar Temple
- Mamleshwar
- The Om-shaped Mandhata island parikrama
- Statue of Oneness
Traditions
- Hindu
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.