The temple city comprises a cluster of 124 large and small stone temples and is believed to have Nagesh Jyotirlinga. The temples include Dandeshwar Temple, Chandi-ka-Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Kuber Temple, Mritunjaya Temple,Nanda Devi or Nau Durga, Nava-grah temple, a Pyramidal shrine, and Surya Temple, amongst which the oldest shrine is the Mrityunjaya Temple and the biggest shrine is the Dandeshwar Temple. The complex is surrounded by dense forest.
A few shops are there near the temple gate and since we reached the temple after sunset the photos are not very clear.
The Jageshwar Monsoon Festival, held between 15 July to 15 August takes place at Jageshwar.
Location
Located in state Uttarakhand, India. Best way to reach Jageshwar is by air to Delhi, Several trains are available to take you to last railway station Kathgodam. From there it is 125 KM. Lot of taxis and government buses are available from Kathgodam.
Where to stay
The temple is on the Kailash – Manasarovar Yatra route. There are a few options for accommodation at Jageshwar itself. There are a couple of small hotels in the town, apart from the KMVN guest house, which seems to be the best option. However, it is quite easy to drive down from Almora/Nainital, as the roads are very good.
My 11 Days Itinerary to visit part of Kumaun Hills
History
As per Archaelogical Survey Of India these temples range in the period from the 8th century (early Katyuri Dynasty) to the 18th century (Chand Dynasty). The temples were renovated during the reign of Katyuri King Shalivahandev. There is an inscription of Malla Kings on the main temple premises indicating their devotion to Jageshwar. The Katyuri Kings also donated villages to the temple priests for its maintenance. The Chand Kings of Kumaun were also patrons of the Jageshwar temple.
Sanskrit Sholaka Citation in Shiva Puran, a Hindu mythology
परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमाशंकरम् ।
सेतुबंधे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ॥२॥
Meaning:
At Parli is the Vaidyanatha Jyotirlinga and at Dakini is the Bhimashankara Jyptirlinga,
At Setubandha is the Ramesha (Rameshwaram) Jyotirlinga and at Darukavana is the Nagesha (Nageshwara) Jyotirlinga,
Also
The ancient treatise Prasadmandanam describe this place as an abode of Shiva:
हिमाद्रेरूत्तरे पार्श्वे देवदारूवनं परम्
पावनं शंकरस्थानं तत्र् सर्वे शिवार्चिताः।
Note that this group of temples is surrounded by deep Deodar forest which starts about 2 KM as we enter the region.
The Twelve Jyotirlingas
1.Somnath Jyotirlinga (Gujarat) Where Shiva relieved the curse of Chandra Deva
2.Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (Andhra Pradesh) Where Shiva-Parvati came to meet Kumara
3.Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga (Madhya Pradesh) Where Shiva protected devotee Veda Priya from demon Dushana
4.Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga (Madhya Pradesh) Where Shiva granted boon to Vindhya Mountain
5.Kedarnath Jyotirlinga (Uttarakhand) Where Shiva gave darshan to Nara and Narayana
6.Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra) Where Shiva protected the devotee Sudakshina from demon Bhima
7.Vishwanath Jyotirlinga (Uttar Pradesh) Where Shiva created Kashi and held it on his trident
8.Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra) Where Shiva gave darshan to Gautama Rishi and released the Gautami Ganga
9.Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga (Jharkand, Maharashtra & Himachal Pradesh) Where Ravana placed the Atma Linga of Shiva
10.Nageshwar Jyotirlinga (Gujarat, Maharashtra & Uttarakhand) Where Shiva protected devotee Supriya from demon Daruka
11.Rameshwar Jyotirlinga (Tamil Nadu) Where Shiva appeared before Sri Rama and gave the blessing of victory against Ravana
12.Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra) Where Shiva brought back to life the dead son of devotee Ghushma
Reference
http://www.greenmesg.org/bharatavarsha/pilgrimages/jyotirlingas.php
There is a bit of controversy for #10 Jyotirlinga related to this temple now I am visiting
One is the temple of Nageshwar at Aundh in Maharashtra, the second is the temple of Nageshwar at Dwaraka, and the third is the temple of Jageshwar in Uttarakhand.
The controversy arises from the fact that the temple is described in the scriptures as being located in the ‘Daruka Vanam’. This is translated as ‘Dwaraka’ as some, while others consider the area of the Deccan plateau as the original ‘Daruka van’. The temple of Jageshwar comes into the picture, since it is located in a forest of Deodhar or cedar trees, known as ‘Daruka’ trees too.
Near the main complex is the temple complex of Dandeshwar, which is the largest temple here.
Epilogue.
The temple is on the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra route.
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