Somnath

Somnath Temple, first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, stands by the sea and hosts a light and sound show in the evening. Nearby are the Triveni Sangam, Bhalka Tirth, and Veraval fishing port. Pilgrims often stay a night or two.

Somnath lies on the south coast of Gujarat's Saurashtra peninsula, in Gir Somnath District, and was known in ancient times as Prabhas Patan. It is closely linked to the neighboring fishing city of Veraval, and the two form one continuous urban area. Somnath Temple is revered as the first of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Hinduism. Tradition holds that Krishna also departed this world here, making it one of India's most important pilgrimage sites, always crowded with devotees.

The best season is October to March, when it is dry and cool. April and May are hot, and June to September is the monsoon, with heavy rain and high waves. During Maha Shivaratri (February–March) and the Kartik Purnima full-moon festival, crowds are huge, so book accommodation in advance.

The main sights are within 3 km of the temple. See the main temple and the old Ahilyabai Temple, and watch the light and sound show held every evening. Walk to the Triveni Sangam, where three rivers meet, and to the Gita Mandir. Take a tuk-tuk to Bhalka Tirth and the Sun Temple, then visit Veraval fishing harbor to see colorful fishing boats and wooden sailing vessels being built. The Somnath Trust runs a sightseeing bus at 10:00 and 15:00 each day for about 20 rupees, connecting the main pilgrimage sites. About 45 km northeast is Gir National Park, home to Asiatic lions. Visitors usually base themselves in Junagadh or Sasan Gir. About 85 km east is Diu.

Getting there: Veraval railway station has trains to Ahmedabad and Rajkot, and Somnath station has a few services. From Junagadh, it takes about 2 hours by car. Plan 1–2 days.

Notes: Mobile phones and cameras are strictly banned inside the temple, so leave them in the storage area. Dress modestly. The town is mostly vegetarian.

Top sights

• Somnath Temple – A Shiva temple facing the Arabian Sea, counted first among India's twelve Jyotirlinga shrines. Repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, it took it…
• Triveni Sangam – The confluence where the Hiran, Kapila and the legendary Saraswati rivers meet and flow into the sea, where pilgrims bathe and purify thems…
• Bhalka Tirth – The sacred site where, according to legend, Krishna was struck by a hunter's arrow and departed this world. It is a must-visit second stop…
• Jay Somnath Light and Sound Show – A nightly light and sound show in the seaside courtyard in front of the temple, using the temple walls as a screen to tell the thousand-yea…
• Gita Mandir (Golok Dham) – A white marble temple on the Hiran River, with the 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita carved on its pillars, marking where Krishna ascended t…
• Ahilyabai Holkar Somnath Temple – The Old Somnath temple built in 1783 by Maratha Queen Ahilyabai beside the ruins, with the lingam housed in an underground sanctum.
• Somnath Beach – An Arabian Sea beach and seaside promenade at the foot of the temple, where visitors can ride camels and watch the sunset, with the temple…
• Prabhas Patan Museum – A small archaeological museum north of the temple, displaying carved fragments left by successive Somnath temples and local artifacts.
• Surya Mandir & Kamnath Mahadev Temple – An ancient Surya temple ruin on a hill about 3 kilometers northeast of the Somnath temple, forming a small temple cluster with the Kamnath…
• Veraval Port – One of Gujarat's largest fishing ports, its harbor filled with colorful fishing boats, where boatyards still hand-build wooden single-maste…
• Chorwad Palace (Daria Mahal) – A seaside summer palace built by the Nawab of Junagadh, standing on rocky cliffs above the coast, with Chorwad Beach nearby.

Where to eat

• Maheshwari Dining Hall – An affordable dining hall in the basement of a pilgrim guesthouse near Somnath Temple, with unlimited Gujarati thali fo…
• Kaka Sandwich – A long-running sandwich shop in Veraval, open since 1989, whose cheese grilled sandwich is a local favorite.
• Namaste Vegetarian Restaurant – A large pure-vegetarian restaurant beside the Junagadh–Somnath highway, serving Punjabi, Kathiyawadi and South Indian b…