Somnath Temple

Somnath, on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat, is revered as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The shrine stands at Prabhas Patan near Veraval, at a spot the Puranas call Prabhasa Tirtha, where the Saraswati, Hiran and Kapila streams are said to meet before flowing into the sea. The temple seen today was rebuilt in 1951 — the latest in a long line of reconstructions that have made Somnath a symbol of resilience as much as of faith.

The first of the twelve Jyotirlingas

Somnath heads the traditional list of twelve Jyotirlingas, the shrines where Shiva is worshipped as a self-manifested pillar of light, and many pilgrims begin a Jyotirlinga yatra here. Standing right at the water’s edge, it is also known for the Baan Stambh, an arrow-pillar on the seafront inscribed with the claim that no land lies in a straight line between this point and the South Pole.

A shrine destroyed and rebuilt many times

Few temples in India carry a past as turbulent as Somnath’s. Praised in early texts and enriched by successive dynasties, it was plundered repeatedly between the 11th and 18th centuries — most famously by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 — and raised again each time. The present temple was completed in 1951 through the initiative of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and K. M. Munshi, and it is looked after today by the Shree Somnath Trust.

Architecture

The current structure follows the Chaulukya (Solanki) tradition of western India, built in the Kailash Mahameru Prasad style from finely dressed stone. A tall shikhara rises above the sanctum, topped by a heavy gold-finished kalash and a long flag, while the assembly halls open toward the open sea — a setting few other Jyotirlingas can match.

What to see around the temple

• The Baan Stambh (arrow-pillar) marking the unobstructed sea line to Antarctica.
• The Triveni Sangam, where the Saraswati, Hiran and Kapila meet the Arabian Sea, a short walk away.
• The evening sound-and-light show projected onto the temple facade.
• Bhalka Tirth nearby, linked to the final episode of Lord Krishna’s earthly life.

Festivals

Kartik Purnima and Maha Shivaratri draw the largest crowds, when the seafront fills with pilgrims and a fair springs up around the temple. Somavati Amavasya and the Golokdham Utsav are also observed here.

Darshan timings, aarti and entry rules

The temple is generally open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, with aartis at around 7:00 am, noon and 7:00 pm. For security, mobile phones, cameras and bags are not allowed inside and must be left at the deposit counters near the entrance, where lockers are available. Entry itself is free.

How to reach Somnath

• By train: Veraval is the nearest station (~7 km), linked to Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Mumbai.
• By air: Keshod (~55 km), Diu (~85 km) and Rajkot (~190 km) are the nearest airports; Ahmedabad (~400 km) has the widest connections.
• By road: regular buses and taxis run from Veraval, Junagadh and Diu.

Tips for your visit

• Leave phones and cameras at your hotel or the deposit counter to clear security faster.
• Stay for the evening aarti, then the sound-and-light show that follows.
• Pair the visit with Bhalka Tirth and the Triveni Sangam ghat.
• The sea breeze picks up after sunset — carry a light layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

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