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Somnath Temple

Somnath Temple is acknowledged as the Shrine Eternal, which was destroyed by assorted rulers and kings. Built recently in November 1947, this temple mooted a plan for its restoration. This plan was mooted by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Soon after his death the construction of this temple was handed over to the other minister, K.M.Munshi. The temple is an ancient temple located in Gujarat, which stands as one of the acknowledged landmarks in history of India.

Somnath Temple is situated nearly 79 kilometers away from Junagadh. This temple is one of the famous temples in Gujarat as it is considered as a sacred place for the Hindu devotees. Some other names which are associated with this temple include – Deo Pattan, Somnath pattan and Prabhas pattan. The temple was recognized for being a treasure of goodies and wealth in the past, which was then looted by the Muslim invaders and rulers.

Significance of the Temple

Somnath Temple is believed to be popular since its ancient times. It is said that now day’s revenues are collected from people of nearby villages in order to maintain the temple. The Somnath temple is called the eternal shrine that has legendary fame and glory. As per some sources, Somraj, the moon god, constructed this temple from gold. The Somnath temple was again built by the Ravana in silver. And then again Lord Krishna, who is known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, built this temple in wood. Then again in the 10th century, the temple was re-constructed by Kind Bhimdev Solanki who built it in stone.

The jyotinrlinga shrines in this temple are the place where Lord Shiva appeared as a fiery form of light. There are 64 jyothirlinga shrines in this temple of which 12 are the most holy and auspicious.

Architecture of Temple

The present Somnath Temple is constructed in Chalukya style which reflects the skills of Sompura Salats, the master masons of Gujarat. The shikhar, or main spire of the temple is 150 feet high and has 27 foot tall pole which supports a flag at its top.

The Bann Stambh mentions that this temple stands at one point of the India’s Landmass, which is the first point on the land on north towards the South Pole. The kalash at the top of the temple weighs 10 tons while the flag mast is 37 feet long.

Made of stone, this temple is simply exquisite in its look while has wonderful carvings on its floor, ceilings and walls.

Time to Visit

The best time which is recommended for visiting Somnath temple is October to March. The climate of Somnath is actually pleasant and temperate most part of the year. Yet these months are much preferred.

Nearby Places

Triveni Ghats

A trip to Triveni ghats is often mentioned in the Purans and Vedas. This ghat is a meeting point of 3 rivers mainly Saraswati, Kapil and Hiran. One can also visit Suraj Mandir, Laxmi Narayan Mandir and Gita Mandir which are close to the Triveni Ghat.

Bhalka Tirth

This is a place which is revered as a place where Lord Krishna was hit by an arrow when he was meditating under the Banyan tree. It was due to a mistake of a hunter who mistook his legs for that of a deer. Now days you can pay homage to this place where royal white statue of Lord Krishna is installed in a small temple constructed aside the same Banyan Tree.

Junagadh Gate

Junagadh Gate is one of the main attractions in Somnath as it is considered one of the prime gateways to reach Somnath. An individual can enter the town of temple from the nearest city through this Junagadh gate only. This historical significant gate is a triple gate which is an ancient structure that was constructed many centuries back.

Panch Pandav Gufa

This Gufa is basically a temple which is located near the Lalghati in Somnath. Considered as a marvelous temple, which was founded by Baba Narayandas in 1949, it is said that this temple is dedicated to 5 Pandava brothers.

How to Reach the Temple

  • Through Air – The closest airport near to Somnath is Koshed which is 55 km while other is Diu which is 90 kms away. However these airports are connected to Mumbai only. The international visitors must take flights for Ahmadabad or they must board a flight from Mumbai.
  • Through Road – There are luxury coaches and state transport buses that connect Somnath to different cities in and near Somnath. The Luxury buses can be boarded from Diu to Somnath at economical cost.
  • Through Railways –Veraval in Konkan line is one nearby railway line which is 5 kms away while is connected to Vadodra, Ahmadabad, and Mumbai only. No direct trains are available from Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, and Delhi.

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Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple

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