I recently travelled to Gujarat. The reason for visiting was to tick off the two Jyotirlingas in Gujarat- Nageshwar and Somnath temples.

However, this blog post is solely about the Somnath temple. You can read the individual travel guides for:

• Nageshwar temple
• Dwarkadhish temple

The Somnath temple travel guide covers numerous topics to help you plan a worry-free trip to Somnath temple in Gujarat.

• Legend of Somnath temple
• Temple and darshan timings
• Dress code
• Facilities available
• Where to take pictures of Somnath temple?
• Best time to visit
• How to get there?
• Where to stay?
• Travel tips

Before beginning the Somnath temple travel guide, I want to share my previous experience.

MY FIRST VISIT TO GUJARAT

My first trip to Gujarat was an epic failure. I understand sometimes things go awry while travelling. But, on that trip, everything went wrong.

I try not to remember that disastrous first trip to Gujarat. All I remember is the narrow alleys leading to temples, the roads splattered with cow dung, cows making themselves at home on the road and the constant shoving and pushing inside the temple.

At one temple, my family and I got separated in the crowd. I was terrified. It took us one hour to find each other. That was only one incident. But that incident scared me so much that I refused to visit temples for a few years.

So this time, I was expecting the same, but I was surprised. Cows and cow dung-splattered roads are a fixture, but the temple complexes are cleaner, and visitors are more disciplined while lining up for darshan.

I’m not mentioning my previous incidents, so you know what to expect.

“Should I visit Gujarat?” Yes, definitely.

LEGEND OF SOMNATH TEMPLE

All the Jyotirlingas have a legend, and so does the Somnath temple.

The legend of Somnath temple goes as:

The Moon God, Chandra, married the 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapati.

Chandra favoured only one of his twenty-seven wives. He was devoted to her and showered her with affection but was ignorant of the other wives.

Daksha Prajapati loved all his daughters. He cursed Chandra when he learnt of his twenty-six daughters’ neglect.

According to the curse, Chandra, the Moon God, would lose his radiance and become dull.

Chandra came down to Prabhas Patan (Somnath temple) and prayed to Lord Shiva to rid him of the curse.

His devotion pleased Shiva, who then freed him from his curse.

Chandra set up a linga to show his gratitude. This site later became known as the Somnath temple.

That’s how the Somnath temple came to exist.

The origin of the Somnath temple is unclear, but the earliest structure is said to be built sometime during the first millennium.

Ancient Hindu texts, Mahabharat and Bhagavat Puranas, refer to Somnath temple as Prabhas Patan, a pilgrim centre.

Over the years, invaders destroyed the temple. It was first destroyed in the 11th century by Mahmud Ghazni. After each attack, devotees rebuilt the temple.

The temple was undergoing reconstruction and built into a mosque in the 19th and 20th centuries. After independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ordered the construction of the current Somnath temple.

Therefore, the Somnath temple is called the “eternal shrine”.

TEMPLE AND DARSHAN TIMINGS

The temple is open daily (Monday to Sunday) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the aarti is at 7 a.m., 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Darshan at Somnath temple is simple and easy. Unlike other temples, there is no VIP darshan here. Also, devotees cannot enter the gabhargriha.

I was in line only for 20-30 minutes, which was unbelievable because it was the day of Ganapati Visarjan. I was expecting large crowds.

NOTE:- There are separate lines for men and women. It allows each devotee to see the Shivalinga without any obstruction.

TRAVEL TIP:- The temple changes the decorative theme according to the ongoing festivals. You can see photos of previous decorations while entering the temple. A Ganapati was painted on the Shivalinga in honor of Ganapati Visarjan. It was beautiful.

DRESS CODE FOR SOMNATH TEMPLE

Somnath temple does follow a dress code, but it is not too strict. You will find billboards stating the appropriate clothing for men and women to enter the temple.

As is mandatory in all temples, men and women should cover their shoulders and knees.

Men can wear jeans, pants, trousers, dhotis, lungi, kurta, t-shirts, and shirts.

Women can wear saris, Kurtis, leggings, jeans, long dresses, long shirts and blouses or trousers and shirts. However, shorts, mini skirts, crop tops and sleeveless tops are a no-go.

If you wear sleeveless tops, do carry a dupatta to wrap around your shoulders. That’s what I did.

TRAVEL TIP:- Always carry a scarf or dupatta with you, as women must cover their heads in some temples.

FACILITIES AT SOMNATH TEMPLE

Now you know how to dress before entering the temple. But did you know you can’t bring your phones or cameras inside?

Yes, you heard me. No electronics (phones, cameras, even keys), bags, or purses are allowed in the temple.

You can leave your phones, cameras and other belongings in your cars (I wouldn’t recommend it) or use the storage facilities.

There are separate counters for storing electronics and bags, and they are free.

NOTE:- Keep the coupon given at each storage counter safe. No coupon, no belongings.

While entering the temple, you will notice people removing their shoes outside the entrance. Don’t do that. Walk inside. After the first checkpoint, there is another storage facility for your shoes.

It is free.

The Somnath temple is beautiful. It is a shame you can’t bring your cameras inside. But don’t worry, I know where you can take amazing photos of the temple.

WHERE TO TAKE PICTURES OF SOMNATH TEMPLE ?

Unfortunately, cameras and phones are not allowed inside the temple complex. That means no pictures or reels of the beautiful architecture.

But, no worries. I know just the place.

The most common place is to take photos by scaling the outer wall. Many people had stacked bricks to elevate themselves to take pictures of the temple.

This place is good only if you are tall and have excellent zoom on your cameras. While the temple is visible from here, the tents ruin the view.

I am short, so I had to stand on a stack of bricks to see the temple.

The other place is the Samudra Darshan promenade, near the Laxmi Narayan temple.

Walk through the gateway to the ticket counter.

TICKET:- A single ticket costs Rs 5 per person.

Follow the path to the beach, then turn right and continue walking till you see the temple.

From here, you have a side view of Somnath temple. If you arrive around 5 p.m., you can capture a stunning sunset.

I loved this place better than the previous one. I spent almost an hour here taking photos of the temple, sea and sunset.

If you’re travelling with kids, you can visit the beach, go on camel rides, munch on some snacks at the shop, go souvenir shopping, or rent a bicycle for an hour.

NOTE:- You can rent a bicycle for Rs.20 an hour. The bicycles get rented within minutes in the evening, so arrive early.

BEST TIME TO VISIT SOMNATH TEMPLE

Somnath temple is on the coast of Gujarat. Therefore, it is inevitably hot and humid and has high temperatures.

March to May are the summer months. The temperature is high, and it is hot and humid all day long. It is also the peak season because of the summer holidays.

If you’re travelling to Somnath temple during the summer, avoid weekends and visit the temple early morning.

June to October is the monsoon season. Somnath temple is on the coast of Gujarat and receives heavy rainfall.

I travelled to Somnath towards the end of Somnath. It was hot and humid. I arrived in Somnath at noon but visited the temple after 4 p.m. Despite the late hour, it was hot, and within minutes, I was sweating profusely.

Fortunately, it didn’t rain during my stay at Somnath.

The best time to visit Somnath temple is from November to February. It is the winter season. The temperature is lower than usual, and the best time to visit.

HOW TO REACH SOMNATH TEMPLE?

Somnath temple is well-connected to major cities in Gujarat by road, train and flight.

BY ROAD

A network of national highways and bypasses connect Somnath temple to other cities in Gujarat.

The roads are in good condition, making driving enjoyable. Despite the speed limit, you can reach your destination on time. There’s no need to exceed the speed limit.

A few sections of the highway were under construction, but they should be complete within the next few months.

BY TRAIN

Veraval train station is the closest station to Somnath. It is around 6 km from the temple.

There are direct trains from Pune to Veraval. It is a 20-hour journey. From the train station, take a taxi to your hotel or Somnath temple.

BY FLIGHT

If you are looking for the shortest way to reach Somnath, board a flight to Diu. From there, hire a taxi to take you to Somnath, 80 km away.

From Pune to Diu, flights are scarce, and layovers are long. Also, the flights are pricey. However, there are numerous flights from Mumbai to Diu.

Or you can board a flight to Ahmedabad. From Ahmedabad, take the train, bus, or taxi to Somnath. However, this takes longer, but it is the best option.

Ahmedabad is a major city and has more flight connectivity than Diu.

WHERE TO STAY?

Somnath has numerous hotels with varying price ranges. You can find 3-star and 2-star hotels a few minutes from the temple.

Sarovar Portico, Lords In and The Fern Residency are good places for families. They are all reputed hotels, so facilities and services are available.

I stayed at “The Bliss Hotel“. It was not a good stay. Unfortunately, it was the weekend, meaning hotels were full.

The hotel was undergoing renovations. And the rooms allotted to us were non-AC (that was my mistake) and smelled of fresh paint. Later, we changed to an AC room. It was a single room with five beds. The room was in the back of the hotel, and they kept switching off the lights in the passage to the room. Also, they didn’t have any other amenities. We asked for a tea kettle, but they didn’t know what that was.

And the sad part was that a single-night stay cost the same as two rooms at Sarovar Portico. But we were in Somnath only for a night, so we adjusted.

The Bliss Hotel had positive reviews on Google. Maybe it was because of the renovations. They were unprepared to receive guests.

So, learn from my mistakes. Book your hotels in advance, always read the reviews and check the photos of the property.

TRAVEL TIPS

“Travel tips” is the last segment of the Somnath temple travel guide.

• Somnath temple is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the aartis are at 7 a.m., 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Aartis are a popular time, so always expect crowds. If you want to attend an aarti, arrive 20-30 minutes before.
• Phones, cameras, bags, purses, keys and shoes aren’t allowed inside the temple complex. You can store them at the facilities, free of charge.
• There is a large paid parking area, so don’t worry about your vehicle. The charges are- Rs.30 for autos and bikes, Rs.50 for cars and small tempos, Rs. 100 for buses and trucks.
• Somnath temple has a dress code, so please adhere to it.
• The best place for photos of Somnath temple is from the Samudra Darshan promenade. There is a Rs.5 entry fee.
• You won’t find non-veg food in Gujarat. A majority of the restaurants are pure veg.
• Pre-book hotels during peak season, as rooms get sold out.
• If you’re travelling with kids, don’t forget to visit the promenade. There is a beach, camel riding, bicycles for rent and other fun activities. Also, it is a great place to see the setting sun.

CONCLUSION

That brings us to the end of the Somnath temple travel guide.

My first visit to Gujarat was unpleasant. The second trip was a success, and I am going home with happy memories.

In the Somnath temple travel guide, I have covered numerous topics to help you plan a worry-free trip to Somnath temple in Gujarat.

• Legend of Somnath temple
• Temple and darshan timings
• Dress code
• Available facilities
• Where to take pictures of Somnath temple?
• Best time to visit
• How to reach Somnath?
• Where to stay?
• Travel tips

I hope the Somnath temple travel guide was helpful. If I missed something or you have any queries, let me know in the comments.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

The most important history is the history we make today

henry ford