Somnath Temple

The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot. The temple is considered sacred due to the various legends connected to it. Somnath means “Lord of the Soma”, an epithet of Shiva. The Somnath temple is known as “the Shrine Eternal”, following a book of K. M. Munshi by this title and his narration of the temple’s destruction and reconstruction many times in history. Most recently the temple was rebuilt in November 1947, when Vallabhbhai Patel visited the area for the integration of Junagadh and mooted a plan for its restoration. After Patel’s death, the rebuilding continued under Munshi, then a minister in the Government of India. The temple is open daily from 6AM to 9PM. There are 3 aarti daily; in the morning at 07:00, at 12:00 and in the evening at 19:00. It is also believed that nearby Bhalka is the place where Krishna ended his lila on earth and left for his heavenly abode. The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot. The temple is considered sacred due to the various legends connected to it. Somnath means “Lord of the Soma”, an epithet of Shiva. The Somnath temple is known as “the Shrine Eternal”, following a book of K. M. Munshi by this title and his narration of the temple’s destruction and reconstruction many times in history. Most recently the temple was rebuilt in November 1947, when Vallabhbhai Patel visited the area for the integration of Junagadh and mooted a plan for its restoration. After Patel’s death, the rebuilding continued under Munshi, then a minister in the Government of India. The temple is open daily from 6AM to 9PM. There are 3 aarti daily; in the morning at 07:00, at 12:00 and in the evening at 19:00. It is also believed that nearby Bhalka is the place where Krishna ended his lila on earth and left for his heavenly abode.

Gallery