Daily Hindu Panchang
The first Jyotirlinga, by the Arabian Sea
Somnath is listed as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The temple stands on the coast near Veraval and was rebuilt several times in history. The evening aarti by the sea is a highlight.
| Place | Somnath, Gujarat |
|---|---|
| Known as | Jyotirlinga · first of the twelve |
| Best time | October to March. Maha Shivaratri and Kartik Purnima have large fairs. |
| Time needed | 1 day, or 3 days with Dwarka |
| Nearest railway | Veraval |
| Nearest airport | Diu or Rajkot |
Somnath is the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat. The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, and the present Chalukya-style temple was completed in 1951. It is a quiet, seaside darshan with a famous light and sound show in the evening.
The place is easy to cover in half a day, but it is more satisfying with a night, so you can see the aarti and the sea at sunrise.
The temple is right at the beach at Prabhas Patan, about 6 km from Veraval. The other sights, Bhalka Tirth, Triveni Sangam and Gita Mandir, are within a few kilometres.
How many days do you have? Pick one and the plan changes.
A day trip from Veraval or Junagadh.
A temple and a wildlife day.
The Saurashtra coast.
Somnath, Junagadh, Dwarka.
A longer and slower version.
A tall temple on the shore, with a Baan Stambh, an arrow pillar that points to the south and says there is no land between it and Antarctica. The Jyotirlinga is in a quiet sanctum.
The temple trust runs the place. Check the official website for darshan rules.
Local tip: Phones and bags are not allowed inside. Use lockers.
The meeting point of three rivers, the Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati, near the sea. It is a bathing place for pilgrims.
Local tip: Go in the morning.
The spot where Krishna is said to have been hit by an arrow and left his earthly body.
Local tip: Combine with Dehotsarg nearby.
A calm temple with Gita verses on its walls, and the place where Krishna's last rites are said to have been performed.
Local tip: Short stop. A quiet half hour.
In the evening the temple hosts a show on the history of Somnath. It is a good way to end the day.
Local tip: Check timings at the ticket counter.
| October to March | Pleasant weather. |
|---|---|
| Maha Shivaratri and Kartik Purnima | The biggest days. |
| Monsoon | Rough sea. |
| Summer | Hot and humid. |
The temple trust runs guest houses, and there are many hotels in Veraval.
Gujarati thali, dhokla and fresh sugarcane juice.
Check the dates for this year on our festival calendar, and choose a shubh time using the muhurat pages.
Darshan timings, booking rules and road conditions change, so confirm them with the temple trust or local authority before you travel.
Half to one day for the temple and nearby sights. Two days if you add Gir.
Not inside the sanctum.
An arrow pillar facing the sea, said to mark a straight line of sea to the south pole.
Yes. The site is flat and the temple trust has facilities.
October to March. Maha Shivaratri and Kartik Purnima have large fairs.
Plan 1 day, or 3 days with Dwarka.
The nearest railway station is Veraval. The nearest airport is Diu or Rajkot. Check current road and train timings before you travel.
Maha Shivaratri; Kartik Purnima fair; Shravan.
On 13 November 2026, the tithi is Shukla Chaturthi and Rahu Kaal is 11:09 AM to 12:33 PM, worked out for Somnath's own sunrise.
Somnath Jyotirlinga temple on the Gujarat coast: B. SurajPatro1997, CC BY-SA 4.0, source.
