Somnath

Introduction and history: The town of Somnath is located in western coast of Gujarat. Is has one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, which makes it one of the most important pilgrimage centers in India. According to Hindu mythology it is believed that the temple was created by Moon God himself. In the past few centuries multiple attacks in India destroyed some portion of the temple and remains of the temple of Somnath has withstood the shocks of time and still remain as a great example for imposing architecture. The construction of the present form of temple began in 1950.Its beautiful sight facing the blue Arabian Sea is a treat to watch.

What to see and when to go: The Someshwar Mahadev temple is the main attraction of this place, which stands tall among the temples of India. The pinnacle rides to a height of 155 feet and the kalash atop the shikhar weighs 10 tonnes. The flag mast is 37 feet long, which gives an account of how mammoth the temple is. In historical times the temple, the third to be precise, was raged to the ground by Sultan Mohmad of Ghazni. Bhalka Tirth, Junagarh Gate, Mai Puri, Jama Masjid, Bhidiyo Pagoda and Mai Puri are some of the other attractions. October to March is the ideal time to visit Somnath.

Accommodation: Even though Somnath is one of the important tourist destinations, no luxury accommodation is available. For the pilgrims and tourists, there are other options available in form of guesthouses and rest houses at budget pricing starting as low as 300 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: The nearest Airport is at Keshod, which is located at 47 Kilometers from the temple. It is connected with Mumbai with frequent flights. Veraval railway station located at 5 Kilometers is the closest Railway station. It is well connected with Mumbai and Ahmadabad. Multiple transport buses and private luxury coaches are available from all parts of Gujarat connecting Somnath.

Related links:

• Tourist information: http://www.gujarattourism.com/
• Somnath temple website : http://www.somnath.org/

See also (nearby places): Dwarka, Bordi, Daman, Udvada, Palghar and Silvassa are nearby tourist attractions.