shaiva · Gujarat

Somnath

सोमनाथ

Presiding deity: Lord Shiva (Somnath — Lord of the Moon)

Established: Pre-Vedic; current structure rebuilt 1951 by Sardar Patel after multiple destructions

Darshan timings

06:00–22:00 IST; Aartis at 07:00, 12:00, 19:00

Average wait

15–60 mins (general); negligible (VIP)

Best season

November–February

Daily visitors

20,000–35,000 (peak: 200,000+ on Mahashivratri)

Significance

First among 12 Jyotirlingas (Soma + Eshwara = the Moon's lord). Destroyed 17 times by invaders, rebuilt each time — symbol of resurrection of Hindu civilization.

Legend

Daksha cursed Chandra (Moon) to wane. Chandra worshipped Shiva here and was relieved; the Lord stayed as Somnath. The hidden treasure of the temple drew Mahmud of Ghazni's 1024 raid.

How to reach

Located at Prabhas Patan (5 km from Veraval town) on Arabian Sea coast

Nearest airport: Diu (90 km) or Rajkot (200 km)

Nearest railway: Veraval (VRL) — 7 km

Where to stay

Sagar Darshan & Maheshwari Hostels (Shrine Trust); many private hotels in Veraval

Primary pujas performed here

Rudrabhishek
Mahapuja
Jal Abhishek
Mahashivratri night puja

What to offer: Bel patra, white flowers, milk, panchamrit

Dress code

Traditional preferred; no shoes inside complex

Photo policy

Allowed in complex; banned inside sanctum

Modern access

Sound-and-light show every evening narrates the destruction-rebirth cycle. Direct connection ferry to Diu launched 2023.

✓ VIP darshan available

Nearby tirthas

Bhalka Tirth (Krishna left body here)
Triveni Sangam Prabhas
Suraj Mandir Veraval