About Somnath Temple
The first of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva — a 7th-century oceanfront temple destroyed and rebuilt seven times over 1,000 years by Mahmud of Ghazni, Allauddin Khilji and Aurangzeb, and reconsecrated by Sardar Patel in 1951 as the symbolic rebirth of independent India.
History
The Somnath Temple's Jyotirlinga is mentioned in the Rigveda (1500 BCE), the Mahabharata and the Skanda Purana. The temple's first documented destruction was in 1025 CE by Mahmud of Ghazni who looted treasure worth 20 million dinars; it was rebuilt under the Chaulukya king Bhima I. Successive destructions followed under Allauddin Khilji (1299), Muzaffar Shah I (1395), Mahmud Begada (1451) and Aurangzeb (1665) — each followed by reconstruction under local Hindu rulers. The current Chalukyan-style structure was built between 1947–1951 under the patronage of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel after Independence; the first jyotirlinga was installed by President Rajendra Prasad on 11 May 1951 — an act Patel called the 'symbolic rebirth of a nation that had refused to die'. The next landmass due south is Antarctica — there is no land between the temple and the South Pole, 9,776 km away.
Best Time to Visit
October to March
Travel Tips
- Enter only in traditional clothing — shorts, miniskirts and sleeveless tops are politely refused at the gate
- Leave mobile phones at the paid cloakroom (₹10); they are not allowed inside the sanctum
- Attend the 7 p.m. sound-and-light show narrating 1,000 years of temple history
- Combine with Dwarka (230 km, Krishna's ancient city) for the complete Saurashtra pilgrim circuit
Famous Food in Somnath Temple
Temples & Heritage Sites
- Dwarka — Krishna's ancient capital, 230 km west
- Diu Fort — Portuguese fortifications, 80 km south
- Girnar Hill — Jain temples, 55 km north-west
How to Reach Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple is located in Gujarat, India at coordinates 20.888°N, 70.4013°E. You can reach Somnath Temple by air (nearest airport in Gujarat), train, or road. Use YatraJunction's free fare calculator to compare live train, bus and flight prices, and to build an AI-powered itinerary tailored to your budget and travel dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best time to visit Somnath Temple?
- The best time to visit Somnath Temple is October to March.
- What are the top travel tips for Somnath Temple?
- Enter only in traditional clothing — shorts, miniskirts and sleeveless tops are politely refused at the gate. Leave mobile phones at the paid cloakroom (₹10); they are not allowed inside the sanctum. Attend the 7 p.m. sound-and-light show narrating 1,000 years of temple history. Combine with Dwarka (230 km, Krishna's ancient city) for the complete Saurashtra pilgrim circuit.
- What food is famous in Somnath Temple?
- Famous dishes in Somnath Temple include: Gujarati thali at Hotel Sun-n-Sand — unlimited and unbeatable, Kathiyawadi khaman and fafda at Sardar Mukhi Bhojanalay, Jalebi-fafda breakfast at Patel Swagat Restaurant.
