About Somnath Temple
Somnath temple is located on the western coast of Gujarat and is one of the oldest and most revered temples of India and finds its reference in the most ancient texts like Shreemad Bhagavat, Skandpuran, Shivpuran and Rig-Veda which signifies the importance of this temple as one of the most celebrated pilgrimage sites or Tirthdham
In the Shivapurana and the Nandi Upapurana, Lord Shiva is quoted as saying, ‘I am omnipresent, but I am especially in twelve forms and places.’ These places are known as jyotirlingas, and Somnath is the first to be found in the world. Around the linga the moon god Soma built a mythical temple of gold as an ode to Lord Shiva’s glory and compassion. Like the waxing and waning moon, and fittingly for a place associated with Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance of creative destruction, the Somnath temple has risen unfailingly from repeated acts of devastation.
On Kartik Sud 14 in the Hindu calendar, the day of Shiva’s son Kartikeya’s birth, a fair is held for four days at the shrine of Somnath. Millions of devotees converge here for these ebullient celebrations on the shores of the Arabian Sea.
Best time to go Somnath is Oct – March.
How to reach Somnath
BY FLIGHT:
There are no regular flights from other major cities of the country to Somnath. Nearest airport is Diu Airport.
63 km away Diu airport (DIU), Diu, Daman and Diu
114 km away Porbandar airport (PBD), Porbandar, Gujarat
BY TRAIN:
Somnath is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular trains.
Railway Station(s): Somnath (SMNH)
BY BUS:
You can easily get regular buses to Somnath from other major cities of the country.
Bus Station(s): Somnath