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As one of the sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, this place attracts tourists from all over the world with its spiritual aura. The fact that this temple is close to the Arabian Sea only adds to the overall vibrancy of the place.
Unfortunately, during its rich Hindu history, Muslim and Portuguese conquerors destroyed the temple multiple times. Despite the horrors, this site is now one of Gujarat’s most popular tourist pilgrimage locations. The current temple was constructed in the Chalukya architectural style in 1951. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel gave the architectural order for this temple, and it was completed after his death.
History of The Somnath Temple
The foundation of the first Jyotilinga
One of the most visited Hindu shrines, the town of Somnath, is said to have witnessed the emergence of the country’s first naturally formed jyotirlinga. There are 11 other very auspicious jyotirlingas in India: Mahakaleshwar, Kedarnath, Omkareshwar, Shrisailam, Trimbakeshwar, Rameshwaram, Vaidynath, Bhimashankar, Vishwanath, Nageshwara and Grishneswar.
The shrine is a paradise for Shiva devotees, through whom the highest devotion and peace are attained. The Supreme God is enshrined here in the form of lingam and has an interesting story about its creation.
The Origin of the Temple – A Heavenly History
It is said that the temple was originally built by the romantic king, Lord Moon. He is married to 27 daughters of Daksh Prajapati but is more inclined and deeply in love with the youngest Rohini daughter.
Lacking the love and affection their husbands deserve, other queens feel neglected and seek advice from their fathers. After several consultations and discussions, Daksh became concerned and agitated when no change in behaviour was noticed. Apparently, Moon was cursed by his stepfather for losing all his light.
After losing his charm, Moon resolved to worship Lord Shiva and bathe in the pious Saraswati River. Seeing his great devotion, Shiva blessed him and freed him from his curse. Therefore, different phases of the Moon can be seen after a lunar eclipse. In return, Moon built a spectacular Shiva temple made entirely of gold.
Best Time To Visit Somnath Temple
The winter months from October to February are the best time to visit Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 28 degrees Celsius.
How To Reach Somnath Temple
- Somnath Temple is located in Somnath or Prabhas Patan in Gujarat state in western India.
- Somnath is approximately 409 km from Ahmedabad.
- The distance between Junagadh and Somnath is nearly 94 km.
- Veraval is the nearest train station and the distance from Veraval to Somnath is about 6 km.
- The nearest airport to Somnath is Diu, which is about 83 km away.
- Easy access to Somnath Ahmedabad by rail or road with good rail and road connections
Location
The Somnath Temple is located on the coast of Prabhas Patan near Veraval in the Saurashtra district of Gujarat. It is located about 400 km (249 mi) southwest of Ahmedabad and 82 km (51 mi) south of Junagadh – another important archaeological and pilgrimage site in Gujarat. It is located approximately 7 km (4 mi) southeast of the Veraval railway interchange, approximately 130 km (81 mi) southeast of Porbandar Airport and approximately 85 km (53 mi) west of Diu Airport.
Geography: 20°53′16.9″N
Coordinate: 70°24′5.0″E
Interesting Facts About Somnath Temple
- There are 12 Aadi Jyotirlingas in India and it is believed that the Somnath Temple is the first among them.
- There is a very mind-boggling fact about the location of the Somnath Temple. The temple is situated from there to the south pole of the earth, there is no land.
- The location of the Somnath temple is also believed to be the place where Lord Krishna finished his earthly lilac and went to his nij dham.
- Legend has it that the temple of Somnath contained a magical stone called Syantaka Mani that could turn anything he touched into gold.
- Long before the temple was built, the Triveni Sangam of Somnath used it as a place of pilgrimage.
Conclusion
Somnath Temple in Gujarat – Considered the most important jyotirlinga shrine on earth, Somnath is an important pilgrimage site for followers of Shiva or Hindus. Located on the bustling west coast of Gujarat, the Shiva Temple is truly an angelic beauty, offering guests eternal peace. The Somnath temple which was destroyed and rebuilt in a manner that they located in a straight line between the Somnath coast and Antarctica without any land area. Isn’t this really fascinating? Facts like this really make us believe that science and spirituality can certainly go hand in hand. The peaceful surroundings of Somnath Mahadev Temple are a must-see in Gujarat. One of the cleanest and most organised temples in the province, this temple is a beautiful masterpiece beyond words.
