Shri Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple Gujarat - Timings, How to reach and More

India has 12 Jyotirlingas, and the Somnath Temple is considered the first. I had the opportunity to visit it recently. In this blog I shared about this temple with my tour experiences to help you in your tour planning. 

Somnath Temple is located at Prabhas Patan near Veraval in the Gir Somnath district of Gujarat, right next to the Arabian Sea. You don’t just visit the temple. You hear the sea behind it. The waves are constant. That setting changes the entire experience.

Historically, the present structure was rebuilt in 1951 after independence, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. But the temple’s story goes much further back. References to Somnath appear in ancient texts. It is believed that an earlier structure existed before the 9th century CE. According to the Skanda Purana and the Shiva Purana, the temple was originally built by Chandra Dev, the Moon God, who worshipped Lord Shiva here to free himself from a curse. That is how the name came about. Som means Moon. Nath means Lord. Simple, but meaningful.

Now let’s talk about architecture. The temple is built in the Chalukya style, also called the Kailash Mahameru Prasad style. It uses sandstone and stands tall with a shikhara rising about 155 feet. The carvings are detailed but not overwhelming. They reflect traditional western Indian temple design. What stood out to me was the openness of the complex. Clean pathways. A large courtyard. No clutter.

There is also the Baan Stambh inside the complex. It marks the direction toward the South Pole, stating that there is no landmass between Somnath and Antarctica in a straight line. Whether you see it as symbolism or geography, it adds another layer to the place.

Somnath Temple Darshan Timings & Aarti Schedule

When I reached the temple in evening time, I found the darshan timings to be very convenient for visitors. The temple opens early in the morning and stays open until late evening.

• Somnath darshan timing is 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Somnath temple aarti timings are

• Morning Aarti: 7:00 AM
• Midday Aarti: 12:00 PM
• Evening Aarti: 7:00 PM

Light and Sound Show

• Show Timing: 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Somnath Temple Prasad

Inside the Somnath temple pandit ji give me bibhuti but major prasad have to be bought from a temple store so I bought Somnath temple special Mohanthal and for it I paid 100 rs. You can buy also below prasad items

• Magas Laddoo Prasad
• Chikki Prasad

How to visit Somnath temple?

You can reach Somnath jyotirlinga temple easily by bus , train or own vehicle so let’s discuss it.

By Train 

From Somnath temple nearest railway station is Veraval and Veraval railway station is well connected from all major cities of Gujarat like Gandhinagar , Ahmedabad , Surat and also good connectivity from other indian cities like Mumbai , Jabalpur etc. from here you will easily get direct train for it. 

By Bus

Somnath Bus bus stand is well connected from all major cities of Gujarat and you can get direct bus for it from GSRTC. You can also book your ticket for Veraval if you do not get a direct bus for Somnath. 

If you're visiting with family, and especially with elderly members, try to book a train to Veraval and take a cab from there. It’s less tiring and very manageable.

My Tour Experience at Somnath Temple 

My tour experience at Somnath temple is one of the most peaceful and spiritual journeys I’ve had so far its full feel my long time desire to visit Somnath and take the darshan of bhole nath. The moment I entered the temple premises, I was amazed by the temple’s architecture and how beautifully it stands facing the Arabian Sea , and temple architecture is built in Chalukya style. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside, but honestly, you won’t miss them and the experience stays with your heart. After completing my temple visit I visited Somanth beach there I spent quality time with my family.