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Somnath Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

January 24, 2023, Sasidhar Darla 34 Comments Filed Under: Dwarka Somnath Temple, Gujarat Temples, Jyotirlinga Tagged With: Shiva Temples

Somnath Temple is the first among the 12 holy Jyotirlingas. This sacred temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The word Somnath translates to ‘The Lord of the Moon‘ which is a form of Lord Shiva. The temple is located at Prabhas Patan, near Veraval port in Saurashtra, Gujarat. It is also called “The Shrine Eternal” because the temple was looted and destroyed six times in the past. However, it was gloriously rebuilt every single time after that.

Planning to visit the Somnath Temple? Have a look at our Dwarka Somnath Tour Package.

Somnath Temple – Facts

DeityLord Somnath (Lord Shiva)
LocationSomnath, Gujarat
SignificanceJyotirlinga
ToursDwarka – Somnath Tour
Darshan Timings6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Entry FeeFree
PoojasRudrabhisek, Laghurudra Abhishek
Best Time to VisitMarch and October
FestivalsShravan, Shivratri, Karthik Purnima
Jyotirlingas in GujaratSomnath Jyotirlinga, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
The Somnath Temple, Gujarat.

The Somnath Temple is one of the Top 50 Famous Temples in India.

What are the timings of Somnath Temple?

The temple opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 10:00 PM. The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals, such as the morning, afternoon, and evening aarti.

The timings are as follows:

Darshan 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Morning Aarti 7:00 AM
Afternoon Aarti 12:00 PM
Evening Aarti 7:00 PM

What are the poojas performed at Somnath Temple?

Pooja at Somnath Temple
There are several poojas which take place at the Somnath Temple.

The following poojas take place at Somnath Temple:

  1. Homatmak Atirudra: This yajna is the most powerful and the most sacred yajna out of all the Mahayagnas. Conducting this yagna washes away your sins and brings peace and prosperity. The Atirudra consists of eleven recitations of Maha Rudra.
  2. Homatmak Maharudra: This pooja involves 56 highly learned Vedic Pandits reciting the Rudras in one place. The priest also recites Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharva Veda in front of the deities of the temple.
  3. Homatmak Lagurudra: This abhishek is done to resolve issues related to health and wealth. It also removes the evil effects of planets in the horoscope.
  4. Savalaksha Samput Mahamrityunjaya Jaap: The Mahamrityunjaya Abhishek increases longevity and immortality of the person.
  5. Other Poojas and Abhishekams include Savalaksha Bilva Pooja, Kalsarpa Yog Nivaran Vidhi, Shivpuran Path, Mahadugdh Abhishek, Gangajal Abhishek, and Navagraha Jaap.

The prices of the poojas are as follows:

Somnath Temple - Pooja Prices
Somnath Temple – Pooja Prices

What is the significance of Somnath Temple?

The Somnath Temple is the first Jyotirlinga among the 12 Jyotirlingas in Hindu mythology. Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light from this Linga which makes it Swayambhu. Millions of people worldwide come every year to visit this temple.

It is said that the Syamantak Mani (Philosopher’s Stone) associated with Lord Krishna is hidden inside Shiva Linga in the temple. According to beliefs, this magical stone has the ability to produce gold. It is also responsible for creating a magnetic field around itself which keeps the Linga floating above the ground.

The Linga consists of iron, and the roof of the sanctum is made of loadstone. The builder of the shrine assured that the magnetic force exerted by the loadstone kept the Linga floating in the air. It is also a popular belief that one can wash away their sins by taking a dip in the holy water of the Someshwar Kund.

What is Prabhas Patan?

Prabhas Patan is the holy site of Sangam or the junction of three great mythological rivers – Saraswati, Hiranya and Kapila. It is also the site where Lord Krishna was struck by an arrow while resting under a tree.

Another extremely famous and sacred Jyotirlinga is Kashi Vishwanath Temple which located in Kashi, Uttar Pradesh.

What is the history of Somnath Temple?

History of the Somnath Temple
The Somnath Temple was destroyed six times in the past. This picture is estimated to be 200 years old.

According to legend, the time period and how the temple was first constructed is unknown. But it is said that the second temple was built by the Seuna Kings of Vallabhi (Yadavas of Devagiri) in around 649 CE.

The first attack on the temple was by Al-Junayd, the Governor of Sindh in around 725 CE, during invasions of Gujarat and Rajasthan. The King Nagabhata ll reconstructed the third temple in 815 CE.

In 1024, Turkic Sultan, Mohammad Ghazni bombarded the Somnath temple. He demolished the Jyotirlinga and killed all the devotees who attempted to save it from the loot. Later, King Bhoja of Malwa and King Bhimdev I of Patan restored this as a tribute to Lord Someshvara.

The next attack on Somnath was by Alauddin Khilji’s forces. The idol of the god was stolen, and many devotees were captured in the process. King Mahipala I, the Chudasama king of Saurashtra, rebuilt it in 1308. Later, Muzaffar Shah I and Mahmud Begada of the Gujarat Sultanate, respectively, made repeated assaults in 1375 and 1451.

The temple also faced the rage of Aurangzeb in 1665. Finally, in 1783 the Peshwas, Bhonsles, Queen Ahilyabai of Indore and Shrimant Patilbuwa Shinde of Gwalior together reconstructed it. The present temple is fashioned in the Chalukya style.

According to the legends, Garbhashay initially contained many gems. Over a period of time, many invaders took them. Three silver gates, originally belonging to the Somnath temple, were brought back to India from Lahore. This was after the Maratha king Mahadaji Shinde defeated Muhammad Shah.

After unsuccessful attempts to re-install them in the Somnath temple, they were then gifted to two temples in Ujjain – the Mahakaleshwar Temple and Gopal Mandir where they are still present.

What is the legend of the Someshwar Kund?

Prajapati Daksha had the 27 Nakshatras born in the form of his daughters. All of his 27 daughters were married to Lord Chandra (The Moon). However, Chandra loved only Rohini and neglected his other 26 wives. This angered their father Daksha. He cursed Chandra to decrease in size every day. To counter this curse, Chandra offered penance to Lord Shiva who granted him a boon.

The boon was that Lord Shiva would place Chandra on His head. This way, Chandra would lose one Kala (shade) every day and decrease in size for 15 days only to grow back in the next 15 days. When the moon fades away fully, it is called no moon day (Amavasya). When he grows to full size, it is called the full moon day (Purnima). Thus, these are called as Krishna Paksha and Shukla Paksha (each Paksha of 15 days). As a result, Shiva was also called Someshvara (Lord of the Moon). The Kund honours Shiva for removing the curse.

Shrine of the Somnath Temple
This Jyotirlinga represents Lord Shiva as the ‘The Lord of the Moon’. Seen here is a crescent moon over His head.

What is the structure of the Somnath Temple?

The temple is divided into three main areas – the Garbhagraha, the Sabhamandapam, and the Nrityamandapam. The Shikhar of the temple is 150 feet high. The Kalasam or the Kalash weighs 10 tonnes. The flag pole at the top is 8.2 meters long. The temple reflects the skills of the Sompura Salats, Gujarat’s famed stonemasons.

An inscription in Sanskrit is found in the Banastambha also known as the “Arrow Pillar”. The Abadhit Samudra Marg and Tirstambh indicate that there is no land in a straight line between the seashore until Antarctica.

What are the festivals celebrated at Somnath?

Mahashivratri at Somnath Temple
The Somnath Temple shrine as decorated during the festival of Mahashivratri.

Some of the festivals celebrated at Somnath Temple are:

  1. Shravan Month: Shravan Maas falls on the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, starting late July and ending by the third week of August.
  2. Mahashivratri: It is the day when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. It usually occurs in late February to early March.
  3. Golokdham Utsav: It signifies the birth of Lord Krishna, more popularly known as Janmashtami.
  4. Kartik Purnima Fair: The fair lasts for five days.
  5. Somnath Sthapana Divas: The foundation day which is celebrated on the 11th of May.

How to reach Somnath Temple?

  • By Air: The nearest airport is Diu which is 85 km away from the temple.
  • By Train: The nearest railway station is Somnath (0.5 km). Regular train service is available from all major cities in Gujarat.
  • By Road: Somnath connects well to major cities in Gujarat like Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Dwarka, and Chorwad by state roadways.

You can also travel to Somnath from Vadodara. Have a look at our Dwarka Somnath Vadodara Tour Package.

Somnath Temple route from Ahmedabad

Somnath temple lies at a distance of 411 km from the heart of Ahmedabad.

  • Air: Flights are available that connect Ahmedabad airport to Diu Airport which is 85 km away from the temple.
  • Train: Many trains such as the Superfast express as well as the Mail express run between Somnath railway station and Ahmedabad railway station.
  • Road: The fastest route to travel using roadways is via NH27 and NH47. It takes about 7 hours of drive between Ahmedabad and Somnath temple using the road.

Where to stay nearby?

  1. Rooms operated by Somnath Temple Management are available at nominal rates. People can book those rooms by visiting the official website at www.somnath.org.
  2. Accommodations can be booked in the Sagar Darshan Atithi Grah, Lilavati Atithi Bhavan, and Maheshwari Atithi Bhavan.
  3. Private hotels are also abundant near the Somnath Temple complex.

Some of the hotels where one can stay near Somnath Temple are:

  1. The Fern Residency Somnath: The hotel has 56 rooms including suites such as Winter Green and Hazel Suite. The hotel also offers express check-in and check-out, high-speed Internet, gym facility, in-room safe as well as a business centre.
  2. The Divine Resort: The hotel has a large party hall that can accommodate up to 5000 guests. Conference rooms, massage centre, swimming pool, and gymnasium are also available. Other basic services provided are car rentals, babysitting, and doctor on call.
  3. Lords Inn Somnath: The hotel has facilities like Wi-Fi, airport & railway pickup, power backup, currency exchange, spa, swimming pool, and fitness centre. The hotel also has a meeting room and a banquet hall for private and corporate events

Where to eat nearby?

All the Guesthouses managed by the Somnath Temple Trust hosts a restaurant, which serves various cuisines like Gujarati, Punjabi, and Chinese. Apart from those, many small eateries are also present around the temple complex.

What are the famous temples near Somnath?

Exploring Somnath
There are several temples to visit near the beautiful city of Somnath.

Some temples near Somnath temple are:

  • Bhalka Tirth: It is 5 km from the Prabhas – Veraval highway. At this location, the arrow fired by the poacher Jara hit Sri Krishna, who was resting under a Peepal tree. The Lord Sri Krishna then walked and reached the banks of River Hiran from where he started his last journey.
  • Shree Golokdham Teerth or Shree Neejdham Prastham Teerth: It is on the banks of River Hiran, 1.5 km away from the Somnath Temple. The footprint of Lord Krishna is carved here to mark the site of the temple. Balaram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna also started his last journey from here in his original serpent form.
  • Junagadh Gate: This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Gujarat. A long time ago Mohmmad of Ghazni entered through this gate and looted the famous Somnath temple and turned it to ruins. Though it has worn out over time, this monument still continues to attract history lovers.

Some other famous temples in Gujarat are:

  • Dwarkadhish Temple: It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages, is situated in the city of Dwarka in Gujarat. Dwarka lies on the banks of river Gomti, in Saurashtra. It is historically considered as the capital of Lord Krishna. The city eventually submerged under the sea except for Temples.

Frequently Asked Questions about Somnath Temple

Is the Somnath Temple open throughout the year?

Yes, the Somnath Temple is open all 365 days of the year.

What is the entry fee?

The entry to the Somnath Temple is free of cost.

Can anyone enter the temple?

Non-Hindus need to take prior permission from the General Manager’s Office. Hindus can enter the temple without any permits.

Is there any Online Darshan facility available?

Yes, please visit the website www.somnath.org for Online Darshan.

Who should be contacted for performing a Havan/Yajna?

For booking Yajna Shala, please contact the Management of Shree Somnath Trust.
Dy. General Manager: +91-9428214909

Can one carry mobiles and gadgets into the temple?

No. All electronic gadgets are strictly prohibited (viz. mobile, camera, laptop). They can be stored in lockers available in the Cloak Room. The cloakroom facility is free of cost.

Is there any facility for specially-abled and senior citizens?

Wheelchair facilities for disabled and senior citizens are available at the gate of the temple. Lift facilities are also present inside the temple.

Is there any facility available for site seeing or nearby temple visit?

Tirth Darshan Bus facility is available at a nominal charge which takes pilgrims to the nearby temples for darshan. Bus leaves from the main gate of the temple and its timings are 08:30 AM and 03:30 PM.

What is the weather like during summer?

The summers at Somnath start from March and continues until June. The summers here can be very hot. Temperatures during the daytime often go up to 42 º C.

What are winters like in Gujarat?

In Somnath, winters start in November and continue until February. The temperatures during this time range from around 10 º C to 24 º C. The weather during this time is cool and pleasant.

If you have any questions about The Somnath Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.

About Sasidhar Darla

Sasidhar Darla is Myoksha Travel's Founder. He is passionate about traveling to temples and preparing travel guides to help other pilgrims.

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  1. संजीव कुमार says

    February 21, 2023 at 6:52 am

    क्या सोमनाथ मंदिर में भोला बाबा पर जल बेलपत्र अर्पित कर सकते है इसका कोई समय भी है।

    Reply
    • Jyoti Mishra says

      March 11, 2023 at 5:01 pm

      For senior citizen , they need to make a line for darshan or any other option is available.

      Reply
  2. Deepak Jain says

    December 11, 2022 at 5:15 pm

    Can jain people enter the temple without permission?

    Reply
  3. smita patel says

    November 17, 2022 at 12:18 am

    Hi
    It mentioned above that for seniors its wheel chair facilities from gate but what if they have to get down from bus which park far from gate , how they can come near by gate if they cannot walk properly. please reply as we planning to bring 7 to 8 seniors and seems the parking is far from gate and they cannot walk that long.

    Reply
  4. Mahesh says

    October 20, 2022 at 11:38 am

    ॐ नमः शिवाय शिवरात्रि पर महादेव के रात्रि दर्शन कितने बजे तक हो सकते है?

    Reply
  5. Gautam Hathiwala says

    May 15, 2022 at 4:14 pm

    All the information that has been made available on this portal has been very helpful
    Thank you

    Reply
    • विश्वनाथ झा says

      November 29, 2022 at 11:43 am

      सोमवार को ज्यादा भीड रहता है क्या?

      Reply
  6. Deepa says

    September 9, 2021 at 12:35 am

    Online rudrabhishekam savalakh

    Reply
  7. Sanjiv Nathani says

    July 21, 2021 at 8:52 pm

    What is the process to carry personal vehicle ( car) to somnath temple
    How to register?

    Reply
  8. Sanjay kumar singh says

    July 21, 2021 at 7:31 am

    temple is open regular? and what is the morning time table in sawen month fully open. ? Monday 26 is open temple what is the rules for dersan

    Reply
  9. Deepanshu Aggarwal says

    March 26, 2021 at 10:11 am

    Are the devotees allowed to touch the shivling in Somnath Ji ? If yes , then should a devotee pay an amount for those type of darshan ?

    Reply
  10. Shubham says

    June 24, 2020 at 1:50 am

    Can we do abhishek of shivlinga with our hands at any time at any day and on at any cost.

    Reply
  11. Hiteshjokh says

    February 17, 2020 at 11:20 am

    I want touch 2 nos silver bili patra. to Joyti riling and Abhishek of milk & water with pooja. Then one bili patra put in to joytirling

    Reply
  12. mahalakshmi says

    August 12, 2019 at 3:30 pm

    what are the timings for Rudrabishek

    Reply
  13. venkat says

    July 31, 2019 at 2:03 pm

    Is there any dress code in somnath temple for gents?

    Reply
    • Sasidhar Darla says

      July 31, 2019 at 3:17 pm

      There is no specific dress code.

      Reply
  14. Dr. divyarani says

    July 25, 2019 at 11:28 pm

    how much it will take for darshan in shravan mass?
    and how wil will be climate in rainy season

    Reply
    • Sasidhar Darla says

      July 26, 2019 at 11:17 am

      It will take around 2 hours for darshan during shravan maas. Climate is nice.

      Reply
  15. saurabh says

    July 24, 2019 at 9:37 am

    want to rudra abhishek with my family on 03/08/2019 please let me know the process of the same ?

    Reply
    • Sasidhar Darla says

      July 24, 2019 at 10:19 am

      There is no advance booking available. Reach the temple the evening before and book for rudrabhishek at the temple office.

      Reply
  16. Madhu Bodla says

    June 26, 2019 at 1:14 am

    How to book Maha rudhra Abhishek online booking pz information

    Reply
    • Sasidhar Darla says

      June 26, 2019 at 9:17 am

      There is no facility to book it online at somnath. Reach the temple and book it there

      Reply
  17. Madhu Bodla says

    June 26, 2019 at 1:08 am

    Good information for first time visitors

    Reply
  18. Praveen goyal says

    March 12, 2019 at 10:22 am

    How I do rudraabhishekin somnathon14/03/2019

    Reply
  19. Kolappan Kumaraswamy says

    January 4, 2019 at 9:35 pm

    Details given are very useful for new visitors.

    Reply
  20. Priyanka says

    December 7, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    I will be visiting somnath temple on 2 January…I want to perform rudra abhishek with my family….how can I book in advance??

    Reply
    • Kamal sachdeva says

      March 6, 2019 at 10:01 am

      Kamal says 25 march19 early morning we want Maharudra poojan please tell me online process ?

      Reply
  21. Geetha says

    November 22, 2018 at 9:02 am

    We are visiting the Somnath temple on December 3rd. Can we book for the Mahadugdha abhishekam on line? What time is the Abhishekam done?

    Reply
  22. Dolly says

    September 13, 2017 at 7:51 pm

    My son is always sick and is on medication for the last 16 years. What Pooja should he perform for good health.

    Reply
    • Sasidhar Darla says

      September 13, 2017 at 9:21 pm

      We need to know more about his condition to give you recommendations of poojas. Please email us more details about his condition on info@myoksha.com

      Reply
  23. ARUP KUMAR NEOGI says

    September 2, 2017 at 10:18 am

    How I can perform Puja at Somenath.What is the procedure ? How much it costs.

    Reply
    • Sasi says

      September 2, 2017 at 12:23 pm

      Dear Arup, There are multiple poojas conducted at Somnath Temple. You can purchase the ticket for pooja at the counter inside the temple. They have a detailed list. The cost depends on the pooja you plan on performing.

      Reply
  24. Manish kumar says

    May 11, 2017 at 1:42 pm

    God is great every person shows as well as follow the worship

    Reply
  25. Prem Nath Sharma says

    January 13, 2016 at 2:39 pm

    Good detailed article.

    Reply

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