Somnath Temple

Somnath is counted the first of the twelve jyotirlingas, and the temple on this stretch of the Saurashtra coast has been destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly across a thousand years, the present building completed in 1951 in the Chalukya style with a tall shikhara and a spire flag. An arrow pillar on the seaward side carries an inscription asserting that no land lies in a straight line between here and Antarctica. The Arabian Sea breaks directly below the terrace, an evening sound and light show is projected on the temple, and the nearby Bhalka Tirth marks where Krishna is said to have died.

What you actually see

• The 1951 temple - a tall Chalukya-style shikhara above the sea.
• The arrow pillar - the inscription on the unobstructed line south.
• The sea terrace - the Arabian Sea breaking directly below.
• Bhalka Tirth - the nearby site associated with Krishna's death.

When to go

October to March; Shivratri and Kartik Purnima bring the largest crowds. The evening sound and light show runs after dark. Gujarat summers are hot and humid on the coast.

Honest expectations

Security is strict: phones, cameras and bags must be deposited before entry, with no exceptions. The building is modern, not ancient, which surprises visitors expecting an old temple.

Nearby

Gir National Park lies northeast; Diu is southeast along the coast.