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 Maru-Gurjara, or Chaulukya, 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.

History

The name Someshvara begins to appear in records from the 9th century, and the Chaulukya king Mularaja is believed to have built the first temple to Soma here sometime before 997 CE. In January 1026, in the reign of Bhima I, Mahmud of Ghazni raided and plundered the temple, which was rebuilt several times over the following centuries; the present temple, in the Maru-Gurjara style, was completed in May 1951 (Wikipedia, Somnath Temple).

What to look for

• The 1951 temple - a tall Maru-Gurjara 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.

Things to know

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.

Key facts