somnath temple

somnath temple
Situated a little away from Veraval in the state of Gujarat, the Somnath temple has a rich historical past that dates back centuries. According to legend, the temple was built of gold by the Moon God (Somraj) himself and was subsequently replaced with a silver structure by Ravana, a wooden masterpiece by Krishna and the one made out of stone by Bhima. Also known as Deo Pattan, Prabhas Pattan and Pattan Somnath, the temple is especially revered as one of the twelve holy jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, spread across the country. The legendary fame of the place is believed to have been spread across the distant corners of the land and a huge bell plate was struck with a golden hammer signaling the commencement of prayers, a glorious ceremony which was attended by people coming here from all over the country.

The temple was attacked in 1025 by Mughal ruler Mahmud Ghazni and its wealth plundered. Somnath at that time was at its peak housing over 300 musicians, 500 dancing girls and 300 barbers to shave the heads of pilgrims. The Hindus rebuilt the temple in an even grander way but the event started a series of attacks with the temple being razed again several times in 1297, 1394 and 1704.
The present temple is believed to have been erected by the Vallabhi kings and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Once a place for an opulent rendezvous with the Indian culture, the temple entrance is east facing and believed to have once housed an enormous hall with three entrances. The exquisitely carved doorways, the beautifully sculpted statues of Nandi the bull and the murals of goddesses along with their female companions once adorned this holy structure. Restoration work on the present structure commenced soon after the country gained independence and was completed in 1995, signifying that the power of restoration is always greater than the power of destruction.

Attractions Around Somnath Temple
Veraval Beach
Just about 5 km away from the Somnath temple is the pleasant Veraval beach. The sprawling sands along with the swaying palm trees, the pleasant sound of the sea waves combine to provide a truly enchanting experience. The beach is situated at a distance of a few miles away from the city that lends it a secluded charm...a complete dose of refreshment for mind, body and soul.

Bakhla Tirth
A short distance from the temple is the place where Lord Krishna is believed to have been struck by an arrow from a tribal, thousands of years ago. The Lord is then said to have come to Somnath and prayed before departing for his heavenly abode. The place is known as the Bakhla tirth and is revered like a holy pilgrimage by the followers of the Hindu religion.

Numerous other temples and holy places have been built around Somnath, prominent among those being the Ahaleyshwar Mahadev Temple, Gita Mandir, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Baldev Gufa, Triveni Sangam, Sun Temple and the Shashibhushan Temple.

Accommodation facilities in the form of guest houses and dormitory are provided by the Somnath trust which can be availed by the pilgrims at affordable prices. The total number of rooms are in excess of two hundred.

The most convenient way to reach the place is to travel to Ahmedabad, at a distance of 465 km from Somnath and board a bus or hire a private taxi from there. Somnath is connected with Ahmedabad through rail and road transport. Another convenient access is to take a flight from Mumbai to Diu, which is situated at a distance of 95 Km from Somnath.