Tirth Yatra GuideSomnath jyotirlinga
Gir Somnath district, Gujarat: the story, the temple and what to know before you go.
About Somnath
- Place
- Prabhas Patan, near Veraval, on the Arabian Sea coast
- District and state
- Gir Somnath district, Gujarat
- Deity
- Shiva, as a jyotirlinga (a column of light)
Somnath is counted as the first of the twelve jyotirlingas and is on the coast of Saurashtra, where the temple faces the sea. Tradition says that the Moon (Soma) was cursed by his father-in-law Daksha to fade, and was freed from the curse by worshipping Shiva here; hence the name, "Lord of the Moon".
The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times in history; the present temple was built in the Chalukya style after Independence and opened in 1951. Visitors walk to the seashore, where an arrow-pillar (Baan Stambh) marks the direction in which there is no land between this point and the South Pole, according to an inscription on it.
Getting there and when to go
The nearest railway station is at Veraval, a few kilometres away, with good road links from Junagadh and Rajkot. Winter (October to February) is the most comfortable season; the coast is humid in monsoon and hot in summer.
Read our guide to planning a yatra and the notes on temple etiquette. This is jyotirlinga number 1 in the usual list of twelve; see all twelve.
· Next: Mallikarjuna
Questions people ask
Where is Somnath?
Prabhas Patan, near Veraval, on the Arabian Sea coast, in Gir Somnath district, Gujarat.
What is a jyotirlinga?
A jyotirlinga, "lingam of light", is a place where Shiva is believed to have appeared as a column of light. Twelve are named in the Shiva Purana tradition.
Temple rules, opening seasons, booking arrangements and routes change. Before you travel, check the official website of the temple or the state tourism board, and be careful of anyone who asks for money to book darshan or a stay by phone or message. We do not sell tours or packages. Information on this page was last checked in November 2026.