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Somnath Travel Guide
Located in the state of Gujarat, on the coast of Arabian Sea, Somnath is one of the holiest pilgrimage spots for Hindus and home to one of the 12 Jyotirlings or religious Shiva shrines of India. This place is as old as creation and its reference is available in Rig Ved also. Somnath means ‘The Protector of (the) Moon God’. The Somnath Temple is known as ‘the Shrine Eternal’ having been destroyed six times and rebuilt six times. According to the legends the temple was built first by Soma or the Moon God in gold, then by Ravana in silver, and lastly by Shri Krishna in wood. The temple is also known by several other names such as Deo Pattan, Prabhas Pattan or Pattan Somnath.
Most recently it was rebuilt in November 1947, when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the area for the integration of Junagadh and a plan for restoration of its legacy is framed out. This temple had always been the target of invaders who came here for treasures and richness. The ancient inscriptions and carvings found here reveal the place was initially inhabited by the Aryans. The temple is famous round the world for its blended beauty architecture and legend. This interwoven beauty summons scores of tourists as well as devotees to this place from several parts of the globe.
Places to See in Somnath :
Somnath Museum : The museum at Somnath is renowned worldwide for its exotic collections of artifacts, which throw light on rich historical as well as a cultural heritage of India. Inside the museum complex one can see the remains of the earlier temples but in the form of a clutter of old carved stones. It also a seashell collection, houses pottery shards, a glass case of water bottles containing water samples from the world prominent rivers like Tigris, Murray, St Lawrence, Danube, Nile and seawater from Tasmania and New Zealand.
Bhalka Tirth : This is the mythological place where Lord Krishna was mistaken for a deer and wounded by an arrow while sleeping in a deerskin. The place is situated on the confluence of three rivers. There is a sun temple (Suraj Mandir) nearby is also a historic temple which was knocked down by Mahmud of Ghazni during his India invasion.
Junagarh Gate : This is among the popular attractions of this place famous around the globe for its ornate work. The ornamented beauty of this gate fascinated Mahmud of Ghazni so much that he took this gate with himself during his Somnath invasion. Later during the British Era this gate brought back to Somnath and its historic legacy was reinstated.
Mai Puri : This was beautiful Sun Temple converted into a mosque during Mahmud of Ghazni’s time. The beauty of this temple enthralled Mahmud of Ghazni so much that he converted it into mosque by destroying deity of this temple.
Ahilyabai Temple : This temple was built as a substitute for the original Somnath Temple just behind the original temple. Through this temple one can get enthralling view of unending stretch of sea. At this place tourist can enjoy pleasant sands, great sea view, camel and pony rides, coconut stalls, and snack shops.
Other places that can be visited by tourists at Somnath are Jama Masjid, Bhidiyo Pagoda, and several smaller temples located around Somnath town.
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