One of the most ancient temples of India, Somnath temple or the Somnath Mahadev Temple enjoys a favourable location inwards the due west Indian province of Gujarat. Around 79 km from Junagadh district, this renowned temple lies on the country’s western coast.
This temple that has survived the tests of time, holds a lot of importance for the followers of the Hindu religion. The history states that this temple was looted of its wealth too construction past times several conquerors. There are diverse stories virtually the beginning too subsistence of the temple.
This temple that has survived the tests of time, holds a lot of importance for the followers of the Hindu religion. The history states that this temple was looted of its wealth too construction past times several conquerors. There are diverse stories virtually the beginning too subsistence of the temple.
Somnath Temple, Gujarat past times BeautifulEyes - Photo courtesy Wikipedia |
Somnath Temple - Fast facts
Location - 79 kilometres from Junagadh inwards the Prabhas Kshetra nigh Veraval
Built past times – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (present structure)
Built inwards -1951 (present structure- seventh reconstruction)
Highlights – 4-day Kartik Purnima Fair, ‘Jay Somnath’ Sound too Light Show : 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm too Aarti : 7.00 am, 12.00 noon too 7.00 pm
Best fourth dimension to view - October to March.
Entry fee – No entry fee
Timings - All days of the calendar week betwixt 6.00 am to 9.30 pm
Nearby attractions- Prabhas Patan Museum, Bakhla Tirth, Somnath Beach, Triveni Tirth, Veraval Beach, Ahilya Mandir too Surya Mandir
How to Reach Somnath
By Road: Somnath is 79 km from Junagadh too 25 km from Chorwad. State-run buses too someone luxury coaches are available from several places inwards Gujarat to Somnath.
By Rail: Somnath is located at a distance of vi km from the nearest railway station placed at Veraval
By Air: The nearest domestic airports are at Koshed (55 km; 31 mi) too Diu (90 km; 56 mi). Connecting flights to Diu are available from Bombay (Sahar International Airport) too Ahmedabad. Taxi fare from Diu to Somnath is roughly 2000 INR.
Introduction
Also known equally Prabhas Pattan, Deo Pattan or Somnath Pattan, this temple is an splendid representative of typical ancient temple architecture of India. It was famed for beingness a treasure of wealth, which was looted past times Muslim rulers from 11th to 18th century. Being 1 of the 12 Jyotirlingas, it is considered to live 1 of the pop religious sites of the followers of Hinduism too Lord Shiva.
Renowned equally a timeless shrine, it is every twelvemonth visited past times a decent publish of devotees from all unopen to the country. If the legends are to live believed, during the ancient times revenue was collected from the nearby 10,000 villages for the maintenance of the Somnath temple.
History of the Somnath Temple
It is believed that originally the Somnath Temple was built past times Luna God Soma inwards gold, past times Ravana of epic Ramayana inwards Silver, inwards woods past times Lord Krishna too and hence during the 11th century inwards rock past times Solanki Rajput rulers.
The acquaint construction is seventh reconstruction that was done inwards the twelvemonth 1951 past times Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The riches of this temple invited several invasions but later every invasion, the temple was given dorsum its glory past times 1 or the other Hindu devotee or devotees.
Considered 1 of the top 10 temples inwards India, Somnath is erected inwards the Chalukyan architecture vogue or Kailash Mahameru Prasad Style amongst l 1000 tall Shikhara, forming a beautiful sight amongst the sentiment of the Arabian ocean too the tip of the Saurashtra peninsula.
This magnificent temple consists of silvery doors, a Nandi bull idol, fragile detailed carvings too the primary Shivlinga. H5N1 huge mandapa or hall too the primary temple are placed inwards the enormous courtyard.
Some interesting facts virtually Somnath
- Somnath is non solely a pilgrimage or historical site, but it likewise offers a beach vacation amongst scenic beauty.
- Shri Kapardi Vinayak too Shri Hanuman Temple are two of the other prime number tourist attractions of the temple complex.
- The Somnath temple is illuminated every evening.
- Vallabhghat is a location inwards the complex from where 1 tin relish a beautiful sunset.
- Every nighttime ‘Sound & Light Show “Jay Somnath” is organized betwixt 8.00 to 9.00 pm.
- Maha Shivaratri is 1 of the most of import festivals of the temple.
- The 4-day Kartik Purnima Fair every twelvemonth attracts pilgrims inwards huge numbers.
- The Kalash on the operate past times of the Shikhar weighs unopen to 10 tonnes spell the flag- mast is unopen to 37 feet inwards length.
- The temple was looted of its wealth past times Muslim rulers similar Sultan Mohammad of Ghazni, Sultan Allauddin too Mohammad Begda.
- The arrow of the temple tells virtually the location of the temple that it is placed inwards such a vogue that at that spot is no dry reason upwards till the South Pole.
- The Somnath temple finds its elevate inwards the Puranas too Mahabharata, the Hindu epic.
Also banking concern tally out the Top 10 Heritage Caves Temples of India?
Contributed past times by Geetika Handa