10 Top Destinations Near Somnath Temple: Distances, Timings and a 3-Day Plan

Somnath Temple is situated on the shore of the Arabian Sea at Prabhas Patan. It’s in  Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district near Veraval. The temple is believed to be the first of Lord Shiva’s Jyotirlinga shrines. Many pilgrims complete their darshan here in just a couple of hours; that’s why exploring the Krishna pilgrimage, one of India’s richest short-trip circuits, is difficult. It is also the wild home of the Asiatic lion an hour inland, and the Portuguese-era island of Diu along the coast.

Read the full blog to learn more about the 10 best places to visit near Somnath Temple.

Key Takeaways

• Triveni Sangam, Gita Mandir and Bhalka Tirth all lie within about 5 km of the temple and fit easily into one morning.
• Sasan Gir is around 42 km away. Gir Jungle Safari permits are sold only on the official Gujarat forest website, up to 45 days in advance.
• Diu, about 85 km east, pairs naturally with Somnath and Gir for a three-day coast-and-wildlife loop.
• October to March is the most comfortable season. Gir’s main safari zone closes every year from 16 June to 15 October.

Places Near Somnath Temple at a Glance

Destination	Distance	Drive time	Best for
Triveni Sangam & Gita Mandir	1.5 km	5 min	Sunrise, rituals, Krishna legend
Bhalka Tirth	5 km	10–15 min	Krishna pilgrimage
Somnath Beach & Light Show	At the temple	Walk	Sunset, evening show
Chorwad Beach & Darya Mahal	32 km	45 min	Quiet coast, palace ruins
Sasan Gir National Park	42 km	1–1.5 hr	Asiatic lion safari
Diu Fort	85 km	2 hr	Portuguese history
Nagoa Beach, Diu	82 km	2 hr	Swimming, water sports
Junagadh: Girnar & Uparkot	93 km	2–2.5 hr	Trekking, ropeway, forts
Tulsishyam	108 km	2.5 hr	Forest temple, hot springs
Porbandar	129 km	2.5–3 hr	Gandhi heritage

1. Triveni Sangam and Gita Mandir (1.5 km)

Triveni Sangam is actually the meeting point of three sacred rivers, the Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati, just 1.5 km from Somnath Temple. Pilgrims come here for a holy dip and for sacred rituals in memory of their ancestors, and the ghat is one of the most peaceful places in Prabhas Patan at sunrise.

Right beside the confluence is Dehotsarg Tirth, which the Shree Somnath Trust considers as the place from where Lord Krishna started his final journey to Nijdham. Its white Gita Mandir has 18 pillars, each inscribed with one chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. Baldevji’s Cave, the Lakshminarayan Temple and Bhimeshwar Mahadev are in the same complex.

Tip: The Somnath Trust runs a low-cost Tirth Darshan bus to nearby temples from the main gate at 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM. It is the easiest way to cover this stop and Bhalka Tirth together.

2. Bhalka Tirth (5 km)

Bhalka Tirth, about 5 km from the temple on the Prabhas–Veraval highway, is the spot where Lord Krishna was struck by an arrow. According to the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana, a hunter named Jara mistook Krishna’s little visible foot for a deer while he rested in meditation under a peepal tree.

The small shrine keeps an idol of Krishna in a semi-reclining pose, and a peepal tree still shades the courtyard. Plan 20 to 30 minutes here. Bhalka Tirth is part of the broader Krishna pilgrimage circuit that includes Mathura, Vrindavan and Dwarka.

If you have a few more hours, continue to Prachi Tirth, roughly 25 km away on the Somnath–Bhavnagar highway. It is a centre for ancestral rites, and the Somnath Trust notes that it is considered as important as Kashi for these ceremonies.

3. Somnath Beach and the Evening Light and Sound Show

The shoreline beside Somnath Temple is made for an evening walk instead of a swim, since the open Arabian Sea here is rough. Watch the sun go down behind the temple’s spire, then head back inside for the 7:00 PM aarti.

For the Jay Somnath light and sound show, which runs from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM every evening except during the monsoon, according to the Somnath Trust. While you are on the visit, look for the Baan Stambh (arrow pillar) facing the sea. Its Sanskrit inscription explains that there is no land in a straight line between this point and the South Pole.

Before or after darshan, the nearby Somnath Museum shows carved fragments from the 10th to 12th century temples that once stood on this site.

Good to know: Mobile phones, cameras, and smartwatches are not allowed inside the temple. Free lockers are available in the cloakroom near the main gate, and darshan is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

4. Chorwad Beach and Darya Mahal (32 km)

Chorwad is a small seaside town about 32 km northwest of Somnath, and the quickest escape from the temple crowds. Its rocky shore and crashing waves are preferred by photographers and anyone who wants a quiet hour by the sea.

The town’s landmark is Darya Mahal, the sea-facing summer palace built around 1930 for the Nawab of Junagadh. Its weathered arches and long verandas now make a good backdrop for sunset photos. Chorwad is also the hometown of Dhirubhai Ambani, the founder of Reliance Industries.

5. Sasan Gir National Park (42 km)

Sasan Gir is the only place in the world where Asiatic lions live in the wild, and it is just over an hour’s drive from Somnath. Gujarat’s 16th lion census, finished in May 2025, counted 891 Asiatic lions across the state, up from 674 in 2020 (DD News, May 2025).

Established as a sanctuary in 1965, Gir has about 1,410 sq km of dry deciduous forest. Besides lions, you may spot leopards, striped hyenas, spotted deer, sambar, and plenty of birdlife.

How to Book a Gir Safari

• Book the Gir Jungle Safari only on the official Gir Lion booking website. Permits open 45 days ahead and close two hours before each slot.
• A guide is mandatory, and the open Gypsy vehicle is hired separately at the Sinh Sadan reception centre in Sasan.
• If the main safari is sold out, Devalia Safari Park (the Gir Interpretation Zone) is a good, shorter alternative.
• The core park closes from 16 June to 15 October every year for the monsoon.

6. Diu Fort (85 km)

Diu Fort is a big Portuguese sea fortress on the eastern tip of Diu Island, about two hours from Somnath. It was built in 1535 after a partnership between Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, and the Portuguese, and it was strengthened until 1546. Portugal held Diu until December 1961, and the fort is now considered among the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.

Walk the ramparts to see old bronze cannons, a lighthouse, and the small Panikotha fortress rising out of the sea just offshore. Note that Diu is part of an isolated union territory, not Gujarat, so you cross a short check-post on the way in.

7. Nagoa Beach, Diu (82 km)

Nagoa Beach is Diu’s most famous stretch of sand, a horseshoe-shaped bay lined with Hoka palms. Because the bay is sheltered, the water is calmer than on the open Somnath coast, which makes it ideal for a swim, parasailing, or a banana-boat ride.

On the way from Somnath, you can take a stop at Ahmedpur Mandvi beach on the Gujarat side, about 64 km from the temple, for a quieter swim before crossing into Diu.

8. Junagadh: Girnar Hill and Uparkot Fort (93 km)

Junagadh is at the foot of the Girnar hills, around 93 km north of Somnath, and rewards anyone willing to spend a full day. Girnar is considered to be sacred to both Jains and Hindus, with temples to Lord Neminath, Goddess Ambaji and Dattatreya. The complete climb to the highest peak is about 10,000 steps.

Most visitors now take the Girnar Ropeway, opened in October 2020, which covers 2,320 metres and lifts you to the Ambaji temple in about 10 minutes. Back in town, Uparkot Fort hides 2nd–3rd century Buddhist caves and two remarkable step-wells, Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo. Complete at the Mahabat Maqbara, an ornate 1892 mausoleum with spiral minarets.

9. Tulsishyam (108 km)

Tulsishyam is a forest temple inside the Gir sanctuary, about 35 km from Una and two and a half hours from Somnath. Some say Lord Krishna defeated a demon named Tul here, which gives the place its name. The black-stone idol of Tulsishyam is said to be roughly 3,000 years old.

Next to the temple are hot sulphur springs that are considered to have healing properties. About 400 metres north is a well-known gravity hill, where parked cars appear to roll uphill; it is an optical illusion created by the hidden horizon. The forest drive itself is part of the appeal, so travel in daylight.

10. Porbandar (129 km)

Porbandar, about 129 km up the coast, is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Kirti Mandir is a memorial and tiny museum built beside the ancestral house where he was born, honouring him and Kasturba Gandhi. The city is also the traditional birthplace of Sudama, Lord Krishna’s childhood friend, whose temple is a little walk away.

Porbandar works best as a stop on the coastal highway towards Dwarka, around 235 km from Somnath, if you plan to cover both Jyotirlinga and Krishna pilgrimage sites on one trip.

Suggested 3-Day Somnath, Gir and Diu Itinerary

• Day 1: Somnath. Morning darshan and aarti, then Triveni Sangam, Gita Mandir, and Bhalka Tirth. You can spend the afternoon at the museum or Chorwad, and end with sunset on the beach and the 8:00 PM light and sound show.
• Day 2: Sasan Gir. Try to leave early for a morning safari slot. After the safari, visit Devalia Safari Park or rest at a forest-edge resort. Then, stay overnight in Sasan, or drive on to Diu.
• Day 3: Diu. Visit Diu Fort and the old town in the morning, then spend the afternoon at Nagoa Beach. Fly out from Diu Airport or continue along the coast.

With a fourth day, add Junagadh for the Girnar Ropeway and Uparkot Fort.

Getting Around: Hiring a Taxi Near Somnath

Somnath now has its own railway station, and the nearest airports are Diu (about 85 km) and Rajkot (about 200 km), according to the Somnath Trust. Buses run between the main towns, but timings hardly line up with safari slots or sunset at the beach, so most visitors hire a private car with a driver.

YadavCarRental provides local and outstation taxis across Saurashtra, with pickups from Somnath, Veraval, Junagadh and Diu. If you are staying somewhere  in Diu and have a lion safari booked, their Diu to Sasan Gir Taxi Service plans your departure around the safari slot, so you reach the gate on time, and you can add a Somnath stopover on the same trip.

Plan Your Somnath Trip

Somnath is much more than a one-temple stop. Within a short radius, you can trace Lord Krishna’s final journey at Triveni Sangam and Bhalka Tirth, watch wild lions in Gir, and then end the trip on the ramparts of Diu Fort. Try to book your Gir permit and Somnath Trust guest-house room early, arrange a car for the longer drives, and give yourself at least three days to enjoy the complete circuit.