We all feel depressed and low. We all face troubles that seem too harsh. Uncertainty reigns and we wonder if we will ever recover. That is why we present to you the Somnath temple. A hindu temple with a glorious past full of destruction. We bring this temple’s tale to you to ignite the passion and fervor. This temple has a voice that conveys the message- “What shall fall once will rise again.”

Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga temple in India, is astoundingly believed to be the first of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. It is believed that a person would be relieved from the repetitive cycle of life and death upon visiting all the twelve Jyotirlingas. This famous Indian temple is located at the Veraval Port in Saurashtra, Gujarat. The walls of this temple sing the tales of the power of Lord Shiva and mark the stature of reconstruction.

Temple Architecture:
The temple has constantly evolved. The present temple is built in Chalukya style. The main spire is 15 meters high and hosts an 8.2 meters flag atop the spire. It is reckoned that the temple is fabricated in such a way that no mass of land can be seen between the temple and Antarctica! This temple is seven storied and is 155 feet with one of the tallest Vimana.

History of Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple:
This is one of the most famous temples in India. The temple had a flow of rare flowers from Kashmir and the air was scented with the aroma of the sandalwood.

It is said that the Moon god himself, as a tribute to Lord Shiva, built the original temple in gold. The demon king Ravana rebuilt this temple in silver in Treta Yug. This temple’s origins are not of this yuga (era).

Hindu myths claim that there are four eras. Each era had a momentous person rebuilding this temple. This temple has been razed to the ground and looted brutally. Yet it stands proud and high.

This Hindu temple symbolizes determination and unprecedented glory. It has risen every time it falls down. We present to you the Somnath Temple Jyotirlinga. The temple that has been looted 17 times and yet continues to overflow with wealth and drowned in vast riches.

Mahmud of Ghazni looted this temple in 1026 AD. Diamonds, rubies, pearls and gemstones that you could never dream of were taken away. The temple witnessed its true destruction. This temple was taken care of by 10000 villagers. 1000 priests daily worshiped it and 500 dancers and singers praised Lord Siva.

Many other rulers plundered the great temple of Somnath. The worst attack was under the supervision of the Mughal king, Aurangzeb in the year of 1701. This resulted in a lot of bloodshed, sacrifices and robbery of great wealth.

The temple was turned into nothing more than debris. Was all hope lost? Good things take time, do they not? In 1783, Sadhvi Ahalya devi Holkar resurrected this temple. Sardar Vallabhai Patel proved his determination to Bharat, by reinstalling and rebuilding Somnath so it could return to its former glory.

To this day, Somnath temple represents the sacrifices of the people who stood against the invaders. Although they never had a chance against the force of the invaders, they fought with nobility and determination; and stood back up on their feet each time they fell. Their lives are lost but their bravery, courage, and valor remains in the golden pages of Bharat’s rich history and its people’s pure hearts. Perhaps this is the reason why the temple is known as “The Shrine Eternal.”
Curse of the moon

The local legends speak of the tales that occurred eons ago. Moon was believed to be cursed by his father –in- law, Daksh. Chandra married the 27 stars who were the daughters of Daksh. Upon neglecting his other 26 wives in favor of Rohini, Chandra was cursed to lose his luster and turn invisible. He prayed to Lord Shiva for years to seek relief from the blight. This penance earned him a boon from Lord Shiva and from that time Lord Shiva resides in this temple as “Lord of the Moon.” Mercy is shown to all those who repent and show remorse. There are so many beautiful legends and history held within the walls of this mystical temple. So denizens, do not forget to add Somnath Jyotirlinga temple to your bucket list!

Best time to visit Somnath Temple:
Winter offers a plausible climate for the pilgrims and tourists to witness and bask in the glory of the temple. The months from October to March would be the ideal time to visit this temple. The cool breezes are likely to enliven your experiences. So what are you waiting for?

Somnath Jyotirlinga temple timings:
The Somnath Jyotirlings temple can be visited anytime between 6:00 am to 20:00 pm. The Somnath temple darshan timings are from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.

The Aarti timings are at 08.00 am, 12.00 pm and 7.00 pm. This is the ideal time to lose yourselves in the melody of devotional chanting.

How to reach Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple?

By train:
The majestic Somnath Jyotirlinga temple is located 7 kilometers from the railway station of Veraval.

By flight:
The nearest airport from Somnath Jyotirlinga temple is at a distance of 95 kilometers, located in Diu. From these places, public buses can be availed or any private cabs or taxis can help you out in reaching this destination.

If you are looking for inspiration in life, this is the place. If you want to connect with the heritage and history of our country, Somnath temple is the destination for you. A fusion of devotion, spiritualism and patriotism truly make this one of the best places to visit in India!