Somnath Travel Guide

Located in Gujarat, India, Somnath is an ancient temple town. Also known as Patan Somnath the place possesses the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is well visited by religious travellers. This place has a temple of Lord Shiva famous as Somnath Temple and is held in high esteem by Hindus or worshippers of Lord Shiva.

The Somnath shrine is naturally dipped in legend and is known as the eternal shrine, as although the temple has been destroyed six times it has been rebuilt at the very same place, every single time. The temple is now maintained by the Shree Somnath Trust that looks after the entire complex of Somnath Temple and its surroundings. Travel to Somnath and pay your homage at this ancient temple town.

Som means moon and the name 'Somnath' means protector of the moon.

Did you know that the Darshani Deori gates of the Golden Temple in Amritsar are believed to be originally the Somnath Temple gates? It is said that the gates were looted by Afghan invaders in the 12th century, and which were later brought back by the army of the mighty Sikh King Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Afghanistan.

According to the scriptures it is believed that, Soma the moon God, built the first Somnath temple in gold, then Ravana built it in silver and Lord Krishna made it in sandal-wood. Finally King Bhimdev of Gujarat rebuilt it in stone.