Somnath and Dwarka Religious Trip

25th Nov '25

Alliance Air Flight from Mumbai to Diu

Ideally this same airline also flies Keshod which is closer to Somnath city 

We reach our hotel in Somnath after a cab ride from Diu around 3 pm, take a 1 hr short nap, freshen up and start our journey.

I recommend and what we did is cosy up a Rickshaw driver, advantages being they know the spots, trickeries, economical shopping spots and it's fun riding in an open sided vehicle.

The trick to finish this trip in 1 day is cover Triveni Sangam, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Geeta Mandir, Bhimnath Shivshankar Mandir, Krishna Charan Paduka, Surya Mandir, Surya Kund, Hinglaj Mata Mandir, Paanch Pandav Gufa, Somnath Temple together. 

In the opposite direction is Banganga and Bhalka Tirth.

Our first stop is a quick 7 min boat ride to see the confluence of three rivers called as Triveni Sangam - Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati.

Short ride ahead is set of temples in the same compound.

Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Geeta Temple, Bhimnath Shivshankar temple and Krishna Charan Paduka Mandir. It is believed that the etch is of Krishna's foot. Sharada Math, and Adi Shankaracharya Gufa is close by.

A minute ride away is Surya Mandir and Surya Kund (a small tank like structure for collected rain water). In the same complex is Five Pandavas Gufa (cave) and similarly a Kund used by Pandavas. Also there is a temple of Hinglaj Mata. Hinglaj Mata is the KulDevi of Pandavas. A very large temple of Hinglaj Mata still exists in modern Pakistan. We also visit the Baldevji Gufa.

Next stop is Somnath Temple, being a weekday, the rush is not heavy. We were blessed to experience the 7 pm Aarti. 

Somnath is one of 12 Jyotirlingas. 

The Somnath Temple has a strong historical context, having been destroyed and reconstructed numerous times over centuries by invaders and rulers, symbolizing the resilient faith of the devotees.

We head for a dinner at Madhav Hotel a famous Kathiawadi Thali joint. The Khichdi, Shrikhand, hot ghee rotlis, bhakris and eat as much drink chaach as much you want for a tiny sum makes this place a hit among the tourists young and old, poor and rich. 

We walk back to our hotel a stone throw away distance and rest for the evening.

26th Nov 

We start our day at 7am by visiting Banganga. It contains a Shiv Ling at the banks of sea. Low tides a blessing! We do our prayers by pouring milk on the Shiv Ling and head to next stop -

Bhalka Tirth Mahatmya is the significance of Bhalka Tirth. (1)

The city of Somnath is a famous fish harbour with plenty of fisheries companies operating consolidating cold storage shipments to be shipped to Bhavnagar port heading to UAE, Europe and Americas.

At 10 am we head to Dwarka in a shuttle bus a 4.5 hrs drive.

After a short nap we witness the mahima and chants of Radha Krishna in Dwarkadish temple at 5.20pm a short walk from our hotel. Management of temple crowd not done smoothly. We witnessed the charm of Krishna as the temple curtains are drawn for his dress change for 15min. A true fashionista!

Very close to the temple is Sudama Setu was closed for unknown reasons.

We dip our feet on the banks of Gomti river at Gomti Ghat.

2km distance is the Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Mandir. After sitting for evening aarti we make our way back to the hotel and rest for the day after a similar Gujarati thali.

27th Nov

Started at 8 am with Rukshmini Temple. (2)

Visited Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. (3)

Headed to Gopi Talav. (4)

Finished off with Beyt Dwarka. Here Krishna met his friend Sudama.

Back to hotel at 1.30 pm. Tired of Gujarati Thali this time we comforted ourselves with Punjabi food. A local meetha paan was our digestif.

After a 2 hrs nap we just didn't know what to do. Being a beach front property we headed to the beach and were pleasantly surprised that we ended up visiting eight small temples on the way dedicated to Swaminarayan, Gayatri, Kanha, Ishwar, Baldevji.

Pristine blueish green waters, coarse grain sand and sunset views are natures relaxants.

We end the trip with a walk to the light house.

Our entire day's step count was under 9k.

28th Nov

Travel to Jamnagar at 7 am and head back to our flight from Jamnagar to Mumbai.

Jai Shri Krishna 🙏

Sambh Sadashiv 🙏

Significance and extra points.

(1) Here Lord Krishna was mistakenly shot by a hunter named Jara, leading to his death and the end of his earthly life. The event is known as the Shri Krishna Nijdham Prasthan Leela. 

The incident: A hunter named Jara, mistaking the Lord's right foot for a deer, shot him with an arrow.

Krishna then walked to the nearby Goloknathdham Tirth (4 km away) to depart for his heavenly abode.

The name "Bana Teertha": The name comes from the word "Bana" (arrow), as a holy spring emerged from the spot where the arrow hit the ground.

(2) The temple is 2km separate from Krishna's Dwarka temple because sage Durvasa cursed the couple. Durvasa was insulted when Rukmini drank water before he did after Krishna fetched water for her during their chariot ride. Hence there is no sweet water in the temple premises. Tankers ply in bringing fresh water and it is recommended to donate fresh water here.

(3) What is a Jyotirlinga? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyotirlinga

(4) After the Kurukshetra War, Arjuna believed himself to be the greatest warrior.

To humble him, Lord Krishna ordered him to escort his queens to Bet Dwarka.

On the way, near the pond, Arjuna was attacked and defeated by a community called the Kaba.

The queens were shocked and died in the pond, leading it to be named Gopi Talav (Gopi Pond).

The sand from this pond is known as Gopi Chandan.