The first among the 12 Jyotirlingas, standing on the western coast of Gujarat where the Arabian Sea meets the shore. It is among the most sacred and storied Shiva temples in all of India.
Primary Deity
ShivaLocation
Veraval, Gujarat
Pilgrimage Circuit
JyotirlingaBest Time to Visit
October to February, when the coastal weather is pleasant. Mahashivratri and Kartik Purnima draw the largest crowds.
Somnath is revered as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the self-manifested lingams of light in which Shiva is worshipped in his most radiant form. Its origin is described in the Shiva Purana and Skanda Purana, where the Moon God Chandra is said to have installed the lingam here to regain his lustre after a curse from Daksha. A pilgrimage to Somnath is therefore both an act of deep Shaivite devotion and a tribute to the temple's extraordinary history of destruction and rebirth. Devotees believe that darshan here washes away sins and grants peace of mind. The evening sound-and-light show, which narrates this saga in the temple's own voice, is a deeply moving experience for visitors.
Somnath, the 'Protector of the Moon God', has been a beacon of faith for more than a thousand years. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt many times through history — most famously plundered by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024 CE — yet it rose again each time as a symbol of resilience. The present temple, built in the Chaulukya (Kailash Mahameru Prasad) style, was reconstructed in 1951 through the resolve of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel after India's independence. Its shikhara soars nearly 15 metres and is crowned by a golden kalash and flag, while the famous Baan Stambha (arrow pillar) on the shore points to an unobstructed sea route running all the way to Antarctica. Standing where the temple meets the roaring sea, pilgrims feel both the antiquity and the endurance of Sanatan Dharma.
The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest abodes of Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped as a self-manifested pillar of radiant light (jyoti). Completing darshan of all twelve is considered one of the highest acts of Shaivite devotion. This temple is one of the 10 sacred sites of the Jyotirlinga.
📍 Pune, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga hidden in the forested Sahyadri hills near Pune, cradled within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the source of the Bhima river and a haven of both faith and biodiversity.
📍 Aurangabad, Maharashtra
The twelfth and last of the Jyotirlingas, standing close to the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. The present red-stone temple was lovingly rebuilt in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
One of the holiest of all Shiva temples, rising on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the eternal city of light. Here Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the 'Lord of the Universe'.
📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the presiding deity of the ancient city of Ujjain. Its lingam is uniquely dakshinamukhi (south-facing), a feature found in no other Jyotirlinga.
📍 Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
The second Jyotirlinga, set amid the forested Nallamala Hills on the banks of the Krishna River. It is one of the rare shrines that is simultaneously a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
📍 Dwarka, Gujarat
A Jyotirlinga near Dwarka on the Saurashtra coast, marked by a towering 25-metre seated statue of Lord Shiva visible from far away. Its name means 'Lord of the Nagas (serpents)'.
📍 Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
A Jyotirlinga set on a river island in the Narmada that is itself shaped like the sacred syllable 'Om'. It is one of the most serene Shaivite pilgrimages in central India.
📍 Nashik, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga near Nashik at the source of the sacred Godavari river, famous for its rare lingam bearing three faces — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is one of the four sites of the Nashik Kumbh Mela.
📍 Deoghar, Jharkhand
Revered as Baba Baidyanath Dham, this Jyotirlinga is worshipped as the 'divine physician' who heals body and soul. It is also counted among the Shakti Peethas.
Somnath Temple is primarily dedicated to Shiva.
Somnath Temple is located in Veraval, Gujarat.
October to February, when the coastal weather is pleasant. Mahashivratri and Kartik Purnima draw the largest crowds.
Somnath Temple is one of the 10 temples in the Jyotirlinga.
Somnath is revered as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the self-manifested lingams of light in which Shiva is worshipped in his most radiant form. Its origin is described in the Shiva Purana and Skanda Purana, where the Moon God Chandra is said to have installed the lingam here to regain his lustre after a curse from Daksha. A pilgrimage to Somnath is therefore both an act of deep Shaivite devotion and a tribute to the temple's extraordinary history of destruction and rebirth. Devotees believe that darshan here washes away sins and grants peace of mind. The evening sound-and-light show, which narrates this saga in the temple's own voice, is a deeply moving experience for visitors.
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