One of India's 12 Shiva jyoti linga (devotional representation of Shiva) shrines, Somnath’s famous, phoenix-like temple stands in neat gardens above the beach, 6km southeast of the large town of Veraval. Every day thousands of pilgrims pour through the narrow market streets (with no car traffic!), heading with excited anticipation to the temple in order to perform puja (offerings or prayers). Somnath celebrates Kartik Purnima, marking Shiva’s killing of the demon Tripurasura, with a large, colourful fair.
Veraval Railway Station is the closest railway station to Somnath which is barely 5 km away. This railway station is well linked to major Indian cities including Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Diu (90 km) are the closest airport.
September to March are the best months to visit Somnath, as the winters are quite cold. However, if you wish to avoid the crowd and tourists that flock to Somnath, you may be tempted to visit the place during the summer and monsoon season. Somnath is extremely hot and humid during these seasons and should most definitely be visited during the winter months when the heat is more bearable.
Somnath, literally meaning 'lord of the moon' is a pilgrim center and is home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is a town which derives much of its identity from the mythology, religion, and legends that surround it.
Primarily a temple town, Somnath is a place where a strong scent of religion and legends lingers around tourism and even daily life. Its spiritual environment is ornamented by the huge number of temples in the area, however, Somnath also offers beaches, museums and other attractions. While the Somnath temple and Somnath beach are the primary places to visit here, Gita Mandir, Balukha Tirtha, Kamnath Mahadev Temple, Somnath Museum are some of the other places that one can visit.