Somnath Trip – 10 : Do's and Don’ts – Somnath

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Dear friends,

Somnath is an important tourist destination in India. It is a prominent historical and religious tourist place in Gujarat.

If you want to make your Somnath Trip comfortable and memorable, please read all Somnth Trip 1 to 10 – all blog-posts at this Blog, GUJARAT TOURISM REDEFINED.

You often ask: What are Dos and Don’ts for Somnath Temple?

In order to make your Somnath visit comfortable, keep the following points in mind. Hope these tips for Somnath trip will make your Somnath visit memorable.

Tips for Somnath Temple

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Dos and Don’ts for Somnath Visit (Somnth Trip) :

About Visiting Somnath:

• Somnath is heavily flooded with tourists in the months of October-November and late December, April-May and August.
• Tourists visit Somnath in large numbers during festivals of Maha Shivaratri, Diwali – New Year day, Kartika Poornima and in the month of Shraawan.
• If you are lucky, you will encounter less rush during first 15 days of December, first fortnight of January or February.
• Gujarat Tourism and Somnath Trust are trying their best to provide tourist services. However, their staff is not techno-savvy. Their on-line services often do not work. Tourists should always follow-up with telephonic call to confirm details.
• The best way to visit Somnath is going by your own vehicle. Or reach Somnath by train and hire one at Somnath as and when needed.

About visiting Somnath Temple Complex:

• Somnath Temple Complex is heavily guarded, high security area. You can enter only after passing through full security check up. You may carry cell phones/ digital cameras/ purse/small bag/cameras etc in the compound.
• Personal photography is allowed ONLY in the limited area of the Compound of the Somnath Temple Complex.
• Photography is prohibited as you approach the Digvijay Dwaar that leads you to the main Temple. You cannot shoot around or inside the main temple area.
• You must enter the Temple barefooted. Remove belt and shoes/ chappals before joining the queue.
• You cannot carry ANYTHING with you when you join the Queue for entry to the main Temple area. Of course, you may carry cash money. Even you may be allowed to carry identity card, ID proof, paper items and perhaps pen.
• Cameras or mobile phones are NOT allowed. Electronic or digital devices, battery operated devices, torch, purse, belts, bags, plastic bags, sharpened items, eatables, bottles – Nothing can be carried.
• Entrust your belongings to a person of your group and go for ‘Darshan’ turn by turn; or deposit your belongings at the Locker Room.
• Locker Room (Cloak Room) is located on the left side in the Compound.
• You can deposit your shoes/ chappals at the ‘JOOTA GHAR’. It is also located on the left side of the Compound, near the Locker Room.
• Both Locker Room and Joota Ghar often present scenes of heavy rush, noisy interactions and chaos. They may consume lot of your time and energy, especially in the evenings.
• A better idea to visit Temple is: Divide your group into two parties. Both parties can visit Temple turn by turn. One party may go for Darshan free-handed while the other party is seated on the benches in the compound with all belongings, with chappals even.
• The best way to visit Somnath Temple is: VISIT EMPTY-HANDED. Do not carry anything with you and stay freed from all worries.
• Inside the temple area, you may buy Prasaad. You may also buy tickets for Sound and Light show there. Money is allowed to be carried inside the Temple.
• While visiting Temple, you may carry cash money on your person. You will need them to buy Prasaad inside the Temple area. You will also need money to offer Bhet/ Donation / do Vidhi/ buy tickets for Sound and Light Show. Carry enough cash.

Make your Somnath Trip enjoyable with these tips!

Inhale the Divine Khushboo Somnath ki! Enjoy Khushboo Gujarat ki!

Jay Somnath!

GujTourist11.

Somnath Trip – 9 : Somnath History

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Dear friends,

Somnath is an ancient and sacred religious place in India. As we know, Somnath Temple is located at Prabhas Patan, a town near Veraval. Prabhas Patan is today known as Somnath.

In my earler letters to you, I wrote to you about Somnath and Somnath temple. Now let me throw some light on the history of Somnath.

The history of Somnath goes back to very ancient times. References to Somnath are found in ancient Indian Scriptures- in both the Shruti and the Smruti literature. Somnath is referred to in Rigveda, Shrimad Bhagwat, Shiva Purana and some other holy books.

The Sun (Surya Dev) and the Moon (Chandra Dev or Som Dev) are considered Gods in Hindu traditions. As the mythology goes, Chandra Dev (God Moon) got married to 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapati (Daksha Prajapati was the ‘maanas putra’ of Brhmaji, the Creator of the Universe). Instead of treating all wives impartially, Som Dev used to treat one of them, Rohini, favourably. The other wives became unhappy. Som Dev invited the wrath of his father-in-law Daksha. Exasperated Daksha cursed Som Dev that he would lose his radiance. Som Dev was worried when his radiance went on diminishing. He prayed to Brahmaji who advised him to pray and please Lord Shiva. 

Som Dev came down to the earth in Saurashtra region in western Gujarat and with austere penance pleased Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva lightened his curse that his radiance would go on diminishing for a fortnight; and it would go on enhancing the next fortnight. Since then, the moon has been waxing and waning every alternate fortnight.

Thanks to Lord Shiva, Som dev regained his radiance. Som Dev regained his ‘Prabha’ (radiance) at this place in Saurashtra (Western Gujarat) which came to be known as PRABHAS (Prabhas Patan near Veraval). Som Dev built a temple of Bhagwan Shiva which came to be known as Somnath Mahadev. 

‘Som’ means Moon and ‘Nath’ means God. Somnath means God of Moon. Thus, Somnath mahadev Temple stands today at Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra (West Gujarat). Friends! You will be pleased to know that this story is nicely narrated in the ‘Sound and Light Show’ at Somnath temple.

Since olden times, Somnath Temple came to be known as a very sacred religious shrine for the Hindus and became popular as a place of pilgrimage in India. Somnath Temple was decorated with gold, silver and precious stones. It boasted of such rich treasures that its stories travelled beyond the boundaries and caught the attention of the foreign invaders.

Your friend, Shivani, has studied history of Somnath well. She is right in saying that Somnath Temple was invaded and destroyed or damaged several times in the last one thousand years. Though historical references are scattered, inadequate and debatable, it is said that it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The most notorious and barbaric attack on Somnath was made by Mohammad Ghazni during his invasion on India in 1025-26 AD. Mohammad Ghazni killed hundreds of people and looted the Somnath Temple. He brazenly looted the precious treasures of Somnath Temple and took away large chunk of wealth looted by his army.

Somnath Temple was restored or reconstructed several times. The important restoration of Temple was done in the eleventh century by King Bhimdev of Gujarat and in the eighteenth century by Queen Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore.

The present-day Somnath Temple is constructed with the inspiration of Sardar Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. The Pran-pratishtha of the Temple was done on 11 may, 1951 by Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of independent India.

Even today, periodical renovation work goes on at Somnath Temple.

Isn’t Somnath story very fascinating? 

Visit Somnath and see for youself what Somnath is. 

Inhale the Divine Khushboo Somnath ki! Enjoy Khushboo Gujarat ki!

Jay Somnath!

GujTourist11.

Somnath Trip – 8 : Somnath Beach

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Dear friends,

You heartily, devotedly visit Somnath Temple and then come out of the complex compound. As you leave the main gate of the entry, you will be heading to Somnath Beach. Somnath Beach is on the right side, hardly five minutes from the Somnath Temple compound gate.

Today the Somnath beach is not very cozy but good enough to pass time. Tourists take pleasure of splashes in the vicinity of sea-shore. But no one ventures farther into the sea waters. Though visible official warnings are not found along the sea-shore, Somnath Beach is not ideal for bathing or swimming.

On the Somnath beach, there are stalls of coconut-sellers. There are camel-rides and horse-rides. People usually throng around here. Just relax on the beach and watch the roaring waves! If you love fun, enjoy a camel ride. Or sip fresh coconut water.

If you like privacy, walk eastwards on the beach and go bit far away from these stalls. You will get privacy. Enjoy a stroll or sit and meditate without worldly interference! Inhale the beauty and serenity of the sea, the sky and the breeze. You will become one with divinity.

For the last few years, Somnath Beach is getting dirtier year after year. Tourists throw waste the way they like, the vendors also compete with them. The waste thrown by coconut sellers make the beach very dirty. Can’t they be provided with waste collection containers? Can’t we redefine the scene and redefine tourism on Somnath Beach?

Till recent years, the Somnath beach openly extended almost upto the Somnath Temple. And one could take a long walk on the beach going close to the temple. Even from a distant point on the beach, the Somnath Temple was in full view. It offered ample space for beach photography, with the magnificent Temple in the distant background. Alas! Today that view is lost. For security reasons, high rocky barricades are placed across the beach. These rocky stones obstruct most of the beach near the temple. The aesthetic view of the beach is sacrificed. Isn’t that a deadly jolt to tourism?

O Somnath lover! Doesn’t your heart bleed when you read this? Would you accept such a view of Somnath Beach? We endorse that the security of Somnath Temple is of paramount importance. More than a historical and religious place, Somnath Temple is our national pride. But still there should be some better ways to tackle the issue. There is a dire need for redefining Gujarat tourism. Here where the role of ‘Gujarat Tourism Redefined’ comes into picture. Will Gujarat Tourism and Indian Tourism take some steps to restore the image of Somnath Beach and Somnath Temple? Let us wait.

If you love photography, be on the beach early in the morning. If it’s summer, be there by 5 30; if its winter be there by 7 am. Find your best spots. And start your work when the tourists are few and no one to disturb you.

Inhale the Divine Khushboo Somnath ki! Enjoy Khushboo Gujarat ki!

Jay Somnath!

Jay Somnath!

GujTourist11.

Somnath Trip – 7 : Somnath Temple – More information

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Dear friends,

I described Somnath Temple in my last letter. Neev and Geet enjoyed reading that description of Somnath Mandir.

Shall we get more information on Somnath Temple?

In my last letter, I narrated the South Pole Arrow Pillar on Vallabh Ghat of Somnath Temple. The arrow points towards South Pole which is nearly 9900 kms away. No appreciable land mass is found between Somnath Temple and South Pole for such a long distance. You are right, Neha, that Somnath is a geographically significant location. Let me add that Somnath Temple is a strategically located religious shrine of India.

You MUST remember- When you visit Somnath Temple, you should also plan for Old Somnath temple (Ahalyabai Mandir), the archaeological museum and the spectacular ‘Sound and Light show’ also known as ‘Jay Somnath’.

Somnath Temple complex is spread over a large area. Heavily guarded entrance greets you and leads you to security check up. You successfully come out of the security cabin and step into the vast compound. Somnath Temple Complex compound is vast. Really very vast. You can do photography here, thank God! With the magnificent Somnath Temple in the background, you can take excellent shots in the compound.

Our American friend Robert had bitter experience at Somnath Temple premises. That was due to his misunderstanding about the rules for carrying camera cell phone. 

You can carry mobile phone, cameras and personal belongings in the Somnath Temple Complex Compound. But you cannot carry anything in the main Temple premises. There is strict security check-up at Digvijay Dwaar. You must leave everything out before entering the Digvijay Dwar. No shoes, no purse, no belt, no mobile or camera, nothing can be carried inside. There is a Locker Room where you can keep your costly items. However, it is advisable to leave all costly possessions at hotel and visit Temple without carrying anything.

As you enter the Somnath Temple Complex Compound, the old Somnath Mahadev Temple is located in a right corner. Old Somnath Mahadev Temple was renovated by the Queen of Indore, Ahalyabai Holkar (Ahilyabai Holkar) in 1783. Hence it is known as Ahalyabai (Ahilyabai) Shiva mandir. You may also visit Vinayak temple (Ganesh temple) and Hanuman temple nearby.

Friends! Many tourists overlook the archaeological museum and they miss out a lot. The Archaeological Museum displays the interesting articles found from the ruins of the ancient Somnath Temple. These historical relics of the ancient Somnath temple include statues, carvings, engraved articles and pieces of pottery articles. Some of them are believed to be nearly 900 to 1000 years old. The work of Department of Archaeology of Government of India is appreciable.

Evening Aarati (7 pm) is a heart-throbbing experience at Somnath Temple. The Temple lits up with lamps and the whole complex begins to glitter with powerful flood lights. The entire Somnath Temple Complex begins to vibrate, as the Aarati ceremony starts with Shankh-Dhvani and beating of huge drums. Devotees occupy proper places well in advance so that they can have satisfactory Darshan! The temple is filled with tourists at Aarati time. Aarati ceremony goes on for nearly 25 minutes. Aarati ceremony can be viewed live on a giant screen in the garden, outside Temple. Hundreds of devotees watch it sitting in the garden.

‘Sound and Light show’ can be one of the most memorable programmes of your Somnath Trip. ‘Sound and Light show’ at Somnath Temple is named as ‘Jay Somnath’. Produced with superb technology, and presented with impeccable perfection, ‘Sound and Light show’ narrates the history of Somnath very impressively. The tourists enjoy the flow of the story. ‘Sound and Light show’ indeed entertains and enlightens the tourists.

There is only one ‘Sound and Light show’ every day at eight pm. The show is not held in rainy season. ‘Jay Somnath’ Sound and Light Show at Somnath Temple is one hour show (8 pm – 9 pm). Tickets for the show can be bought in advance from the Temple. There is heavy rush in the evening, so it better to buy your ticket during day time from the Temple. ‘Sound and Light show’ is held in open auditorium in the Temple premises, off the Vallabh Ghat, behind the main Temple. The stepped open-air auditorium is very vast, but the tickets are not numbered. You may sit anywhere on ‘first-comes-first-served’ basis. As soon as the evening Aarati is over, tourists start forming queues at the place. So the early birds occupy the places of their choice!

Since ‘Sound and Light Show’ is held on the main Somnath Temple premises, you are NOT allowed to carry anything.

Inhale the Divine Khushboo Somnath ki! Enjoy Khushboo Gujarat ki!

Jay Somnath!

GujTourist11.