Live Streaming from Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, Prabhas Patan

Somnath Temple, Prabhas Patan

The magnificent Somnath Temple at Prabhas Patan in Gujarat, overlooking the Arabian Sea, houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. "Somnath" means Lord of Soma (the Moon).

Sthala Mahatmyam

According to tradition, Chandra (Soma) married the 27 daughters of Daksha but showed particular affection for Rohini. Angered by this partiality, Daksha cursed Chandra to lose his radiance. Chandra worshipped Shiva at Prabhasa, and Shiva relieved him of the curse, traditionally explaining the Moon's cycle of waning and waxing. Shiva manifested here as Somnath. The kshetra is also associated with Krishna's final earthly phase, making the wider Prabhasa region sacred to both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.

Getting there

Fly internationally to Ahmedabad (AMD) or Mumbai (BOM), then connect by train or road to Veraval, the practical railhead. Diu airport may be useful if domestic flights suit your dates. Somnath/Prabhas Patan is a short road trip from Veraval; arrange a taxi or auto-rickshaw. The overland trip from Ahmedabad is long, so consider the train or an overnight stop.

Darshan, booking and time on site

The Somnath Trust lists darshan, aartis, guesthouses and online room booking on its site. It states normal darshan as 6 am–10 pm and aartis at 7 am, noon and 7 pm, but verify before travel. Trust accommodation includes Sagar Darshan, Lilavati and Maheshwari guesthouses.

Allow at least half a day for the shrine and local transfers, and considerably longer on festival days. Check the official temple source just before setting out; queues, hours, clothing requirements and security rules may change without much notice. A room reservation is not a darshan entitlement.

Dos and don’ts

Somnath temple

The Trust specifically bars phones, smartwatches, cameras, laptops and other electronic equipment inside; use its free cloakroom and footwear facility. No photography. Modest dress is required; its FAQ says trousers and T-shirts can be acceptable but mini skirts and disrespectful dress are not. Obtain receipts for donations and avoid smoking.

Do: carry only essential ID and small cash; arrive before any ticket reporting time; follow staff and posted signs; use official counters and ask for receipts; keep your hotel address in writing.

Don’t: push in queues, photograph where prohibited, pay brokers for “VIP” access, leave valuables unattended, litter or assume that a visitor of another faith has the same access rules at every temple.

Before leaving your country

- Check passport validity and the visa or e-visa rules that apply to your nationality on India’s official visa portal. Keep your entry documents accessible. An OCI holder should carry the OCI document and linked passport.

- Book flights, a hotel and onward transport with time for delays. Temple bookings are separate from travel bookings. Keep an offline copy of confirmations and the original ID used for any temple reservation.

- Indian currency is the rupee (INR). Carry some small-denomination cash; a foreign card or overseas UPI account may not work at every counter. Obtain a local data connection or roaming and save offline maps.

- Wear comfortable clothing that covers shoulders and knees; carry a light scarf, socks for hot stone floors, drinking water and any regular medication. Store shoes and belongings only at staffed or clearly marked facilities.

Contacts and emergency plan

Sagar Darshan guesthouse: +91 2876 233533; accommodation enquiry via the Trust’s pilgrim-facilities page. For immediate help ask the staffed Trust office on site.

Across India, dial 112 for emergency assistance. Save your own embassy/consulate emergency contact, insurer and hotel number. Indian local and toll-free numbers may not connect from abroad; call once in India or use the official website. Numbers and schedules can change: verify them before publication and again before departure.

Source and update note

Travel routes are planning guidance, not a promise of a particular flight, train, road opening or journey time. Checked 29 September 2026.