SOMNATH
Somnath is one of the must visit places in gujarat. Somnath
is a religious place in Gujarat. It is One of the twelve jyotirlingas in India.
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.
The
temple came to be known as exceptionally auspicious--people suffering from
incurable diseases were reported cured after simply touching the linga. In the
Mahabharata, Krishna advised the Yadavas that a pilgrimage to Somnath would
absolve them of Durvasa's curse.
It
is said that not far from Somnath is a
place where Krishna, reclining under a pipal tree, was shot in the foot by a
Bhil huntsman named Jara who had mistaken him for a deer. Limping a long way
eastward, Krishna was able to reach the bank of the river Hiranya just above
the triveni sangam (meeting place of three rivers), and breathed his last in a
small cave. His body was taken to the triveni sangam and cremated there. The
site where he was shot is known as Bhalka Tirtha, and the site of his
cremation, near a temple to Mahakali, is called Dehotsarg.
How to Reach Somnath
By Air: Diu airport is the nearest to Somnath, located at
about 81kms away from Somnath. Regular flights connect Diu to other parts of
the country and the state. After reaching Diu, you can take a cab/taxi to reach
Somnath.
By Bus: Regular public and private buses ply at frequent
intervals between Somnath and the other cities of Gujarat like Ahmedabad,
Gandhinagar, and Rajkot etc.
By Train: The railway station nearest to
Somnath is Veraval. It falls within the Konkan Railway zone. Veraval station is
well connected to the rest of Gujarat by well developed railway networks.
Frequent and regular trains ply between Veraval and the other parts of Gujarat.
On reaching Veraval station, you can take a cab/taxi to reach Somnath.
By Local Transport: Local transport such as auto
rickshaw, van, cycle rickshaw can be used only for making a city tour within
Somnath. These local vehicles may be availed after you have already reached
Somnath.
What is the best time to visit Somnath?
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.
Things To Do In Somnath
·
Visit
Sacred Temples
·
Thrilling
Jeep Safari
·
Visit
Museums and Forts
·
Explore
the Devalia Safari Park
·
Shop
at the Local Bazaar
·
Enjoy
the Beaches
Etymology
The temple is considered sacred due to the various
legends connected to it. Somnath means "Lord of the Soma",an epithet
of Lord Shiva. The Somnath temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal",
following a book by K. M. Munshi by this title and his narration of the
temple's destruction and reconstruction many times in history.
The site of Somnath has been a pilgrimage site from
ancient times on account of being a triveni sangam (the confluence of three
rivers: Kapila, Hiran and the mythical Sarasvati). Soma, the Moon god, is
believed to have lost his lustre due to a curse, and he bathed in the Sarasvati
River at this site to regain it. The result is the waxing and waning of the
moon, no doubt an allusion to the waxing and waning of the tides at this
seashore location. The name of the town Prabhas, meaning lustre, as well as the
alternative names Someshvar and Somnath ("the lord of the moon" or
"the moon god") arise from this tradition.
