Somnath 2 day itinerary, hour by hour
Two days, two nights and every aarti, planned from a room five minutes from the temple: the sea front and the light and sound show on day one, the sacred sites of Prabhas Patan on day two.
Before you start
This plan assumes two nights at Sagar Darshan Guest House, arriving on the morning of day one and leaving on the morning of day three. Check-in is at 11:00 AM and check-out is at 10:00 AM, so two nights give you two full days at the temple and in Prabhas Patan without rushing.
Everything in the plan is within a few kilometres. The temple is about 400 m from the guest house, Baan Stambh about 600 m, the beach about five minutes on foot, the Prabhas Patan Museum about 1 km, Triveni Sangam and Gita Mandir about 1.5 km and Bhalka Tirth about 3 km. You will walk for most of it and take an auto rickshaw for the rest.
Day 1: arrival, the temple and the sea
The first day keeps travel to a minimum. You arrive, attend two aartis, see the sea front and the light and sound show, and rest in between.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Check in at Sagar Darshan. Leave phones, cameras and bags in the room. |
| 11:45 AM | Walk to the temple, about five minutes along Somnath Mandir Road. |
| 12:00 noon | Midday aarti, often the least crowded of the three. |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch at the pure vegetarian restaurant at the guest house. |
| 2:00 PM | Rest in your room through the heat of the afternoon. |
| 5:00 PM | Walk to Baan Stambh, about 600 m, and along the beach as the light softens. |
| 6:30 PM | Join the queue for the evening aarti. |
| 7:00 PM | Evening aarti, the busiest of the day. |
| 7:45 PM | Jay Somnath light and sound show. |
| 9:00 PM | Dinner back at the guest house; the restaurant closes at 11:00 PM. |
If your train reaches Veraval early, you can walk straight to the temple for the 7:00 AM aarti before check-in. Mention your arrival time in your enquiry; the reception is open 24x7.
At Baan Stambh, read the inscription on the arrow pillar, which says there is no land in a straight line from here to the South Pole, and then walk down to the shore. Allow half an hour or more in the queue before the evening aarti; on weekends and in Shravan, allow longer.
Day 2: dawn darshan and the sacred sites of Prabhas Patan
The second day begins early, when the temple is calm and the air is cool, and then follows the story of Lord Krishna's last days through Prabhas Patan.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 5:45 AM | Walk to the temple before sunrise. |
| 6:00 AM | Darshan opens. The first hour is usually the quietest. |
| 7:00 AM | Morning aarti. |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast at the guest house. |
| 9:00 AM | Auto rickshaw to Triveni Sangam, about 1.5 km, then Gita Mandir and Dehotsarg Tirth next door. |
| 10:30 AM | Suraj Mandir, near Triveni Sangam. |
| 11:15 AM | Bhalka Tirth, about 3 km from the guest house, on the Veraval road. |
| 12:30 PM | Back for lunch and an afternoon rest. |
| 4:30 PM | Prabhas Patan Museum, about 1 km. Check its opening hours on the day. |
| 6:00 PM | A last evening on the beach, then the 7:00 PM aarti if you would like a second. |
| Morning of day 3 | Check out by 10:00 AM. |
Agree the auto rickshaw fare for the whole morning loop before you set off, and ask the driver to wait at each stop. At Triveni Sangam, where the Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati rivers meet before the sea, many families perform rites for their ancestors; carry a change of clothes if you plan to bathe. Gita Mandir, at Dehotsarg Tirth, carries verses of the Bhagavad Gita on its marble walls, and Bhalka Tirth marks the place where, by tradition, Lord Krishna was struck by the hunter's arrow. Our guide to places to visit near Somnath temple explains each site.
If you only have one night
With one night, check-out at 10:00 AM comes quickly on day two. Attend the 6:00 AM opening and the 7:00 AM aarti, have breakfast and check out by 10:00 AM, then do the auto rickshaw circuit with your luggage on the way to Veraval, finishing at Bhalka Tirth, which is on the Veraval road. Ask the reception whether you can leave bags with them for a few hours.
With elders or small children
- Choose the morning aarti over the evening one; it is cooler and less crowded.
- Keep the afternoon for rest. The lift at the guest house and the restaurant under the same roof save a lot of walking.
- A family of four fits in the 4 Bed Suite Room, and a cradle or extra bed can be arranged.
- At the beach, stay at the water's edge; the sea can be rough.
Adding a third day
A third day lets you go further: the lions of Gir, the fort and beaches of Diu, or Girnar and the old city of Junagadh. Each is a full day, and our guide to day trips from Somnath sets out how to plan them. If you are still choosing your dates, read the best time to visit Somnath first.
What to pack
- Sandals that slip off easily, and a cloth bag to carry them.
- Modest clothes for the temples, with shoulders and knees covered.
- A hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle.
- A light shawl for the sea breeze on winter evenings, or an umbrella in the monsoon.
- A valid photo ID for every adult, for check-in.
Timings are as published by Shree Somnath Trust and can change on festival days, during Shravan and on Mahashivratri. Check at the temple or on somnath.org before you set out.
Staying nearby? Sagar Darshan is a five minute walk from the temple
Every room at Sagar Darshan Guest House faces the sea, and the Somnath Jyotirlinga is about 400 m away on Somnath Mandir Road. Walk over for the morning aarti, rest through the afternoon and come back to a pure vegetarian dinner after the evening show.