Dwarka Somnath Tour Package Gives You More Than Darshan

Dwarka in the peninsular tip of Saurashtra in Western India is a major pilgrimage spot. It is one of the holy places to visit on the major char dham yatra and the place where Lord Krishna is said to have made his home. Further along the coast is Somnath, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Shiva and home to a temple that was sacked and looted and still managed to rise from the ashes. For devotees these two pilgrimage destinations are must visit when they visit Gujarat. Many undertake the pilgrimage from Ahmedabad but it is just as easy to fly into Jamnagar, hire a car from a car rental in Gujarat and enjoy a drive from Dwarka to Somnath and do more in the process to fulfil a spiritual duty as well as have a nice vacation.

Start

There are two ways to go about the Dwarka-Somnath tour. One can opt for a Dwarka Somnath Tour Package and the tour conductor takes you, along with others, either in a comfortable car or in a minivan or in a bus and that’s that. It can be a bit rushed and you just cannot do more. It would be a better idea to hire a car in Jamnagar and do much more in the process. The drive from Jamnagar to Dwarka is about 150 km and you can stop on the way at Khambhalia to buy the desi cow ghee the region is famed for and proceed to Dwarka.

Dwarka

Dwarkadheesh Temple

The Dwarkadheesh temple is beautiful and it is located supposedly at the confluence of the River Gomti and the Arabian. Dwarka is the home of Lord Krishna though he was born in Mathura and legend has it that the city was submerged and has been rebuilt seven times. Not far from the main temple is a temple dedicated to Rukmini, the consort of Lord Krishna and there is a legend behind it as well that Sage Durvasa cursed them to be separated. There are interesting spots in the vicinity such as the Nageshwar Jyotirling, gopi Talav and Bet Dwarka, an island that one can visit easily by car. It is best to stay overnight in Dwarka before proceeding further. You can drive straight down the coast to Somnath, the other famous pilgrimage destination but that would be missing some fun on the way. Drive into Porbandar, visit Kirti Mandir, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and then take a detour to Junagadh, stopping at Manavadar, a princely town, along the way.

Junagadh

If you have come this far it is only fitting that you take the trouble to visit Junagadh, a princely city and more famous for the Gir National Park, the last home for the Asiatic Lion. The road goes right through the heart of the Park and one can see a pride of lions sprawling on the roadside. Spend some time in the Gir Park to admire the wildlife here and proceed to Junagadh. There are many places worthy of a visit in Junagadh but the must visit places are the Mahabat Maqbara, a beautiful architectural marvel and relics of the Mauryan and Chalukyan dynasty in the Uperkot Fort. Junagadh is a rich repository of history and various dynasties including the Guptas, the Chudasama, Mahmud Begda, Mughals and the Babis left behind their legacy that you can visit before proceeding further to Somnath.

Somnath

Somnath Temple

The Somnath Temple houses one of the twelve jyotirlingas to be found in India. Legend says that the Moon was cursed by Daksha and he lost his light. He prayed to Shiva who was pleased to restore his light and, in gratitude, he built the original temple in Somnath. It is believed that Ravana built a silver temple here and that Lord Krishna built a temple for Shiva in Sandalwood. The Darshan at the temple over you can go on to the sunset point and watch the Sun sink into the Arabian Sea. At night there is a beautiful sound and light show. Retire for the night.

Diu

The pilgrimage part over, you can think of some relaxation. You can drive up to Madhavpur, a very peaceful and quiet beach up the coast or you can choose to drive down to Diu, a Union Territories Island and have a wonderful day. Obligatory places you must visit are the grand Diu Fort, the church, Naida caves and the Museum and then head to Nagoa beach to relax. In the evening you can catch a flight from Diu or you can continue in the car.

The coastal area from Dwarka to Diu is perfect when you visit just after the rains so make a trip of it and enjoy one of the many faces of Gujarat.