Somnath Sightseeing

Fondly known as aravelam caves, situated on the summits of lalghati in somnath, the temple dedicated to pandav brothers lies within the cave that can be climbed up with the steps that leads you to the mountain top where the scenic pleasure adds to the visit of temple. The pandav brothers, during their exile period, are believed to have done penance in the caves in order to impress lord Shiva with end number of fasts, meditations and prayers. The temple, besides, also has temples dedicated to Rama, lakshmana, sita, durga and hanumana. Built around 15^th century, pandav brothers also worshipped hinglaj along with lord Shiva. The caves are located next to shankaracharya peeth and kamnath mahadev temple.

Apart from the ancient shrine of lord Shiva, the town is also highly visited for witnessing the confluence of the three most pious rivers hiran, kapil and eastern saraswati. This spot of emergence is popularly known as ‘triveni ghat’ and holds a dignified importance ever since the time of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Followed under a myth prevailing, lord Krishna is believed to have visited this ‘sangam sthan’ after being wounded at the present bhalka tirth. The ghat grows beautiful from October to march months. Who so ever takes a dip into this water is sure to attain salvation.

Situated 5kms away on prabhas patan highway, the holy spot of bhalka tirth holds a significant importance for the celestial event that took place at this sacred place centuries before. A local hunter named jara misunderstood lord Krishna’s feet as deer’s face and arrowed him to death while he was asleep. Krishna, being lord of the world, pardoned him and explained him with the purpose of him being arrowed by jara. The papal tree where lord died is worshipped along with mahaprabhuji bethak here at bhalka tirth. The temple beholds a majestic blue colored idol of lord Krishna posed into meditation activity. Simple yet sacred, temple provides its visitors with sheer divine experience.

Located on the banks of Hiran River, dehotsang tirth is 1.5 kms away from somnath temple. A mythological notion says that lord Krishna progressed to neejdham from here. The carved foot prints of lord Krishna are worshipped here as a memory of that celestial incident. It is believed that lord Krishna departed for his eternal journey on the first day of bright fort night of chaitra month, which happens to be the 18^th February of English calendar in the year 3012 b.c at 2:27:30 hours.