Somnath temple and the Diu coast
Dwarka · 11 hrs · Cab included · Pickup from your stay
From ₹2990 for the whole vehicle, up to 8 people. The price is per car, not per person.
Vehicles
- Swift Dzire: Sedan. Best for a couple or a small family. ₹2990 for the vehicle.
- Tata Sumo: Rugged 8-seater. The most room for the money. ₹3490 for the vehicle.
- Innova or Ertiga: The comfortable one on a long hill day. ₹4990 for the vehicle.
Somnath at dawn, Diu by noon
Somnath is a temple town of a few streets on the Prabhas Patan shore, and on its own it is a morning: the 7 am aarti, Bhalka Tirth, the Triveni Sangam and its ghats. Diu, a former Portuguese island town now in a union territory, is about 85 to 90 km east along the coast, roughly two hours by road. Together they make a full, varied day.
Neither has ride-hailing worth relying on, and there is no convenient bus between them. So the car collects you before the aarti, waits while you are inside, takes the coast road to Diu, and brings you back to Somnath in time to rest before the evening aarti or the light and sound show if you want them.
It is about 190 km and a long day. The car and driver are yours for all of it at one flat price for the vehicle.
Your day, stop by stop
1. Somnath Temple
The first of the twelve jyotirlingas, rebuilt many times, the present temple consecrated in 1951, standing right on the sea. The morning aarti is at 7 am. Phones, cameras and bags go in the free lockers outside; non-Hindu visitors need permission from the temple trust's office before entering.
2. Bhalka Tirth
A few kilometres towards Veraval, the place where Krishna is said to have been struck by a hunter's arrow. A small shrine under a tree, and a quiet stop.
3. Triveni Sangam
Where three rivers meet the sea beside Somnath, with ghats and the Gita Mandir close by. Pilgrims come down for a dip; most visitors just walk the bank.
4. Gangeshwar Mahadev
Five lingas set in the rocks at the shoreline near Fudam, washed over by the sea at high tide. Go at low tide and you can stand right beside them.
5. Naida Caves
A maze of rock chambers and passages just outside Diu's walls, quarried by the Portuguese, with sunlight coming down through gaps in the roof. Cool, strange and very photogenic.
6. Diu Fort
The sixteenth century Portuguese fort at the tip of the island, with sea on three sides, old cannon on the bastions and a lighthouse inside. Leave time to walk the walls.
7. St Paul's Church
A white baroque church in Diu town from the seventeenth century, still in use, with a carved wooden interior. Five quiet minutes before the drive back.
In your price
- Private vehicle with driver for the full day
- Pickup and drop at your stay in Somnath or Veraval
- Fuel, tolls, driver allowance, parking and any vehicle entry charge at Diu
- Waiting time at Somnath while you are inside
- GoExplorer support number for the day
Not included
- Offerings and prasad
- Entry tickets in Diu
- The light and sound show
- Meals
- Anything personal
What you pay on the day
- Offerings and prasad at the temples
- Entry tickets at Diu where they are charged
- The Somnath light and sound show, if you go in the evening
- Lunch and anything personal
Who this suits
Pilgrims who want more than the temple, and anyone curious about Diu's Portuguese past. The caves are uneven underfoot; everything else is easy walking. The sedan seats four, the Sumo eight and the Innova six, each at one flat price for the car.
What to bring
As little as possible into Somnath: phones, cameras and bags all go in the lockers. Modest clothing for the temples, a hat and water for Diu, and ID for everyone.
The sea decides Gangeshwar
At high tide the lingas at Gangeshwar are under water, which is normal and not a cancellation. The day runs in rain. In a storm warning the authorities can close the seafront; if the day cannot run you get a full refund or a free reschedule.
Cancellation
- More than 24 hrs before: Full refund
- Within 24 hrs: 50% refund, or reschedule free once
- No show: No refund
Safety and the operator
Run by a licensed local ground operator, one driver per vehicle, commercially registered and insured. The rocks at Gangeshwar are slippery and the sea comes in fast; watch the water, not just the camera. Diu's fort walls are unrailed in places.
Questions
Is the price per person?
No. It is one price for the whole vehicle for the day. A Swift Dzire is ₹2,990 whether there are two of you or four.
Can non-Hindus enter Somnath?
With permission from the temple trust's office, obtained before you enter. Carry ID. It is the trust's rule and the trust's decision, and we cannot arrange it for you.
Can we see the evening aarti and the light and sound show?
Yes, on your own: you are back by about 5:30 pm, the evening aarti is at 7 pm and the show follows. Show tickets are bought at the counter, and it does not run in heavy rain.
Can we do this day from Dwarka?
No. Somnath is about 230 km from Dwarka. Stay in Somnath or Veraval for this day, and we collect you there.