7 Most Famous Temples in Gujarat | Religious Places in Gujarat

The culturally-rich state of Gujarat is one of the most vibrant states in India, known for its exquisite charm. Visit some of the most famous temples in Gujarat that receive a heavy footfall of devotees as well as tourists. The temples of Gujarat are not just places of worship but are architectural marvels, which are a representation of the grandeur of the state in the past times.

Here is your list of 7 most famous Hindu temples in Gujarat

Somnath Temple, Somnath
Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka
Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar
Bala Hanuman Mandir, Jamnagar
Rukmini Temple, Dwarka
Sun Temple, Modhera
Bhalka Tirth, Somnath

Somnath Temple, Somnath

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, the legendary Somnath temple is known to be one of the most beautiful temples in Gujarat that exist from ancient times. It is said that the temple was originally built by the Moon God in gold, rebuilt by Ravana in silver and then by Lord Krishna in wood, and then by King Bhimdev in stone. The temple was badly damaged and looted of its riches by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024 AD. The temple was raided on several occasions in 1706, 1927, and 1934.

The present structure was erected with the support of Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel in the year 1950. Today, it is managed by Shree Somnath Trust. The seven-story structure of the temple is in Chalukya style of architecture and boasts of wonderful surroundings as it is right on its original site, by the sea. It is also known as Deo Pattan, Prabhas Pattan, and Somnath Pattan.

Timings– 06:00 AM to 09:30 PM

Getting there

Nearest airport- Keshod airport (55 km)
Nearest railway station- Veraval railway station- (7 km)

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Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka

Also known as Jagat Mandir or Trilok Sundar Mandir, the Dwarkadhish temple is a part of the revered Chardham yatra in Hinduism. Dedicated to Lord Dwarkadhish (a form of Lord Krishna), the temple is over 2500 years old and attracts devotees from all across the globe. Placed on the confluence of the Gomati River and the Arabian Sea, the magnificent sandstone temple has 5 floors, is supported by 60 columns, and has beautiful wonderful carvings.

Dwarkadhish temple is one of the Sapt Puris as per the Hindu religion and is often combined with a visit to Beyt Dwarka. The temple is also the 108^th Divya Desam of Lord Vishnu. On the top of the temple is a flag that has a sun and a moon on it, which is changed three times in a day. The present structure of the temple was founded around the 15^th and 16^th century.

The main door that is the north entrance is known as ‘Moksha Dwara’ (Door to Salvation), on the other hand, the entrance on the south is known as ‘Swarga Dwara’ (Gate to Heaven). On the back side of the door, there are 56 steps, leading down towards River Gomati.

Timings– 06:30 AM to 01:00 PM and 05:00 Pm to 09:30 PM

Getting there

Nearest airport– Jamnagar airport (45 km)
Nearest railway station– Dwarka and Jamnagar railway station (132 km)

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Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar

One of the largest temples in Gujarat, the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar is managed by the prosperous Hindu Swaminarayan Group. Spread over 23 acres of manicured lawns, this huge temple was constructed by around 1000 artisans. The complex was made from 6000 metric tons of pink sandstone and is known to be the abode of Lord Swaminarayan. One of the prime highlights of the temple is a 45-minute water show, which is organized after sunset. Spend a day in exploring this wonder.

Founded in the year 1992, this temple is a fine work of craftsmanship and is a one-stop masterpiece of education, religion, art, research, exhibitions, and architecture. The gold-plated idol of Lord Swaminarayan is huge, seven feet in height. Located on a pedestal of the three-foot pedestal, this idol lies amid idols of his ideal devotees, Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami and Aksharmukta Goplanand Swami. Do not miss visiting the Sahajanand Van, including a park for kids, a waterfall, a lake and a herbal garden.

Timings- 09:30 AM to 06:30 PM

Sahaj Anand Water Show- 07:00 PM

Getting there

Nearest airport- Ahmedabad airport
Nearest railway station- Gandhi Nagar Junction

Bala Hanuman Mandir, Jamnagar

Positioned on the southeastern side of the Ranmal Lake, Bala Hanuman Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is visited by his devotees every year in huge numbers. The temple and its surroundings bustle with activity during the early evenings. In fact, the temple features in the Guinness Book of World Records due to the continuous chant of the prayer ‘Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram’ from 1^st August 1964. The temple was established by Prem Bhikshuji in 1963-64.

Timings- 06:00 AM- 10:00 PM

Getting there

Nearest airport- Jamnagar Airport or the Govardhanpur Airport Jamnagar
Nearest railway station- Jamnagar Railway Station

Rukmini Temple, Dwarka

Dedicated to Goddess Rukmini, the consort of Lord Krishna, Rukmini Devi Temple is a small temple, which is quite popular for its beautiful carvings and two of its splendidly-designed panels. On one panel, there are Naratharas or human sculptures and the other one has Gajatharas or elephants on the base. The inner sanctum of the temple has the idol of the Goddess along with the Lord. It is said that the temple was constructed around the 12^th century. The walls of Rukmini temple are adorned with stunning paintings, depicting various events of Goddess Rukmini with the Lord. It is around 1.5 km northwards of the town.

Timings – 05:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 04:00 PM – 09:00 PM

Getting there

Nearest airport- Jamnagar airport (45 km)
Nearest railway station- Dwarka and Jamnagar railway station (132 km)

Sun Temple, Modhera

Founded way back in the 11^th century by King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty, Sun temple is placed on a hillock in Modhera, around 106 km north-westwards of Ahmedabad. One of the most beautiful Hindu temples in Gujarat, it is built in such a way that the sun shines on the image of the Surya chakra, from sunrise to sunset. The main hall and the shrine are supported by beautifully-carved pillars with sculptures of gods and demons.

Located on the banks of the Pushpavati River, the temple is dedicated to Sun Goa. Its interior hall has 12 niches that represent the monthly manifestations of God. One of the few Sun temples in India, this temple complex is divided into three parts- Surya Kund, Sabha Mandap, and Guda Mandap. Do not miss visiting these step-wells in the Sun temple of Modhera. The complex also has temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, and Sitala Mata.

Timings- 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Getting there

Nearest airport- Ahmedabad airport (102 km)
Nearest railway station- Mehsana railway station (40 km)

Bhalka Tirth, Somnath

Placed amid Somnath and Veraval, Bhalka Tirth is the site where Lord Krishna was mistaken for a deer, while he was meditating in the jungle, and was wounded by an arrow by a hunter. This is the site where he left the earth for his heavenly abode. The spot is on the confluence of three rivers- Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati, called Sangam. Also nearby is the temple named Mahaprabhuji’s Bethak, dedicated to Lord Krishna along with an old banyan tree known as the .

Timings- 06:00 AM to 09:00 PM

Getting there

Nearest airport- Keshod airport (55 km)
Nearest railway station- Veraval railway station- (7 km)

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Geetika Handa

Geetika Handa is a travel writer who has an interest in sharing her experiences with all. She provides a detailed account of any travel topic she chooses to write on. You can get detailed information and tips about choosing the right kind of holiday packages in the country from her write-ups.