Somnath – 31-Mar-2018
Reached Somnath @ 6am….called Hotel Shree Darshan to pickup…initially they said I never called for pickup…I said I had already called yesterday for pickup…they send car to pickup…hotel is just adjacent to Somnath station….infact on the other side of railway station…its walk able distance…they graciously provided one room to freshen up…even though check-in time was 12am….we did freshen up and then kept belonging at the counter and went for Somnath Darshan….deposited electronic items at entrance of the temple and one sag at luggage counter…..there was crowd….but had good darshan in 10 mins or so…..spent 10-15 mins in temple premise….sun was soaring at that time as well….family members were in no mood to visit old Somnath temple….we skipped old Somnath Temple (which was renovated by Ahilyabai Holkar)…had plenty of good coconut water….2-3 times….then booked an auto to see only 3 places 1. Triveni Sangam, 2. Bhalka Tirtha 3.one Shiv linga, which I forgot the name, which is in the sea…for Rs: 250/-
Started first with shiv linga, which is in sea…we saw only from street…as it was 90% immerse in sea…so we never venture to go down in the sea…..then reached Bhalka Tirtha…temple was less crowded…also photography is allowed in the temple…Krishna statue is too beautiful…wah !!!…cannot remove eyes from the statue….then we returned again at temple premise road…and started opposite to temple…to visit Triveni Sangam…it was somewhat crowded…all people were doing after death rituals or yearly rituals for death person….Sangam was somewhat dry…not much water….so couldn’t recognize 3 flows in Sangam…we took same auto with extra Rs:50/- to reach Hotel….had good lunch…good food…..freshly cooked after we order the food…..had good sleep in afternoon.
In evening, thought to see laser show at Temple, went inside temple for ticket, the person on the counter told us that first show was cancelled today, as there was “pravachan” going on in the temple premise, as it was Hanuman Jayanti….first show is from 8pm to 8.45pm and second show was from 9 to 9.45…..it would be too late for kids for the second show, so we cancelled this plan…..meanwhile contacted Sitaram Taxi Service, for tomorrow’s plan for Gir Safari.
-In Somnath, for any small distance or I can say, fare starts with Rs: 50/- even its 500m or 1km. In fact in the morning auto wala asked for Rs: 100 !! for going to Hotel Somnath Darshan…knowing we were new Bakra’s
-There are 2 laser shows in the temple premise….1st is from 8 pm to 8.45 pm and next is at 9 to 9.45pm.
-Trust’s accommodation is very near to temple, hardly 10 mins walk.
-Distance from Railways station to Trust’s accommodation is 10-15 mins or so…
Prashant Ghotikar
My Travel Experiences 