Somnath temple

The Somnath temple as seen from the front

The Somnath temple is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot in Gujarat, India. It is located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujrat and is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It was reconstructed in the Chalukya style of Hindu temple architecture and was completed in May 1951. The reconstruction was started under the orders of the Indian Home Minister, Vallabhbhai Patel and completed after his death.

Somnath Temple Media

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  Ruined Somnath temple, 1869

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  Mahmud of Ghazni, the Turkic Muslim ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire, raided India as far as Somnath, Mathura and Kannauj in Gurjara-Pratihara territory.

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  Some of the earliest photos of Somnath temple were taken by Sykes and Nelson in the 19th century. They show Somnath Hindu temple partly converted into an Islamic mosque.

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  The Gates from the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni, stored in the Arsenal of Agra Fort.

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  K M Munshi at Somnath in July 1950

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  Floor plan of the main Somnath temple, Veraval Gujarat

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  A wide-angle view – a bit distorted – from the southeast side of the present Somnath temple. Nataraja can be seen on the sukhanasi, along with the two-storey design.

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  Somnath converted into mosque, partly correct, partly embellished sketch (1850 CE)

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  Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu above mukhamandapa