3 Nights · 4 Days Temple + Wildlife

4 Days — Somnath, Gir & Dwarka

The most popular Saurashtra circuit — two of India’s holiest temples and the last wild population of the Asiatic lion, covered in four comfortable days.

What This Circuit Covers

Three Destinations, Four Days

Somnath on Day 1 evening and Day 2 morning. A short drive to Gir for a Day 3 morning safari.

Drive up the coast to Dwarka for a Day 3 evening darshan, followed by Bet Dwarka and

departure on Day 4.

Day 1 · Somnath

Arrive & Evening Programme

Somnath Corridor in the afternoon. Evening darshan, Sandhya Aarti at 7 PM, Light & Sound Show. Beach walk tip after 9 PM.

Sandhya Aarti

Day 2 · Somnath → Gir

Morning Aarti · Drive to Gir

Mangala Aarti 7 AM · Bhalka Tirth · Quick ~50 km drive to Sasan Gir · Check-in & Devalia optional evening.

Mangala Aarti

50 km Drive

Day 3 · Gir → Dwarka

Morning Safari · Drive to Dwarka

6 AM 3-hour jeep safari in Gir · Drive ~235 km via Porbandar · Arrive in Dwarka for evening darshan + Sandhya Aarti.

Lion Safari

235 km Drive

Day 4 · Dwarka → Depart

Morning Aarti · Bet Dwarka · Depart

Mangala Aarti · Bet Dwarka island via Sudarshan Setu · Depart via Jamnagar or Rajkot airport.

Bet Dwarka

Key Places on This Circuit

At a Glance

Somnath Parking is the reference for Somnath stops. Sasan Gir village for Gir — the park gate and most lodges are within 2 km of each other. Dwarka city centre for Dwarka stops.

🛕 Somnath — Night 1

Somnath Temple Campus

First Jyotirlinga — darshan, Sandhya Aarti 7 PM, Light & Sound Show 8 PM

📍 At Parking

Walk

Free Darshan

Somnath Corridor

Geeta Mandir, Triveni Sangam, Ram Mandir, coastal walkway

📍 Beside Parking

Walk

1.5 hrs

Free

Bhalka Tirth

Where Lord Krishna departed earthly life — 4 km from Somnath Parking

📍 4 km

Auto

30 Min

Free

🦁 Sasan Gir — Night 2

Gir Forest Safari

Last wild Asiatic lions on earth — 6 AM jeep safari, 3 hours through Gir National Park

🚗 Jeep · 3 Hours

Permit Required

🌿 Sasan Gir

What you might see — ~700 Asiatic lions · leopards · hyenas · spotted deer · crocodiles

Book only at official govt portal

girlion.gujarat.gov.in

girlion.gujarat.gov.in

Beware of fake portals and agents. Book only at girlion.gujarat.gov.in. Many third-party sites issue fake permits. Slots fill 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season (Nov–Feb).

Devalia Safari Park

Enclosed zone — near-guaranteed Asiatic lion sightings. Good Day 3 evening option on arrival.

📍 12 km from Gir

Ticketed at gate

🛕 Dwarka — Night 3

Dwarkadhish Temple

Char Dham — five-storey temple on 72 pillars · Flag ceremony 5 times daily

📍 City Centre · Walk

Free Darshan

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

One of 12 Jyotirlingas — on the road to Bet Dwarka, easy to combine

📍 16 km from Dwarka

🚗 Car / Auto

45 Min

Free Entry

Bet Dwarka Island

Krishna's residential island — drive via Sudarshan Setu bridge, then auto from parking to cover all three stops

📍 30 km to Okha · Bridge to island

⏱ 3–4 Hours total

🚗 Car to bridge
Free Darshan

Sudarshan Setu Bridge — Drive across to the island. Park at island parking lot.

Only Route

Auto from parking — Share auto covers all three stops on the island

₹100/person

Dwarkadhish Temple (Island) — Main Krishna temple on Bet Dwarka

Free

Dandi Hanuman (Hanuman Dandi) — Unique temple with Hanuman and son Makardhwaja

Free

Chorasi Dhuna —Sacred dhuni site with 84 chulhas burning continuously

Free

Share this itinerary with your travel group before you leave

Complete Day by Day Plan

The Full Itinerary

Book your Gir safari permit before anything else — slots fill 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season. Confirm the date first, then plan everything around it.

Day 1 — Somnath · Arrive & Evening

Afternoon

2:00 PM

Arrive Somnath · Check-in · Lunch

The nearest railhead is Veraval — 7 km from Somnath. Arrive, check in, have a light lunch at the temple market. The evening programme starts at 4 PM.

Veraval station: 7 km

4:00 PM

Somnath Corridor

Walk from the parking into the Somnath Corridor — Geeta Mandir campus, Triveni Sangam (three rivers meeting the sea), Ram Mandir, and the scenic coastal walkway. Late afternoon light here is excellent. 1.5 hours.

Free Entry

🚶 Walk from parking

Evening

6:30 PM

Temple Darshan

First darshan at Somnath. Deposit phone at the free locker (5 min). Buy Light & Sound Show ticket at the gate before the aarti.

Free Darshan

No phones

7:00 PM

Sandhya Aarti ⭐

The illuminated temple against the darkening Arabian Sea — the most memorable moment of the Somnath visit. Arrive 15 minutes early for a good position inside the complex.

Sandhya Aarti

Don't Miss

Free

8:00 PM

Light & Sound Show ( Closed During Monsoon Season)

Rear wall of the temple complex, facing the sea. 45 minutes. A narrated account of 1,000 years of Somnath — the invasions, the destructions, and the rebuilding each time. Worth doing on your first visit. Buy tickets at the gate before the aarti.

Ticketed · ₹50–100

9:30 PM

Dinner

The market near the temple comes alive after the show. Gujarati and Rajasthani vegetarian thalis, chai, sweets. Good energy without being noisy. Return to hotel and rest — early morning tomorrow.

Food

Day 2 — Morning Aarti · Drive To Gir

Morning — Somnath

7:00 AM

Mangala Aarti

The morning aarti — cool, quiet, the fewest people of any session. Having attended Sandhya last night and Mangala this morning, you’ve experienced Somnath at both its most energetic and most peaceful.

Mangala Aarti

Don't Miss

Free

8:30 AM

Bhalka Tirth

4 km from the parking, 15 minutes by auto. The sacred spot where Lord Krishna was struck by a hunter’s arrow and departed earthly life. Small, moving, rarely crowded at this hour. 30 minutes.

Free Entry

🛺 4 km

10:30 AM

Breakfast · Checkout · Drive to Gir

Full breakfast, then check out. The drive to Sasan Gir is short—just under 50 km—taking roughly 1.5 hours on straightforward roads. You’ll move from coastal winds to dry deciduous forest air quickly.

Breakfast

50 km to Gir

Afternoon & Evening — Sasan Gir

12:30 PM

Arrive Sasan Gir · Check-in & Lunch

Arrive and check in to your forest lodge. Confirm your 6 AM safari permit for tomorrow — have the booking reference ready. Most lodges are within 2 km of the park gate. Enjoy a leisurely jungle lunch.

Confirm safari booking

4:30 PM (Optional)

Devalia Safari Park — Evening

12 km from Sasan Gir — an enclosed zone with near-guaranteed Asiatic lion sightings. Available as a shared bus or Open Gypsy. Excellent backup option if you want to be certain of seeing a lion before tomorrow’s main wilderness safari. Ticketed at the gate, no advance booking needed. Note: Devalia is closed every Wednesday.

Near-Guaranteed Lions

Closed Wednesdays

Optional

Day 3 — Gir Safari · Drive · Dwarka Evening

Morning — Sasan Gir

5:30 AM

Wake Up · Safari Preparation

Wear muted, dull-coloured clothing — no bright red, orange, or white. Carry water, sunscreen, and binoculars if you have them. Winter mornings in Gir are cold — a light jacket or fleece is essential in Oct–Feb.

Muted clothing

Binoculars recommended

6:30 AM

Gir Forest Safari ⭐

A 3-hour jeep safari through Gir National Park — the only place on earth outside Africa where Asiatic lions live in the wild. Most morning safaris encounter at least one lion. Also watch for leopards, spotted hyenas, chital deer, and marsh crocodiles. Stay quiet, follow the guide’s instructions, and don’t stand up in the jeep.

Asiatic Lions

Circuit Highlight

Permit Required

9:30 AM

Return · Breakfast · Drive to Dwarka

Return to your lodge, have breakfast, and check out by 10:30 AM. Hit the road for Dwarka — ~235 km, roughly 4.5 to 5 hours. You’ll drive back out towards the coast through Porbandar (where you can optionally stop at Gandhi’s birthplace).

Breakfast

235 km · ~4.5 hrs

Evening — Dwarka

4:00 PM

Arrive Dwarka · Check-in

Check in and freshen up. Dwarka is compact — most hotels are walking distance from Dwarkadhish. The temple evening session opens at 5 PM. Watch for the flag ceremony over the spire.

🚩 Flag Ceremony at sunset

5:30 PM

Dwarkadhish Temple — First Darshan

One of the four Char Dhams. Five-storey spire on 72 carved pillars. No phones inside — lockers at the entrance. Enter through Swarga Dwar (north gate).

📵 No phones inside

Free Entry

7:30 PM

Sandhya Aarti at Dwarkadhish ⭐

More elaborate than Somnath — reflecting Krishna’s royal status as king of Dwarka. Arrive 15 minutes early. The energy during this aarti is electric.

Sandhya Aarti

Free

Day 4 — Morning Aarti · Bet Dwarka · Depart

Morning — Dwarka

6:30 AM

Mangala Aarti at Dwarkadhish ⭐

The morning aarti — the temple at dawn, far fewer people, intimate and unhurried. Arrive by 6:15 AM. Considerably quieter than last evening.

Mangala Aarti

Free

8:30 AM

Breakfast · Drive to Bet Dwarka

Quick breakfast, then drive ~30 km toward Okha. Cross the Sudarshan Setu bridge — a 2.3 km cable-stayed bridge connecting directly to Bet Dwarka island. Park at the island parking lot.

Local breakfast

9:30 PM - 11:30 AM

Bet Dwarka — Three Stops by Auto

Take a share auto from the island parking (₹100/person) — it covers all three stops. Dwarkadhish Temple (Island) — smaller, more intimate; rice is the traditional offering. Dandi Hanuman — the only temple where Hanuman’s son Makardhwaja is worshipped alongside him. Chorasi Dhuna — 84 sacred fires burning continuously.

Free Entry

🛺 Auto from parking

Afternoon · Depart

1:00 PM

Depart — Jamnagar or Rajkot

From Bet Dwarka, you can head directly to your departure point. Jamnagar Airport (JGA) is ~140 km away (approx. 2.5 hrs). Rajkot Airport is ~225 km away (approx. 4 hrs). Both offer regular flights to major Indian cities.

Jamnagar 140 km · Rajkot 225 km

Gir safari tip: Book your safari permit before planning anything else on this circuit — slots fill 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season (Nov–Feb). Use only the official portal: girlion.gujarat.gov.in. Many fake sites are operating. Once you have a safari date, plan the rest of the circuit around it working backwards.

📍 Distance at a Glance

Somnath Corridor

Beside Parking Walk

At Parking / Walk

Bhalka Tirth

4 Km from parking 15 min by auto

Auto / Car

Somnath → Sasan Gir

45-50 Km

Gir → Dwarka

235 km · via Porbandar · 4.5 hrs

Bet Dwarka Island

30 km to Okha + Sudarshan Setu

Car + Bridge

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

16 km from Dwarka

🏨 Where to Stay

Night 1 — Somnath

BUDGET

Dharamshalas near temple

Very affordable · Basic but clean · Close to parking

MID RANGE

Hotels near Somnath Temple

Comfortable · Walking distance to temple · Good value

PREMIUM

Full-service hotels near temple

Private transport helpful · All amenities

Night 2 — Sasan Gir

BUDGET

Forest Dept. rest houses

Very basic · Near gate · Book early

MID RANGE

Jungle lodges near park gate

Nature-focused · Good facilities

PREMIUM

Eco-resorts & safari lodges

Full-service · Activities included

Night 3 — Dwarka

BUDGET

Temple Trust guesthouses

Closest to Dwarkadhish · Book ahead

MID RANGE

Hotels near Dwarkadhish

Walking distance · Good facilities

PREMIUM

Resort properties near city

Full-service · Car needed

🌤 Weather at a Glance

BEST

Oct - Feb

Cool, pleasant. Ideal for all outdoor walks and darshan.

Good

March

Starts warming up. Mornings and evenings still comfortable.

Manageable

Sep - Apr

Hot or humid. Stick to early morning and evening visits.

Avoid Midday

May - Aug

Very hot or monsoon rains. Aartis still happen — outdoor walks are uncomfortable.

Gir safari season: Oct 16 – Jun 15. Outside this window, Devalia Park may still operate — confirm directly.

Need Help Planning?

Our travel desk is run locally — we know which room faces the sea, which auto is reliable at 5:30 AM, and exactly when to queue for the aarti. No booking fees.

PRACTICAL INFO

Know Before You Go

Book Gir Safari First

Book your permit at girlion.gujarat.gov.in before planning anything else. Slots fill 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season. Fake third-party sites are common — verify you are on the official .gujarat.gov.in domain before paying.

Temples: No Phones

Both Somnath and Dwarkadhish prohibit mobiles inside. Free lockers at both entrances — plan 5 minutes for deposit. Note your meeting point before going in separately. Photography is also prohibited inside Dwarkadhish.

Dress for Both

Modest covering clothing for both temples — avoid shorts or sleeveless. For Gir safari, wear dull-coloured clothing — no bright red, orange, or white. Wear the same pair of shoes you'll walk in at the temples, since you'll change only the top layer for the forest.

Festival Crowds

Mahashivratri (Feb/Mar) brings lakhs of devotees to Somnath — arrive very early or avoid if you prefer peaceful darshan. Janmashtami (Aug) is the peak period for Dwarka but falls in Gir's off-season. Oct–Mar avoids both peaks.

EXPLORE MORE

Related Circuits

2 Nights · Somnath Deep Dive

Somnath — Unhurried

Two nights gives you multiple aartis, time at all places without any schedule pressure, and the freedom to simply sit by the sea.

Same Destination

Slow Travel

Very Easy

4 Days · Somnath + Dwarka

Two Jyotirlingas

Somnath and Dwarka connected in one circuit via Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. Includes the Bet Dwarka ferry and Dwarkadhish evening aarti.

2 Destinations

~260 km

Moderate

6 Days · Full Saurashtra

Somnath · Gir · Junagadh · Dwarka

The complete Saurashtra circuit — temples, Gir safari, Girnar hills, and the full Dwarka experience. Best for families.

4 Destinations

~500 km

Car Recommended

Planning Somnath,

Gir & Dwarka?

We’re from Veraval — right next to Somnath. We know the full circuit,

the Gir permit process, the best lodges near the park, and every

practical detail about both temples. No packages, no commission —

just local advice.