5 Nights · 6 Days Complete Saurashtra

6 Days — Saurashtra Itinerary

The most logical and comfortable way to cover all of Saurashtra’s major spiritual.

Six Days at a Glance

What Makes the 6-Day Different

Two nights in Somnath to attend all three aartis. Efficient routing through Gir for both safaris,

up to Junagadh for heritage and Girnar, and ending with a full Dwarka experience before

departing.

Day 1 · Somnath

Arrive & Evening Aarti

Somnath Corridor, Sandhya Aarti 7 PM, Light & Sound Show. Two nights here means no morning pressure.

Sandhya Aarti

Day 2 · Full Somnath

All 3 Aartis + Sacred Sites

Mangala 7 AM · Bhalka Tirth · Gita Mandir · Madhyahna 12 PM · Veraval Port · Final darshan evening.

All 3 Aartis

Full Day

Day 3 · Somnath → Gir

Drive to Gir · Devalia

Leisurely start, 50 km drive to Sasan Gir. Afternoon check-in followed by Devalia evening safari.

50 km Drive

Devalia Safari

Day 4 · Gir → Junagadh

Morning Safari · Heritage City

Main 6 AM Gir jeep safari · Drive 45 km to Junagadh · Uparkot Fort · Mahabat Maqbara · Local market.

Uparkot Fort

Day 5 · Junagadh → Dwarka

Girnar · Drive · Dwarka Aarti

Girnar ropeway · Narsinh Mehta house · Drive ~200 km · Arrive Dwarka for Sandhya Aarti.

Girnar

Dwarkadhish

Day 6 · Dwarka → Depart

Morning Aarti · Bet Dwarka

Mangala Aarti · Bet Dwarka via Sudarshan Setu · Nageshwar Jyotirlinga · Depart from Jamnagar/Rajkot.

Bet Dwarka

Depart

Key Places on This Circuit

At a Glance

Book your Gir safari permit first — at girlion.gujarat.gov.in — before planning anything else. This circuit includes two Gir safari experiences (Devalia evening + main zone morning) — confirm both are available on your chosen dates.

🛕 Somnath — 2 Nights

Somnath Temple Campus

The Jyotirlinga shrine, the ancient ruins, and the evening show — all within the same campus, no separate trips needed

📍 At Parking

🚶 Walk
Free Darshan

Somnath Temple — Main Jyotirlinga darshan

⏱ 1 Hour

Free

Old Somnath Temple — Ancient ruins, within campus

⏱ 20 Min

Free

Light & Sound Show — Sea-facing, rear wall of campus

⏱ 45 Min

Ticketed

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

Veraval Port

India's largest fishing port — 7 km from Somnath. A vivid, unscripted contrast to the temple atmosphere.

📍 7 km from Parking

Auto / Car

45 Min

Free

🦁 Sasan Gir — Night 3 · Both Safaris

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

🏰 Junagadh — Night 4

Uparkot Fort

One of the oldest continuously inhabited forts in India — built around 319 BCE, right in the heart of Junagadh city

📍 Junagadh City Centre

⏱ 2 Hours

🚶 Walk / Auto

Rani ki Vav Stepwell — an ancient stepwell inside the fort complex, carved deep into the rock

Buddhist Caves — rock-cut caves from the 2nd–3rd century CE carved into the fort walls

Fortification walls & cannons — excellent views over Junagadh city from the ramparts

Mahabat Maqbara

Ornate Indo-Gothic mausoleum of the Nawabs of Junagadh — one of the most elaborately decorated buildings in Gujarat

📍 Near Uparkot

⏱ 20–30 Min

🚶 Walk / Auto

Girnar — Ropeway or Trek

One of Gujarat's holiest hills — Amba Mata temple at the top. Two ways up: ropeway or the full 9,999-step trek.

📍 Junagadh outskirts

⏱ 2-4 Hours

Ropeway Ticket

Ropeway — 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM · 2.3 km in 7 minutes · to Amba Mata temple

Trek — 9,999 steps to the summit · 3–5 hours one way · for the fit and devoted

Amba Mata Temple — main shrine at the top, sacred to the goddess

Narsinh Mehta's House

Birthplace of Gujarat's greatest poet-saint — small, moving museum in his ancestral home

📍 Junagadh old city

⏱ 30 Min

🚶 Walk / Auto

🛕 Dwarka — Night 5

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

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 main zone safari permit at girlion.gujarat.gov.in before finalising dates. Confirm Devalia is not on a Wednesday on Day 3.

Day 1 — Somnath · Arrive & Evening

Afternoon

2:00 PM

Arrive Somnath · Check-in · Lunch

Arrive from your home city. Veraval station is 7 km away. Check in, lunch near the temple market. With two nights here there is no pressure to rush.

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 Arabian Sea), Ram Mandir, and the scenic coastal walkway. Late afternoon light is excellent here. 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 going in.

Free Darshan

No phones

7:00 PM

Sandhya Aarti ⭐

The illuminated temple against the darkening Arabian Sea — the most attended aarti of the day. Arrive 15 minutes early. This is the first of three aartis you will attend over the two days.

Sandhya Aarti

Don't Miss

Free

8:00 PM

Light & Sound Show · Dinner

Sea-facing, rear wall of the campus. 45 minutes. 1,000 years of Somnath history. Dinner at the lively market after. Early night — Mangala Aarti at 7 AM tomorrow.

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 — Full Somnath · All 3 Aartis

Morning — Somnath

7:00 AM

Mangala Aarti ⭐

The morning aarti — cool, quiet, the fewest people of any session. The temple in early light is completely different from last night. Arrive by 6:45 AM. Aarti number two of three.

Mangala Aarti

Don't Miss

Free

8:00 AM

Full Darshan · Breakfast

Unhurried darshan after the aarti. Then breakfast at the temple market — Gujarati thali, chai, puri shaak.

Free Darshan

Breakfast

9:30 AM

Bhalka Tirth

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

Free Entry

4 km · Auto

11:00 AM

Gita Mandir & Somnath Museum

All 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita inscribed on marble pillars — a quiet, contemplative space. Adjacent museum has historical artefacts about Somnath. Allow 45 minutes total.

Free Entry

12:00 AM

Madhyahna Aarti ⭐

The midday aarti — the least attended of the three, which makes it the most intimate. You are now one of the rare visitors to have experienced all three Somnath aartis. The crowd is smallest at this session. A special pilgrimage milestone.

Madhyahna Aarti

Afternoon

1:30 PM

Lunch & Rest

Full Gujarati thali. Rest through the hottest part of the afternoon — the stretch between 1–4 PM is uncomfortable outdoors in most months.

Lunch

Lunch

4:00 PM

Veraval Port ⭐

7 km from Somnath — India’s largest fishing port. Trawlers returning with the catch, fish being sorted on the dock, the smell of salt and sea. Completely unscripted and local. The contrast with the temple atmosphere is vivid and memorable. One of those stops that feels like finding Saurashtra behind the pilgrimage circuit. 45 minutes is enough.

Local

7:00 PM

Final Evening Darshan · Dinner

A quiet, unhurried darshan — without the aarti crowd. Tomorrow you hit the road for Gir. Dinner in the market after.

Free Darshan

Day 3 — Drive to Gir · Devalia Evening Safari

Morning — Leisurely Start

10:00 AM

Checkout · Drive to Gir

No early aarti today — a relaxed start. Checkout after breakfast. The drive to Sasan Gir is short—just 50 km—taking roughly 1.5 hours on straightforward roads. You’ll move from coastal winds to dry deciduous forest air quickly.

🚗 ~50 km · 1.5 hrs

Afternoon/Evening — Sasan Gir

12:30 PM

Arrive Sasan Gir · Check-in & Lunch

Arrive and check in to your forest lodge. Confirm both tomorrow’s 6 AM main safari permit and Devalia this evening. Enjoy a leisurely jungle lunch.

Confirm both safaris

4:30 PM

Devalia Safari Park — Safari 1 ⭐

12 km from Sasan Gir — an enclosed zone within Gir with near-guaranteed Asiatic lion sightings. Available as a shared bus or Open Gypsy. Ticketed at the gate, no advance booking needed. This is your first lion encounter — Devalia’s enclosed setting almost guarantees a sighting. Tomorrow’s main zone safari is the wild, unpredictable experience in contrast. Devalia is closed every Wednesday — confirm your Day 3 doesn’t fall on a Wednesday.

Near-Guaranteed Lions

Safari 1 of 2

Closed Wednesdays

Day 4 — Main Gir Safari · Drive Junagadh · Heritage

Morning — Main Safari

5:30 AM

Wake Up · Safari Preparation

Wear muted, dull-coloured clothing. Carry water. Binoculars recommended. Winter mornings in Gir are cold — bring a light jacket even in Oct–Feb. Have your permit reference ready.

Muted Clothing

Binoculars · Light jacket

6:00 AM

Gir Main Zone Safari ⭐ — Safari 2 of 2

3-hour jeep safari through Gir National Park’s core zone. ~700 Asiatic lions in the park. Unlike Devalia, sightings here are not guaranteed — but most morning safaris do encounter lions. Also watch for leopards in the trees, spotted hyenas, chital deer, and marsh crocodiles. The combination of yesterday’s certain Devalia sighting and today’s wild forest experience is the complete picture of Gir.

Main Forest Zone

9:30 AM

Return · Breakfast · Drive to Junagadh

Return from safari. Breakfast at the lodge — compare sightings with other groups. Checkout by 11 AM. Drive ~45 km north to Junagadh (~1 hour).

Breakfast

🚗 45 km · 1 hr

Afternoon — Junagadh

1:30 PM

Uparkot Fort ⭐

2,300-year-old fort right in the centre of Junagadh city. Inside: an ancient stepwell (Rani ki Vav carved deep into the rock), Buddhist caves from the 2nd–3rd century CE, and fortification walls with cannons spanning 2,000+ years of history. Rarely crowded, and the scale surprises most visitors. Allow 2 hours.

2,300 Years Old

Stepwell · Buddhist Caves

Entry Fee

4:00 PM

Mahabat Maqbara

Indo-Gothic mausoleum of the Nawabs of Junagadh — European Baroque arches combined with Islamic domes and Jain-inspired decorative stone carving. One of the most ornate buildings in Gujarat. Free entry. 20–30 minutes.

Indo-Gothic

5:00 PM

Local Market & Rest

Try Junagadhi penda (milk sweet) from the market. The Babul Road evening market near Chittakhana Chowk is one of Saurashtra’s liveliest bazaars — worth a walk before dinner. Early night as you have the Girnar ropeway early tomorrow.

Junagadhi Penda

Day 5 — Girnar · Narsinh Mehta · Drive to Dwarka

Morning — Junagadh

7:30 AM

Girnar Ropeway ⭐

Girnar ropeway opens at 7:30 AM. 2.3 km in 7 minutes up to the Amba Mata temple at the summit. ₹700–900 per person. Views of the entire Saurashtra plain on clear days. Go early — the queue builds significantly after 9 AM. Full trek alternative: 9,999 steps one way, 3–5 hours up. Avoid the full trek during monsoon.

Girnar Summit

🚡 7 min ride

9:30 AM

Return · Breakfast at Market

Come back down from Girnar. Breakfast at the local market near the foothills — sev mamra and chai is the classic morning snack here. Distinctly local and very affordable.

Local Breakfast

11:00 AM

Narsinh Mehta's House

The birthplace and ancestral home of Narsinh Mehta (1414–1481) — Gujarat’s most revered poet-saint and composer of Vaishnav Jan To, Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan. Free entry. 30 minutes.

Free Entry

Poet-Saint

Afternoon/Evening — Drive & Dwarka

12:30 PM

Checkout · Drive to Dwarka

Checkout and hit the road for Dwarka. It’s approximately a 200 km drive that will take about 4 hours. You’ll drive back out towards the coast via Porbandar. Stop for lunch en route.

🚗 ~200 km · ~4 hrs

5:30 PM

Arrive Dwarka · Dwarkadhish Temple

Arrive, quickly check in. One of the four Char Dhams. Enter through Swarga Dwar. No phones — lockers at entrance. Watch for the flag ceremony at sunset (raised and lowered 5 times daily).

📵 No phones · 🚩 Flag Ceremony

7:30 PM

Sandhya Aarti at Dwarkadhish ⭐

More elaborate than Somnath — Krishna’s royal court ceremony. Arrive inside 15 minutes early. After a long day of travel, the vibrant energy of the evening aarti is incredible. Gomti Ghat after for a diya, then dinner.

Sandhya Aarti

Don't Miss

Day 6 — Morning Aarti · Bet Dwarka · Nageshwar · Depart

Morning — Dwarka & Surrounds

6:30 AM

Mangala Aarti at Dwarkadhish ⭐

The morning aarti — dawn, very few people, deeply intimate. Arrive by 6:15 AM. A peaceful start to your final day.

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 AM - 11:30 AM

Bet Dwarka — Three Stops by Auto

Take a share auto from the island parking (₹100/person) — covers Dwarkadhish Temple (Island), Dandi Hanuman (only temple with Hanuman and son Makardhwaja), and Chorasi Dhuna (84 sacred fires).

Free Entry

🛺 Auto from parking

12:30 PM

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga ⭐

Stop here on the drive back from Bet Dwarka. The 12th of India’s 12 Jyotirlingas. Having started your trip at Somnath (1st Jyotirlinga) and now ending near Nageshwar (12th), this circuit covers two of India’s supreme Shiva shrines. Budget 45 minutes for darshan.

12th Jyotirlinga

Free

Afternoon · Depart

2:00 PM

Depart — Jamnagar or Rajkot

From the Dwarka/Nageshwar area, head out to your departure airport or station. 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

Safari booking tip: This circuit includes two Gir experiences — Devalia (Day 3 evening, no advance booking) and the main zone jeep safari (Day 4, 6 AM, must be pre-booked). Book the main safari first at girlion.gujarat.gov.in. Then check Day 3's date is not a Wednesday before finalising — Devalia is fully closed on Wednesdays.

📍 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

Devalia Safari Park

12 km from Sasan Gir

Car / Jeep

Gir → Junagadh

~45 km · 1 hr

Junagadh → Dwarka

210 km

Bet Dwarka Island

30 km to Okha + Sudarshan Setu

Car + Bridge

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

16 km from Dwarka

🏨 Where to Stay

Night 1 & 2 — 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 3 — 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 4 — Junagadh

BUDGET

City centre hotels

Near fort area · Basic but clean

MID RANGE

Hotels near city centre or Girnar

Comfortable · Good value

PREMIUM

Heritage properties

Junagadh has good heritage stay options

Night 5 — 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

Nov – Feb

Cool and dry. Peak safari. All 6 days comfortable. Book Gir 3–4 weeks ahead.

Good

Oct / Mar

Shoulder — less crowded, safari slots easier, still good conditions.

Hot

Apr – Jun 15

Safari still open till Jun 15. Very hot midday — start all visits at dawn.

Closed

Jun 16 – Oct 15

Gir closed for monsoon. Temples and Junagadh heritage still open.

Gir season: Oct 16 – Jun 15. Devalia closed every Wednesday — verify dates before booking.

Need Help Planning?

We’re from Veraval — right next to Somnath. We cover the full 6-day circuit, Gir permit process, Junagadh tips, and Dwarka timings. No packages, no commission.

PRACTICAL INFO

Know Before You Go

Both Gir Safaris

Day 3 evening: Devalia enclosed zone — near-guaranteed lions, no advance booking, ticketed at gate. Closed Wednesdays. Day 4 morning: main zone jeep safari — book at girlion.gujarat.gov.in, 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season. The two experiences complement each other.

Girnar Ropeway

Opens 7:30 AM daily. 2.3 km in 7 minutes to Amba Mata temple at the summit. ₹700–900 per person. Go early — queue builds after 9 AM. Full trek option: 9,999 steps, 3–5 hrs up. Don't trek in monsoon — steps are dangerously slippery.

Departing Dwarka

Ending in Dwarka makes Jamnagar Airport (JGA) your closest departure point (~140 km). Rajkot (RAJ) is further (~225 km) but has more flight connections. Plan your final day train or flight for late afternoon or evening.

Temple Rules

No phones inside Somnath or Dwarkadhish — free lockers at both. Modest covering clothing at both temples. Gir safari: wear dull colours, no bright red or white. Photography strictly prohibited inside Dwarkadhish.

EXPLORE MORE

Shorter Circuits

4 Days · Somnath + Gir + Dwarka

4-Day Circuit

The same three destinations in 4 days — skipping Junagadh to save time. One night each at Somnath, Gir, and Dwarka. Best for tighter schedules. Includes main zone safari only.

3 Destinations

460 km

5 Days · 4 Destinations

5-Day Saurashtra

Somnath, Gir, Junagadh, and Dwarka in 5 days — same route loop but with one night in Somnath instead of two. One safari only (main zone).

4 Destinations

~560 km

3 Days · Somnath + Dwarka

3-Day Temple Circuit

Just the two sacred cities — Somnath and Dwarka — in 3 days. No wildlife or heritage stops. Best for pure pilgrimage focus.

2 Destinations

~235 km

Car Recommended

Planning the Full

6-Day Circuit?

We’re from Veraval — right next to Somnath. We know every stop on

this route, the Gir safari process, Junagadh tips, and every practical

detail including all five Dwarka and Somnath aarti timings.

No packages, no commission.