Temples of Gujarat

Gifted with rich cultural heritage, Gujarat is a land of colors and flavors. The temples of Gujarat are among its beautiful tourist attractions. The religious significance and architectural beauty of the temples attract devotees and tourists from across the globe. Some of the temples reflect sheer beauty of ancient architecture. So when you are on your Gujarat Tour do visit its temples to get the taste of the religious side of this state.

Some of the well-known temples of Gujarat are

Somnath Temple

It is the most famous temple of Gujarat located on the coast of Arabian Sea in Junagarh district of the state. This historic temple reflects the rich cultural heritage of the state. There is an interesting legend behind this temple according to which it was originally built by Somraj the Moon God himself out of gold. Later it was rebuilt by Ravana in silver, then by Lord Krishna in wood and finally by Bhimdev in stone.

It is also one of the revered temples of India and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of the country. The temple is also known as Deo Pattan, Prabhas Pattan and Pattan Somnath. At one point of time the temple had 300 musicians, 500 dancing girls and 300 barbers to shave the heads of visiting pilgrims. The temple has a museum housing a rich collection of artifacts speaking volumes about the history of the temple. The light and sound show is another attraction of the temple which is organized in the evening.

The Sun Temple

Dedicated to the Sun God, the temple is located in Modhera. High on architectural beauty, the temple is similar to the famous Sun Temple at Konark in Orissa. It was constructed in 1026 AD by the Solanki King Bhimdev I of Patan. An interesting fact about the temple is that the first rays of the Sun falls on the idol of the deity at the time of the equinoxes. The temple is also famous for its annual Dance Festival held in the month of January.

Palitana Jain Temples

It is an important Jain pilgrimage of the state located 51 km from Bhavnagar. The Jain temples are located on the Shatrunjay Hill and are dedicated to the 24 Jain Tirthankaras. According to the legend, the three heroes of the great Hindu Epic Mahabharata namely Yudhishthir, Arjun and Bheem attained nirvana at this place. This pilgrimage is also known as Siddhakshetra where one attains Moksha amongst Jain Devotees.

Dwarkadhish Temple

It is a beautiful temple located in the famous Dwarka city of Gujarat. It is among the ancient cities of India and is also an important Hindu pilgrimage. The prosperity of the city earned it the name Swarna Dwarka (golden Dwarka). Limestone and sand were used in the construction of the temple. Symbolizing the majesty of Lord Krishna, the flag on the top of the shrine is changed three times a day. It is a five-storied temple with beautifully carvings.

Ambaji Temple

Dedicated to Goddess Ambe, this temple is located in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat. It is one of the Shakti Peethas of India. It draws many a devotees’ everyday as the people of Gujarat have deep faith in this goddess. During the occasion of Navratri festival, a fair is organized here. The festival is dedicated to the nine manifestations of the Mother Goddess.

Akshardham Temple

Located in the capital city Gandhinagar, it has the largest temple complex in the state. Built in honor of Lord Swaminarayan, the temple is an architectural marvel. Sprawling across an area of 23 acres, it was built in 1992 in pink sandstone.

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