It was March, and before starting our Gujarat journey, one concern was constantly on our minds—the possibility of facing the fierce Gujarat summer or even a heat wave. Fortunately, the weather turned out to be much kinder than we had expected.
Plan for the trip
Day 1 – Dwarka, Beyt Dwarka and Somnath
Days 2, 3—Stay at resort
Day 4 – Bus safari to Gir National Park and catch a train from the national park to Veraval Railway Station.
Our journey began with an overnight train from Ahmedabad to Dwarka by Vabde Bharat. After arriving at night, 11 pm, we checked into our hotel near the Dwarka Railway Station. While sleeping for 4 hours at Hotel Heaven, the experience was disappointing due to poor service. Travelers may consider alternatives such as Hotel Sri Ram, Hotel Bansi (both near the railway station), or Shri Shyam Sadan near the Dwarkadhish Temple.
Note that photography is strictly not allowed in these temples.
Day 1 – Arrival at Dwarka, the Land of Krishna
After freshening up, we hired a taxi for the full day for Dwarka, Beyt Dwarka, and Somnath. Since the Dwarkadhish Temple opens only after 9:30 AM, we scheduled the taxi for 9 AM.
Our first destination was the sacred Dwarkadhish Temple. After depositing our mobile phones in a private locker near the temple, we entered one of Hinduism’s most revered pilgrimage sites. The temple itself is not very large, and we completed our darshan in about an hour. The atmosphere was deeply spiritual, with devotees arriving from all corners of the country to seek blessings from Lord Krishna.
Although Dwarka offers several attractions such as Rukmini Temple, Gopi Talav, Shivrajpur Beach, and Snow Park, we decided to focus on the major pilgrimage sites due to time constraints. You can skip these if time is less.
By 10:45 AM, we were back outside the temple, where our taxi was waiting to take us towards Beyt Dwarka. The drive itself was delightful. For much of the journey, the blue waters of the Arabian Sea accompanied us, making the road trip extremely scenic. In earlier years, pilgrims had to take a boat ride to reach Beyt Dwarka, an island associated with Lord Krishna. Today, a magnificent bridge connects the island to the mainland.
After reaching the bridge, we had to hire an auto-rickshaw, as outside taxis are not allowed near the temple. Auto waited while we completed our visit to drop us back at the taxi point.
Our first stop was Shree Sone Ki Dwarka Pawan Dham. The temple presents an imaginative recreation of the legendary golden palace of Lord Krishna, believed to have existed 5000 years ago but now submerged under the sea. Though not historical in the strict sense, it beautifully depicts scenes from Hindu epics through elaborate tableaux and displays.
From there, we walked nearly a kilometer to the ancient (actually medieval) Beyt Dwarka Temple. Built centuries ago, this temple continues to attract thousands of devotees every year. The peaceful surroundings and devotional atmosphere made the visit particularly memorable.
The entire Beyt Dwarka excursion took around two hours. Our auto-rickshaw dropped us back at the bridge where our taxi driver was patiently waiting.
Day 1 Afternoon – Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
By early afternoon, we resumed our journey toward Somnath, with an important stop at the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple.
Around 3:30 PM, we reached the temple and spent about an hour offering prayers at one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The giant Shiva statue outside the temple creates an impressive first impression and is visible from a considerable distance.
Day 1 Evening – Somnath
From Nageshwar, we continued toward Somnath. The roads were excellent, and by around 6 PM we arrived at this ancient pilgrimage town.
Unfortunately, I had not booked accommodation in advance. After a brief search lasting about half an hour, we were fortunate to secure a room at Hotel Sagar Darshan, a property managed by the Somnath Trust within the temple complex area.
After quickly checking in and leaving our luggage, we rushed to see the Light and Sound show on the Somnath Temple premises. The hotel provides complimentary 24-hour to-and-fro shuttle service to the temple.
Luck was on our side. We managed to obtain tickets for the famous Sound and Light Show. There are usually two shows every evening, and we got seats for the later one.
The 40-minute presentation was outstanding. Through narration, music, lights, and visuals, it beautifully recounts the glorious history of Somnath, its repeated destruction and reconstruction, and its enduring place in Indian civilization. It is undoubtedly one of the highlights of any visit to Somnath. After the show ended around 9:15 PM, we returned to the hotel and enjoyed an excellent dinner. The food was surprisingly good and provided a perfect end to a long but fulfilling day.
Day 2 – Morning Aarti at Somnath and heading to Gir
The next morning began before sunrise.
At 6 AM, we boarded the hotel shuttle once again and reached Somnath Temple for the morning aarti. Witnessing the first prayers of the day in such a sacred setting was a rare and deeply moving experience.
After breakfast, we checked out and hired a taxi to Gir Forest.
By afternoon, we arrived at Sterling Gir, where we had booked a two-night stay. Nestled amidst nature, the resort blended beautifully with the surrounding landscape. Mud pathways, green cottages covered with creepers, chirping birds, and peaceful surroundings created a perfect escape from city life.
The weather remained surprisingly pleasant despite being March. The first day at the resort was devoted entirely to relaxation. We spent hours sitting outside our cottage, gently swinging on a cradle, listening to birdsong and enjoying the tranquility of the forest.
Sometimes, travel is not only about sightseeing but also about slowing down and absorbing the beauty of nature. Gir provided exactly that opportunity.
Day 3 – Safari in Gir National Park and Journey Home
The highlight of our Gujarat tour awaited us on the final day—a visit to Gir National Park, the last natural home of the Asiatic lion.
Unfortunately, all online safari slots had already been booked, a lesson for future travelers to reserve well in advance. However, the resort staff informed us about an alternative bus safari available from Sasan Gir.
We settled a taxi for dropping us for safari booking point and after that to Veraval (VRL) railway station at Rs. 3000 as fare.
A taxi took us through rustic forest roads to Sasan Gir, about 15 kilometers away. The drive itself felt like entering a different world, with dense vegetation and signs of wildlife all around.
We obtained safari bus tickets and soon entered the national park. The safari proved rewarding. During the journey, we spotted wolves, nilgai, deer, peacocks, leopards, and, most importantly, the majestic Asiatic lions. Seeing these magnificent animals in their natural habitat was an unforgettable experience and the perfect conclusion to our Gujarat adventure.
After the safari, our taxi was waiting to take us to Veraval Railway Station, the nearest railhead for Gir. The drive took about one and a half hours.
As our train rolled out of Veraval toward Ahmedabad, we reflected on three remarkable days that had taken us from the sacred shores of Krishna’s kingdom to the ancient Jyotirlinga of Somnath and finally into the wild heart of Gir.
It was a journey that beautifully combined spirituality, history, nature, and adventure—leaving us with memories that will last a lifetime.
Epilogue
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