Places to visit in Veraval

Veraval city in the Junagarh district of Gujarat boasts of a number of religious places and several historical monuments. The “Nawabi Palace” is one of the prime attractions of Veraval which represents the Gothic style of architecture. Among the renowned temples in Veraval, the Somnath temple, Lakshminarayan Temple, Parasuram Temple, Suraj Mandir and Kamnath Mahadev Temple are worth mentioning. Besides these the Junagarh gate, Sasan Gir and Somnath museum (Prabhas Patan museum) are also a must visit for the tourists.

Below are the must-see places in Veraval that are recommended for the tourists:

Veraval Beach

The Veraval beach is situated at the fishing harbor of Veraval along the south western coast of Saurashtra and is about 5 kms away from the Somnath Temple. This amazing and peaceful shore is perfect for the tourists to relax and rejuvenate themselves amid the serene environs. This charming beach offers a jogging path and a number of benches to sit and enjoy the scenic beauty of the place.
  
Veraval beach proves to be splendid seashore for the slow walkers as well as for those who intend to walk for health reasons.  One of the favorite activities on this seashore is having a bath in early morning in the tepid waters of Arabian Sea. Visitors can also enjoy the flourishing fishing port of the Veraval beach which abounds with trawlers, fishermen, country crafts and dhows who remain engaged in various fishing activities. This fishing port also attracts the tourists with a range of fun activities like- swimming, camel riding, sunbathing, boat rides, fishing and jogging. One can also enjoy the scrumptious seafood at the coast. July to March is the best time to visit the Veraval beach.

Bhalka Tirtha

Located along the Prabhas-Veraval Highway, this holy pond in Somnath is famous as the Bhalka Tirtha. This pond (or Tirtha) is situated at the convergence of the 3 rivers which includes the Hiran River as well. A small temple can be seen just beneath the banyan tree on the Tirtha’s bank. A splendid blue color idol of Lord Krishna is positioned inside the temple. Inside the temple the tourists can also see a picture of the hunter “Jara” with joined hands. Apart from this Lord Krishna’s pink colored foot can also be seen here.

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Triveni Ghat

Located in Somnath near Veraval, this Ghat is the convergence point of the 3 pious rivers Hiran, Saraswathy and Kapil. All these rivers are supposed to flow to the final destination of Sea. Triveni Ghat is a symbol of the birth, existence and mortality of a human being. Thousands of devotees come to take a holy dip at this pious Ghat.

This sacred Ghat has its importance in the Puranas as well as in the Hindu Mythology. Triveni Ghat finds its mention in numerous places in the Mahabharata, Ramayana and in the Puranas. As per the legends Shri Krishna came to this sacred place after he was shot by a hunter Jara with an arrow. This is an extremely venerated spot in Somnath. “Laxminarayan Temple” and “Gita Mandir” are positioned on the banks of the Triveni Ghat.

Somnath museum (Prabhas Patan Museum) 

This museum houses the remnants of the previous temple of Somnath. The museum also gives shelter to attractive inscriptions, traditional jewels, stone sculptures and pottery which belong to numerous eras. The museum is just 5 minutes away from the Somnath temple. This museum is run by the Gujarat Government and it represents the ancient architecture of India.

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Sasan Gir (or Gir Forest)

Sasan Gir is also famous as the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. This beautiful forest is spread over an area of 1412 square kilometers and is situated 79 km away from the city of Veraval. This is the one and only home to Asiatic lions and is world famous for its varied flora and fauna.   

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Junagarh Gate

This major attraction of Veraval is the gateway to Somnath. Junagarh Gate has its own historical importance and the antiquated structure of this gate dates back several centuries.  This attractive gate is adorned with numerous intricate carvings on its walls. This very gate was destroyed by Mahmud Gazni (who was the famous invader) who entered this sacred city through the Junagarh Gate and ruined all the temples and robbed great riches.

Panch Pandav Gufa

This temple is located near a place called Lalghati in Somnath near Veraval. This amazing temple was established by Baba Narayan Das in 1949. The Panch Pandav Gufa is devoted to the five Pandavas. Being positioned at an elevated spot, the temple offers an outstanding view of the neighboring pious city.

The temple protects the magnificent idols of the 5 Pandava brothers (Arjuna, Bheena, Yudhishtira, Nakul and Sehdev). The splendid temple also houses the statues of deities like Rama, Durga and Shiva. The ambiance of the temple offers tranquility to the devotees and tourists. There is also a Sanskrit college which has been set up inside the temple compound.

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