Top 10 Famous Temples of Gujarat

Gujarat-the land of legends and lions-is a profusion of rich Indian heritage with exquisite wildlife all enclosed in this state lying on the western coast of India. The appealing temples and sacred sites intrigue myriads of people not only from India but from all over the globe to find delight in the charms and spells of this mystical land.

Planning a trip to this beautiful province would require you to heap up all your adrenaline for this endless thrill train and of course a catalog of the best places to scourge. No need to worry about the latter because we have managed to compile together a scroll of the most revered and enchanting temples of Gujarat to tour and emerge yourself into the divine pantheon of devotion.

1. Somnath Temple

Somnath Temple

Somnath, meaning “Lord of the Moon”, is the first of the twelve Aadi Jyotirlingas of India and symbolic of its relationship with Chandra (the moon god) as he was relieved from his curse by bathing at the site. The legends describe the temple’s structure made up of sandalwood by Sompura Salats, one of Gujarat’s master masons. As inscribed in an arrow pillar called Baan-Stambh of the temple, Somnath is placed at a point where there is no land in the straight line between the temple seashore and Antarctica. People usually take the gripping Dwarka Somnath Tour from Delhi to visit this divine shrine in the pleasant winters.

• Location: The temple sits in the Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat.
• Opening And Closing Times: 5:00 AM TO 9:00 PM - All days of the week.
• Best Time to Visit: September to March stands out as the best months to visit the temple because of the pleasant cold weather of winter. Otherwise, the Somnath temple is extremely hot and humid in the summer and monsoon season.

2. Dwarkadhish Temple

Dwarkadhish Temple

Dwarkadheesh, also known as Jagat Mandir or Trilok Mandir, is a temple of Lord Krishna who is also called by the name “Dwarkadheesh” which translates to the “King of Dwarka”. It is one of the most assailed Hindu pilgrimage temples and is formed of soft limestone and granite. Embellished with Chalukya Style architecture, the temple has two entrance doors-Moksh Dwara and Swarga Dwara. It is flushed with ancient scriptures and Picturisation that captivates the minds of the tourists who reach there in search of a divine connection.

• Location: This holy site is based on the bank of the Gomati River in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat.
• Opening and Closing Times: From 6:30AM to 9:30PM - All days of the week.
• Best Time to Visit: The recommended time to tour the temple is between the months of October to March during pleasant and cool weather.

3. Koteshwar Temple

Koteshwar Temple

At the bounds of the vast dry desert, situated on a sandstone mound and the last frontier of human-made foundation on the westernmost limit of India. The myth says that the temple is formed around a magical Shivalinga given to Ravana by Lord Shiva as a reward for his piety which shattered into millions of pieces at this site, and thus the name “Koteshwar” meaning- ten million gods.

• Location: It is built near the mouth of Kori Creek, in the west of Kutch district, Gujarat.
• Opening and Closing Times: Morning 6:30 to 12:30 and Evening 4:30 to 9:30.
• Best Time to Visit: The preferred months to enjoy a trip to this holy temple is from October to March during the winter.

4. Ambaji Mata Temple

Ambaji Mata Temple

It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of India which were believed to have been formed by the body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi falling in different regions when Lord Shiva carried her dead body in grief and it is said that her heart fell on this pious site. The temple beholds no idol or picture in the temple but only a simple cave called Gokh, in which there is a gold-plated holy Shakti Visa Shree Yantra to be worshipped, and that only after tying a bandage on the eyes. Neighboring the Ambaji Temple, there is a huge, beautiful rectangular Kund called Mansarovar.

• Location: It is located in Ambaji town in Banaskantha district in the state of Gujarat.
• Opening and Closing Times: It is open for Darshan from 7AM to 12:30AM and then again from 4:30PM to 9:30PM on all days of the week.
• Best Time to Visit: The ideal time to visit the temple begins in October and February during the chilly weather in order to behold the temple in all its glory.

5. Modhera Sun Temple

Modhera Sun Temple

The temple is devoted to the Hindu Sun God named ‘Surya’ and one could only feel absolutely stunned by the precision and style of this jaw-dropping structure but unfortunately, now it stands as just another magnificent ruin after its destruction by Mahmud Ghazni. The temple was so built that during every equinox when the initial sunbeams would fall on a diamond aperture placed on the deity Surya’s head, the entire temple would gleam up in a golden glow. This marvelous creation stands out as a perfect example of ageless creativity and astounding Hard Work.

• Location: The sacred temple is located at Modhera village in the Mehsana district of the state on the bank of the river Pushpavati.
• Opening and Closing Times: The visiting hours are from 8AM to 6PM for all days of the week.
• Best Time to Visit: The favorable time to visit this incredible place is from October to March when the temperature falls in the range of 12 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

6. Shree Swaminarayan Temple

Akshardham Temple

It is also known by the name of Akshardham Temple. The main temple houses many Gods such as Nar Narayan Dev, Dharam Bhakti Mata, and an idol in the form of a child that has been installed in Akshar Bhawan, named Ghanshyam Maharaj, along with the personal items of Swaminarayan that have been put there for display. There are different artistic ‘Havelis’ located on every side of the main temple, one of which holds a temple for women only. The masterpiece offers a blend of local, regional, and British architecture and sculpture giving you an ethereal sight of art and beauty.

• Location: This pristine temple holds ground in Kalupur of Ahmedabad and it is accredited as the first temple of Guru Swaminarayan Sampraday.
• Opening and Closing Times: The timings for visits are from 5:00AM to 8:00PM for all days of the week and the visit duration is usually about 30 minutes.
• Best Time to Visit: If you are planning a trip to this beautiful shrine, the best time of year for it would be from September to March.

7. Bala Hanuman Temple

Bala Hanuman Temple

Bala Hanuman temple is distinguished for its endless chanting of ‘Shri Ram, Jai Ram’ since August 1st, 1964 for each and every moment of the day. This act of devotion earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records also. Bala Hanuman temple abodes the icons of Lord Rama, Lakshman, Sita, and of course the magnificent Lord Hanuman. The local population has profound faith in this temple that shields them from natural calamities and troubles. The ‘Aarti’ is performed twice a day in the temple and the evening ‘Aarti’ is the most attended ceremony of the day.

• Location: It is located near the Narvekar novelty of Gulab Nagar in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat.
• Opening and Closing Times: The temple is open for Darshan for 24 hours all days of the week
• Best Time to Visit: The perfect time to visit this sacred site is from the months of October to January.

8. Rukmini Temple

Rukmini Temple

This small temple inferred to belong to the 12th Century, away from the town of Dwarka, is dedicated to Rukmini who was the most important wife of Lord Krishna out of his 16,108 wives. The story behind this temple is that of the curse given by Durvasa to Lord Krishna and Rukmini to stay apart from each other forever.

It is a richly carved temple adorned with hundreds of sculptures of Gods and Goddesses on the exterior with an enormous image of Rukmini inside the sanctum. The chief classical mausoleum contrasts boldly with the hemispherical arcade of the pavilion. The site provides a luscious glance into the vibrant religious culture of the country.

• Location: It is located 1.5 km North of Dwarka on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat.
• Opening and Closing Times: The temple can be visited from 6AM to 5PM.
• Best Time to Visit: The ideal time to explore this mystical and charming place is the months from October to February when the climate is friendly and cool.

9. Bileshwar Mahadev Temple

Bileshwar Mahadev Temple

This spiritual spectacle piece of beauty is an old sanctuary dedicated to the destroyer, Lord Shiva. The legend tells how the Mughal army was vanquished and killed mysteriously after they attacked and tried to break the linga installed in this sacred structure. Three grand fairs are held here when hundreds of people come here to worship the Mahadev. This multi-storeyed temple illustrates the Gujarati style of architecture with a pyramid-shaped building. Besides the Shivalinga called ‘Swamabhyu’, there are idols of Devi Ganga, goddess Parvati, and Nandi.

• Location: This enormous structure is located in Bileshwar village in Ranavav Taluka of Porbandar in Gujarat.
• Opening and Closing Times: The visiting hours are from 6AM to 5PM with no entry fee.
• Best Time to Visit: October to February are the best months for a trip to this religious shrine.

10. Kalika Mata Temple

Kalika Mata Temple

At an altitude of 2,625 feet, it is a Hindu goddess temple complex and also one of the Shakti Peethas of India. The temple sanctum contains images of three goddesses-Kalika Mata, Kali, and Bahuchara Mata. Placed in the middle of the opaque rich forest canopy on a cliff, the temple has been acclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A distinct feature of this place that sets it apart from other shrines is that its complexity is divided into two portions-the ground floor constitutes Hindu shrines, while the upper spire has a dome with a Muslim chapel.

• Location: It is situated on a cliff in between the dense forests nearby Halol in Pavagadh of Gujarat state.
• Opening and Closing Times: The temple can be visited from 5AM to 7PM for all days of the week.
• Best Time to Visit: The best season to visit the Kalika Mata Temple is the winters-October to February.

Therefore we find a plethora of such culturally and piously enriched places of spiritual knowledge and divine attainment in this fascinating state of Gujarat. The mythical and spellbinding tour through the tales and folklores of deities and supernatural beings presiding over these marvelous structures we call temples to compel us to explore our spiritual potential and move our consciousness into the sublime state of peace and heavenliness.