Somnath Temple, the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas, has today become a global center of faith, culture and sustainable development. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the temple has entered a golden era with connectivity, environment protection and digital facilities.
Gandhinagar. ‘Saurashtra Somnath Ch…’ This line of Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotra tells that when the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of India are described, the name of Somnath comes first. This reflects the supreme place of Somnath in the culture, faith and spiritual tradition of India. Somnath is not only a temple, but it is also a symbol of India’s indestructible cultural consciousness and self-respect.
Golden era of Somnath under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
In the last two decades, Somnath Temple has entered a new golden era under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After becoming the Chairman of Shri Somnath Trust, he gave a new direction to the development, conservation and global identity of the temple. With this a new chapter of the overall development of Somnath began.
2026: Historic milestone in the history of Somnath
The year 2026 holds special significance in the history of Somnath. This year will complete 1000 years of the first attack by Mahmud Ghaznavi in the year 1026. Even after such a long time, Somnath Temple stands firm with full glory. Also, in 2026 itself, 75 years of reconstruction of Somnath temple is going to be completed. On 11 May 1951, the reconstruction of the temple was completed and it was opened to devotees.
Prime Minister will participate in ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’
Making these historic occasions more special, the Prime Minister will visit Somnath on January 11 and participate in the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’. This event will become a symbol of India’s faith, self-respect and cultural renaissance.
Somnath: Confluence of devotion, grandeur and determination
The Somnath Temple is a symbol of the unwavering devotion, courage and artistry of three generations with 1,666 golden urns and 14,200 flags on its peak. Every year lakhs of devotees come to visit this Jyotirlinga.
Between 2020 and 2024, an average of 97 lakh devotees reach Somnath every year.
Bilva Puja, Mahashivratri and digital features
In the last two years, 13.77 lakh devotees participated in Bilva Puja, including 3.56 lakh devotees during Mahashivratri 2025. Today, the sanctity of Somnath is reaching the devotees of the country and abroad through facilities like online booking and postal prasad.
Center of culture and celebration with faith
Somnath Temple is not only a center of faith but also a major place of celebration and culture. More than 10 lakh people watched the light and sound show organized in the temple premises in the last three years. The Vande Somnath Art Festival held in 2024 saw the revival of 1,500 year old dance traditions, presenting the cultural heritage of Somnath on the global stage.
Somnath connected with modern transportation and global connectivity
Major improvements in connectivity have been made to make the journey to Somnath easy and convenient. The Jetpur-Somnath four-lane highway, built at a cost of Rs 828 crore, provides expressway-like facilities to the devotees. Sabarmati-Veraval Vande Bharat Express has made the journey from Ahmedabad to Somnath fast and comfortable.
Air connectivity facilitates international tourists
After the reopening of Keshod Airport in 2022 and Rajkot International Airport inaugurated in 2023, access to Somnath has become even easier for international devotees.
Somnath in the direction of becoming a net-zero temple
Somnath, which received the status of ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ in the year 2018, has today become an ideal example of sustainable development. 1,700 Bilva trees are being conserved by preparing vermicompost from temple flowers.
Mission Life, Plastic Recycling and Women Empowerment
Under Mission Life, 4,700 paver blocks are being made every month from plastic waste. This will lead to annual recycling of 125 tonnes of plastic and provide employment to local women self-help groups.
Water conservation, sewage treatment and Miyawaki forest
The rain water wells and reservoirs, restored at a cost of Rs 62 lakh, purify 30 lakh liters of water every month. Sewage treatment plants established with an investment of Rs 160 lakh have so far made 20.53 crore liters of water reusable. The Miyawaki Forest, spread over 72,000 square feet, protects from sea breezes and will absorb 93,000 kilograms of CO₂ annually.
‘Som Gangajal’ service and public welfare
The sacred water of Abhishek is made available as ‘Som Gangajal’ after nine-stage purification for just Rs 15. By December 2024, 1.13 lakh families have taken advantage of this.
Somnath on top in Google search and social media
Somnath is included in the top-10 most searched places by Indians on Google. In the year 2025, its social media impressions crossed 1.37 billion. This reflects the popularity and spiritual importance of Somnath globally.
Symbol of India’s faith and self-respect
Somnath Temple is not just a memory of the past but an inspiration for building a developed India. In the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “If Somnath, which was broken a thousand years ago, can stand again in glory, then India too can regain its ancient prosperity.”