Gujarat is one of the holiest states in India. Situated on the westernmost end of the subcontinent, it holds an immensely pious place in the heart of every Hindu. Being the erstwhile kingdom of Lord Krishna himself, Gujarat continues to attract spiritual seekers and religious folks from all over the world. Conserving the rich religious heritage of the state, every step of the way here will open up brand new temples. The entire state is dotted all over with temples and religious sites dedicated to some important cause or the other. A visit to Gujarat will be a soul-enriching experience and a lifetime worth of memories is guaranteed.
List of the 20 Popular Temples in Gujarat
1. Somnath Temple, Veraval
Located in Prabhas Patan, Somnath Mahadev Mandir is one of the most important places of worship, not just in Gujarat but in India. Dedicated to lord Shiva this stunning temple graces the bank of the Arabian Sea and attracts Devouts from all over the world. According to Hindu scriptures, the temple currently stands on the place where the first Jyotirlinga had appeared. The temple has been through a very tumultuous history of destruction, looting, and robbery by foreign invaders. However, the dedication of the locals always prevailed and the temple continued to be rebuilt every time. The current temple is constructed in the Maru Gurjara style of architecture and is the 16th version of Somnath Temple.
Suggested Tour
- Dwarka Somnath Tour
- Statue of Unity Package
- Gujarat Wildlife Tour
- Gujarat Temple Tour
- Gujarat Desert Beach Tour
- Saurashtra Darshan Tour
2. Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka
Situated in the heart of Dwarka city and tall temple with a massive flailing flag can be seen from a distance. This is the extremely pious Dwarkadhish Temple. Built on top of the erstwhile home of lord Krishna by his great-grandson Vajranabha Dwarkadhish is one of the most important places of Krishna worship in the world. This marvel of a temple is a part of the holy Char Dham Yatra Pilgrimage along with Badrinath, Rameswaram, and Jagannath temples. This 98th Divya Desam is an engineering marvel with 5 stories being supported by 72 pillars. Also known as Jagat Mandir, this temple is a must-visit.
Suggested Tour
- Dwarka Somnath Tour from Ahmedabad
- Dwarka Somnath Tour from Bangalore
- Dwarka Somnath Tour from Mumbai
- Dwarka Somnath Tour from Hyderabad
3. Kirti Mandir, Porbandar
Kirti Mandir is a temple like no other. Dedicated to the father of the nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, this unique Mandir is situated in Porbandar, Baapu’s birthplace. It can also be defined as a small museum dedicated to Gandhiji that displays his entire life trajectory through life-size paintings, writings, books, etc. One could get to know a lot about our renowned father of the nation through this temple. This place has been visited by world leaders and one can catch a glimpse of what life used to be when this place was occupied by Gandhi and his wife.
Must Read: Best Places to Visit in Gujarat
4. Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar
The literal translation of Akshardham is ‘the divine abode of god’. This eternal place is for devotees to visit, spend some peaceful time meditating, and have a deeply moving experience that lasts forever. Situated in Gandhinagar, this temple can be referred to as a Hindu house of worship or a spiritual and cultural center dedicated to devotion, education, and the concept of unification. Its peaceful environment and stunning architectural style echo loudly about the vibrant Hindu traditions. The temple stands as a tribute to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his avatars, devas, and sages of Hinduism.
5. Rukmini Devi Temple, Dwarka
Situated in the holy Dwarka city, the temple is dedicated to goddess Rukmini Devi, the first queen of Krishna in Dwarka. The temple is extremely richly carved and well-decorated with sculptures and images of various gods and goddesses. According to studies done on the temple, the current temple style and structure can be dated to the 19th century however the earliest structure can be dated 2,500 years ago. The temple is known for its Jal Daan or water offering custom where the devotees are asked to donate water to the temple. It is a unique ritual indeed.
6. Bala Hanuman Temple, Jamnagar
The Bala Hanuman Temple is situated at the southeast end of Ranmal or Lakhota Lake in Jamnagar. The simple-looking temple structure is an extremely important place of Hanuman worship along with the worship of lord Ram, Lakshman, and goddess Sita. One of the most interesting facts about this temple is that the sacred Ram Dhun can be heard here continuously 24/7, day in and day out which is also acknowledged by the Guinness World Record. The local population has deep faith in the temple as a protector from natural calamities. The evening Aarti that takes place every day is one of the most awaited events for the day at the temple.
7. Sun Temple, Modhera
Dedicated to the solar deity of Hinduism called Surya Dev, the sun temple of Gujarat is an iconic temple situated in the village of Modhera. Situated on the banks of the Pushpavati River the temple was built after 1026 during the rule of the Chalukya dynasty. As of now, no worship is offered inside the temple’s main sanctum however the entire building is very well maintained, managed, and looked after by the archaeological survey of India. The halls have intricately carved-out interiors, exteriors, and pillars. The large reservoir with several steps built in a synchronized manner looks absolutely stunning.
8. Ambaji Mata Temple
Ambaji Mata Temple is the main shrine of the goddess and is situated in the district of Banaskantha. Being one of the 51 Shakti Peethas across India, the temple holds a lot of importance in the life of devout Shakti believers. The goddess has been worshipped since the pre-Vedic era where she is also often referred to as Arasuri Ambaji. The inner sanctum of the temple houses a silver-plated welcome door. During your visit make sure to look across the temple and towards the other temple on Gabbar Hill, which is believed to be the original and the first abode of the goddess.
Suggested Tour
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Vishakhapatnam
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Vijayawada
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Pune
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Patna
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Nagpur
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Madurai
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Kolkata
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Jaipur
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Chennai
- Gujarat Tour Packages from Mumbai
9. Nishkalangeshwar Temple
Located in the Bhavnagar region of Gujarat, Nishkalank Mahadev Temple is a rare temple in India and a must-add to your Gujarat trip. Dedicated to Lord Shiva the temple is located about a km into the sea. The temple has 5 distinct Swayambhu Shiva lingams placed on a platform and each linga is having a Nandi statue facing it. The temple lingams remain submerged in the sea during high tides and only emerge during low tides. This is the time when the devotees offer prayer to the lingam. The temple was built with a lot of care in order to withstand the high tides that lashed against it.
10. Jambavan Cave Temple
The Jambavan Cave in Porbandar is situated 17 kms away from the Porbandar railway station. This ancient cave is also known as Jambavan Ki Gufa, and it draws its name from being the resting place for the warrior Jambavan. He has found his mention in various Hindu epics like Ramayan and Mahabharat. It is said that this is the place where Lord Krishna and Jambavan had fought for the Syamantaka Jewel for 28 days. The cave displays over 50 Shivlingas that are all formed naturally. The main Shivling is inside the natural cave. All the lingas are made out of continuous water droplets trickling down the cave’s ceilings.
11. Gopnath Shiva Temple
Situated on the shores of the Gulf of Khambhat, Gopnath Mahadev Temple is located at a distance of 22 km away from Bhavnagar district. This is one of the oldest Shiva temples of the region and several famous and highly intellectual people have graced the temple with their presence. It can also be called the diamond hub of the bygone era. Due to its close location to the sea devotees can enjoy stunning views of the surroundings, especially during the evening Aarti time. It is an ideal family spiritual getaway.
12. Trimandir, Vadodara
Trimandir in Vadodara is like a temple like no other. Situated in the village of Adalaj, the temple focuses on the science behind a temple. The Trimandir is an innovative concept developed by Param Pujya A.M. Patel who is also known as Dada Bhagwan. In this temple the lords of the three main religions in India are housed, these are from Jainism, Shaivism, and Vaishnavism. This is truly a one-of-a-kind temple that is non-sectarian in nature. The design of the temple allows the worship of all these lords in one place at one time and on the same platform.
13. Hanuman Mandir
Situated in the village of Sarangpur this iconic Hanuman Hindu temple is a part of the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. Considered one of the oldest and the most prominent temples in Gujarat, lord Hanuman here is worshipped as Kashtabhanjan Dev, who was the Rudra Avatar Shiva. He is also considered to have taken the avatar during the Treta Yuga in order to help out lord ram. The idol of the lord here was installed by Gopalanand Swami. It is also reported that when the swami had torched the idol with an iron stick it came to life and moved.
14. Mahudi Jain Temple
Situated in the town of Mahudi, Gandhinagar, Mahudi Jain Temple is a major pilgrimage center for the Jains. The temple spreads out over an area of 2 sq. km and was referred to as Madhumati during the ancient times. The findings of various idols and artistic stuff show that the temple is almost 2,000 years old. One of the main sources of information is a Brahmi script that was discovered on-site. The inspiration for the temple was bestowed on Acharyadev Buddhi Sagar Surishwarji in his dream in 1923 AD. The idol is believed to have miraculous healing powers.
15. Kalika Mata Temple
Kalika Mata Temple is a Hindu goddess temple complex and pilgrim center located at the summit of Pavagadh Hills within the Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park. Dating from the 10th to 11th century, the temple has three images of goddesses, the central image being of Kalika Mata with images of Kali and Bahuchara Mata flanking the right and left simultaneously. Reachable through a ropeway, the temple is also famous for being a site for one of the holy Shaktipeeth. Being the oldest temple in the area it is also very well preserved and maintained since it is a part of the UNESCO world heritage site.
16. Koteshwar Temple
Kutch is one of the most interesting places on the planet. While traveling through the expansive white salt desert of Kutch you will come across Koteshwar Mahadev Temple. The temple is built in an extremely elegant and beautiful style and unlike any other famous temples of Gujarat, Koteshwar Mahadev is very peaceful. It is also the perfect spot to contemplate and perform some intense meditation away from the bustle of city life. Visitors can take a walk along the beach while also getting in touch with their spiritual side.
17. Krishna Sudama Temple
Temples in Gujarat are extremely special and unique. One such unique temple is the Krishna Sudama Temple. Constructed in the early 20th century, the temple occupies a central space amidst the bustling market of Porbandar. Light pink in color, the temple was built to mark and commemorate the friendship shared between Lord Krishna and his very close trusted friend Sudama. The temple is simple in its outlook and is adorned stunningly with marble pillars and intricately carved and designed Shikhara. Constructed in the memory of Shri Ram Devji Jethwa the complex also houses a small Stepwell.
18. Shri Hari Mandir
Also known as Sandipani Temple and situated about 5 km away from the main city of Porbandar, Shri Hari Mandir is one of the most beautiful temples in Gujarat. Amongst all the temples of Saurashtra, the temple is a vision of Pujya Bhaishri who felt that there was a need for this temple to be built. Held up with the help of 66 pillars, the temple is capped off with stunningly carved-out domes and has occupied the place for being one of the largest temples in Gujarat. Being situated between Dwarkadheesh and Somnath Mahadev Temples, Shri Hari Mandir is a must-visit.
19. Shri Shatrunjaya Temple
Located on the banks of the holy River Shetrunji at a comfortable elevation of 50 meters above sea level, Shatrunjaya is a holy hilly range that shares similarities with other such Jain Temples on the hills. The Jain’s sacred hill of Shatrunjaya has a collection of 865 temples on top of itself. These hills are extremely pious as it was first sanctified and purified by Rishabha, the first Jain Tirthankara who had given his first sermon on top of this hill. It is one of the most sacred places for the Shwetambara sect of Jains and is regularly frequented by them as a part of their pilgrimage.
20. Hutheesing Jain Temple
Constructed in 1848 by the Hutheesing family of Gujarat, this Jain Temple is a visual treat. The temple blends and displays the old Maru Gurjara style of temple construction with new elements of Haveli design. Situated in Ahmedabad, the temple is supported by 12 ornate pillars, intricately carved out spires, and 52 small shrines dedicated to various Tirthankaras. Showcasing a sprawling courtyard the temple is dedicated to the 15th Jain Tirthankara Shri Dharmanatha. From the magnificently decorated columns to large protruding porches, everything about this temple is awe-inspiring.
Must Read: Historical Places in Gujarat
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