Gauri Somnath Temple

One of the biggest shrines of Lord Shiva in Omkareshwar, Gauri Somnath Temple is located in the Mandhata Island, Khandwa District (Madhya Pradesh). This temple is a three-storeyed structure made in the shape of a peahen and constructed in the Bhumji style of architecture. The whole temple looks like a star-shaped structure. The sanctum Santorum (garbha griha) holds a large Shiva Linga of about 6 feet, made up of a glazy stone on a Jalhari. On the backside of the garbha griha there are beautiful idols of three dev Kulikas. One can also get to see the idol of Goddess Parvati and Shiva consort behind this Linga. Another attraction of this temple is the idol of Nandi, sitting outside the main sanctum of the temple, facing the Shiva Linga. One needs to climb around 200 stairs to get a glimpse of this star-shaped architectural beauty.

While visiting Gauri Somnath Temple, one can see the Patali Hanuman Mandir here. This small temple is situated on the parikrama path and houses a statue of Bajrang Bali (Hanuman Ji). A Shiv Pratima is also found in the parikrama path which is at about 90ft high. The huge statue of Lord Shiva is held firmly by a beautiful temple constructed below it. This temple is maintained by Sri Rajrajeshwari Seva Sansthan Trust.

Fact And Trivia About Gauri Somnath Temple, Omkareswar:

The temple has a surreal vibe associated with it. It is said that Mughal emperor Aurungzeb had destroyed this temple during his reign. As per the legends, the Shiva Linga of the temple had the ability to show future births, until it was destroyed by Emperor Aurangzeb. After this incident, the powers of the Lingam were lost forever. It is also said that no one apart from an uncle and nephew pair can touch their hand while embracing the Shiva Linga from opposite ends.

Travel Tips For Gauri Somnath Temple:

Visitors will have to follow Hindu Temple customs such as removing of shoes outside the temple and putting on simple clothing.

Best Time To Visit Here:

The best season to visit Omkareshwar and Gauri Somnath Temple is the winter season. The temperature in this period remains pleasant and is apt for visiting the places of interest in Omkareshwar. The best months to visit here are from the months of September to March.

Nearby Attractions Here:

While visiting Gauri Somnath Temple you can explore some other tourist attractions such as Satmatrika Temples, 24 Avatars Group Of Temples, Mamleshwar Temple, Siddhanath Temple, Kedareshwar Temple, Kajal Rani Cave, Mandleshwar, Tincha Falls, Maheshwar, Patalpani Waterfalls, Pipliyapala Regional Park, Indore Zoo, and many more.

How to Reach Gauri Somnath Temple:

Once one reaches Omkareswar, he/she can easily reach the Gauri Somnath Temple by hiring a car, taxi or rickshaw.

• By Bus-The Gauri Somnath Temple is just at a distance of 0.6 Km from the Omkareswar bus stand and could be reached easily in 4 minutes. Visitors can board a bus from Ujjain, Indore or Khandwa to reach here.

• By Air- The airports nearest to Omkareshwar are Indore (77km) and Ujjain (133km).

• By Train-The nearest railway station is at a distance of 12 km away from Omkareswar, but it is not on the mainline and is not even connected to the major cities. So, for the railway passengers, the nearest major railway station is Indore which is 77 km from Omkareswar.

Additional information For Gauri Somnath Temple, Omkareswar:

There is no entrance ticket for this temple. The temple remains open on all day of the week. The temple timing is from 5 am to 6 pm. But the most preferred time to visit this temple is from 8 am to 4 pm.