A four-day plan works for most families doing the Dwarka Somnath yatra: two nights in Dwarka, one long drive of roughly 230 km along the coast, and a night in Somnath. Your starting city and how far your parents can walk will change that. This guide covers the route, the temple rules that affect seniors and the mistakes that cost the most time.
Quick answer: Plan four days and three nights. Stay two nights in Dwarka for Dwarkadhish Temple, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and Bet Dwarka, then drive 230 km to Somnath (the Somnath Trust’s figure) for one night. Allow about five hours plus stops. October to March is the more comfortable season. With senior citizens, give the drive a day of its own.
Where Dwarka and Somnath Are
Dwarka sits on the western tip of the Saurashtra peninsula in Devbhoomi Dwarka district. Its main shrine, Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir), is dedicated to Krishna and counted among the Char Dham. Somnath is at Prabhas Patan beside Veraval in Gir Somnath district, and Somnath Temple is first among the twelve Jyotirlingas.
Two more stops belong to the Dwarka leg. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is 17 to 18 km from Dwarka town on the road to Okha, so it is not a Somnath stop. Bet Dwarka, the island linked with Krishna’s residence, lies beyond Okha, 30 to 36 km from Dwarka.
Best Time for the Dwarka Somnath Yatra
Season and Weather
October to March generally gives more comfortable sightseeing weather. Monsoon rain disrupts road travel, and Somnath’s light and sound show does not run in rain. Summer is hot on the coast, so plan darshan for the early morning.
Festival Crowds
Dwarkadhish draws its biggest crowds on Janmashtami, and the Somnath Trust lists Shravan month, Shivratri and the five-day Kartik Purnima fair among its major events. Check the festival calendar before fixing dates with elderly parents.
How to Reach Dwarka and Somnath
By Air and Train
| Dwarka | Somnath | |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Porbandar, 95 to 110 km depending on the source; Jamnagar, roughly 130 to 145 km | Diu, 85 km on the Somnath Trust’s figure. Government listings also name Keshod, about 65 km; check current flights before choosing it |
| Railway station | Dwarka, 2 to 2.5 km from the temple | Somnath, 0.5 km from the temple; Veraval, 7 km |
An overnight train links Okha and Veraval. Somnath station is closer to the temple, so check where your ticket ends.
By Road: Dwarka to Somnath Distance and Route
The Somnath Trust gives the distance as 230 km. Tour itineraries list 230 to 250 km and 4.5 to 5 hours of driving, so measure your own hotel-to-hotel route. State buses take close to six hours.
Faster Coastal Route via Porbandar
NH-51 passes Gandhvi, Porbandar, Madhavpur, Mangrol and Chorwad. The Trust puts Porbandar 130 km from Somnath, so it sits roughly 100 km from Dwarka and is the natural break. Kirti Mandir (Gandhi’s birthplace) and the Sudama Temple are short stops.
Longer Inland Route via Manavadar
An alternative of about 255 km goes through Manavadar and joins the coastal road near Porbandar. Let your driver choose based on current road conditions.
How Many Days the Dwarka Somnath Tour Needs
| Duration | Suits | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days, 2 nights | Fit adults with limited leave | Dwarka and Somnath with Nageshwar squeezed in and no rest day |
| 4 days, 3 nights | Families with senior citizens | Adds Bet Dwarka and a separate drive day |
| 5 days, 4 nights | Families who want more | Adds Sasan Gir (65 km from Somnath) or Diu (85 km) |
These counts start on the day you reach Dwarka. From Ahmedabad, the road to Dwarka alone is well over 400 km, so packages that start there spend day one travelling. Most itineraries go Dwarka first, since Gir, Diu and Junagadh lie beyond Somnath. For Dakor and Nathdwara as well, see the Panch Dwarka tour, a nine-day route.
What the Dwarka Somnath Yatra Costs
Gujarat Expert lists these packages per person on double sharing, with hotel stay, meals, transfers and sightseeing among the inclusions. Prices are as displayed on 10 October 2026 and can change, so check the package page first.
| Package | Route | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days, 2 nights | Ahmedabad, Dwarka, Somnath | INR 13,240 |
| 4 days, 3 nights | Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Dwarka, Porbandar, Somnath | INR 15,620 |
| 4 days, 3 nights with Nageshwar | Ahmedabad, Dwarka, Nageshwar, Porbandar, Somnath, Junagadh | INR 15,070 |
| 5 days, 4 nights with Diu | Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Dwarka, Porbandar, Somnath, Diu | INR 18,470 |
The two 4-day packages fit this guide’s plan most closely: the 4-day Jyotirlinga tour and the 4-day tour with Nageshwar. The 3-day tour and the 5-day tour with Diu cover the shortest and longest versions. The site’s enquiry form states that a personalised quote follows within two hours.
A 4-day Dwarka Somnath Itinerary for Families
Day-Wise Plan
| Day | Plan | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reach Dwarka, check in near the temple, evening darshan, short walk at Gomti Ghat | A light first day after travel |
| 2 | Morning at Nageshwar and Bet Dwarka. Rest after lunch. Evening at Rukmini Temple, about 2 km from Dwarkadhish | Outlying sites fall in the cooler hours |
| 3 | Drive to Somnath via Porbandar. Check in and rest. Attend the 7 PM aarti if you arrive in time; the 7 AM aarti is the fallback | The drive gets a day to itself |
| 4 | 7 AM aarti and darshan, then Triveni Sangam and Bhalka Tirtha. Onward, Rajkot is about 200 km and Ahmedabad about 390 km (Trust figures) | Ahmedabad is a full travel day |
Planning the Dwarka Somnath Yatra Around the Long Drive
Leave Dwarka after breakfast and you should reach Somnath by mid-afternoon. That leaves rest time before the 7 PM aarti, but a late lunch or traffic can use it up. With only three days, drop Bet Dwarka instead of squeezing the drive. The stops on Day 2 and Day 4 have their own pages: Rukmini Temple and Bhalka Tirtha.
Temple Timings, Queues and Rules
| Temple | Listed timings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dwarkadhish Temple | 6:30 AM to 1 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM | Ministry of Tourism listing. Closed through the afternoon; festival days differ |
| Somnath Temple | 6 AM to 10 PM; aartis at 7 AM, 12 noon and 7 PM | Somnath Trust FAQ |
| Somnath light and sound show | 8 PM to 9 PM (FAQ); 7:45 PM to 8:45 PM (another Trust page) | Not held in rain |
At Dwarkadhish: Steps and Mobility
The temple stands on a small rise reached by about 56 steps; Gujarat Tourism says 50 plus. The sources checked say nothing official about wheelchair or ramp access, so ask your hotel for the current arrangement and mention at booking if a parent cannot manage steps.
At Somnath: Security, Phones and Mobility Help
Entry is free. The Trust’s FAQ prohibits phones, cameras, smartwatches and photography, and provides free lockers in the cloak room. Wheelchairs and golf carts for seniors are at the main gate, with a lift inside. Dress modestly. The FAQ lists no paid darshan tickets, so treat anyone selling one with caution. For nearby temples, the Trust’s Tirth Darshan bus leaves the main gate at 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Tips for Senior Citizens
- Pick a Dwarka hotel close to the temple and ask for the walking distance in writing; see hotels in Dwarka.
- In Somnath, the Trust takes online bookings at three guest houses (Sagar Darshan, Lilavati and Maheshwari); private options are under hotels in Somnath.
- Do queues and outlying sites in the morning and rest in the afternoon.
- Cross to Bet Dwarka by road over the Sudarshan Setu, opened on 25 February 2024. Ferries from Okha jetty are still listed, but the bridge spares parents a boat.
- Pilgrims traditionally bathe in the Gomti before Dwarkadhish. The ghat has steps, so ask your priest whether sprinkling the water will do if bathing is hard.
- Book one car and driver for the whole route, for example through car rental in Dwarka.
- Carry prescriptions and regular medicines, and speak to a parent’s doctor before fixing dates if they have a heart or blood pressure condition.
An Illustrative Planning Scenario
This scenario describes no real customer. A family with two parents in their late sixties sees Dwarka in the morning and leaves for Somnath at noon to save a night. Assuming about five hours of driving plus lunch, they reach Somnath after dark and miss the 7 PM aarti. One extra night would have avoided that.
Common Mistakes
- Treating Nageshwar Jyotirlinga as a Somnath stop. It is near Dwarka.
- Combining Bet Dwarka and the Somnath drive on the same day.
- Arriving at Dwarkadhish at midday without checking the afternoon closure.
- Carrying phones to Somnath and losing time at the cloak room.
- Planning the Ahmedabad return for the same day as Somnath darshan.
Planning This Yatra with Gujarat Expert
Gujarat Expert is a local operator based in Jetpur, Rajkot district, and says it has run Gujarat tours for eight years. Its Dwarka Somnath tour packages page lists the routes above, with hotels and a choice of vehicles. Ask for a written, day-wise quote that shows the drive day separately and the hotel distance from each temple. The how to book page explains the booking steps, and you can contact the team directly.
Conclusion
For a family with senior citizens, book four days and keep the drive on its own day. If your parents manage steps and long days well, three days can work. Send your dates, group size and mobility needs, and get the quote in writing before you pay.
FAQs
How far is Dwarka from Somnath?
The Somnath Trust gives 230 km. Tour itineraries list 230 to 250 km and 4.5 to 5 hours of driving, and state buses take close to six hours.
How many days are enough for the Dwarka Somnath yatra?
Four days and three nights suits families with seniors. Three days works for fit adults who skip Bet Dwarka. Most itineraries visit Dwarka first, then Somnath.
What is the best time to visit Dwarka and Somnath?
October to March generally gives more comfortable weather. Somnath’s light and sound show does not run in rain, so monsoon visits lose it.
Is Nageshwar Jyotirlinga near Somnath or Dwarka?
Near Dwarka, 17 to 18 km away on the road to Okha. It belongs on the Dwarka leg of the trip.
Is this yatra suitable for senior citizens?
Yes, with planning. Dwarkadhish has about 56 steps, Somnath offers wheelchairs, golf carts and a lift, and the 230 km drive should get a day of its own.
Are phones allowed inside Somnath Temple, and is there an entry fee?
Entry is free. Phones, cameras, smartwatches and other electronics are prohibited, and free lockers are in the cloak room.
What are the Dwarkadhish Temple timings?
The Ministry of Tourism lists 6:30 AM to 1 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM. Timings change on festival days, so confirm locally.
How do I reach Bet Dwarka?
Drive to Okha, about 30 to 36 km from Dwarka, then cross by road over the Sudarshan Setu, open since February 2024. Ferries from Okha jetty are still listed as an alternative.
Which airport and railway station are closest to Somnath?
The Trust lists Diu airport at 85 km. Somnath railway station is 0.5 km from the temple and Veraval station is 7 km away.
