5 Day Dwarka Somnath Gir Itinerary: Temples and a Lion Safari

A 5 day trip is the ideal length to combine the two great temple towns of Dwarka and Somnath with a lion safari at Gir, covering the sacred and the wild in one journey. This day-by-day itinerary, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, lays out a smooth, well-paced route with the temples, the coast and the Asiatic lion, so you can plan or book a perfect Saurashtra holiday.

The 5 day itinerary at a glance

Here is the full 5 day Dwarka, Somnath and Gir itinerary at a glance, before the detailed day-by-day plan below:

This route flows naturally from the far western tip of Saurashtra at Dwarka, down the coast to Somnath and inland to Gir, with no backtracking. What sets this 5 day plan apart from a shorter pilgrimage trip is that it builds in a full Gir lion safari alongside the temples, for the complete Saurashtra experience of the sacred and the wild. Each day is well paced, mixing darshan, sightseeing, a scenic drive and the safari, so you see the best of the region without rushing.

Day 1: Arrive in Dwarka

Begin your trip by arriving in Dwarka, the golden city of Lord Krishna and one of the four sacred Char Dham of India. Most travellers reach Dwarka by its own railway station, by road or by flying into Jamnagar, about 130 km away and driving in. After settling into your hotel, head to the magnificent Dwarkadhish temple, the Jagat Mandir, for darshan of Lord Krishna and to the sacred Gomti Ghat beside it for a holy dip and the beautiful evening aarti. As the sun sets over the Arabian Sea, soak in the devotional atmosphere of Krishna's city. Overnight in Dwarka.

Day 2: Dwarka sightseeing

Devote your second day to the sights of Dwarka and its coast. In the morning, take the ferry to Bet Dwarka, the sacred island where Krishna is believed to have lived, with its temple and beaches. On the way back, visit the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, with its towering Shiva statue and the Rukmini Devi temple, dedicated to Krishna's queen. If time allows, add Gita Mandir, Shri Shardapeeth beside the Dwarkadhish temple and the Blue Flag Shivrajpur beach. Return for another darshan and the evening aarti at the great temple. Overnight in Dwarka.

Day 3: Dwarka to Somnath

On the third day, drive down the Saurashtra coast from Dwarka to Somnath, about 230 km and around four to five hours via the scenic NH 51, with a stop at Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, along the way. Reaching Somnath in the afternoon, check in and head to the great Somnath temple, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, standing majestically by the sea. Stay for the deeply moving evening aarti at the temple, timed as in our Somnath temple timings, followed by the spectacular Jay Somnath sound-and-light show, which brings the temple's epic history of destruction and rebuilding to life against the illuminated shrine. Overnight in Somnath, by the sound of the sea.

Day 4: Somnath to Gir

Spend the morning of the fourth day seeing the sacred sites around Somnath, the Bhalka Tirth, where Lord Krishna is believed to have left his mortal body, the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three rivers and the other temples and the beach. After lunch, drive the short distance of about 57 km, around an hour and a half, from Somnath to Sasan Gir, the gateway to Gir National Park, the last home of the Asiatic lion. Check into a lodge near the park, rest and prepare for an early morning safari. Booking your Gir safari permit well in advance is essential, as covered in our Gir safari ticket price guide. Overnight near Sasan Gir.

Day 5: Gir lion safari and departure

Rise early on your final morning for the highlight of the wild part of the trip: a jeep safari into Gir National Park in search of the majestic Asiatic lion, found nowhere else on earth in the wild, along with leopards, deer, crocodiles and rich birdlife. The early morning safari offers the best chance of sightings and the most magical light. After the safari and breakfast, your 5 day Saurashtra journey comes to an end and you depart. Gir is well placed for departure, with the nearest airports at Diu, Keshod and Rajkot and railheads at Junagadh and Veraval or you can continue your travels onward through Gujarat. Ending the trip with the thrill of the lion, after days among the great temples, leaves you with the full range of Saurashtra's treasures, the sacred and the wild, in a single memorable holiday.

How to reach for this itinerary

This itinerary is designed to start in Dwarka and end at Gir, with no backtracking. To start, fly into Jamnagar, about 130 km from Dwarka or take a train to Dwarka's own station or drive in. To end, from Gir the nearest airports are Diu, Keshod and Rajkot, with railheads at Junagadh and Veraval. If you prefer to start and end at the same city, Rajkot or Ahmedabad works well as an entry and exit point, adding a little driving at each end. Our how to reach Dwarka and how to reach Somnath guides cover all the options and a car with a driver makes the whole route seamless.

Best time for this trip

The best time for this 5 day Dwarka, Somnath and Gir itinerary is the cooler season, roughly November to March, when the coastal weather is pleasant and the Gir safari is at its best, in line with the best time to visit Gujarat. Crucially, note that Gir National Park's safari zones close during the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-October, so this itinerary, which depends on the safari, should not be planned during those months. Winter is ideal, with comfortable temperatures for the temples, the coast and the wildlife and clear skies for the coastal drive. Book well ahead in the peak winter and festival season, when hotels and safari permits fill quickly.

Tips for the 5 day itinerary

A few pointers make this 5 day trip smoother and more rewarding:

• Book your Gir safari permit well in advance, as it is essential and slots sell out in the peak season.

• Plan the trip outside the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-October, when the Gir safari zones close.

• Hire a car with a driver for the whole route, which links the temples, the coast and Gir seamlessly and stress-free.

• Stay near the Dwarkadhish and Somnath temples to be close to the aartis and near Sasan Gir for the early safari.

• Break the Dwarka to Somnath drive at Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, on Day 3.

• Carry comfortable clothes and shoes for the temples, the beach and the chilly early morning safari.

Customising the 5 day itinerary

This 5 day plan can be shaped to suit your time and interests. If you have fewer days, you can drop Gir for a shorter Dwarka and Somnath pilgrimage or trim the Dwarka sightseeing, following our shorter Somnath and Dwarka itineraries and our guides to the sights of each town. If you have more time, you can add Diu, the beach island near Somnath, Girnar at Junagadh or extend your Dwarka or Gir stay. The order can also be reversed to start at Gir and end at Dwarka. However you shape it, the core of the trip, the two great temples and the lion safari, makes for an unforgettable Saurashtra journey.

Plan or book your 5 day trip

Experience My India can arrange this entire 5 day Dwarka, Somnath and Gir trip for you, with a car and driver, hotels, the safari and all transfers handled. Explore the Somnath Dwarka Gir tour package, which is built around exactly this kind of temple-and-safari route or the wider Somnath Dwarka tour packages. Book Somnath Dwarka hotels and Gir lodges and let a Somnath Dwarka taxi service handle the driving, so you can focus on the darshan, the coast and the lions across your five days.

Related guides

To plan the details of your trip, these related guides help:

Plan your trip

Experience My India can arrange your 5 day Dwarka, Somnath and Gir trip. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.