Diu to Somnath Distance: Routes, Time and Travel Guide
The Diu to Somnath distance is about 82 km, and the drive takes around 1 hour 30 minutes via NH 51. The Somnath to Diu distance is similar, about 84 km in around 1 hour 35 minutes. It is an easy coastal drive, best done by car or taxi, and the two pair naturally into one trip.
Diu and Somnath sit close together on the Saurashtra coast, so a trip to the first Jyotirlinga and the former Portuguese island is one of the most popular pairings in Gujarat. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers the Diu to Somnath distance and the reverse, the route options, the travel time and how to make the journey easily.
Diu to Somnath distance and travel time
The Diu to Somnath distance is approximately 82 km by the fastest road and the drive takes around 1 hour 30 minutes by car under normal conditions. The quickest route runs via NH 51, the coastal highway that links the two along the Saurashtra shore. It is a short, easy and scenic drive, so it fits comfortably into a day trip in either direction, with time to see the sights at both ends. Because the two lie so close together on the same coast, this is one of the shortest and most convenient inter-destination hops in the whole Saurashtra circuit, which is a big part of why they are so often combined.
Diu to Somnath route options
There are two main ways to drive from Diu to Somnath:
Route | Distance | Approx time |
Via NH 51 (fastest) | About 81.7 km | About 1 hr 31 min |
Via NH 251 and NH 51 | About 86.4 km | About 1 hr 37 min |
The NH 51 route is the shortest and fastest and the one most drivers use. The route via NH 251 and NH 51 is only slightly longer and a useful alternative if there are diversions. Either way, the journey is a comfortable hour and a half of easy coastal driving.
Somnath to Diu distance
The return journey, the Somnath to Diu distance, is about 84 km in roughly 1 hour 35 minutes via NH 51. The route options for the reverse direction are:
Route | Distance | Approx time |
Via NH 51 | About 84.3 km | About 1 hr 35 min |
Via GJ SH 101 and NH 51 | About 86.9 km | About 2 hr |
Via NH 51 and NH 251 | About 89.1 km | About 1 hr 40 min |
The NH 51 route is again the quickest at around 1 hour 35 minutes. The route via GJ SH 101 is a little longer and slower, so for speed and comfort the main NH 51 coastal road is the best option in both directions.
How to travel from Diu to Somnath
There are a few ways to cover the short Diu to Somnath route, so you can choose what suits you:
By car or taxi | About 1 hr 30 min, the easiest and most flexible option |
By bus | State and private buses via the coast, around 2 to 3 hours |
By train | Limited direct options; the coast is best covered by road |
By air | Diu has an airport; Somnath is reached from it by road |
Diu to Somnath by road
Driving is by far the best way to travel between Diu and Somnath, as the NH 51 coastal highway is good and the distance is short. The road runs along the shore, passing fishing villages, salt pans and the occasional beach, making it a pleasant drive rather than just a transfer. A private car with a driver is the most comfortable and flexible choice, letting you stop for photos or a meal along the way; a Somnath Dwarka taxi service can arrange this easily. Fuel stations and small eateries are available along the route.
Diu to Somnath by bus
State-run and private buses connect Diu with Veraval and Una, near Somnath and on to the temple town, though the coastal bus journey can take around 2 to 3 hours with stops, longer than the direct drive. Buses are budget-friendly and workable for those without a car, but for a short, scenic hop like this a taxi is quicker, more comfortable and not much dearer when shared, so most visitors prefer a cab.
Diu to Somnath by air and train
Diu has its own airport with limited flights and from there Somnath is a road transfer of about 1 hour 30 minutes. There is no convenient direct train between Diu and Somnath, as the two are best linked by the coastal road, so rail travellers usually reach Veraval, near Somnath and cover the Diu leg by road. For all the ways to reach the temple town, see our guide on how to reach Somnath.
Why combine Diu and Somnath?
Diu and Somnath complement each other beautifully, which is why they are so often visited together. Somnath offers the spiritual heart of the trip, the first Jyotirlinga, the sacred sites and the evening aarti, while Diu adds a complete change of pace with its Portuguese fort, churches, caves and clean beaches. In a single short drive you move from a great pilgrimage town to a laid-back island getaway, making the pair perfect for travellers who want both devotion and relaxation. Our guide to places to visit near Somnath and Diu covers the combined circuit in detail.
About Diu, the island near Somnath
Diu is a small island and union territory off the southern coast of Saurashtra, a former Portuguese colony that was governed from Goa until 1961 and still carries a distinct European charm. Whitewashed churches, a great sea fort, quiet lanes and clean beaches give it a relaxed, almost Mediterranean feel that is unlike anywhere else nearby. Being a union territory, Diu also has more liberal rules than the dry state of Gujarat, which adds to its holiday atmosphere. All this, just over an hour from the deeply spiritual town of Somnath, is why the two make such a rewarding contrast on a single trip.
Things to do in Diu on the trip
If you are driving over from Somnath, Diu rewards even a day visit:
Diu Fort: the grand seventeenth-century Portuguese fort on the sea, with cannons and lighthouse views.
St Paul's Church: a beautiful old Portuguese church, one of the finest in the region.
Naida Caves: a maze of atmospheric rock caves and passages, great for photography.
Nagoa and Ghoghla beaches: clean, palm-fringed beaches for a swim, water sports or a relaxed evening.
Gangeshwar Mahadev: a Shiva temple with five lingams washed by the sea waves, a serene stop.
Things to see at Somnath on the trip
Coming the other way, Somnath is the highlight of the Saurashtra coast. Take darshan at the Somnath temple, witness the evening aarti and the sound-and-light show and visit the sacred Triveni Sangam and Bhalka Tirth, where Lord Krishna is believed to have left his mortal body. Plan your visit around the Somnath temple timings and see our sightseeing places in Somnath for the full list.
Best time to make the trip
The best time to travel between Diu and Somnath is the cooler season, October to March, when the coastal weather is pleasant for both the drive and the beaches, in line with the best time to visit Gujarat. The monsoon, June to September, brings a lush, green coast but rough seas and the odd slow, wet stretch of road, while summer can be hot and humid. For the beaches of Diu and the sunset aarti at Somnath, the winter months are ideal.
Suggested plan for Somnath and Diu
A common and comfortable way to see both:
Day 1: Somnath darshan, the sacred sites and the evening aarti and light show.
Day 2: drive to Diu in the morning, see the fort, church, caves and a beach and stay overnight.
Day 3: a relaxed Diu beach morning, then continue your journey or return.
You can also do Diu as a long day trip from Somnath if time is short, though an overnight stay lets you enjoy the beaches properly. See our Somnath itinerary for more.
Tips for the Diu to Somnath journey
A few pointers make the short trip smoother:
Travel by car or taxi for the easiest, most scenic hop along the coast.
Stick to NH 51 for the fastest, most direct drive between the two.
Carry a photo ID, as Diu is a separate union territory with occasional checks at the border.
Fill fuel before the drive and carry drinking water for the short coastal journey.
Plan Somnath around the aarti and Diu around the beaches and sunset.
Book stays ahead in the winter peak and around festivals and long weekends, when Diu fills up fast.
Diu to Somnath at a glance
Distance | About 82 km by the fastest route |
Drive time | About 1 hr 30 min via NH 51 |
Best route | NH 51, the coastal highway |
By bus | Around 2 to 3 hours via the coast |
By air | Diu has an airport; Somnath is a road transfer |
Best paired as | A 2 to 3 day Somnath and Diu trip |
Plan your Somnath and Diu trip
Experience My India can build Somnath and Diu into one smooth trip, with darshan, the coastal drive, stays and sightseeing handled. Book Somnath Dwarka hotels near the temple, explore the Somnath Dwarka tour packages and add Dwarka or a Gir safari for a fuller Saurashtra journey. A Somnath Dwarka tour by car makes the whole route effortless.
Related guides
To plan the rest of your trip, these Experience My India guides help:
Related guide | What it covers |
Air, rail and road access to the Dwarka coast. | |
Reaching the Asiatic lion sanctuary near Somnath. | |
The route to the Girnar climb from Somnath. | |
When to plan a lion safari on your trip. | |
The dishes to try across the state. | |
Distance, ropeway and steps for the Girnar climb. |
Plan your journey
Experience My India can arrange your Somnath and Diu trip and the coastal transfer. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.
Harsh Rawat
Somnath–Dwarka circuit planning
Harsh Rawat runs Somnath Dwarka Tour Package on the ground in Gujarat, part of Experience My India. Since 2018 he has been planning and driving the Somnath–Dwarka circuit — the darshan timings, the road hours between temples and the stops worth adding — and the routes, fares and timings published across this site are the ones he maintains.
