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Gir Somnath, Gujarat

Bhalka Tirth: where Krishna laid down his mortal body

Four kilometres inland from the roar of Somnath, under a peepal tree on the road to Veraval, the arrow of Jara the hunter found the sole of Krishna's foot. Bhalka Tirth marks that exact spot, the quiet, unbearable hinge of the Mahabharata where a god chose to become mortal and leave. Pilgrims come not for grandeur but for the reclining Krishna, the old tree, and the hush of an ending.

The Bhalka Tirth shrine complex at Prabhas Patan near Somnath, Gujarat, marking the spot where Krishna left his mortal bodyPhoto: Manoj Khurana, via Wikimedia Commons
Darshan
Approx. 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily
Entry fee
Free
Nearest station
Somnath (SMNH), approx. 5 km
Signature
Exact spot of Krishna Nijdham Prasthan, marked by the peepal tree
TimingsHow to reachAartiDress & rulesBest timeNearbyWhere to stayFAQ

Darshan timings at Bhalka

Darshan timings by season
SeasonOpensDarshanClosesStatus
Winter (Oct to Mar)6:00 AMContinuous through the dayapprox. 7:00 PMOpen
Summer / Monsoon (Apr to Sep)6:00 AMContinuous through the dayapprox. 7:00 PMOpen
Verify before you travel. Bhalka Tirth is a small shrine and keeps a single continuous darshan window rather than a Somnath-style midday shutter. Reported closing times vary by source between roughly 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM, so treat 7:00 PM as a safe planning figure and finish darshan before dusk. There is no separate monsoon or Chaturmas closure on record. Confirm the current evening cutoff locally, especially on festival days.

Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →

How to reach Bhalka Tirth

Bhalka Tirth sits on the Prabhas Patan to Veraval road, roughly 4 km inland from Somnath temple. Most pilgrims fold it into a Somnath day trip by auto or cab; it is not a place you travel to on its own.

Reaching by rail, road and air
ModePointDistanceNotes
TrainSomnath Railway Station (SMNH)approx. 5 kmNearest railhead. Veraval Junction (VRL), the larger station with links to Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Mumbai, is roughly 7 to 10 km away.
AirDiu Airport (DIU)approx. 63 to 80 kmNearest operational airport; limited flights. Keshod airstrip is closer at approx. 52 km but has minimal service. Rajkot (approx. 190 km) is the practical large airport.
RoadSomnath / Veraval townapprox. 4 to 7 kmAutos, shared jeeps and taxis run constantly on the Somnath-Veraval road. State buses connect Veraval to Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Junagadh and Dwarka.

Read the full How to Reach →

Puja & aarti schedule

  • Mangala / morning puja after the shrine opens (approx. 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM)Morning
  • Madhyahna puja and offering to the reclining KrishnaMidday
  • Sandhya aarti around dusk before the shrine closesEvening
Bhalka Tirth does not publish a fixed three-slot aarti timetable the way the main Somnath Jyotirlinga does. The times above are the customary morning, midday and evening puja pattern; exact clock times are not officially listed and should be confirmed at the shrine. For a scheduled aarti experience, pilgrims pair Bhalka with Somnath, whose aartis run at 7:00 AM, 12:00 noon and 7:00 PM.

Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →

Dress code & temple rules

Dress modestly and traditionally; shoulders and knees covered is the norm for this pilgrim site

Remove footwear before entering the shrine premises

Photography of the idol may be restricted; check with attendants before shooting inside

Maintain silence and decorum, this is a place associated with Krishna's departure, not a photo backdrop

Leather items are best left outside or in the vehicle, in keeping with temple custom

Prasad is offered; carry small change for the shrine and the peepal-tree offering

Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →

Best time to visit & festivals

October to March is the comfortable window, when coastal Saurashtra heat eases and Somnath-circuit crowds are manageable. The single most meaningful day to be here is Janmashtami, Krishna's birth, though the site's own emotional weight belongs to the story of his leaving.

Major festivals
FestivalWhenSignificance
JanmashtamiAugust / September (Bhadrapada)Krishna's birth; the most important festival for this Krishna shrine, with special puja and heavy pilgrim footfall. Peak
Golokdham Utsav / Krishna Nijdham Prasthan observanceAligned with the Somnath-Prabhas ritual calendarCommemorates Krishna's departure from earth, the very event Bhalka marks; observed in the Prabhas Patan circuit.
Kartik PurnimaNovember (Kartik)Major Prabhas-Patan-wide pilgrimage and holy bathing period at the Triveni Sangam nearby.
MahashivratriFebruary / MarchDraws large crowds to neighbouring Somnath Jyotirlinga; Bhalka sees overflow pilgrim visits.

Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →

Nearby temples & tirths

Somnath

Somnath

The first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, rebuilt on the shore; Krishna's departure and Shiva's abode sit within one circuit.

approx. 4 km from Bhalka →
Girnar

Girnar

The great stepped hill of Junagadh, sacred to Jains and to Dattatreya, thousands of stone steps to the summit shrines.

approx. 90 km from Bhalka →
Dwarka (Dwarkadhish)

Dwarka (Dwarkadhish)

Krishna's own kingdom-city and one of the Char Dham; the bookend to the story that ends at Bhalka.

approx. 230 km from Bhalka →

Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →

Where to stay

Most pilgrims stay in Somnath or Veraval, 4 to 10 km away, where the Shree Somnath Trust runs several guesthouses (Sagar, Lilavati, Maheshwari and other atithigruh options) alongside private hotels. Close to Bhalka itself, pilgrims mention the Triveni Sangam Atithigruh (with parking) and simple lodges such as Hotel Sukhnath and Hotel Shivaay. For more comfort, mid-range and business hotels cluster along the Prabhas Patan-Veraval road. Book ahead around Janmashtami, Kartik Purnima and Mahashivratri, when the whole Somnath belt fills up.

Read the full Where to Stay →

Frequently asked questions

What are Bhalka Tirth darshan timings?
The shrine is generally open every day from about 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, in a single continuous window. Reported evening closing varies between roughly 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM by source, so plan to finish darshan before dusk and confirm locally.
Is Bhalka Tirth open in monsoon?
Yes. There is no recorded monsoon or Chaturmas closure. The shrine keeps its usual daily hours through the rains; only the evening cutoff and festival crowds change.
How far is Bhalka Tirth from Somnath temple?
About 4 km, on the road toward Veraval. Autos and taxis cover it in roughly 10 to 15 minutes, which is why almost everyone visits it as part of a Somnath trip.
What is the nearest railway station to Bhalka Tirth?
Somnath Railway Station (SMNH) is closest at approximately 5 km. Veraval Junction, the bigger station with long-distance trains, is roughly 7 to 10 km away.
What is the story behind Bhalka Tirth?
This is where the hunter Jara mistook Krishna's foot for a deer's ear and shot an arrow into it, after which Krishna left his mortal body. The event is called Shri Krishna Nijdham Prasthan Leela, and the spot is marked by an old peepal tree.
Is there an entry fee at Bhalka Tirth?
No. Entry is free for everyone. It is a small, quiet shrine rather than a ticketed monument.

Compiled from public sources including Trawell.in - Bhalka Teerth, Somnath · YatraDham - Bhalka Tirth Temple · TravelSetu - Bhalka Tirth Tourism Guide · Gir Somnath District (Govt of Gujarat) - Bhalka Tirtha. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.