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Deep inside Gir, where the forest hides a Krishna older than most temples

Tulsishyam Temple: hot sulphur springs, a 3,000-year-old idol, and a hill that fools gravity

Tulsishyam sits in a fold of the Gir forest where three things collide that almost never share an address: a Krishna shrine whose black-stone murti is said to be around 3,000 years old, natural hot springs that steam up toward boiling, and a stretch of road where cars appear to roll uphill on their own. Reaching it means driving through lion country and climbing about 100 steep steps, but pilgrims have done exactly that for centuries. This is the practical darshan guide, with timings, aartis, how to get here, and where to sleep.

The Tulsishyam Krishna temple set in the wooded Gir landscape of GujaratPhoto: Gazal world, via Wikimedia Commons
Darshan
Approx 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM (sources vary)
Entry fee
Free
Nearest railhead
Una, approx 30 km
Signature
Hot sulphur springs plus a ~3,000-year-old Krishna idol
TimingsHow to reachAartiDress & rulesBest timeNearbyWhere to stayFAQ

Darshan timings at Tulsishyam

Darshan timings by season
SeasonOpensDarshanClosesStatus
All year (typical day)6:00 AM (approx)Morning and evening darshan; a midday lull is common8:00 PM (approx)Open
Alternate reported schedule8:00 AMSome sources list a tighter window7:00 PMOpen
Gir forest gate ruleDay travel onlyVehicles must clear the forest stretch before nightLast entry approx 8 PM, last exit approx 9 PM at the check postsSeasonal
Verify before you travel. Reported darshan windows differ between sources (roughly 6:00 or 6:30 AM opening to 7:00 or 8:00 PM). Because the temple sits inside the Gir sanctuary, the binding constraint for most visitors is the forest check-post timing, not the sanctum: aim to arrive well before dusk and do not linger on the forest road after dark. Confirm the exact darshan hours with the temple trust before a long detour.

Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →

How to reach Tulsishyam Temple

Tulsishyam is genuinely remote, tucked inside Gir with no town at its doorstep. Almost everyone arrives by road, most often as a day trip from Una, Diu, or a Gir safari base. The two approach roads differ sharply in quality, so pick the Una side if you can.

Reaching by rail, road and air
ModePointDistanceNotes
By trainUna railway stationapprox 30 kmThe most practical railhead. Gir Gadhada (GEG) is closer at around 20 km but has very limited services; Delwada is roughly 35 km. From the station hire a taxi for the forest run.
By airDiu Airportapprox 50 to 55 kmNearest airport, with limited flights. Keshod is roughly 110 km; Rajkot (approx 150 to 180 km) has far wider connectivity.
By roadUnaapprox 29 to 35 kmThe Una road is in good condition and is the recommended approach.
By roadSasan Girapprox 66 kmCommon if you are already on a Gir lion safari trip.
By roadAmreli / Dhariapprox 76 km from Amreli (about 45 km from Dhari)The Amreli-Dhari route is longer and reported to have potholes and rough patches.

Read the full How to Reach →

Puja & aarti schedule

  • Morning (Mangla) aarti as the shrine opensApprox 4:45 AM
  • Evening (Sandhya) aartiApprox 7:30 PM
  • Shayan (night) aarti before the deity retiresApprox 8:30 PM
Aarti times are drawn from temple-trust listings and should be treated as approximate; they shift on festival days and are affected by the forest gate timings. If you specifically want to attend an aarti, plan to stay overnight at the trust guesthouse rather than counting on a same-day forest crossing.

Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →

Dress code & temple rules

Dress modestly and traditionally; cover shoulders and knees for both men and women.

Remove footwear before entering the temple and leave it at the stands near the steps.

Photography is generally not allowed inside the sanctum; be discreet and ask before shooting.

The trust serves free prasad and simple meals (annakshetra); take only what you will eat and avoid waste.

You are inside a wildlife sanctuary: carry out all plastic and litter, do not feed or provoke animals, and do not stop or wander on the forest road after dark.

The final approach is about 100 steep steps, so wear grippy footwear for the climb and factor in the effort if travelling with elderly pilgrims.

Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →

Best time to visit & festivals

The comfortable window is the cool, dry stretch from October to March, when the Gir drive is pleasant and the hot springs feel best. Monsoon turns the forest lush but the roads slick and leech-prone, and the Gir sanctuary core is usually closed mid-June to mid-October, so check access before a rainy-season trip.

Major festivals
FestivalWhenSignificance
JanmashtamiAugust to September (Shravan)Krishna's birthday, the temple's headline festival, with night-long celebration and heavy footfall Peak
Kartik PurnimaNovember (Kartik full moon)A major pilgrimage and fair day across Saurashtra; extended hours and large crowds at Tulsishyam Peak
Diwali and Annakut / New YearOctober to NovemberAnnakut food offering and a busy pilgrim season around the Gujarati new year
HoliMarchCelebrated with colour and added rituals in the Krishna tradition

Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →

Nearby temples & tirths

Somnath Jyotirlinga

Somnath Jyotirlinga

The first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on the Arabian Sea coast

approx 70 km from Tulsishyam →
Bhalka Tirth

Bhalka Tirth

Where Krishna is believed to have left his mortal body, near Somnath

approx 72 km from Tulsishyam →
Girnar

Girnar

The great stepped pilgrim mountain above Junagadh

approx 120 km from Tulsishyam →

Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →

Where to stay

Most pilgrims sleep at the temple trust's own Tulsishyam Vishram Gruh beside the shrine, which offers basic rooms at nominal cost and simple trust-run meals; it is the only real lodging at the site itself and fills up on festival days, so book ahead. For more comfort, base yourself in Una or Diu (about an hour away) or at one of the Sasan Gir resorts and lodges if you are combining the visit with a lion safari. There is no full hotel market at Tulsishyam itself, so plan overnight stays deliberately.

Read the full Where to Stay →

Frequently asked questions

Is Tulsishyam temple inside Gir forest and is it safe to visit?
Yes. The temple sits inside the Gir sanctuary and the approach road passes through lion habitat. It is safe to visit by day on the main road; the key rule is to clear the forest stretch before dark and not stop or wander off the road at night.
What are the darshan timings at Tulsishyam temple?
Darshan is roughly 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, though sources vary (some list 8 AM to 7 PM). More important is the forest check-post rule, with last entry around 8 PM and last exit around 9 PM, so arrive with daylight to spare.
How far is Tulsishyam from Somnath and Una?
Una, the nearest railhead, is about 30 km away. Somnath is roughly 70 km, making the two easy to combine into one Saurashtra pilgrimage loop.
Is the Tulsishyam gravity hill real?
It is a genuine and famous spot, but the effect is an optical illusion. The road actually slopes gently downhill while the horizon is hidden, so a car left in neutral seems to roll uphill on its own.
Can you bathe in the Tulsishyam hot springs?
The springs come in three kunds of rising heat and are rich in sulphur, believed to have curative properties. The hottest kund reaches near boiling, so it is for reverence and a careful touch, not a full bath; treat the water with caution.
Where can I stay near Tulsishyam temple?
The temple trust's Tulsishyam Vishram Gruh next to the shrine offers basic rooms and meals at nominal cost. For hotels, stay in Una or Diu about an hour away, or at a Sasan Gir resort if you are also doing a lion safari.

Compiled from public sources including Wikipedia: Tulsishyam · Trawell.in: Tulsi Shyam Temple, Gir · YatraDham: Tulsishyam Temple · Gir Somnath District (Government of Gujarat). Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.