Gauri Somnath Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport in Indore is about 87 km from Omkareshwar town.

• By train

  Two rail routes reach Khandwa and Indore. Khandwa station is 77 km away and Indore Junction 78 km; taxis and buses run from both to Omkareshwar.

• By road

  Omkareshwar is 70 km from Khandwa on the Indore-Edlabad road. Cabs and buses run to the town from Indore and Ujjain.

Why devotees come here

Gauri Somnath Temple stands on Omkareshwar island, in the town of Omkareshwar, about 80 km southeast of Indore. It is built in the shape of a peahen, and its sanctum holds a black stone linga about 6 feet tall.

Gauri Somnath Temple is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. It has three storeys and is built in the Bhumij style of architecture. Its sanctum holds a huge linga of black stone, about 6 feet tall. The three-storey building is made in the shape of a peahen, and its design is said to resemble the Khajuraho group of temples.

The temple is believed to have been built in the 11th century by the Parmars. The Marathas are said to have rebuilt it later. The state archaeology department protects it.

It stands on Omkareshwar island, alongside the ruins of the Siddhnath temple and the Rinkmukteshwar Temple. Its design is said to resemble the Khajuraho group of temples. The island lies in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, in the town of Omkareshwar, about 80 km southeast of Indore. Omkareshwar is well accessible by roadways, with cabs and buses from Indore and Ujjain.

Tips for your visit

• Sawan, the month of July or August dedicated to Shiva, brings the highest number of visitors to the town.
• The Siddhnath ruins and Rinkmukteshwar Temple are on the same island, so one trip can cover them.

Questions people ask