Nishkalank Mahadev Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Bhavnagar Airport is about 3.5 km from the town and is reasonably well connected to major cities of India.

• By train

  You can take a train to Ahmedabad and Mumbai, with frequent connections.

• By road

  Frequent buses link towns across Gujarat, taking about 4 hours from Rajkot and Ahmedabad, 5 hours from Vadodara and 2 hours from Palitana.

Rules to know

• Visitors walk barefoot from the shore when the tide is low.
• Devotees wash their hands and legs in the Pandavas pond before entering the shrine.

Why devotees come here

Nishkalank Mahadev Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, near Koliyak in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat. It is one of the rarest sea temples in India, reached on foot from the shore when the tide is low.

Legend says the Pandavas built this temple after the Kurukshetra War. The name Nishkalank Mahadev means spotless, clean and innocent, and it was given after the Pandavas were forgiven. The temple lies about a kilometre into the sea, so the walk from the shore is part of the visit.

The temple was built in the 18th century by Bhavsinhji Takhtasinhji, the ruler of Bhavnagar. It stands on the spot where Shiva is believed to have appeared to the ruler in a dream.

Five swayambhu Shiva lingams stand on a square platform inside, and each one has a Nandi statue facing it. The temple is one of the rarest sea temples in India and is managed by a local trust. It is also among the most visited pilgrimage sites in Bhavnagar.

Festivals

• New moon night of Shravan monthBhadarvi fair

  A famous fair held on the new moon night of Shravan, as per the Indian calendar.

Tips for your visit

• Check the tide before you set out, since at high tide the idol is under water and only the flag and a pillar show.
• Maha Shivratri and Navaratri bring large gatherings, so expect crowds on those days.

Questions people ask