Tulsishyam Temple

Getting there

• By air

  There are no regular flights to Tulsishyam from other major cities. The nearest airport is Rajkot, 150 km away.

• By train

  The nearest railway station is Una, 30 km away.

• By road

  Dhari in Amreli district is 45 km away and Una in Gir Somnath district is 35 km. Una is also the nearest bus station, and private and state buses run to Tulsishyam.

Rules to know

• Visitors can take a dip in the hot springs at Taptodak.

Why devotees come here

Tulsishyam is an ancient temple of Vishnu as Shyam, a form of Krishna, inside the Gir forest in Gujarat. Its black stone idol is said to be 3000 years old. Hot sulphur springs flow near the temple.

Tulsishyam is an ancient temple of Vishnu and Shyam, which is Krishna. The idol is made of black stone and is said to be 3000 years old. Another account says the temple is believed to be seven hundred years old.

Legend says Krishna killed a demon named Tul here. The place took its name from Tul and from Shyam, a name of Krishna, and so it is called Tulsishyam.

The temple stands on the Dhari to Una road, on the border of Amreli and Gir Somnath districts, inside the Gir National Park area. Three hot water springs lie at the site. The Puranas call this region Taptodak, and visitors can take a dip in the springs. A Rukmani Devi Temple, said to be 700 years old, also stands nearby.

Tips for your visit

• Be in your room before 9 AM and after 6 PM, because the temple is in forest where lions and other wild animals roam.
• Expect over 100 steps to the temple, which is difficult for elders.
• The anti-gravity hill, 400 metres north of the temple on SH104, is an optical illusion: the road slopes downhill and the horizon is hidden.
• For an overnight stay, a government guest house offers rooms and food.

Questions people ask