Saurashtra packs three unrelated wonders into one manageable loop: Dwarka, Krishna’s capital; Somnath, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas on the Arabian Sea; and Gir, the last wild home of the Asiatic lion.
The legs are short — Somnath to Sasan-Gir is a reported 43–45 km — but the roads make each transfer a half-day, so five days is the honest shape. Checked 02 October 2026.
The legs (labelled)
| Leg | Distance | Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarka → Somnath | ~230–235 km | 4.5–6 h | Reported |
| Somnath → Sasan-Gir | ~43–45 km | 1–1.5 h | Reported (two sources) |
| Somnath → Diu (add-on) | ~90 km | 1.5–2 h | Reported |
The 5-day plan
| Day | Base | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dwarka | Dwarkadhish Mangal aarti + darshan; Gomti Ghat; lighthouse sunset |
| 2 | Dwarka | Bet Dwarka via Sudarshan Setu; Rukmini, Nageshwar, Gopi Talav circuit |
| 3 | Somnath | Transfer (~235 km); evening aarti 7 PM; light-and-sound 7:45 PM |
| 4 | Somnath → Gir | Bhalka Tirth morning; transfer to Sasan; overnight near Sinh Sadan gate |
| 5 | Gir | Morning jeep safari (book only on girlion.gujarat.gov.in); Junagadh or Diu add-on; depart |
The booking calendar
- Gir safari: official portal only (girlion.gujarat.gov.in) — permits open online, December–March sells out; the park closes 16 June–15 October.
- Dwarka: Janmashtami week (25 Aug 2027) books the town out.
- Somnath: trust rooms via somnath.org only (scam warning applies).
- Diu add-on: the beach-and-Portuguese-fort evening between Gir and the departure city.
Frequently asked questions
How many days for the Saurashtra circuit?
5 days; 6 with Diu.
Somnath or Sasan as the safari base?
Somnath works for a day safari, but overnighting near Sasan’s Sinh Sadan gate secures the prime morning slots (reported).
