SOMNATH TEMPLE

The legendary temple of Somnath dedicated to Shiva was so famous for its riches that it has been plundered and razed to the ground several times by invaders, but each time it has been re-built again. Mahmud of Ghazni is said to have conducted the worst raid, killing around 50,000 defenders of the temple and carrying away camel loads of gems and precious stones. Aurangzeb conducted yet another raid after which the temple was re-built by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. The present temple however, was built in 1950. Somnath is on the southern coast of Suarashtra and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines as it had one of the auspicious 12 jyotirlingas (mentioned as far back as the Puranas). It attracts thousand of devotees all round the year.

DWARKA

Another legendary temple of Gujarat, Dwarka is supposed to have been where God Krishna founded a new city after leaving Mathura. It is a mix of fact and legend, as indeed remains of a city have been found in the seabed close to the Dwarka coast. The seven-storeyed Dwarkadish temple that stands there now, was built in the 16^th century. An older temple from the 12^th century, the Rukmini temple stands nearby. The great saint Mirabai spent her last few days at Dwarka after leaving her home in Chittorgarh. 

MODHERA SUN TEMPLE

This astounding work of architecture was built by the Solanki Kings in 1026. One first arrives at a large tank or kund that has a boundary of small shrines. From here one walks through the ruins of the decorative gate or toran towards three intricately carved buildings the sabha griha (assembly hall), nritya mandap (dance hall) and the garbha griha (sanctum for the gods. All the buildings are intricately carved with deities, figurines, and patterns. Modhera is 119 km north-west of Ahmedabad, or 25 km from Mehsana. An annual dance festival is held there each January. 

PALTANA JAIN TEMPLES