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Indian Railways has always been regarded as one of the great railway networks, but with the country being so vast it seemed like a far off prospect to actually visit it. Where would you start after all? However, the pace of change over the last few years has been incredible with metre gauge railways being wiped out in favour of broad gauge and electrification advancing rapidly, seriously diminishing the areas where the popular ALCo's worked passenger duties. It was with that knowledge that 3 intrepid enthusiasts finally decided to take the plunge and head to India in November 2022 to experience the last few remaining pockets of interest before they disappeared for good.
We flew from Heathrow to Delhi with Virgin, arriving at around 01:00. There followed a long wait and a final beer (Gujarat being a dry state) before catching a domestic flight at 05:45 with SpiceJet to Rajkot in order to save around a day. We were heading for the Veraval-Amreli-Junagadh Junction metre gauge but had the morning to spend around Rajkot Junction. One of our party had worked out there was a Veraval Junction bound ALCo soon after we landed so we walked to the lineside near the airport and set up shop at a level crossing for our first shot of the trip. WDM3A no.14097 duly made its presence known and is seen shortly after departure from Rajkot Junction at Bhomeshwar Main Rd with train no.09513 to Veraval Junction on 1st November 2022.
Explore #94 on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Thanks folks!
One of the very rare sights in India where these colourfully decked up camels are found on the sea shore. Somnath is known for its famous Shiva temple by the Arabian sea and it is an amazing sight. Will upload some pictures of the temple during sunset, later.
Gujarat has the longest coastline in the country and its beaches are untapped and have a huge scope and potential for tourism. I am presently working on this as a studio project at NID.
The Somnath Temple located near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat (India) is the most sacred of the twelve Jyotirlings (lingas of light) of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of Moon God". The Somnath Temple is known as 'the Shrine Eternal', as although the temple has been destroyed six times it has been rebuilt every single time. On the last occasion, it was built after a plan was mooted by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in November 1947.
Thank you Friends for your wonderful comments, suggestions, faves and visits :)
With the blessings of sacred Somnath, the day closes its wings upon wavy layers of the Arabian Sea....
Taken at Somnath in Gujarat, India
Please do not copy, use and modify any of my photographs without my explicit written permission. All rights reserved.
Triveni Ghat in Somnath is the meeting point of three holy rivers – Kapil, Hiran and a mystical River Saraswati, which are believed to be flowing to their ultimate destination – Arabian Sea. These stages of rivers where they meet and then flow together to the sea symbolises human birth, life and death.
Considered as a sacred location for taking a holy dip to get rid of all curses and diseases, Triveni Ghat holds a significant place in the Hindu Mythology and Puranas and also finds a mention in the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Krishna visited this holy spot when he was hurt by an arrow shot by Jara – a hunter. The popular temples Gita Mandir and Lakshminarayan temple are located on the banks of Triveni Ghat.
This shot was taken in the evening orange light.
A hybrid between an old Royal Enfield Bullet motorbike and a cart which is used for everything from transporting people to harvested crops.
The multi-purpose vehicles are especially popular in the regions of Gujarat, where there are estimated to be over 125,000 of them. However, with Gujarat’s population roughly equal to that of Italy, it’s inhabitants share one share Chakda between 80. And, as there is little reliable public transport in the regions, overloaded Chakdas dominate as the most efficient form of transport. n Gujarat, however, a one-seat motorbike can be made to move as many people as a minibus, once it’s been turned into a chakda.
Chakdas are expected to last over 15 years.
Please do not copy, use and modify any of my photographs without my explicit written permission. All rights reserved.
Please do not copy, use and modify any of my photographs without my explicit written permission. All rights reserved.
Le temple de Somnāth est situé sur la côte ouest du Gujarat, en Inde, dans le Prabhas Kshetra, près de Veraval dans le Saurashtra, est le plus sacré des douze Jyotirlingas, lieux de pèlerinage en l'honneur de Shiva.
Voir :
Somnath temple - Wikipedia pour plus de détais.
To see :
Somnath temple - Wikipedia for more details.
WDM3D no.11245 stands at Junagadh Junction with train no.19119 Ahmedabad Junction to Somnath on 1st November 2022. Late running meant this arrived 5 mins before train no.09540 17:40 to Amreli where we would be overnighting, giving us just enough time to photograph this service arriving and reclaim our seats behind YDM4 no.6692 for the 4 hour run.
The day breaks & a gang of YDM4 from SBI (SABARMATI) #6720 on left, #6371, #6306 dozing on the Somnath end of the Veraval Junction.
Western Railway (WR), Gujarat.
The Somnath Temple (Gujarati:સોમનાથ મંદિર) on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is the most sacred of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of (the) Moon God". The Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal", having been destroyed six times and rebuilt six times.
Hindu theology states that years ago the Moon God Chandra, being arrogant about his beauty, was cursed by his father-in-law Daksha to wane. The Moon then prayed to Lord Shiva at the Prabhas tirth (a Hindu pilgrimage) who then removed the curse partially, thus causing the periodic waning of moon.
According to Hindu theology, Somnath Temple was first built with gold by Moon God, with silver by Ravana, with sandalwood by Lord Krishna, and with stone by Bhimdeva Solanki, Gurjar Ruler of Gujarat.
Vatva based WDM3 Alco's 11211 and 11126 cross the Sabarmati bridge working train 19120 from Somnath to Ahmedabad as they approach their destination.
These workhorses of Indian Railways are continuing to loose work through ever expanding electrification schemes and displacement by more modern and efficient GM locomotives.
My full November 2022 trip report from India is availabe now on my blog here featuring many more pictures from this trip.
On a glorious evening, the Shiva Temple at Somnath - among the 12 Jyotirlingas lives up to its name 'Pillar of Light'. This shrine is the 16th manifestation of this temple off the Western coast of India. The previous 15 having fallen prey to time and foreign invasions.
The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, is believed to be the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot of Gujarat. Destroyed and reconstructed several times in the past, the present temple was reconstructed in Chaulukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951. The reconstruction was envisioned by Vallabhbhai Patel and was completed under K. M. Munshi, the then head of the temple trust.
ET's Monster WDP-4B #40041 in LHF curving out of ITARSI JN. charging on time running 11463 SMNH-JBP "RAJKOT" Express.
11464 Jabalpur-Somnath Express (via Itarsi) reaches its destination; Somnath Terminus on one fine evening !!! The train was powered by WDP4D #40259 of SBI (SABARMATI) from Ahmedabad Jn.
Bhavnagar division, Western Railway (WR), Gujarat.
HOG Equipped BRC WAP-7 #30474 smashing through lush green Misrod @ MPS towing 11464 JBP-SMNH Express.
Hello saying ET Twins WDM-3A #17992R+ WDM-3D #11197 curving into SOHAGPUR taking charge of on time running 11464 JBP-SMNH "RAJKOT" Express.
Taken from Wikipedia
BHODESAR: Bhodesar is situated 02 miles away in the North West of Nagarparkar, beneath the Karoonjhar hills, this town happened to be the prosperous and affluent city of the time, which is eminent from the ancient construction still found there. This place Bhodesar was formally known as Bhodesar Nagri. There lived one Queen Bhodi. She had constructed a beautiful pond having metal led base. According to historians, on his way back tom Ghaza Sultan Mehmood Ghaznavi after the conquest of Somnath 1026, decided to pass through this desert. During this journey he lost the track and in the search of water he arrived at this pond. Subsequently he constructed a memorial at this place, which was later converted into Mosque by Sultan Mehmood Begra. Bhodesar was inhabited by Sodhas and Khosas who were the famous bandits and the court of Tughlaqs in Delhi, resultantly sultan Mehmood Begro Lead his expedition to Parkar in 1504 and rent back. Later his mother was again looted at the same place along with other he came in 1505 with full preparations and fought a bloody war at Bhodesar and constructed a beautiful Mosque at this place. Due to Earthquake on 26-01-2001, the Mosque has collapsed.
A team from Kalki Avatar Foundation India gives passers-by the message of divine love and display the divine signs on the Moon and Maha Shiv Ling.
Somnathpur is a small village on the banks of the river Cauvery that was founded by the commander of the Hoyasala army, Somnath. The village is famous for its splendid and grand Keshava temple that has been built in the Hoyasala style. The temple is famous for its elaborate and intricate sculpturing. The temple is enclosed in a walled courtyard that has a gate and a porch. The temple is built on an elevated star shaped platform.
The sides of the raised platform are decorated with richly carved friezes, portraying rows of cavalry, elephants and scenes from the epics. The rows above have sculptures of Gods mainly Vishnu in various forms. The shrine has three shrines and three sanctums. The temple has three intricately carved pinnacles and a common Navranga. The northern sanctum has the idol of Lord Janardhana and the southern sanctum has the idol of Lord Venugopala. The main hall has exquisitely turned pillars and ceiling panels. The image of Lord Keshava that once adorned the main hall is missing today.
The temple is an example of the grand and glorious temples built by the Hoysala rulers. The names of the sculptors are inscribed on their works, which was a common practice during the reign of the Hoysalas.
A team from Kalki Avatar Foundation India gives passers-by the message of divine love and display the divine signs on the Moon and Maha Shiv Ling.
The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, is believed to be the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot of Gujarat.
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Sriram SN
One of the most fascinating temples I've seen in India, with the Arabian sea abutting the complex, its waves splashing against the temple walls. It is one of the 12 'Jyotirlinga' shrines of Lord Shiva.
Legend has it that the first temple of Somnath is said to have existed before the beginning of the common era and was built by the Moon God in gold. The temple was reduced to rubble many times by the Muslim rulers and was built and rebuilt and rebuilt, atleast 10 times, the last one in 1947 by Sardar Vallbhbhai Patel.
A team from Kalki Avatar Foundation India gives passers-by the message of divine love and display the divine signs on the Moon and Maha Shiv Ling.
Stunning ET WAP-4 #22985 + Dead VTA WDM-3D #11212 blasting towards HBJ charging 11464 JBP-SMNH "Rajkot" Express.
Members of Kalki Avatar Foundation hand out leaflets bearing the divine signs of Kalki Avatar Gohar Shahi.