Somnath Temple Gets ₹200 Crore Renovation Fund
The Union Ministry of Culture has sanctioned Rs 200 crore for a major renovation and area development project at the Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat. The announcement was made by the Somnath Temple Trust chairman during a press conference on March 1, 2026.
The renovation plan includes restoration of the main shrine's exterior stonework, construction of a new pilgrim facilitation center capable of handling 50,000 visitors daily, a state-of-the-art multimedia museum documenting the temple's turbulent history of destruction and reconstruction, and a landscaped promenade connecting the temple to the nearby Triveni Sangam beach.
A significant portion of the funds, approximately Rs 60 crore, is earmarked for the construction of an underground parking facility for 2,000 vehicles and an integrated bus terminal. This is expected to resolve the chronic traffic congestion that plagues the temple town during peak pilgrimage seasons and festivals.
The project will be executed in three phases over four years, with Phase 1 focusing on the pilgrim facilitation center and parking facilities. The temple trust has engaged Vastu consultants and heritage conservation architects to ensure that all new construction harmonizes with the existing 1951 Chalukya-style temple structure built under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
