The nearest airport to Somnath Temple is Diu Airport (DIU). Government tourism information gives the distance as about 63 km, while road-route estimates run closer to 80-85 km, so plan for a road transfer of an hour or more. Porbandar and Rajkot are alternatives with their own flight options, and Ahmedabad is the larger gateway if you are coming from far away.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Somnath, on the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat, is regarded as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Getting there by air takes a little planning, because the closest airport is small and its flight list is short.
Which airport is nearest to Somnath Temple?
The Government of India’s Incredible India tourism site names Diu Airport as the nearest airport to Somnath and puts it at about 63 km. Other travel guides and route planners give higher figures, around 82 to 85 km by road. We could not confirm why the figures differ, so use the higher road figure when you plan your day.
The same tourism page lists Porbandar Airport as another convenient option. Rajkot is further away, with one guide putting it at around 200 km by road, which makes it a long transfer unless you also plan to see other parts of Saurashtra.
Which airlines fly to Diu?
Diu is a small domestic airport, and its schedule changes from season to season. Recent public listings show IndiGo, Alliance Air and Star Air operating there, with links to cities such as Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Surat and Goa. Treat that as a guide only. Routes at smaller airports are added and dropped, and some flights do not operate every day.
Before you plan around a particular flight, check the current timetable. Search the dates you want to travel, and look at which days a flight actually runs. If there is no convenient flight on your day, the alternatives below may suit you better.
What about Rajkot, Porbandar and Ahmedabad?
Rajkot is now served by Rajkot International Airport at Hirasar (HSR), which was inaugurated on 27 July 2023 and is about 36 km from the older Rajkot airport. Which airlines fly there changes with the schedule, so check it for your dates rather than assuming a route exists.
Porbandar is the other airport named by the tourism site. It is a reasonable pick if you also want to visit the Dwarka and Porbandar side of Gujarat on the same trip. Ahmedabad is the biggest airport in the state and has the widest choice of flights from across India. It is much further from Somnath, so it works best if you are happy to take a train or a long road transfer afterwards.
- Diu (DIU): closest airport, short flight list.
- Porbandar: named by the tourism site as another option.
- Rajkot Hirasar (HSR): a longer road transfer, roughly 200 km by one guide.
- Ahmedabad: widest choice of flights, longest onward journey.
How do you get from the airport to Somnath?
Most visitors take a taxi from the airport. Somnath also has its own railway station, Somnath (SMNH), and the town is linked by state transport and private buses to Rajkot, Junagadh, Porbandar and Ahmedabad. If you land at Rajkot or Ahmedabad, a train or bus can be a sensible alternative to a long cab ride.
Roads in this part of Gujarat can be slower than the map suggests, especially in the pilgrim season and around festivals. Leave a buffer between your landing time and any darshan you want to attend.
What should pilgrims plan before booking?
Temple timings can change on festival days and for special rituals, and the sources we checked did not agree on the exact closing time. Check the official Somnath Trust website for current darshan and aarti timings before you fix your schedule.
A small aviation note: the old airfield at Diu dates back to 1954, when Diu was part of Portuguese India.
Book early for festival weeks such as Maha Shivaratri, when demand for flights and rooms in Saurashtra rises. Flights into small airports have fewer seats, so they fill faster than those into big cities.
Common Questions
Is there an airport in Somnath?
No. Somnath does not have its own airport. The nearest one is Diu Airport, with Porbandar and Rajkot as alternatives.
How far is Diu Airport from Somnath?
Incredible India gives about 63 km. Route planners and travel guides often show around 82 to 85 km by road, so allow for the longer figure.
Is Diu Airport domestic or international?
Diu Airport is a domestic airport. It serves Diu and nearby parts of Gujarat.
Is there a train to Somnath?
Yes. Somnath Railway Station (SMNH) has direct trains to various cities in Gujarat and other parts of India.
Which is better, flying to Diu or to Rajkot?
Diu is much closer to Somnath, but it has fewer flights. Rajkot may offer more choice depending on your city and dates, at the cost of a longer road journey. Compare timings and total travel time for your own dates.
Is the temple open all year?
The Incredible India site says the temple is open throughout the year. Daily darshan and aarti times can vary, so confirm them with the Somnath Trust.
Planning a Somnath trip? Search and compare flights to Diu, Rajkot and Ahmedabad on HappyFares, with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, and set a price alert if your dates are not fixed yet.
Airline routes, fees and temple timings change. Please verify current details with the airline, the airport or the official Somnath Trust before you travel.
