Gir Somnath, May 9 (IANS) Somnath is set to host a grand ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ marking 75 years of its development journey from a heritage pilgrimage centre to a major tourism destination, with officials highlighting a significant rise in footfall and large-scale infrastructure and environmental initiatives at the site.​

More than 25,000 devotees visit the Somnath Jyotirlinga temple every day, while annual footfall is estimated at around 97 lakh pilgrims.​

Officials attribute the sustained increase in visitors to improved road, rail and air connectivity, along with expanded civic and tourism facilities around the shrine.​

In recent years, Somnath has undergone extensive development under the administration of the Somnath Trust, including improvements to accommodation facilities, such as the Sagar Darshan guest house and a modern circuit house, to support the growing number of pilgrims.​

Key attractions at the site include a 16-foot-high statue of Lord Hanuman near the Samudra Darshan Path, 202 Maruti Haat installations along the coastal walkway, and the distribution of purified Gangajal used in temple rituals as “Somganga Abhishek Jal” to devotees.​

A light-and-sound show narrating the history of Somnath has also drawn significant public interest, with over 10 lakh visitors attending in the last three years.​

Connectivity improvements have played a major role in increasing accessibility. The Rs 828 crore worth Jetpur-Somnath four-lane highway has strengthened road connectivity to the shrine.​

Rail access has improved through the Sabarmati-Veraval Vande Bharat Express, reducing travel time from Ahmedabad.​

Air connectivity has also expanded with Keshod Airport and Rajkot International Airport facilitating easier access for domestic and international travellers.​

Environmental sustainability measures have also been integrated into the temple’s management systems.​

Somnath, recognised as a ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ in 2018, has implemented waste-to-resource initiatives, including converting temple flowers into vermicompost used to cultivate around 1,700 bilva trees.​

Under the ‘Mission LiFE’ initiative, plastic waste is processed into paver blocks, with approximately 4,700 plastic and fly-ash blocks produced each month.​

Water conservation and recycling efforts form another key component of the development framework.​

Six restored rainwater harvesting structures and a reservoir, developed at a cost of Rs 62 lakh, collectively treat around 30 lakh litres of wastewater each month, which is reused for plantation activities.​

Additionally, eight sewage treatment plants, built with an investment of Rs 160 lakh, have processed over 20.53 crore litres of water for agricultural and landscaping purposes.​

A Miyawaki forest spanning 72,000 square feet and featuring 7,200 trees has been developed to act as a natural barrier against sea winds and saline conditions.​

A nine-stage purification system has also been introduced to treat water used for religious rituals, which is then distributed as “Somgangajal” at a nominal cost.​

Digital services have further expanded access to temple facilities, allowing devotees to book rituals, accommodation, donations and darshan services online.​

Live streaming of daily darshan and aarti, along with information on heritage walks and tourism routes, is also available through digital platforms.​

Officials note that these combined developments have contributed to Somnath’s evolution into a major pilgrimage and tourism centre while integrating heritage conservation with modern infrastructure and environmental management practices.​

–IANS

mys/dan