14 Best Pilgrimage Sites near Surat (2026)

Nashik is a popular sacred pilgrimage site and the third-largest city by population in Maharashtra. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra as well as India. Located about 182 km from Mumbai, and 211 km from Pune, Nashik is among the most visited weekend getaways near Mumbai.

Situated at an altitude of 700 m, Nashik is famous for its numerous temples and ghats. Panchavati, Someshwar, Ram Kund, Muktidham Temple, Coin Museum, Pandavleni Caves, Sinnar, Anjaneri, and Trimbakeshwar are some of the popular places to visit in Nashik.

Nashik hosts Kumbha Mela, the largest religious gathering held once every 12 years. A large number of pilgrims, sadhus, and holy men attend this magnificent fair and take bath in the holy river Godavari. Nashik is also known as the wine capital of India, with numerous vineyards that dotting the countryside. It takes 2 full days to visit the main attractions in Nashik. With additional 2-3 days, Shirdi, Igatpuri & Bhandardara can be included.

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Earlier known as Padliptapur, Palitana is one of the holiest places of pilgrimage in Gujarat, and among the best places to visit near Ahmedabad. It is about 171 km from Rajkot, and 214 km from Ahmedabad.

Palitana is a famous destination in Gujarat for being the base to the holy Shatrunjaya hill which is home to 863 exquisitely carved Jain temples built by devotees during a period spanning 900 years from the 11th century onwards. Along with Mount Abu, Girnar, and Chandragiri, Shatrunjaya hill is one of the most sacred places for the Jains, and among the most significant places to visit as part of Palitana packages.

Meticulously carved in marble, the temples in Palitana are famous for their architectural beauty. Out of all the temples here, the temple dedicated to the first Tirthankara, Sri Adishwar, is the most famous one. The architectural motifs of this temple are notable. Kumarpal temple, Chaumukh temple, Vimalshah temple, and Sampriti Raja temple are the other Palitana places to visit.

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About Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple

History of Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple

Architecture of Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple

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At a distance of 28 km from Bhavnagar, Malnath Shiva Temple is a Hindu Temple located near Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Situated on Bhavnagar - Talaja Road, it is one of popular Shiva temples in Bhavnagar and among the best places to visit as part of Bhavnagar Tour Packages.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is beautifully positioned in the middle of green slopes and streaming waterways. The temple is built in the traditional Gujarati architecture and houses a rock-carved Shivalinga in the sanctum. The tranquility inside the temple along with the lush green environment is bound to take a visitor away from the routine life. A walk around the temple after paying respect to the Lord is quite refreshing. One can also find the idols of Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesh, Lord Krishna, and Lord Hanuman inside the temple.

Malnath Shiv Temple is surrounded by Nature. Lush verdant greenery, a waterfall, several windmills and wind farm make it an ideal place for a picnic with friends and family alike. The landscape is breathtaking and energizing to the mind. Dhavdi Mata Mandir is another temple in the neighborhood. Nag-dhaniba, a picnic point on a riverbank, is a favorite spot for the families. The adventurous lot can go on trekking over the hill slopes nearby.

The best time to visit Malnath Shiv Temple is between October and March when the weather is fairly cool and the surroundings are come alive with lush greenery and meandering streams. One can reach Malnath Temple by local buses ...

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At a distance of 28 km from Bhavnagar Railway Station, Nishkalank Mahadev Temple is a Hindu temple located at Koliyak near Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Situated in Koliyak Beach, it is one of the rarest sea temples in India you must include in your Gujarat trip and among the most visited places of pilgrimage in Bhavnagar.

Located about a kilometer into the sea, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has 5 distinct swayambhu Shiva lingams on a square platform and each is having a Nandi statue facing it. This temple is submerged during high tides in the sea and emerges during low tides to reveal itself majestically, promising its devotees to wash away all sins. During the high tide, the idol of the lord is submerged and all that can be seen are the flag and a pillar. The temple was built with special care to withstand high tides and is truly remains an unsolved mystery to modern engineers and technology experts.

The temple is believed to be built by the Pandavas after the Kurukshetra War. Legend says that after killing all the Kauravas, Pandavas began to feel guilty for their sins. To discover reclamation for their sins, Pandavas consulted Krishna who handed them a black flag and a black cow and asked them to trail and said when both the flag and the cow turn white, they will all be forgiven. Lord Krishna also asked them to apologize to Lord Shiva after that. They followed the cow everywhere it took them and acknowledged ...

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At a distance of 46 km from Junagadh and 60 km from Rajkot, Jalaram Bapa Mandir is a Hindu temple located in Virpur near Rajkot, Gujarat. Situated near Kodhaldham Temple, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Gujarat and among the best places to visit in Rajkot.

Jalaram Bapa popularly known as Bapa was a Hindu saint born in 1799 to Pradhan Thakkar and Rajbai Thakkar in the village of Virpur, Gujarat. His mother Rajbai Thakkar was very fond of saints and sadhus and no saint could go from Virpur without receiving the hospitality of Rajbai. He was a devotee of the Hindu god Rama. At the age of 18, Jalaram Bapa became a disciple of Shri Bhojalram of Fatehpur. With blessings of his guru, he started 'Sadavrat', a feeding center for sadhus and saints as well as the needy. This tradition of feeding people continues to this day in Virpur.

The temple is an actual resident house of Jalaram Bapa where he lived till his last breath. The main attraction in the temple is the portrait picture of Jalaram Bapa and original photo of Bapa which has been taken before one year of his death. The idol of Bapa is in standing posture wearing a white turban and a dhoti- kurta and holding a stick in the left hand.

Jalaram Bapa's birthday is celebrated at the temple with great pomp every year on 7th day Shukla paksha of the Hindu month of Kartika. A huge fair is conducted at Virpur on the occasion and millions of devotees visit Virpur to pay their respect to the saint and have ...

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About Nilkanthdham Swaminarayan Temple

History of Nilkanthdham Swaminarayan Temple

Architecture of Nilkanthdham Swaminarayan Temple

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About Shri Stambeshwar Mahadev Temple

History & Mythology of Shri Stambeshwar Mahadev Temple

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At a distance of 29 km from Una, 66 km from Sasan Gir, and 76 km from Amreli, Tulsi Shyam Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Tulsishyam in Gujarat. It is one of the revered temples in this region of Gujarat and among the must-visit places as part of Gir packages.

Dedicated to Lord Krishna, Tulsi Shyam Temple is a well-known temple located inside the Gir National Park. Legend says that Lord Krishna eliminated the demon called Tul and so the place is associated with his name along with that of Krishna as Shyam as Tulsishyam. The idol of Lord Tulsishyam is said to be 3000 years old made out of black stone. Visitors need to climb 100 steep steps to reach the temple from the parking. There is also a temple dedicated to Goddess Rukmini Devi on a small hillock near the main temple.

There are three hot sulphur springs that are believed to have healing powers. Of these, the 1st one is filled with hot water, the second one is filled with more hot water and the third water spring is having hot boiling water. Another attraction that draws people to this temple is the stretch of road near the temple famed for its Gravity Hill phenomenon. At the temple one will find boarding facilities at a nominal cost and food is provided by the trust at free of cost.

There are two approach routes to this place - one from Una is in a good state while the second one from Amreli is a bit longer and has a lot of potholes and ...

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At a distance of 27 km from Patan and 36 km from Mehsana, Bindu Sarovar is a sacred pond located in Siddhpur town near Patan, Gujarat. Situated on the banks of Saraswati River, it is one of the holy places in Gujarat and among the most visited places near Patan.

Bindu Sarovar simply means a lake of drops. It is believed that Lord Mahavishnu's tears have fallen in this lake. Also known as Matru Gaya Kshetra, Bindu Sarovar is one among the five sacred theerthas of Hindu religion - Pancha Sarovar. The other four are Manas Sarovar in Tibet, Pushkar Sarovar in Rajasthan, Narayana Sarovar in Gujarat and Pampa Sarovar in Karnataka. Hindus normally go to Gaya in Bihar to offer pinda to their male ancestors but Bindu Sarovar is the only place in India where Matru Shradh is being carried out. It is also known as the Sri-sthal or a 'pious place' and finds a reference in the ancient Vedic text the Rig-Veda.

According to legend, Bindu Sarovar is the place where Sage Kardhama did severe penance for 10000 divine years and had the darshan of Lord Vishnu. It was on the banks of River Saraswati at this Bindu Sarovar, Sage Kapila had preached Moksha Gnana to his Mother Devhuti and performed the Matru Shradh of his mother salvation. It is said that at Bindu Sarovar Lord Parshuram also performed 'Matru Shradh' and his temple is also created here for darshan. Hence, Bindu Sarovar is considered as holy as Triveni Sangam at Allahabad.

Along the shore of the Bindu Sarovar, one can ...

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