Kamandal Kund
Junagadh, Gujarat · lake
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Tucked into the wooded foothills where the great massif of Girnar rises above the Junagadh plain, Kamandal Kund is a small spring-fed sacred tank that most day-trippers rush past on their way to the mountain steps — and that pilgrims and ascetics treat as one of the holiest spots at the taleti (base). The kund sits in the Bhavnath belt, a green pocket of temples, dharamshalas and sadhu akharas gathered around the Bhavnath Mahadev shrine, and its still water is fed by natural springs seeping off the Girnar rock. Tradition ties the tank to the Nath sampradaya and the wandering Naga ascetics who have long made Girnar a centre of their practice; the name itself evokes the kamandalu, the water-pot every renunciant carries.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg Gujarati thali bhojanalayas along the Girnar Taleti road near Bhavnath
- ✦Shudh shakahari Kathiyawadi thali houses in central Junagadh
- ✦Gujarati farsan shops in Junagadh for dhokla, khaman and fafda-jalebi
About
Tucked into the wooded foothills where the great massif of Girnar rises above the Junagadh plain, Kamandal Kund is a small spring-fed sacred tank that most day-trippers rush past on their way to the mountain steps — and that pilgrims and ascetics treat as one of the holiest spots at the taleti (base).
- The kund sits in the Bhavnath belt, a green pocket of temples, dharamshalas and sadhu akharas gathered around the Bhavnath Mahadev shrine, and its still water is fed by natural springs seeping off the Girnar rock.
- Tradition ties the tank to the Nath sampradaya and the wandering Naga ascetics who have long made Girnar a centre of their practice; the name itself evokes the kamandalu, the water-pot every renunciant carries.
- For most of the year the kund is a quiet, reflective place — a stone-lined pool ringed by trees, with steps leading down to the water and small shrines nearby, where pilgrims pause for a ritual dip before beginning the long climb of Girnar's ten thousand steps.
- It comes vividly alive during the Bhavnath Mahadev Mahashivratri fair, the great annual mela when Naga sadhus, mahants and thousands of devotees converge on the taleti.
- A ceremonial procession and ritual bathing at the kund form part of the observance, and the whole area fills with the smoke of dhunis, the sound of conch and bhajan, and a swirl of saffron-clad ascetics.
- Visiting is free and best done in the cool of early morning, when the light is soft on the Girnar cliffs and the crowds are thin.
- Combine it with the adjacent Bhavnath Mahadev temple, the Damodar Kund a little way off, and the start of the Girnar climb.
- Dress modestly, ask before photographing sadhus, and treat the water and shrines as living places of worship rather than a photo stop.
- Food around the Girnar taleti is reliably and thoroughly pure-vegetarian, as befits a major pilgrim belt.
- Simple bhojanalayas and Gujarati thali houses near Bhavnath and along the Girnar Taleti road serve unlimited-refill thalis of rotli, shaak, dal, kadhi, rice and chaas, alongside Kathiyawadi staples such as bajra rotla with garlic chutney and ringan no olo.
- In central Junagadh, a short drive away, long-standing pure-veg thali restaurants and Gujarati farsan shops offer dhokla, fafda-jalebi and khaman for a lighter meal.
- Look for clearly marked "pure veg" or "shudh shakahari" boards, which are the norm across this temple town.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Bhavnath, Girnar Taleti, near Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, Junagadh, Gujarat, 362001
How to Reach: At the Girnar taleti (base), about 4-5 km east of Junagadh city centre in the Bhavnath area. Junagadh is reachable by train and bus from Rajkot, Somnath and Ahmedabad; autorickshaws and taxis run from Junagadh city and the railway station to Girnar Taleti and Bhavnath, from where the kund is a short walk.
More places in Junagadh
- Girnar Parvat & the Great Step ClimbGujarat's tallest peak near Junagadh, climbed by roughly 9,900 stone steps past Jain and Hindu shrines to five sacred summits.
- Girnar Ropeway (Udankhatola)One of Asia's longest passenger aerial ropeways, gliding pilgrims from Girnar's base to the Ambaji plateau in minutes above the Gir forest.
- Neminath Jain Temple (Girnar)The principal Jain shrine on Girnar hill, dedicated to Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara — a supremely revered Jain nirvana-tirth reached by a long climb of stone steps above Junagadh.
- Ambaji Mata Temple (Girnar)A revered Amba Mata Shakti shrine high on the Girnar heights above Junagadh, the first major Hindu temple reached on the long summit-stairway pilgrimage.
- Uparkot FortAncient hilltop citadel above Junagadh with rock-cut stepwells, Buddhist caves and old cannons, dramatically restored beneath Girnar's peaks.
- Vastupal-Tejpal & Mallinath Jain TemplesA cluster of intricately carved 13th-century Svetambara Jain derasars on the Girnar plateau, endowed by the ministers Vastupal and Tejpal.
- Gorakhnath Peak & TempleThe highest summit of Girnar (about 1,031 m), crowned by a Nath-sampradaya shrine to Guru Gorakhnath, reached by a long stone stairway with sweeping Saurashtra views.
- Guru Dattatreya Peak & ShrineA white hilltop shrine on Girnar's farthest summit enshrining Guru Dattatreya's sacred footprints, reached by a near-10,000-step climb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kamandal Kund and why is it sacred?
It is a spring-fed sacred tank at the Girnar base near the Bhavnath Mahadev temple. It is revered in the Nath ascetic tradition and used by pilgrims and sadhus for ritual bathing, especially during the annual Bhavnath Mahadev fair.
Is there an entry fee, and when is the best time to visit?
Entry is free. Early morning is ideal for a quiet visit. The kund is at its most vibrant during the Bhavnath Mahadev Mahashivratri fair (around February-March), when Naga sadhus and thousands of devotees gather at the taleti.
How do I get to Kamandal Kund?
It sits in the Bhavnath area at the Girnar taleti, about 4-5 km from Junagadh city. Take a train or bus to Junagadh, then an autorickshaw or taxi to Girnar Taleti or Bhavnath; the kund is a short walk from there.
Can I combine it with the Girnar climb?
Yes. Kamandal Kund is right at the base near where the Girnar step-climb begins, alongside the Bhavnath Mahadev temple and Damodar Kund, so it fits naturally into an early-morning Girnar itinerary.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Kamandal Kund?
The Girnar taleti and Junagadh belt is thoroughly pure-vegetarian. Pure-veg Gujarati thali bhojanalayas near Bhavnath serve unlimited thalis, while central Junagadh has shudh shakahari thali houses and farsan shops for dhokla, khaman and fafda-jalebi.