Damodar Kund
Somnath, Gujarat · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry Fee₹0
Set on the road that climbs toward the sacred hill of Girnar, a few kilometres east of Junagadh's old city, Damodar Kund is one of Saurashtra's most venerated bathing tanks. A broad rectangular reservoir edged with worn stone steps, or ghats, it is fed by seasonal streams draining off the Girnar massif, and pilgrims regard its waters as purifying in the manner of a great river. From the ghats, the serrated ridgeline of Girnar rises to the east, giving the tank a quiet, amphitheatre-like setting that draws bathers at dawn before the day heats up.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg Gujarati thali houses along the Junagadh temple road
- ✦Simple pure-veg bhojanalayas near Girnar Taleti
- ✦Old-city farsan shops for fafda, jalebi and dhokla in central Junagadh
About
Set on the road that climbs toward the sacred hill of Girnar, a few kilometres east of Junagadh's old city, Damodar Kund is one of Saurashtra's most venerated bathing tanks.
- A broad rectangular reservoir edged with worn stone steps, or ghats, it is fed by seasonal streams draining off the Girnar massif, and pilgrims regard its waters as purifying in the manner of a great river.
- From the ghats, the serrated ridgeline of Girnar rises to the east, giving the tank a quiet, amphitheatre-like setting that draws bathers at dawn before the day heats up.
- Beside the water stands the Damodarji temple, dedicated to a form of Vishnu-Krishna known as Damodar, whose presence gives the kund its name.
- The site is woven into the memory of Narsinh Mehta, the fifteenth-century Gujarati poet-saint and Vaishnav devotee whose bhajans, including the beloved hymn later associated with Mahatma Gandhi, remain sung across Gujarat.
- Tradition holds that Narsinh Mehta bathed and worshipped here, and the surrounding lanes preserve places linked to his life, making the kund as much a literary and cultural landmark as a place of prayer.
- Many families also bring the ashes of departed relatives for immersion here, and the ghats often see quiet rituals of remembrance alongside ordinary morning bathing.
- Damodar Kund sits within the wider Girnar Taleti and Bhavnath cluster at the foot of the climb to the hilltop shrines, so most visitors fold it into a broader circuit that can include the Bhavnath Mahadev temple, the long Girnar stairway, and Junagadh's Uparkot Fort.
- Come early: the light is soft, the crowds thin, and the reflection of the hills on the still water is at its most striking.
- Dress modestly, remove footwear near the shrine, and keep to the marked steps, as the stone can be slick where water laps the ghats.
- For a meal, stay with the pilgrim-belt pure-vegetarian kitchens of Junagadh.
- Simple bhojanalayas and Gujarati-Kathiyawadi thali houses near Girnar Taleti and along the Junagadh temple road serve unlimited thalis of rotli, dal, kadhi, seasonal shaak and rice, while the old-city bazaars offer pure-veg farsan such as fafda, jalebi, ganthiya and dhokla.
- For a hedge-safe choice, ask for a well-known pure-veg Gujarati thali restaurant in central Junagadh, where satvik cooking is the norm.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Damodar Kund, Girnar Taleti Road, near Bhavnath, Junagadh, Somnath, Gujarat, 362001
How to Reach: Damodar Kund lies about 4-5 km east of Junagadh city centre on the Girnar Taleti road. Junagadh is well connected by train and bus to Rajkot and Ahmedabad; from Junagadh railway station or the ST bus stand, autos and local taxis run to the kund and the adjacent Girnar Taleti and Bhavnath area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Damodar Kund and why is it sacred?
Damodar Kund is a stone-stepped bathing tank at the foothills of Girnar near Junagadh, revered as purifying waters. It is linked to the adjoining Damodarji (Vishnu-Krishna) temple and to the fifteenth-century poet-saint Narsinh Mehta, and many pilgrims bathe here or immerse the ashes of departed relatives.
Is there an entry fee to visit Damodar Kund?
No, there is no entry fee. The kund and its ghats are open to all visitors free of charge. Please dress modestly, remove footwear near the shrine and keep to the marked steps, as the stone can be slippery near the water.
How is Damodar Kund connected to Narsinh Mehta?
Narsinh Mehta was a beloved Gujarati Vaishnav poet-saint whose devotional bhajans are still sung across the state. Tradition holds that he bathed and worshipped at Damodar Kund, and the surrounding area preserves sites associated with his life, making the kund a cultural as well as a spiritual landmark.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Damodar Kund?
Junagadh is an excellent place for pure-vegetarian food. Near Girnar Taleti and along the temple road you will find simple bhojanalayas and Gujarati-Kathiyawadi thali houses serving unlimited thalis, while the old-city bazaars are full of pure-veg farsan such as fafda, jalebi, ganthiya and dhokla.
What else can I see near Damodar Kund?
The kund sits within the Girnar Taleti and Bhavnath cluster, so it pairs well with the Bhavnath Mahadev temple, the long stairway climb to the Girnar hilltop shrines, and Junagadh's Uparkot Fort and old-city monuments, making a full day of sightseeing possible.