Home › Gir Somnath › Bhalka Tirth
TEMPLE · KRISHNABhalka Tirth
The sacred spot where Lord Krishna, mistaken for a deer, was struck by a hunter's arrow and left his earthly form — a deeply revered Krishna shrine near Somnath.
Where Krishna left the world
A short way from the Somnath temple lies Bhalka Tirth, one of the most poignant pilgrimage sites in Hinduism. Here, by tradition, Lord Krishna was resting under a peepal tree at the end of his earthly life when a hunter named Jara, mistaking his foot for a deer, loosed an arrow that struck him — and Krishna chose this moment to leave his mortal body and return to his eternal abode.
The tirth sits a few kilometres from Somnath on the way to Veraval, and pilgrims complete the sequence by continuing to Dehotsarg on the Hiran’s bank, where tradition places Krishna’s cremation. Mornings are quiet, the peepal-shaded compound asks only removed shoes, and the whole detour adds under an hour to a Somnath visit.
Bhalka Tirth marks the most human moment in the Krishna story: the Lord resting under a peepal, the hunter Jara’s arrow finding the one vulnerable spot, and the god’s gentle absolution of the horrified hunter before leaving his body — the episode the Mahabharata’s ending turns on. The shrine keeps the scene in white marble, Krishna reclining with the arrow at his foot, beneath a peepal held to descend from the tree itself.
The visit belongs inside Somnath’s Krishna circuit: Bhalka first, then the Golden Bridge road to Dehotsarg at the Triveni Sangam, where the last rites are placed, with the great temple between them. All three sit within minutes of each other, and the sequence — wound, departure, rites — is the pilgrimage’s intended order.
The temple marks this spot of the ‘bhalka’ (the arrow), with an idol of a reclining Krishna and the sacred tree. From here, his body was carried to the nearby Triveni Sangam for the last rites, a site known as Dehotsarg.
Quiet and deeply moving, wrapped in the bittersweet close of the Krishna story, Bhalka is an essential and tender stop on the Somnath pilgrimage.
The Bhalka Tirth Krishna shrine.
The hunter's arrow, and Krishna's departure
A shrine of the final legend.
Krishna rests under a peepal at the end of his earthly life.
The hunter Jara strikes him, mistaking his foot for a deer.
Krishna leaves his mortal form and returns to his abode.
His last rites are performed at the nearby Triveni Sangam.
Reasons to make the time
Krishna's departure
The spot of the legendary arrow.
Reclining Krishna
A poignant idol of the Lord.
Sacred peepal
The tree of the legend.
Tender legend
The close of the Krishna story.
Near Triveni
The Dehotsarg rites nearby.
On the circuit
Steps from Somnath.
What to look for inside
THE SHRINEReclining Krishna
The Bhalka Tirth idol.
THE LEGENDDeparture spot
The sacred peepal.
KRISHNATender legend
The close of the Krishna story.
SACRED TREEThe peepal
The tree of the final legend.
NEARBYTriveni Sangam
Where the Dehotsarg rites took place.
CIRCUITSteps from Somnath
Part of the great pilgrimage circuit.
How to spend an hour or two
Take darshan
Worship the reclining Krishna.
Hear the legend
The arrow and the departure.
See the peepal
The sacred tree of the tale.
Walk to Triveni
The Dehotsarg rites nearby.
Reflect a while
A tender, moving site.
Pair with Somnath
The great temple is close.
The Krishna sanctum and tree.
A shrine of the final legend
Bhalka Tirth is an intimate temple built around the spot of the legend — its sanctum holds an image of a reclining Krishna, and the sacred peepal tree associated with his last moments stands within the precinct. Subsidiary shrines and a hall serve the steady flow of pilgrims.
It is modest in scale; its power lies entirely in the story it marks — the gentle, profound close of Krishna’s earthly journey — and in its link to the nearby Triveni Sangam where the Dehotsarg rites took place.
The rest of the district is covered in our Gir Somnath travel guide.
Our overview of temples across Gujarat puts it in context.
Reclining Krishna idol
The sacred peepal tree
Linked to Dehotsarg
Near the Somnath circuit
When to go
Cool and clear — the best season on the Somnath coast.
Lush forest and springs; Gir partly closes.
Hot but sea-cooled near Somnath; go early.
⏰ Visit together with Somnath and Triveni Sangam; mornings are quiet and contemplative.
Timings & entry
- Open daily for darshan
- Remove footwear; dress modestly
- Combine with Somnath and Triveni
- Allow 30–45 minutes
- No entry fee for darshan
- Be respectful at this tender site
- Photography norms vary — ask
- Easily combined with Somnath
Getting there
By Air
Diu (~85 km) and Rajkot airports.
By Rail
Veraval station is nearest.
By Road
Between Somnath and Veraval, ~1.5 km from the temple.
At the temple
LEGEND & PEACE
A tender Krishna shrine
What to shoot
The shrine and the sacred tree.
Detail
The peepal of the legend.
Be discreet
Respect worshippers and rules.
Best light
Soft morning light.
Know before you go
More to see close by
SAFARIDevalia Safari Park
A fenced zone for reliable lion sightings
MARINESutrapada Coast
Seasonal whale sharks off the shore
HERITAGEPrabhas Patan
An ancient holy town with a fine museum
SACREDTriveni Sangam
Where three rivers meet the Arabian Sea
Gita Mandir
A riverside temple near Somnath
JYOTIRLINGASomnath Temple
The first of the twelve, rebuilt at the ocean’s edge
Where to eat near Bhalka Tirth
THALIKathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
SNACKSGanthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
PRASADTemple-town bites
Sweets and snacks near the temples.
Pure-veg & Kesar
Pilgrim-town veg fare; Gir Kesar mangoes in summer.
Bhalka Tirth FAQ
What is Bhalka Tirth?
The spot near Somnath where, by tradition, Krishna was struck by a hunter's arrow and left his earthly form.
What is enshrined there?
An idol of a reclining Krishna, with the sacred peepal tree.
Who struck Krishna?
A hunter named Jara, who mistook his foot for a deer.
What is Dehotsarg?
The nearby Triveni Sangam site where Krishna's last rites were performed.
Is there an entry fee?
No, darshan is free.
Where is it?
Between Somnath and Veraval, about 1.5 km from the temple.
When should I visit?
Mornings, alongside Somnath and Triveni.
What's nearby?
Somnath, Triveni Sangam and Veraval.
Related places across Gujarat
SPIRITUALHutheesing Temple
Exquisite 1848 white-marble Jain temple
Dwarka
Krishna’s holy city and the Dwarkadhish temple
FORESTNaswadi
Green tribal forest country
WILDLIFEAsiatic Lions
Amreli shares Gir, the lion’s last natural home
COASTDumas & Suvali
Black-sand beaches on the Arabian Sea
BEACHTithal Beach
Gujarat’s famous black-sand seafront
WHERE TO STAY
Find your stay in Gujarat
Compare live prices across the big booking sites and reserve in a few taps. Booking happens securely on the partner's site — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Book directly on our partner sites — tap a provider to see live Gujarat hotels & prices:
SHOP THE REGION
Bring home Gujarat — & travel essentials
Hand-picked crafts and trip gear, available on Amazon.
Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026