A holy tank of song and rite
On the road to Girnar lies Damodar Kund, one of the most sacred water tanks in Gujarat. Fed by the Suvarnarekha stream, the kund is presided over by the temple of Damodarji — a form of Lord Krishna — and is steeped in legend.
The kund folds into any Junagadh day naturally: it lies on the road between the city and the Girnar base, with the Ashokan rock edicts minutes away and the Bhavnath temple precinct just beyond. November to February is the comfortable season, and the Mahashivratri mela at Bhavnath sends its crowds past these ghats — the kund at its busiest and most devotional.
Damodar Kund is where Junagadh’s two devotions meet: the Girnar pilgrims bathe here before the climb, and the city brings its dead for immersion, the kund ranking with India’s holiest waters for the rite. Narsinh Mehta’s association seals it — tradition has the poet-saint singing his prabhatiyas on these ghats at dawn, and the morning hour still fits the songs. Come early, sit quietly at the steps’ edge, and let both uses of the water pass with equal respect.
It is closely associated with Narsinh Mehta, the great 15th-century Gujarati poet-saint and devotee of Krishna, who by tradition bathed here and sang his immortal bhajans on its steps. Pilgrims come to bathe in its holy waters, and the ashes of the departed are traditionally immersed here, making it an important site for last rites.
Ringed by steps, shrines and the looming presence of Girnar, Damodar Kund is a place of deep devotion, quiet ritual and very old stories — a serene, sacred pause on the way to the mountain.
The sacred Damodar Kund.
A tank fed by the Suvarnarekha, sung by a poet
Steps to the sacred waters.
The Suvarnarekha-fed kund is revered from ancient times.
A temple to Krishna as Damodar presides over it.
The 15th-c. poet-saint is linked to its steps and songs.
Holy bathing and last-rite immersions continue here.
Reasons to make the time
Sacred kund
A holy tank of great repute.
Damodarji temple
Krishna as Damodar presides.
Narsinh Mehta
The poet-saint's hallowed ground.
Holy bathing
Pilgrims bathe in its waters.
Last rites
A revered immersion site.
Girnar setting
Beneath the sacred mountain.
What to look for inside
THE KUNDSacred tank
Steps to holy waters.
THE GHATSRitual steps
Bathing and prayer.
How to spend an hour or two
See the kund
Take in the sacred stepped tank, fed by the Suvarnarekha stream.
Visit Damodarji
Worship at the Damodarji temple that presides over the water.
Recall the saint
Recall Narsinh Mehta, whose bhajans tradition sets on these steps.
Watch the rituals
Watch the bathing and prayers at the ghats through the morning.
Be respectful
Understand the last rites performed here; the kund equals Prayag for immersions.
Continue to Girnar
Continue to the Girnar base, minutes further up the road.
Ghats, shrines and sacred water.
A stepped tank beneath the mountain
Damodar Kund is a large rectangular sacred tank, enclosed by stone steps (ghats) on its sides that lead down to the water, with the Damodarji temple and lesser shrines along its banks. Fed by the Suvarnarekha, it holds water year-round for ritual bathing.
Its setting does much of the work — the broad sheet of holy water, the descending steps busy with pilgrims, and Girnar rising beyond — a classic Indian sacred-tank landscape, shaped for devotion rather than display.
It sits within Junagadh district — browse more places to visit in Junagadh.
Large stepped sacred tank
Suvarnarekha-fed waters
Damodarji (Krishna) temple
Ghats for bathing & rites
When to go
Cool and clear — ideal for temple visits and Girnar.
Girnar turns lush; the foothills are green and fresh.
Hot — visit early; Mahashivratri Mela in late winter.
⏰ Come in the calm of the morning; be respectful, as the kund is used for both worship and last rites.
Timings & entry
- The kund is accessible through the day
- Mornings are calm and atmospheric
- Be respectful of bathers and rites
- Combine it with Bhavnath and Girnar
- No entry fee
- Take care on wet, slippery steps
- Be sensitive — last rites occur here
- Dress and behave modestly
Getting there
By Air
Keshod Airport (~45 km) is nearest.
By Rail
Junagadh, then road toward Girnar.
By Road
On the Girnar road, ~4 km from the city centre.
At the kund
WATER & STEP
A sacred tank below Girnar
What to shoot
The stepped tank and its waters.
Detail
The Damodarji temple and shrines.
Be discreet
Photograph rituals respectfully.
Best light
Soft morning light on the ghats.
Know before you go
More to see close by
FESTIVALBhavnath Mahadev
Shiva temple & the great Maha Shivratri fair
CAVESKhapra Kodiya Caves
Buddhist rock-cut monastic caves
Amba Mata Temple
Hindu shrines crowning Girnar’s summits
NATUREWillingdon Dam
A scenic reservoir beneath Girnar’s peaks
ANCIENTAshokan Rock Edicts
Emperor Ashoka’s edicts carved ~250 BCE
HERITAGEJunagadh Old City
Bazaars, gateways & the Nawabi quarter
Where to eat near Damodar Kund
THALIKathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
SNACKSGanthiya & farsan
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
STREET FOODChaat & kachori
Bustling old-city bazaar bites.
Kesar mangoes
Junagadh's Girnar-grown Kesar mango is famed (summer).
Damodar Kund FAQ
What is Damodar Kund?
A sacred water tank on the Girnar road, holy to Krishna (Damodar) and linked to Narsinh Mehta.
Who was Narsinh Mehta?
A great 15th-century Gujarati poet-saint and Krishna devotee, associated with the kund.
What rituals happen there?
Holy bathing and, traditionally, the immersion of the ashes of the departed.
Is there an entry fee?
No, entry is free.
Where is it?
On the Junagadh–Girnar road, about 4 km from the city.
When should I visit?
In the calm of the morning.
What's nearby?
Bhavnath Mahadev, the Ashokan edicts and the Girnar base.
Should I be careful?
Yes — be respectful, as it is used for last rites as well as worship.
Related places across Gujarat
TOWNSavarkundla
Famed for its weights & scales craft
FOODRajkot Chowk
Legendary farsan, penda & chikki
WATERFALLGira & Girmal
Gujarat’s mightiest cascades, in full monsoon roar
UNESCODholavira
A 4,500-year-old Harappan city & ancient water system
FESTIVALBhavnath Mahadev
Shiva temple & the great Maha Shivratri fair
HISTORYPatan City Anhilwad
Traces of the great Solanki capital
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026