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SACRED KUND · PILGRIMAGEDamodar Kund
A revered sacred tank at the foot of Girnar — holy to Lord Damodar (Krishna) and to the poet-saint Narsinh Mehta — a place of bathing, bhajan and last rites.
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.
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.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
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
Sacred tank
Steps to holy waters.
Ritual steps
Bathing and prayer.
How to spend an hour or two
See the kund
Take in the sacred stepped tank.
Visit Damodarji
Worship at the Krishna temple.
Recall the saint
Narsinh Mehta's bhajan legacy.
Watch the rituals
Bathing and prayers at the ghats.
Be respectful
Last rites take place here too.
Continue to Girnar
The mountain base is close by.
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.
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
Jama Masjid, Uparkot
A pillared mosque within the old fort
Khapra Kodiya Caves
Buddhist rock-cut monastic caves
Gir’s Edge
Lion-country safaris begin just south of the city
Navghan Kuvo
Birdlife and still water below the massif
Mahabat Maqbara
A fantastical Indo-Islamic royal mausoleum
Sakkarbaug Zoo
India's third-oldest zoo, home to Asiatic lions
Where to eat around the ashram
Kathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
Ganthiya & farsan
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
Chaat & 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.
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