Bhavnath Mahadev Temple

Bhavnath Mahadev Temple at the foot of Mount Girnar in Junagadh is one of the most revered Shiva temples in Gujarat, famous above all for the Bhavnath Fair held during Mahashivaratri, which is considered a Mini Kumbh Mela. The sacred Mrigi Kund within the temple complex is the focal point of the fair: at midnight on Mahashivaratri, Naga sadhus from the Girnar hills descend in a procession and take a ritualistic royal bath in the kund, a spectacle that draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors from across India. The fair typically lasts five days and is one of the largest religious gatherings in Gujarat. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Bhavnath and is believed to be ancient, with the current structure reflecting traditional Gujarati temple architecture. The site also serves as the starting point for the Girnar Parikrama, a 36 km circumambulation of Mount Girnar completed by pilgrims over five days each November, drawing over a million participants.