Navlakha Temple, Ghumli
Surya (Sun temple, now in ruins) temple · Ghumli, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat, India
The Navlakha Temple stands in ruins at Ghumli, a village at the foot of the Barda hills in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat. Built by the Jethwa rulers, it was dedicated to Surya, the Sun god, and Incredible India and the travel magazine Outlook Traveller both describe it as the oldest Sun temple in Gujarat.
The temple is not a working shrine. What remains is a richly carved stone structure on a very large plinth, surrounded by the ruins of Ghumli, which was once a royal capital. The name Navlakha, 'nine lakh', is said to come from the sum of nine lakh rupees spent on building it.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Navlakha Temple, Ghumli
The Navlakha Temple is one of the main monuments of Ghumli, a town that served as a capital for two dynasties. Incredible India notes that Ghumli was the capital of the Saindhava dynasty in the 8th century, when it was known as Bhumli, and later became a capital of the Jethwa rulers. The Devbhumi Dwarka district administration records the older names Bhumilika and Bhutambilika for the town.
The temple is valued today as a work of art and history rather than as a place of active worship. Incredible India and Outlook Traveller both single out its Solanki-style stone carving, including a much-noted panel of elephants with entwined tusks.
Heritage
History of Navlakha Temple, Ghumli
Sources agree that the temple was built by the Jethwa rulers but differ on the century: Incredible India and Wikipedia give the 12th century, while Outlook Traveller gives the 11th. According to the Devbhumi Dwarka district administration, the Jethwa ruler Rana Shiyaji made Ghumli his capital in 1220, and it remained the capital until 1313, when Rana Bhanji Jethwa was defeated in battle and moved away to Ranpur.
Ghumli then fell into ruin. A local legend recorded by the district administration and by the 19th-century Bombay Gazetteer, as cited by Wikipedia, attributes the town's destruction to a curse by a woman named Son. Wikipedia notes that a photograph of 1876 already shows the temple in a ruined state.
In more recent times the temple has been protected and restored. A 2001 Times of India report, carried by Hindu Press International, listed the Navlakha temple at Ghumli among eight state-protected monuments in Gujarat damaged in the earthquake of that year and proposed for restoration. Incredible India notes that the Archaeological Survey of India and the Government of India have undertaken restoration at Ghumli.
Architecture and sacred features
Wikipedia describes the temple as built in the Maru-Gurjara (Solanki) style, facing east, on a plinth measuring about 45.7 by 30.5 metres, which it calls the largest temple base in Gujarat. The sanctum is surrounded by a covered circumambulatory passage and approached through a large hall (mandapa) with octagonal pillars and three porches. An ornamental entrance arch (kirti torana) that once stood in front of the temple has been lost.
The outer walls carry sculptures in niches, including, according to Wikipedia, images of Brahma and Savitri, Shiva and Parvati, and Lakshmi-Narayana. Incredible India highlights the carving of elephants with entwined tusks on the back wall as the temple's best-known feature. Nearby stand the small Ganesh temple of Ghumli and the Vikai and Jetha stepwells.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Navlakha is a protected ruin, not an active temple: do not climb on the structure or touch the carvings, and respect any barriers. Facilities at the site are limited. Confirm current access and visiting hours with the Gujarat state archaeology department or the Devbhumi Dwarka district administration before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Location
How to Reach Navlakha Temple, Ghumli
Incredible India places Ghumli about 42 km from the coastal town of Porbandar, and Outlook Traveller about 45 km from Dwarka. The site lies at the foot of the Barda hills; travel by road from Porbandar or Bhanvad.
Location: Ghumli, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat, India
More in Hindu temples in Gujarat · Surya (Sun temple, now in ruins) temples · Temples in Bhanvad Taluka · Temples in Devbhumi Dwarka District
Questions
Navlakha Temple, Ghumli: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the Navlakha Temple?
The name means 'nine lakh' and is said to come from the nine lakh rupees spent on building the temple.
Which god was the Navlakha Temple at Ghumli built for?
Surya, the Sun god. Incredible India describes it as the oldest Sun temple in Gujarat.
Who built the Navlakha Temple?
The Jethwa rulers of Ghumli, in the 11th or 12th century; sources differ on the exact century.
Is worship performed at the Navlakha Temple?
No. It is a protected ruin and is visited as a heritage site rather than a working temple.
What is special about the temple's architecture?
It stands on one of the largest temple plinths in Gujarat and is known for its Solanki-style carving, especially a panel of elephants with entwined tusks.
Where is Ghumli?
Ghumli is a village at the foot of the Barda hills in Devbhumi Dwarka district, about 42 km from Porbandar according to Incredible India.
Sources and attribution
- Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Ghumli
- District Administration Devbhumi Dwarka, Government of Gujarat — Navlakha Temple, Ghumli
- Outlook Traveller — Have You Been To These Lesser-known Places in Gujarat?
- Hindu Press International (citing The Times of India, 2 April 2001) — Restoration proposed for quake-damaged Gujarat monuments
- Wikipedia — Navlakha Temple, Ghumli
- Wikipedia — Ghumli
Further reading: Navlakha Temple, Ghumli on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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