PM Modi visits Somnath temple, set for wildlife talks in Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a pilgrimage to the Somnath temple in Gujarat's Gir Somnath district, where he prayed at the sacred Shiva shrine, the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The visit was on the second day of his three-day tour of his home state.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi posted pictures from his visit, saying that he had decided that after the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj, I would go to Somnath, which is the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas.

"Today, I felt blessed to have prayed at the Somnath Mandir. I prayed for the prosperity and good health of every Indian. This Temple manifests the timeless heritage and courage of our culture," he said.
Prior to reaching the temple, the Prime Minister visited Vantara, an animal rescue, conservation, and rehabilitation center in the Jamnagar district. After praying at Somnath, he proceeded to Sasan, the headquarters of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in the Junagadh district, which houses the world's only Asiatic lions.

On Monday, PM Modi will go on a lion safari and preside over a National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) meeting in Sasan to celebrate World Wildlife Day, officials added. The talks will be on how to further conservation efforts and discuss initiatives to safeguard India's wildlife.

The Gujarat government states that Asiatic lions now live on about 30,000 square kilometers spread over 53 talukas in nine districts. As a part of a central scheme, a National Referral Center for Wildlife is being built on 20.24 hectares of land at New Pipalya, Junagadh district, to assist conservation research and wildlife health surveillance. A state-of-the-art veterinary hospital and a high-tech wildlife tracking center have also been established at Sasan.