Gop Temple, Zinavari, Jamnagar, Gujarat

Gop Temple, Zinavari, Jamnagar, Gujarat

Gop Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at Zinavari village in Jamjodhpur Taluka of Jamnagar District, Gujarat, India. The Hindu temple is dated to the 6^th century and is one of the earliest surviving stone temples in Gujarat. The temple architecture has an influence of Gandhara architecture pattern and it also resembles the construction style of north and south Indian temples. The Gop temple is consecrated to Lord Shiva who is also known as Gopeshwar or Gopnath.

Though the presiding deity is Lord Shiva, but the temple is famously called as Surya Temple. The Temple is located on the bank of Vartu river and south-west of the Gop hill of Barda Hills. The Zinavari village is also known as Juna or Nana Gop and is located east of Gop village. It is located north of Ghumli, on a hill top. The temple is protected monument by Archeological Survey of India and is designated as Monument of National Importance.

Legends

As per the legend, Gop temple is associated with Lord Krishna and Gopi. At this place, Shri Vallabhacharya had delivered his discourses and hence the place is also worshipped as one of the 84 Mahaprabhuji Bethak.

History

The ancient temple of Gop is considered the earliest surviving stone temple of Saurashtra, Gujarat. Burgess in 1876 estimated it not later than 6^th century. Sankalia states that the temple belongs to 5^th century but not earlier than Uparkot caves of Junagadh based on the Kahu-Jo-Darro stupa of Mirpurkhas. The temple is generally dated to late 6th century (575-600 CE). K. V. Soundara Rajan assigned the first half of the 7^th century. The most probable date considered now is the last quarter of 6^th century (Maitraka period) to the first half of the 7th century.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/04/gop-temple-zinavari-jamnagar-temple.html

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 6 Kms from Gop Patiya Bus Stop, 7 Kms from Gop Jam Railway Station, 25 Kms from Jamjodhpur, 27 Kms from Bhanvad, 65 Kms from Jamnagar, 65 Kms from Jamnagar Airport, 117 Kms from Rajkot, 128 Kms from Dwarka and 363 Kms from Ahmedabad. The Temple is situated on Bhanvad to Jamnagar Route (SH 27). The place has good road connectivity. State-owned buses and private buses are available to reach this temple.

Location