Like Dwarka, Prabhasa-Somnath is not only a holy place but also a site of historical importance. The archaeological excavations on land at Prabhasa by the Baroda University and Deccan Collage Pune have yielded evidence of a township of 2000 BC. The temple of Somnath nearby is dedicated to Lord Siva and the linga is counted among the 12 Jyotirlingas of India mentioned in various Puranas. Prabhasa is mentioned in the Mahabharata as Prabhasatirtha (118.15, 119.1-3). The Bhagavata Purana says that at this sacred place the river Saraswati flows towards the west and the town is situated on the seashore (X.45.38; X.78.18). The same text also says that Lord Krishna undertook a sea voyage from Bhrugukachcha to Prabhasa. The Nasik and Karle caves inscriptions of Nahapana (119-124 AD) also refer to Prabhasa (Epigraphia Indica 1981). Prabhasa which seems to have extended up to Somnath was a flourishing port during the protohistoric times. After a short period of decline, the port again became prominent during the Early Historical and Rajput periods. Al-Beruni mentions that China and Zanzibar had trade contacts with Prabhasa and the main exports were cotton, textiles and leather goods to Arabia and imports were corals, pearls, ivory tusk, diamond and clover into Gujarat. Thus the ports of Gujarat including Somnath flourished due to extensive overseas trade with Southeast Asia, Ceylon and the Middle East countries.
The underwater archaeological explorations yielded a large number of ring stone anchors just off present Somnath temple in a water depth of 7 to 10 m. This indicate that Somnath was very active port during the medieval period.
The underwater archaeological explorations yielded a large number of ring stone anchors just off present Somnath temple in a water depth of 7 to 10 m. This indicate that Somnath was very active port during the medieval period.