Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Leave Runwal MyCity, Dombivli around 4:30–5:00 AM for the long drive to Somnath, allowing roughly 15–17 hours including breaks. Take NH48 via Surat, Bharuch, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Junagadh, with two drivers alternating every 2–3 hours. This is a demanding day for nine adults and two children, so keep water, fruit, dry snacks, medicines and a change of clothes accessible rather than packed in the luggage. Check that both cars have FASTag, spare tyres and roadside-assistance numbers; confirm late check-in and parking with your Somnath hotel before departure.
After about three hours, stop near the Surat bypass for a 45-minute breakfast at a clean highway family restaurant with toilets—choose the branch on the route rather than entering central Surat. Continue toward Ahmedabad, taking an early lunch and fuel break of 45–60 minutes on the Ahmedabad–Rajkot highway. For a group of 11, pre-ordering thalis or simple Gujarati meals will save time; budget approximately ₹150–₹350 per person for breakfast and ₹200–₹400 for lunch. Avoid stretching the stop beyond an hour, as the final approach through Rajkot and Junagadh can be slower than the open highway.
After Junagadh, continue toward Prabhas Patan and Somnath. On arrival, unload quickly and let the children rest. If you reach before 9:00 PM and everyone still has energy, make only a 20-minute leg-stretch at the Somnath seafront; do not plan full sightseeing after this drive, and check local access and weather conditions before walking near the shore. Otherwise, go straight to the hotel, have dinner there—expect roughly ₹250–₹500 per person—and sleep early. Keep the next morning’s temple clothing and essentials ready, since parking and security checks around Somnath Temple can take time.
Start early at Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, ideally around 6:00–7:00 AM, before the larger pilgrimage crowds build up. Allow 2–3 hours for security, shoe and luggage deposit, darshan queues, and the temple complex. Phones, cameras and bags may be restricted, so keep valuables in your hotel or use the official cloakroom. Darshan timings, entry rules and any paid queue arrangements can change, so verify them locally or on the temple’s official channels the previous evening. For nine adults and two children, divide into smaller groups if the queue becomes difficult; keep water and breakfast packed, as roadside temple stalls are busiest later.
After darshan, drive about 15–20 minutes along Veraval–Somnath Road to Bhalka Tirth. Spend roughly 45 minutes here in the quieter shrine complex, where the Krishna-related pilgrimage story is commemorated. Return toward Prabhas Patan for Triveni Sangam, around 10–15 minutes away; allow another 45 minutes for the riverside visit and a short, unhurried walk. Avoid entering the water unless local staff specifically permit it, especially with children.
Have a simple Gujarati thali in the temple-market area near Somnath Temple, where family restaurants generally charge about ₹200–₹450 per person. Ask for unlimited rotli, dal, rice, vegetables and chaas, but expect a rush around 1:00–2:00 PM; arriving slightly early makes seating easier for a large group. After lunch, visit Prabhas Patan Museum, close to the temple, for about an hour of regional archaeology and temple-history exhibits. Confirm that it is open that day before walking over, since museum operating days and hours can vary; keep the visit flexible if the group needs a rest at the hotel.
Finish with an easy walk at Somnath beach around sunset, usually reached within a few minutes by auto-rickshaw or car from the temple area. Allow an hour for the seafront and views, but do not swim—the currents are strong and the shore is not a safe family bathing spot. Parking can become crowded near sunset, so use a drop-off point and walk rather than trying to park directly beside the promenade. For dinner, return to your hotel or choose a clean restaurant near the temple market; after a full darshan day, an early meal and rest will help before the next day’s drive toward Dwarka.
Leave Somnath around 7:00 AM in the private van or tempo traveller for Dwarka, taking the coastal NH51 route. The full drive is usually about 5–6 hours with breaks, but today’s two stops in Porbandar make the arrival later, so carry water and a simple breakfast for the vehicle. On reaching Porbandar, allow roughly 45 minutes at Kirti Mandir, the modest ancestral home and memorial associated with Mahatma Gandhi. It is a compact visit, but the small rooms and displays give the stop a more personal feel than a large museum; keep footwear and identification handy, and check the local opening schedule before departure.
Continue into central Porbandar for Sudama Temple, a brief, easy visit of around 30–45 minutes. The temple is close to the town’s main market area, so it works well before lunch rather than requiring another vehicle transfer. For a family Gujarati meal, try Hotel Kaveri near the central market area or a reputable local thali restaurant recommended by your driver; budget approximately ₹200–₹450 per person, and ask for a lighter thali if the group still has several hours on the road. Keep the stop to about an hour, then continue toward Dwarka. Traffic through town can slow the final approach, so expect to reach your hotel around mid-afternoon rather than treating the 5–6-hour estimate as a strict arrival time.
At your Dwarka hotel, reserve about 45 minutes for vehicle parking, room allocation and settling in. Temple-area hotels are convenient for the next day but may have narrow lanes and limited parking; confirm in advance that the full vehicle can be accommodated, otherwise use the hotel’s designated parking and walk or take a short auto-rickshaw ride. Once everyone has rested, walk to Gomti Ghat for an easy first-evening stroll of about 45 minutes. The steps and waterfront are especially pleasant around sunset, with views toward the river mouth and boats near the bathing ghats. Keep the evening unhurried after the road journey, and check the timing of any local evening ceremony on arrival rather than promising a fixed slot.
Begin at Dwarkadhish Temple around 6:00–7:00 AM, when the old town is cooler and queues are generally more manageable. Allow 2–3 hours for security, footwear storage and darshan; keep bags, phones and cameras to a minimum, and wear modest clothing with shoulders and knees covered. Confirm the temple’s current darshan timings and any booking or entry requirements the previous evening, as schedules can change on festival days. With 9 adults and 2 children, split into smaller groups at security and agree on a meeting point outside.
Walk from the temple toward Gomti Ghat, right beside the shrine, for about 45 minutes of riverfront views and pilgrimage activity. The steps can be slippery, so supervise the children and avoid entering the water unless local authorities specifically permit it. Continue on foot to Sudama Setu, a pedestrian bridge reached from the ghat area; allow 30–45 minutes for the crossing and photographs. Check locally whether the bridge is open before heading over, since access may be restricted during maintenance, strong winds or crowd-control periods.
Return through the Dwarka market around the temple bazaar for roughly an hour. This is a good place to pick up small devotional items, rudraksha-style beads and packaged snacks, but compare prices and check that food packets are sealed. Have a Gujarati thali near Dwarkadhish Temple, budgeting approximately ₹200–₹450 per person; ask for a family seating area and order bottled water for the children. The compact old town is easiest on foot, while your cars are better left at the hotel or an authorised parking area rather than taken into the narrow lanes.
After a rest at the hotel, drive toward Dwarka beach for a relaxed one-hour sunset outing. Go with a local driver’s advice on the safest accessible stretch, stay away from unlit areas and do not swim—the sea can be rough and currents are not always obvious. Carry light layers, water and comfortable footwear; return before the roads and temple-area lanes become crowded. Keep dinner simple near your hotel, since the group will likely need an early night before the next morning’s Nageshwar excursion.
Leave Dwarka around 7:00 AM in your booked tempo traveller or two cars for Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, roughly 30–45 minutes away. Keep the group together at the entrance and carry only essentials; temple security and darshan queues can take 1.5–2 hours. Check the day’s darshan timings and any special-entry rules locally, as schedules can change. Afterward, continue towards Gopi Talav, where a quiet 45-minute stop is enough for the sacred lake, a short walk and photographs. Carry water and hats, as shade is limited.
Drive onward to Rukmini Devi Temple, on the rural outskirts of Dwarka, and allow about an hour including the temple visit. The carved exterior is particularly pleasant in the softer late-morning light, but avoid rushing elderly family members across the uneven approach. If the group still has energy, continue to the Bet Dwarka ferry/jetty area at Okha. Allow 2.5–3 hours round trip, including possible queueing and waiting for ferry operations; confirm conditions before committing, especially with two children. If the queue is long or the weather is hot, it is sensible to return directly rather than turn this into a tiring excursion.
Return to Dwarka for a relaxed family lunch, choosing a clean vegetarian restaurant near the main market or your hotel; budget about ₹200–₹500 per person. Rest during the hottest part of the afternoon, then take a one-hour Dwarka evening snack walk through the main market. Try fresh farsan, khakhra and tea from busy local shops, and leave time for simple souvenir browsing. Keep the cars parked at the hotel if possible—the market lanes are congested, and walking is easier for a group of eleven.
Leave Dwarka around 4:30–5:00 AM for the long NH51/NH48 drive to Dombivli, covering roughly 16–18 hours with meal, fuel and child-rest breaks. The route runs through Jamnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Bharuch and Surat. With nine adults and two children in two cars, keep one car ahead only if both drivers have reliable phone connectivity; otherwise stay together, especially after dark. Carry packed water, fruit and dry snacks, and confirm that the home parking and building access at Runwal MyCity will be available late at night.
After about two hours, stop near Jamnagar for a 40–45-minute breakfast at a clean highway restaurant or petrol-station food court. Choose simple items such as idli, poha, parathas, tea and bottled water rather than a heavy meal. Continue toward Rajkot and Ahmedabad, changing drivers every two to three hours. A practical lunch break is on the Ahmedabad–Vadodara corridor, where you can refuel and allow the children a proper washroom and movement break; budget about an hour, including parking and food.
Once past Ahmedabad and Bharuch, expect the drive to feel easier but do not underestimate traffic around Vadodara, Ankleshwar, Surat and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Stop near Surat for tea, fuel and a 30–45-minute reset before the final Maharashtra stretch. Keep toll tags topped up and check tyre pressure at the morning fuel stop. The final approach through Vapi, Silvassa junctions, Thane and Dombivli can add considerable time, particularly if you reach the Mumbai-side roads during evening congestion.
Arrival at Dombivli will depend heavily on traffic and driver condition. If either driver becomes drowsy, stop at a staffed hotel or highway rest point rather than pushing through; an unplanned overnight halt is safer than a late-night final leg. Keep dinner flexible—use a hygienic highway stop near Vapi or Thane rather than delaying the group for a specific restaurant—and confirm everyone has luggage, phones and valuables before leaving each break.
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