Harihar Van

Harihar Van is a man-made forest and eco-tourism park located at Prabhas Patan near Somnath in Gir Somnath district, Gujarat. Developed by the Gujarat Forest Department and Shree Somnath Trust on former wasteland, it covers a large green area with native and medicinal plantations. It is notable for enhancing green cover near the Somnath pilgrimage circuit and offering a natural recreational space for visitors.

Visitors can expect a large, open green area with dense plantation of native trees, medicinal plants and shrubs, intersected by walking trails and pathways. The setting is quiet and natural, with shaded areas, seating spots and open lawns. There are no major built monuments inside, but the forest environment allows for leisurely walks, nature observation and photography in proximity to Somnath Temple and Triveni Sangam.

Harihar Van was developed in the late 2010s by the Gujarat Forest Department in collaboration with Shree Somnath Trust to convert barren land near Prabhas Patan into a forest. The project aimed to increase green cover, conserve native flora including medicinal plants, and create an eco-tourism asset complementing the Somnath pilgrimage area.

The name Harihar refers to a combined form of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara), reflecting the religious context of Somnath, one of the Jyotirlinga sites. The Van (forest) concept aligns with traditional Indian reverence for sacred groves and complements the pilgrimage experience at Prabhas Patan.