The Somnath Temple, one of India's holiest Jyotirlingas, has a history marked by destruction and reconstruction. It was first attacked and plundered by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025-26 CE. Despite this, local rulers rebuilt it. After India's independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel spearheaded its restoration, with the current magnificent structure built in the traditional Chaulukya style. Inaugurated in 1951 by President Rajendra Prasad, it was seen as a cultural renaissance. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chairmanship of the Shri Somnath Trust, the temple complex has seen modern development and become a tourist destination.