Bhalka Tirtha, a short walk from the main Somnath Temple, marks the spot where, according to the Mahabharata, a hunter named Jara mistook Krishna's foot for a deer and shot him with an arrow. Krishna, recognising this as the moment of his departure from the mortal world, blessed the hunter and passed away. The site is sacred to Vaishnavas and attracts pilgrims who come specifically to venerate this episode.
The shrine itself is small and simple: a tree under which an image of the reclining Krishna is installed. The surrounding garden is kept neat and quiet, in contrast with the crowds at the main temple. It is worth the short walk to understand the full significance of the Somnath area to Hindu tradition — the place is associated not just with Shiva but also with the end of the Krishna avatar.