Dwarka Tourism, Gujarat

The earliest mention of Dwarka is in the ancient Indian epic, Mahabharat. In it, Dwarka was the kingdom of Yaduvansh, which was ruled by Lord Krishna. However, the Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka was built much later.

The first temple in Dwarka is believed to have been built by Vajranabha, Lord Krishna's great-grandson, somewhere between 5th to 2nd century BCE. He constructed the temple where Krishna's residence "Hari-Graha" used to be. Due to people's devotion to Lord Krishna, Dwarkadhish Temple received many contributions from various Kings subsequently.

In the 8th century, Vedic scholar Adi Shankaracharya declared Dwarkadhish Temple, the most pious temple in western India. Adi Shankaracharya chose one temple in each direction (East, west, north, and south) of India. Dwarkadhish was met with major destruction in the year 1472 by a Muslim leader named Sultan Mahmud Begada. The present temple was then rebuilt and enlarged in the 16th century in Chalukya architectural style. The present temple also had various additions.

The centre of Dwarka's Sanctity is the imposing Dwarkadhish Temple, also popularly known as the Dwarka Temple. Dwarkadhish Temple is revered in the city more than anything.

Dwarkadhish means the "Lord of Dwarka", which refers to Lord Krishna, who established and ruled Dwarka in the beginning. The significance of the Dwarkadhish Temple revolves all around Lord Krishna, who is considered the major and most venerated deity in Hinduism. Krishna chose Dwarka as a safe place for his people to thrive and grow. The temple is said to have been built just over the residence of Shri Krishna.

Adi Shankaracharya, an 8th century Hindu theologian, declared the Dwarkadhish Temple one of the four premier temples in the Hindu religion, which were collectively called Char Dhams. It is believed that whoever completes the visit to all of the four pilgrimage destinations, including Jagannath Temple in Puri, Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram, Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, and Badrinath Temple in Badrinath, is bound to attain moksha (Salvation) after their earthly life.

Dwarkadhish Temple is also the temple considered 108th Divya Desham of Shri Vishnu and has been mentioned in many religious scriptures and texts from the ancient Indian period. Various other interesting and godly tales about Dwarka add to the spiritual significance of the Dwarkadhish Temple.

It is the architectural brilliance that you can see a stunning spire in Dwarka from miles away, and immediately know that it is the Dwarkadhish Temple. Dwarka Temple is shaped in this architecture after many additions, renovations, and reconstructions to its base structure by various Kings and devotees throughout the history of Dwarkadhish Temple.

Dwarkadhish Temple is built over a hillock and a staircase of more than 50 stairs runs down to the Gomti river in its south. The temple marks the place where Shri Krishna used to rest during his reign. Dwarkadhish Temple was built using limestone and sandstone in the Chalukya style of architecture. The temple features mainly a five-storey mandapam (front hall), a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), and a shikhara (spire) over the garbhagriha. It is supported by 72 intricately carved monolith pillars. The pillars, walls, and roof are carved out portraying kaleidoscopic patterns and various deities.

The Garbhagriha has the main idol of Lord Krishna made from the black stone called Shaligram, which represents Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. Over the garbhagriha is the most spectacular component of the temple, the Shikhara. The beautifully carved curvilinear Shikhara stands as a symbol of evidence of all the legends about Dwarka. Atop the Shikhara, hoists the 40 square metre Dhwaja (Flag) which recites the glorious stories of the past. It is a triangular-shaped flag with symbols of the sun and moon on it. The symbols represent the eternal presence of Dwarka's reverence in the world. Interestingly, the flag is replaced with a new one three to five times a day, every one of which is donated by devotees. The flag-changing ceremony is a flabbergasting event and is witnessed by many.

The Dwarkadhish Temple complex also houses shrines dedicated to Lord Balaram, Devi Subhadra, Revati, Vasundhara, Rukmini, and other deities. Dwarkadhish has entry gates on its northern and southern sides. The entry on the north is known as the Moksha Dwar which translates to "door to salvation" while the one on the southern side is called Swarg Dwar, "door to heaven". Swarg Dwar faces the Gomti River and has about 56 steps running down to the river. On the Moksha Dwar, there is one of the four prime learning centres, Sharda Peetha, established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th Century.

November to February is the best time to visit Dwarka, as the climate is relatively cool and comfortable. Winters are moderately cold in Dwarka with temperature ranging from 9 to 34 Celsius. You will see a clear sky and a little breeze blowing. This weather is perfect for visiting the different historical and religious sites. Moreover, November is also the peak season for Dwarkadhish yatra.

From March to June, temperatures range between 23°C and 42°C, making it difficult to participate in outdoor activities. You can try wearing light and breathable clothing, using a portable fan or air conditioning, and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun.

The monsoon season begins in June, making the atmosphere humid and uncomfortable. Be sure to pack appropriate rain gear.

By Air: The nearest airport to Dwarka is Jamnagar Airport, which is about 137 kilometres and takes about three hours. Jamnagar Airport has frequent flights from major cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and taxi services are available to Dwarka from the airport.

By Train: Dwarka has its own railway station which has trains from many major cities, including Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.

By Road: Dwarka is also well connected by road, with regular buses running from many cities in Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Porbandar, Rajkot, Vadodara, and Amerli.

• Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple
• Rukmini Devi Temple
• Bet Dwarka
• Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
• Dwarka Beach & Swami Narayan Mandir

Dwarka Beach & Swami Narayan Mandir

The Dwarka beach, located near the Dwarkadhish Temple, is a great spot to witness the confluence of spirituality and natural beauty. This place is considered to be the actual location of this mythological event of Lord Krishna establishing his empire in Dwarka. Dwarka Beach is a popular point of interest in Dwarka among pilgrims and tourists for having a time amidst peace. The Dwarkadhish Temple is located just a few hundred metres from the beach which gives a pious touch to the place. The beach is also a great location for sitting and reflecting on oneself and should not be missed especially for those who would like to combine history, spirituality and the sound of the waves.

Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple

Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple is located at the western edge of Dwarka and surrounded by Arabian sea. A visit to Bhadkeshwar Mahadev is not just spiritually achieving but takes you to a beautiful landscape where the massive waterbody coexists on the canvas.

This temple is astonishingly 5,000 years old and houses a self-manifested Swayambhu Shivling. There are many other unique features which makes it one of the famous temples in Gujarat.

The Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple meets an interesting event yearly when the water level rises. Many believe that the sea itself performs the sacred Jalabhishek (water offering) ritual during this time. Also, the grand fare organised during Mahashivratri (February-March) on the coastline around the Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple makes the sight flamboyant.

Rukmini Devi Temple

Two kilometres from Dwarkadheesh Temple is the temple dedicated to Dwarakadhish's wife, Devi Rukmini. It is one of the most obliged religious places to visit in Dwarka after Dwarkadhish Temple. There are various interesting legends as to why this temple is present on the outskirts but not near the Dwarka Temple.

The Rukmini Devi Temple is believed to be more than 2,000 years old but few of its sections are considered to be added later in the 12th century. The temple is modest to the Dwarkadhish temple yet similar in appearance and devotional fervour. The main deity presides in the sanctum while many other gods and deities are sculpted on the exteriors of the temple.

Bet Dwarka

Bet Dwarka or Bet Shankhodara is a religious site that is considered to be the original home of Lord Krishna during his kingdom. As per the mythology, after the demise of Lord Krishna, most of the area of Bet Dwarka was drowned in the sea. The part left turned into an island off the coast of Dwarka surrounded by the Gulf of Kutch.

Bet Dwarka(Beyt Dwarka) is called Shankhodhar because conch shells are found in abundance here. Excavation projects in Bet Dwarka and its underwater surroundings unearthed the remnants from the time of the Harappan civilization and the Mauryan empire. Some of the artifacts include; earthen pots, a 580-metre protection wall, 1500 BC, inscription on a seal, jar, copper fish hook, and coppersmith’s mould. These findings indicate that the mythical story that people have about Bet Dwarka may not be completely false. Thus, it is one of the best places to visit near Dwarka for spiritual and history buffs.

To get to Beyt Dwarka one has to cross the Sudarshan bridge which is the longest cable-supported bridge in India. This 2.3-kilometre-long bridge has quotes from Bhagavad Geeta and images of Lord Krishna on both sides. The name Sudarshan refers to the divine discus weapon of Lord Vishnu.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. It is located about 16 kilometres from Dwarkadhish Temple and associated with the ancient city of Dwarka which is considered as the legendary city of Lord Krishna. The current structure of the temple is considered to be built at the same place as the ancient temple which was hundreds of years old. The temple is home to the sacred Nageshwar Jyotirlinga that is believed to be the earthly abode of Lord Shiva’s spiritual power. It acts as a protective armour against poison, especially that which is given by snakes. The name of the temple is Nageshwar which means the Cobra, the sovereign serpent which is coiled around the neck of Lord Shiva. It is considered that Lord Shiva appeared as a Jyotirlinga, “Daarukaavana Nageshwar,” at the temple to save the world from evil and bring balance in the world.