Travel to Dwarka

Dwarka: The Sacred Kingdom of Lord Krishna

Located in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat, Dwarka is a prominent religious haven for worshipping Lord Krishna. In Indian mythology, Lord Krishna, the 8th reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, left his birth place, Mathura, to establish his own kingdom in Bet Dwarka.  The religious and holy scriptures of Hinduism consider it as one of the sacred constituents of Char Dham. Intrepid travellers love to explore Dwarka, which is also recognised as one of the seven ancient cities ( Sapta Puris) in India. Tourists visit Dwarka to explore its mythological facts and also to relax on the sun-kissed beaches.

The Lord Krishna Temple, located at the confluence of Arabian Sea and River Gomti also attracts tourists from all over the world. Linguaphiles visit Dwarka to learn at Sharda Peeth, one of the world's most famous research centres for Sanskrit literature. The death of Lord Krishna took place in Bhalka Tirtha, located in Somnath. His body was later cremated by Arjun. The death of Lord Krishna signified the advent of 'Kalyuga' or the period of injustice. It is also believed that the city of Dwarka has been constructed seven times, as its previous territory wassubmerged almost six times. The Marine Archaeology unit of National Institute of Oceanography has been involved in excavating the remains of the submerged city in India's western coast right from 1983 onwards.

Following are the main attractions of Dwarka:

Dwarkadhish Temple: It is also known as 'Jagat Mandir', which means the universal enshrine. It is believed that it was built 2500 years ago by Vajranabh, the great grandson of Lord Krishna. It is made of soft lime. Elaborate carvings embellish the exterior of the temple.  There are two prominent doors for the temple, called as 'Swarg Dwaar' and 'Moksha Dwaar,' from where the pilgrims can enter and exit respectively.

Shrine of Meerabai: Located around 150m away from the Dwarkadhish Temple, the Shrine of Meerabai commemorates the unrequited love of Meera Bai for Lord Krishna. It is believed that when Meera Bai reached the Dwarkadhish Temple, at the very end of her spiritual pilgrimage, her body dissolved in an ethereal manner, due to her devout love for Lord Krishna. The temple architecture is typically Rajput style. The sanctum of the temple includes several temples of Lord Krishna.

Bet Dwarka: It is a small island located 30 km away from the town. Few temples and coral reefs are present in this island. The white sun-kissed beach is one of its main attraction. It is believed that Lord Krishna Temple built in Bet Dwarka is 500 years old and has been built by Sri Vallabhacharya. Before the development of Okha as the prominent ports, the island was called as Beyt Shankhodhar.

Somnath Temple: Worshipped as one of the ancient temples in India, the Somnath Temple is revered for being home of one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas' of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the temple was built by Somraj, who is the 'Moon God.' Along with him, even Ravana, Lord Krishna and King Bhimdev Solanki have contributed in the building of the temple.

Gopi Talav: Its a small pond which is covered with the yellow coloured sand. Thus, it is also called as Gopi Chandan. It is believed that the love struck Gopis of Dwarka were able to catch a secretly glimpse of Lord Krishna.

Excursions from Dwarka

From Dwarka, tourists can travel ahead to other famous destinations of Gujarat such as Okha ( 29 km), Jamnagar ( 121 km), Junagadh ( 208 km), Somnath (230 km).  

Shopping in Dwarka
Elegantly embellished footwear, handicraft items, fabric with Bandhni folk art, Patola silk sarees and enticing mirror pieces are the main attractions for shopaholics in Dwarka. Religious pilgrims also love to buy idols and pictures of Lord Krishna from here.

When to Reach Dwarka
The best time to visit the holy city of Dwarka is between October to March. Tourists from all over the world also come to worship in Dwarka and participate in its festivity in during the festivals of Janmashtami and Kartik ( the first day of the Hindu calender).

How to Reach
Air: The nearest airport to Dwarka is in Jamnagar which is located 121 km away.

Rail: The Western Railway Network includes Dwarka, thus making it easily accessible to Jamanagar ( 121 km), Mumbai (945 km) and Rajkot (207 km).

Road: The other cities in Gujarat are linked with excellent state service buses with Dwarka.