Menu
Religious Destinations
Dwarika, Gujarat

Gujarat has always been the land of rich culture and tradition. It occupies the western coast of India, having a coastline of about 1,600 km, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. It is the fifth-largest state of the country in terms of area and the ninth-most populous state. It shares its borders with Rajasthan in the northeast, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in the south, Maharashtra in the southeast, Madhya Pradesh in the east, and the Arabian Sea, along with the Pakistani province of Sindh to the west. The capital city of Gujarat is Gandhinagar.

About Dwarka - An Overview

Dwarka is a city with religious importance occupying the western shore of the Okhamandal Peninsula on the right bank of the Gomti river at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch facing the Arabian Sea. This city is often identified with the Dwarka Kingdom which is described in the Bhagavata Purana as the ancient kingdom of Krishna. Besides, it is also believed to be the first capital of Gujarat. Dwarka is mainly famous for the presence of the Dwarkadhish Temple which is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is also one of the four pilgrimage sites founded by Adi Shankaracharya. Dwarka also holds the record of being one of the seven most ancient religious cities in India.

Places to visit in Dwarka:
Dwarkadhish temple, Dwarka

People also call this temple Jagat Mandir. Moreover, this temple is also famous by the name Trilok Sundar Mandir. This temple is considered to be a part of the famous Char Dham yatra and is dedicated to Lord Krishna. This temple is 2500 years old and attracts devotees from different parts of the World. The main door of the temple is called “Moksha Dwara” meaning door to salvation in the north entrance, and the south door is called “Swarga Dwara” which means Gate to Heaven. 56 steps at the backside of the door leading to the prominent River Gomati.

This temple has been constructed in the location where the Gomati River and the Arabian Sea tend to unite. It has 5 floors, braced by 60 columns, and has stunning artifacts depicting the rich heritage of Gujarat. Besides, it is also the 108th Divya Desam of Lord Vishnu. There is a flag with a sun and moon on it on the top of this temple, which is changed three times a day as a part of the temple ritual. The existing structure is known to be created around the 15th to 16th century.

The timing to visit this temple is from 6:30 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9:30 pm. The devotees need not pay any entry fee to enter this temple.

Rukmini Temple, Dwarka

This temple is dedicated to Idol Rukmini, the wife of Lord Krishna. It is a trivial temple with amazing artifacts and two of its beautifully designed panels. On one panel, there are human sculptures and the other has Gajatharas or elephants on the vile. The innermost portion of the temple comprises the idol of the goddess along with the Lord. People believe that this temple was constructed somewhere around the 12th century.

This temple has been decorated with breathtaking paintings that tend to portray various events that occurred in the life of Goddess Rukmini with the Lord. The timings to visit this temple are from 5 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm. Also, the devotees need not pay any entry fee to enter this temple. Rukmini temple can be visited throughout the year except on Ekadashi days and full moon days.

Sri Nageshvar Jyotirling

It is considered to be one of the most famous and spiritual temples (dedicated to Lord Shiva) mentioned in the Hindu holy scripture Shiva Purana. Besides, it is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located in the Dwarka city of Gujarat. Devotees thus cannot afford to miss visiting this temple and offer their prayers to Lord Shiva. There is a significant spiritual spot near the temple by the name of Gopi Talav Tirth. It is a lake that is connected to the legends of gopis visiting Lord Krishna and eventually offering their lives to merge with the soil here.

According to popular belief, a demon called Daaruka imprisoned a Shiva devotee called Supriya. She used to continuously chant “Om Namah Shivay” which invoked Lord Shiva who arrived in this place and vanquished the demon. The Shivalinga that appeared here is self-manifested and is prayed to this date.

Beyt Dwarka

It is a small island off the coast of Dwarka and is home to the namesake temple. It is supposedly the residence of Lord Krishna when he arrived here. The temple was established here under the supervision of Guru Vallabhacharya. Apart from the main temple, there are other temples also occupying the complex and glorifying it such as Lord Vishnu, Hanuman, Shiva, Lakshmi Narayan, Jambavati, Devi, and others.

This place has derived its name from the word “bet” which translates into “gift” and is believed that Lord Krishna received it from his friend Sudama. In the ancient epic Mahabharata, Beyt Dwarka is known by the name “Antardvipa” to which people of the Yadav clan needed to travel by boat.

Gomti Ghat

Gomtighat is a pure and spiritual region where a number of temples are present such as the Gomati Mataji temple. On the banks of river Gomti, there is a Shiva temple, along with the small shrines of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and his friend Sudama. Pilgrims are worshipping this place for the past 100 years. Visitors can also opt for a boat ride by hiring it and exploring the river to get a panoramic view of the city. According to popular belief, people can take a bath in this river to purge the soul. Moreover, the banks are dotted with innumerable shrines dedicated to Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Samudra (God of the Sea).

Dwarka Beach

This mesmerizing beach is located just at a distance of 1 km from Dwarkadhish Temple. It is one of the most popular beaches in Gujarat, known for its turquoise water and white sand. If you want to take a break from your daily routine and want to feed your soul something healthy, then you definitely need to visit this beach. Dwarka beach is neat and clean which provides a serene and calm environment for the tourists and pilgrims to sit and spend some quality time and also witness a large number of sea birds inhabiting this region.

The presence of a lighthouse on this beach has increased its popularity and was constructed in the year 1962, on the westernmost part of the Saurashtra Coast called Rupen Creek. A Racon of Marconi origin was installed on the tower in 1978. Even today, this lighthouse is considered to be a big mark for sailors.

Dunny point

Dunny point is considered to be the main eco-tourism site in Gujarat which is ideal for swimming as well as sunbathing. The site is also known to include a wide assortment of marine life, including dolphins, turtles, fishes, and dugongs. Visitors can also enjoy a few exercises like winged creature watching, kite flying, contemplation, and voyage excursion. Completely cut off from technology and electricity, Dunny Point is one of the top activity hubs in Dwarka.

Best time to visit Dwarka

The best time to visit Dwarka is from November to February because, during this time, the weather remains pleasant.