Location : Gujarat
Dedicated to : Lord Krishna
Attractions Around : Rukmini Devi Temple, Gomati Ghat
Temples, Bet Dwarka
Best time to Visit : October to March
About the Dwarkadhish Temple
The holy town of Dwarka in Gujarat has a history that dates back centuries.
Situated on the banks of river Gomti, the city is famed for being the
capital of Lord Krishna. The ancient Dwarka city is believed to have been
submerged by raging sea waters to the bottom of the sea, where the remains
are still believed to exist. A temple was built at the site around 400 BC by
Vajranabhji, the great grandson of Lord Krishna, however the present
structure was built during the 16th century in a typical Chalukyan style of
architecture. The beautiful temple rises up to a height of 51.8 mts.
Also known as the Jagat Mandir, the temple has two shikhars. The Nij
shikhar is where the idol of Lord Dwarkadhish is placed. The huge temple
consists of 60 exquisitely carved pillars and a number of beautiful
sculptures that depict the influence of various dynasties such as the
Guptas, Pallavas, Martraks, Chavdas and Chanakyas, that ruled Dwarka over
the years. The entrance to the temple is from the north, also known as the
Moksha Dwaar while towards the south is the Swarg Dwaar, from where a series
of steps leads down to the banks of river Gomti. According to legend, the
temple was constructed in a single day by Vishwakarma, the lord of
construction.
The idol of Lord Dwarkadhish is made of shiny black stone and is about 2.25
ft in height. The four hands of the Lord carries a conch, wheel, a metallic
weapon and a lotus each and is popularly known as 'Shankh Chakra Gada Padma
Chaturbhuj'. It is said that the idol was hidden for years to protect it
from invaders while another idol brought from the Rukmini temple was
installed in its absence. The original idol was reinstalled during the 16th
century after the construction of the new temple.
Other Attractions in Dwarka
Rukmini Devi Temple
The temple, located 1.5 km north of town is dedicated to Rukmini, the
consort of Lord Krishna. This 12th century architectural masterpiece is
perfected with beautiful paintings and intricately carved walls. According
to legend, sage Durwasa cursed Rukmini that she would be seperated from Lord
Krishna, as a result of which the temple of Rukmini is located outside the
city, while that of Krishna inside.
Gomati Ghat Temples
The Gomati ghats, where river Gomati meets the ocean is considered
especially holy and a bath here is said to be the shortest way to nirvana.
The Samudra Narayan Temple is a huge structure that houses an image of
Goddess Gomti, said to have been brought from heaven by sage Vasistha.
Bet Dwarka
Situated at a short distance from Dwarka, Bet Dwarka is a small island with
several ancient temples. The east end of the island has an excellent beach
with extensive water plants and animals. The beach is not much visited,
therefore an excellent place to get away from the bustle of the city life.
Stay At
Dwarka, being an important Hindu pilgrimage, houses a number of quality
hotels and lodges. Other options as dharmashalas and cheap lodges are also
available that serve the needs of the budget traveller. Some of the best
hotels at Dwarka include Hotel Dwarkadheesh (Budget hotel, located opp.
swaminarayan mandir), Toran Tourist (situated near Govt. Guest House, 2 km
from railway station), Hotel Radhika (situated near Dwarkadhish temple, 2 km
from railway station) and Hotel City Palace (5 star, situated at Jawahar
road).
Getting There
By Air : Jamnagar is
the nearest airport from Dwarka while Rajkot is another option to access the
place by air. Government run Indian Airlines and other private airlines such
as Jet Airways and Air Deccan operate regular services to both these
locations. Ahmaedabad is another major airport which is connected by regular
flights from all the major Indian cities.
By Rail : Dwarka has its own railway station which
connects it to other major cities in India. Regular trains are available
from nearby cities such as Jamnagar, Rajkot and Ahmedabad. The best way to
reach the place is to board a train to any of the major cities around and
take a train to Dwarka from there.
By Road : An excellent network of state and national
highways runs through the entire state of Gujarat connecting it with other
Indian cities. Interstate and local buses connect Dwarka with other cities
within and outside the state.
Local Transport : Dwarka municipality runs a local bus to
take the pilgrims across various destinations of religious and tourist
prominence. The departure timings of the bus are 8:00 & 14:00 each day
while the total time of the journey is around five hours. The ticket prices
are Rs. 30 for an adult and Rs. 15 for a child. Tickets can be booked near
the vegetable market, which is also the starting point of the journey. Major
destinations covered are Nageshwar, Gopi Talao, Bet Dwarka and Rukminimata
temple.
Distance from Major Cities
- Jamnagar : 116 Km
- Rajkot : 225 Km
- Ahmedabad : 384 Km
- Udaipur : 550 Km
- Ajmer : 742 Km
- Delhi : 1118 Km
- Mumbai : 534 Km
