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Perhaps the most important place on the coast of Saurasthra is Dwarka most well known for Lord Krishna. It was founded by Lord krishna and was called Swarnadwarka or 'GoldenDwarka'. According to the Krishna legend it was the adopted home of Lord Krishna after he gave up Mathura.
Dwarka's lighthouse is open to public between 4.30 pm and 6 pm, and affords an excellent panoramic view from the top.
Nageshwar Mandir contains one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in an underground sanctum.
Gopal Talav Teerth is associated with Krishna (and Arjun) and contains several shrines in the complex.
A day trip to the tiny island of Bet Dwarka, also closely associated with the Krishna legend, is must for any pilgrim to Dwarka, as its temple is said to stand on the spot where Krishna died. Small, precariously full wooden dinghies transport pilgrims from the port of Okha, on the westernmost point of the peninsula, to the island, where devotees scatter rupees and flowers towards Krishna's shrine and wait eagerly for the appearance of the priests who hands out prasad.
Accomodation is available at following places in Dwarka, tariff range of these are between Rs. 250/- to Rs. 500/- :
Guruprerna -Ravla Talao,
Bhadrakali Temple Tel:34512, 34360
Gokul -
Near Main Post Office Tel:(02892)34154,34491
Dwarkesh -
Near Swaminarayan Mandir Tel:(02892)34614, 34290
Vandana -
State Highway, Tel:(02892)34440
Radhika -
Opp. S. T. Stand Tel:(02892)34754
Some Road Distances
25 kms from Porbandar,
481 kms from Gandhinagar,
144 kms from Jamnagar,
180 kms from Junagad,
379 kms from Kandla,
531 kms from Mehsana,
609 kms from Palanpur,
393 kms from Palitana,
575 kms from Pavagadh,
75 kms from Porbandar,
232 kms from Rajkot,
835kms from Saputara,
238 kms from Susan,
230 kms from Somnath,
693 kms from Surat,
526 kms from Vadodara,
760 kms from Valsad.
How to Reach
Air: Jamnagar Airport is 148 kms away.
Rail: Dwarka is connected with Ahmedbad, Vadodara. Surat, Rajkot, Valsad, Bauruch and Mumbai.Central. There is a railway line between Dwarka and Jamnagar and there are trains to Mumbai via Rajkot and Ahmedabad.
Road: There are regular services to Porbandar, Jamnagar, Veraval and Rajkot. Bus services run by private operators connects Dwarka with Diu and Junagadh also.
Places of Interest
Jagatmandir Temple: The temple of Jagatmandir, with the presiding deity of Shri Krishna known as Dwarrkadhish, is an imposing edifice and a superb architectural mounment. Having a plinth area of 1800 sqare feet the temple consists of a shrine that is supported by 60 pillars of granite and sandstone.The seven storey edifice gradually rises to a height of 170 feet. The spire is unique for the view it presents and the experience it induces. The wall is beautifully sculpted in sandstone.
On the west side of the temple is the seat of Adi Shankar, the great Acharya of Hindu faith who visited the temple in the seventh century. For the scholars a wall poster depicting the family tree tracing the lineage to Lord Krishna offers an interesting insight in the great indian epic of Mahabharat.
Another interesting legend surrounds the idol installed as this temple. It is said that, taking pity on his old devotee Bodana, who used to traverse the long distance from Dakor to Dwarka, God in the form of an idol went with him to Dakor. This enraged the priests at Dwarka who chased Bodana persuaded the priests to leave the deity in return for gold, whereupon the priests agreed to withdraw. By a mircle the idol became as light as the nose-ring which was all that the poor widow could offer. But the Lord was also not to disappoint the priests. The boon was therefore granted that they will find a replica in Dwarka on a particular day. Unable to resist their curiosity the priests excavated at a suggested site little too early, and found yet to grow idol, which is now enshrined at Dwarka.
Beyt Dwarka: A visit to Dwarka is not complete without visiting to Beyt Dwarka, an island at a distance of 30 kms. off the coast of Okha port. The island is separated by a strip of sea about four kms wide. It takes about half-an hour to cross this channel in a diesel boat operated by the Port Authority. At Beyt there are temples of Vishnu (in the form of matsya), Radha, Laxmi, Satyabhama, Jambuvanti and Devaki. The narrow street leading to these temples is lined on both the sides by vendors selling sea-shells, local crafts, photos of deities, cassettes, coconuts and other refreshments. The Pilgrims engage in bargains after paying obeisance to the deities in an atmosphere of tranquility on this windy island.
Tourist Information
Tourist Office is across the river in HK House, in Ahmedabad, just off Ashram Road (Mon-Sat 10 am-5pm)
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