The legendary capital of Lord Krishna, ancient Dwarka now lies hundreds of feet under water in the Arabian Sea. But the ancient town beside it still remains one of the most sacred places for the Hindus. At the confluence of Gomti river and Arabian Sea in Dwarka, stands Dwarkadhish Temple as testimony to a culture time immemorial. During a decade of my life in Gujarat, I visited Dwarka Temple a couple of times. From Dwarka main town to Beyt Dwarka, I have explored the region pretty well. So, if you are looking for travel tips, here’s your ultimate travel guide to Dwarka Temple in Gujarat.
{For more such Hindu Temple destinations, check out: Angkor Wat (Cambodia) ||| Vaishno Devi (Jammu)}
When I first visited Dwarka, I didn’t realize the whole essence of the place beyond its religious association. But in course of time, as I started reading more about it, I realized its importance from a historical perspective. Just imagine, a place at least 2500 years old, and potentially 7000 years old! In a sense, a trip to Dwarka is like time travel! Besides, it’s location by the sea offers amazing coastal beauty. A pretty river mouth, small beaches, ferry rides and picturesque sunsets are what make Dwarka a wonderful natural hotspot as well.
Dwarka, one of the Char Dhams:
Dwarka’s significance stems from the fact that it’s one of the four holiest destinations for Hindus known as ‘Char Dham‘. Along with Badrinath (Uttarakhand), Jagannath- Puri (Odisha) and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), Dwarka serves as one of the cornerstones of Hinduism in India. A devote Hindu wishes to complete pilgrimage of these destinations at least once in life.
From Lord Krishna to the present day
According to Hindu beliefs, there are ten reincarnations of Lord Vishnu, one in each of the Hindu Yugas. Lord Krishna is considered to be the eighth reincarnation in the Dwapara Yuga. And as per Hindu scripture-Mahabharata, Dwarka used to be his capital city. Just imagine what an amazing city it would be then!
Lord Krishna had established Dwarka at the age of 29, and lived there about 60 years before the legendary Mahabharat War between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Mahabharat War happened around 3100 BCE in Kurukshetra in north India. In the aftermath of the War, Lord Krishna moved again to Dwarka and ruled for 36 years before leaving for the eternal abode.
The same day, the original city of Dwarka got submerged, and that was the end of Dwapara Yuga. Today, Dwarka is a small costal town in western Gujarat, not far from the submerged city.
In recent times, ruins of an ancient city has been found under the sea off the coast of modern Dwarka. {Here’s a nice documentary: Ancient city under water}. On preliminary carbon dating, the structures are being dated back as far as pre-Harappan times! Exactly how old are these structures, is a matter of further research. But now it’s almost proven that there was indeed an ancient city at the same place as mentioned in Hindu scriptures.
Present day Dwarka:
Present day Dwarka town is also thousands of years old. The city has got mentions in historical records both in India and outside. The original Dwarkadhis Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is believed to be built in Dwarka sometime around 200 BCE by Vajranabha, great grandson of Lord Krishna.
In 8th century, Adi Shankaracharya visited the temple, and designated it as one of the four main pilgrimages (Char Dham) for Hindus. However, the original temple was destroyed by Mahmud Begada in 1473, and later rebuilt in the 15th-16th century. So, the temple structure that we see now belongs to this period.
My trips to Dwarka Temple over the years
It was early February 2013, when I first visited Dwarka Temple with my cousin (Jayant). In those days, I was living in Ahmedabad, and my cousin came from Odisha. From Ahmedabad, we took an overnight train to Junagadh, and visited Gir National Park and Somnath Temple. From Somnath, another an overnight bus ride took us to Dwarka town. After taking a guided tour to Beyt Dwarka in the first half, we visited Dwarkadhish Temple in the evening.
Two years down the line, my second trip was with Parina and a Kirti bhai (and his family), my ex-boss-turned family friend in January 2015. This time, we took a direct overnight bus from Ahmedabad to Dwarka. Unlike the first time, we visited Dwarka Temple first, and then visited Beyt Dwarka in the evening.
Both the times, the experience was almost the same. From morning to evening, we explored myriad interesting places, especially those important from mythological point of view. Let me now take you through those places.
Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka
It goes without saying that Dwarkadhish Temple, or Jagat Mandir, is the reason why people head to Dwarka. Less than a hundred meters from the point where Gomti river meets the Arabian Sea, the location couldn’t be any better. Taking the narrow lanes with old houses on both sides, one reaches the gate of Dwarkadhish Temple.
Literally speaking, ‘Dwarkadhish’ means the ‘King of Dwarka’, i.e. Lord Krishna, and aptly the temple being devoted to Him only. The five hundred year-old temple still stands tall in all its majesty. Its five story structure measuring 78 meters (~256 feet) stands on 72 pillars, and is built in Chalukya architectural style. Like most Indian temples, the intricate details and carvings on the temple walls are awe-inspiring.
Darshan (paying obeisance) timings: 7 AM- 1 PM | 5 PM- 9.30 PM (may vary a bit as per seasons).
Backside of the Temple:
There are two gates at the Dwarkadhish Temple- Entry Gate (Swarg Gate) and Exit Gate (Moksha Gate). After Darshan, exiting from the Moksha Gate, a little walk takes one to the Gomti Ghat (bank of Gomti river). The Ghat is a nice place to take a stroll and soak in the natural view of the river mouth. Look deeper into the waters of the river, and you won’t miss the big fishes swimming in the river.
Walking to the right, one comes across Samudra Narayan Temple, right at the corner where the river meets the sea. On the far side, a light-house type structure makes the coastline photogenic.
From the Gomti Ghat, one can take a walk over the Sudama Setu, a hanging bridge connecting the Ghat with an island on the other side. this bridge was not there when I last visited Dwarka Temple. So, it has come up recently, and looks picturesque hanging over the river. On the other side of the bridge, a lovely little beach welcomes the visitors.
Dwarka to Beyt Dwarka Day Tour
Though Dwarkadhish Temple is the main attraction, there are a few other interesting places to visit in Dwarka. Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Rukmini Temple and Nageshwar Temple are the other important temples in Dwarka. Of the numerous small beaches, nearby Shivrajpur blue flag beach is the most prominent one.
However, I would suggest one to take a guided day- tour from Dwarka to Beyt Dwarka. The 35-kms route has a number of important places for mythological/ religious reasons. Here is a narration of the day-tour that I (and my cousin) took once.
Early in the morning, we boarded a small travellers’ bus (with 15-20 other tourists). The guide was really good, and quite excited to take us through a spiritual journey. In about 4 kms, we reached our first stop- Rukmini Temple.
Rukmini Temple:
With a lot of devotion, our guide explained to us the legend behind Rukmini Temple. Sage Durbasa, once while visiting Lord Krishna’s palace, asked him and Rukmini (Krishna’s wife) to pull the chariot. (Why would he ask such a thing!!!) On the way, when Rukmini felt thirsty, Krishna brought the river Ganga to her feet to quench her thirst. But in a haste, she forgot to offer water first to Durbasa.
Angry with this behaviour, Durbasa cursed Rukmini to remain at the same place, away from Krishna. So, she had to live there for 12 years, and meditate. It was only when Durbasa was happy with her devotion, he allowed her back at the palace. In a later period, someone built a temple at that spot in her honour.
Outside the temple, we saw a large number of beggars sitting in discipline, and the devotees offering them money and food. In about 30 minutes, we left for the next stop- Nageshwar Temple.
Nageshwar Temple:
As the vehicle stopped at the site, the first thing that attracted my eyes was a 25 meter (~82 feet) high statue of Lord Shiva. The statue stands just outside of the Nageshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Each of the twelve Jyotirlingas represent a different manifestation of Lord Shiva. According to legends, Nageshwar appeared here to save one of his devotees from the tortures of a demon. Since then, the place is known as Nageshwar, and a temple was built to remember that event.
Not far from the temple, there is a legendary pond- Gopi Talab. Legends have it that this was the spot where the Gopis (milkmaids) bade goodbye to their beloved Lord Krishna, and took water burial (Jal Samadhi). Interestingly, one would notice the soil of the pond looks yellow, and hence, people call it Gopi Chandan. Some devotees use the soil for ritual purposes. Though the pond itself is not spectacular, devotees visit there to feel that poignant moment for the Gopis.
Beyt Dwarka:
About 20 kms from Nageshwar Temple, is a small town- Okha. From Okha, we took a ferry ride (about 30 minutes) to reach a legendary island- Beyt Dwarka. (In recent times, a bridge- Sudarshan Setu has come up; so, one can now drive to the other side).
As per legends, Lord Krishna lived on this island when he was building Dwarka as his capital. Today, it’s a sacred island for the Hindus. From the ferry terminal, we followed other devotees in narrow lanes to reach Beyt Dwarkadhish Temple, the main attraction on the island.
Though there are a few more temples (Hanuman Temple, Keshavji Temple) and a beach on the island, we didn’t know of them. After paying obeisance at Dwarkadhish Temple, in about an hour, we took the ferry back, and headed back to Dwarka. The journey back was quite enjoyable with hundreds of seagulls thronging our boat for the food visitors offered them. Moreover, it was almost sunset time, and the the horizon looked gorgeous in orange and blue.
Dwarka Temple: Travel Tips
How to plan your trip:
- If you have only one day, reach Dwarka in the morning, and proceed to Beyt Dwarka. Coming back to Dwarka, visit Dwarkadhish Temple and Gomti Ghat in the evening.
- If you have two days, spend one day in Dwarka exploring the ancient town well. Next day, visit Beyt Dwarka, temples on the way, and Shivrajpur beach.
- If you have another day/ more on hand, it’s great to proceed to Somnath, Gir National Park, and Diu, not far from each other.
Best time to visit:
- Dwarka is a hot and humid place. So, the best time is definitely between November and February.
- For experiencing major festivals, visit during Janmastami (Aug) or Diwali (Oct/ Nov).
How to reach Dwarka:
- Bus: Direct buses from all major cities in Gujarat.
- Train: Okha is the nearest railway station, 35 kms away. In fact, Beyt Dwarka is adjacent to Okha only.
- Flight: Jamnagar, 135 kms away, is the nearest airport. But flights would be not so frequent there. Instead, one can fly to Ahmedabad, and take an overnight bus, or drive to Dwarka.
How to get around:
Since the main temple and other points of interest in Dwarka are close to each other, one can just walk around. There are local buses/ shared taxis to visit Beyt Dwarka. From Okha, it’s a better idea to take a ferry ride than driving to Beyt Dwarka as the journey itself is quite an experience.
Where to stay:
Good Budget Hotels: The Manek ||| Park Royal ||| Swati ||| Devbhoomi Dwarka ||| The Grand Ladhukara ||| The Heaven ||| Shree Dhara ||| The Barsana.
What/ Where to eat:
- Must try: Kathiawadi Thali ||| Bajri no Rotlo- Sev Tameta nu Shaak ||| Ganthiya ||| Basundi ||| Khaman- Dhokla
- Some good restaurants: Shrinath Dining Hall ||| Gopi Dining Hall ||| Govinda Multicuisine ||| Rajwadi Thal ||| Purushottam Parotha House ||| Chhapan Bhog ||| Atithi.
Concluding Thoughts
Visiting Dwarka is as much a pilgrimage/ spiritual journey, as a lesson in history. Though the ancient city of Dwarka has changed quite significantly in recent times, the main temple area is still stuck in time. In fact, the old structures and the narrow by-lanes have a lot of heritage value. In any case, millions of Hindu devotees visit the town every year for religious purposes. However, the recent discoveries of the under-water ruins and new studies have brought in archeological/ scientific interest. As the scientific community study more, we would come to know more.
If you love historic places, Dwarka is a great place for you. Besides, Gujarati culture is unique, quite different from other parts of India. So, this adds another important angle for discerning travellers. If you are planning to visit Dwarka, don’t hesitate to reach out for more information.
Jayvanti Einjen
V.nice
stampedmoments
Thank you 🙂
Sahadev Kaipa
I am visiting on 25th and 26th Feb 2026. Your valuable inputs will help me to plan. Thanks a Lot for sharing your experience.
stampedmoments
Hey Sahadev!
Good to know. Thanks for your kind words.
Have a good trip!
Cheers!