Dwarkadhish Temple - The Magical Land of Lord Krishna

Dwarkadheesh Temple, also reckoned as the Jagat Mandir is one of the most eminent pilgrimages designed in Chalukya-styled architecture devoted to Lord Krishna. This beautiful town of Gujarat dates back to the time of Mahabharata and is believed to have been constructed by Vajranabha. Besides being popular for its immense spirituality, Dwarkadhish Temple is also famous for its amazing architecture especially the intricate carvings done on the walls by the ancestral dynasties that ruled over the city in history.  This hugely spread holy site is built up of limestone and sand and is adorned with colorful and beautiful paintings done on the walls and pillars. The glittering black idol of Lord Krishna is the other striking feature of this shrine and one who visits this religious site gets an opportunity to seek the blessings of a few other deities including Lord Vasudev, Balaram, Goddess Subhadra, Rukmini, and many others.

The devotees visiting this holy shrine are expected to take a dip into the Gomti River before entering this gorgeous temple. Although the pilgrimage is flooded with a huge number of devotees but on the auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, the temple gets massively crowded with devotees coming from different nooks and corners of the country.

Religious Significance

Being an important stopover of Char Dham pilgrimages in India, Dwarkadhish Temple is a venerated pilgrimage where devotees from far across the world flock to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna. It is also counted as one of the most sacred Sapta Puris that were established several centuries back in India. Hindus from far around the world flock to this place having an unflinching faith in Krishna to bless them with lifelong prosperity, wealth, peace, and salvation or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Besides being popular for its religious significance, Dwarkadhish Temple is also renowned for its immense mythological significance as the structure is believed to be a display of the place where Lord Krishna had spent several years of his life.

History and Legends

The history of this temple dates back almost 2500 years and the archaeological exploration carved out on the town and also the temple represents the skill of the artisans of that era. Because of its incredible design and wealth, several rulers attacked this architecture after which it was renovated in a more graceful manner. Various archaeologists claim that the Temple was once reconstructed during the reign of the Gupta Dynasty and so when you explore this pilgrimage you get to discover several ancient parts of the temple that date back to 413 AD i.e. the ruling period of Gupta Rulers. Muslim Forces plundered over this magnificent shrine in the 11th century for the very first time and since then they kept on attacking the structure till the 15th century. Finally, in the 16th century, the temple was reconstructed in a more graceful manner and the present architecture dates back to the same time.

Legends

It is suggested that to escape the wrath and revenge of Jarasandha, father-in-law of Kansa (maternal uncle), Lord Krishna decided to leave Mathura and Garuda, the celestial eagle took him to Dwarka where the deity spend the rest of his life and took his last breath around 3102 BC. It is also suggested that after Krishna, his grandson Vajranabha established his kingdom in the city and laid the foundation of the Dwarkadhish Temple.

Places to Visit in And Around Dwarkadhish Temple

Dwarka is however popular for its immense spirituality yet there are several other experiences that you can gather by exploring near around places. Check out the list of some amazing places that you get to explore in and around this magnificent temple.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

One of the most sacred Jyotirlingas in India, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is established on the route between Beyt Dwarka Island and River Gomati. Also reckoned as Nagnath Temple, the pilgrimage houses the gorgeous idol of Lord Shiva, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple attracts thousands of tourists from far across the world. It is suggested that the devotees who pray at this Shiva shrine get the blessings of becoming free from snake bites, all poisons, and worldly attractions. There is a massive idol of Lord Shiva which is almost 80 feet high and is believed to be the major highlight of this magnificent shrine and the temple itself is depicted by typical Hindu architecture. Although the shrine is crowded with devotees every day but on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, the holy temple witnesses massive crowds who gather from different nooks and corners of the globe.

Rukmini Devi Temple

An ancient story of separation, the Rukmini Devi Temple is established at a distance of almost 1.5 km from the center of Dwarka city. This 12th-century shrine is one of the most admiring and finest examples of architectural marvels constructed during ancient times. The pilgrimage is reckoned for its interesting legends associated with Lord Krishna and his wife Goddess Rukmini. People who flock to this place come with unflinching faith in the deity that they will get blessings for lifelong prosperity, wealth, and salvation.

Dwarka Beach

Established along the Arabian Sea Coast, Dwarka Beach is a wonderful travel destination where you can enjoy a refreshing day out especially if you are fond of exploring coastal areas. Besides witnessing the glory and charm of this magnificent nature site, one can also visit several temples that are believed to be constructed between the 10th and 11th centuries and are known for their antique designs. Also alongside the beautiful lanes of coral reefs, you get to witness some stalls selling colorful shells and glimmering beads and if you are on a romantic trip with your partner then you must enjoy camping under the starry sky.

Bet Dwarka

Also called Shankodhar or Beyt Dwarka, Bet Island in Dwarka is one of the must-visit destinations if you are a true nature admirer and love indulging yourself in water sports activities. Established almost 30 km away from the main town of Dwarka, Beyt Island is a small yet magnificent island that once served as the main port of the region before Okha Port was established and came into function. Established at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch, this beautiful island is encircled by a few gorgeous temples, glimmering coral reefs, and the wonderful white sand beaches that are the prime attractions of this tourist site in Dwarka.

Dwarka Lighthouse

Located at a closer distance from the main town of Dwarka i.e. only 2 km away, Dwarka Lighthouse is one of the most admiring destinations of travelers. It is suggested to be a perfect place for nature lovers as it is counted as a wonderful site where you can capture the mesmerizing views of the sunset. Besides being famous as a sunset point, Dwarka Lighthouse is also known for its incredible design and so counted as a perfect place to explore by architectural admirers. This huge lighthouse is believed to have been installed between 1960 and 1962 and was finally launched and inaugurated on the 15th of July, 1962 by Mr. Raj Bahadur, the then transport minister. There is also an impressive Ganesha Temple situated on the right side of this architecture.

How to Reach Dwarka and then Dwarkadhish Temple?

Dwarka, the religious city of Gujarat is easily and conveniently accessible from every corner of the country and one can reach here by following any mode of transport whether it be airways, railways, or roadways. 

By Airways: Jamnagar is the nearest airport established closer to this pilgrimage (at a distance of almost 137 Km from the main town of Dwarka and the best thing is that there are frequent flights to Jamnagar flying from different cities of the country. On reaching Jamnagar, one can opt for either public or private transport to reach their desired destination.

By Railways: Reaching Dwarka by train is one of the most convenient and easy ways as the city has its own railhead where trains from different cities of the nation come on a regular basis. Once you have reached Dwarka, you will easily get transport to arrive at the holy shrine of Lord Krishna.

By Roadways: If you are not comfortable reaching this holy city of Gujarat by railways or airways and want to follow the roadways for your journey then also you don’t need to worry as Dwarka is well connected with several other cities of the country and also the state.

Airways is however very economical as compared to the other two modes of transport but is very convenient and less time taking. On the other hand, reaching this holy city by roadways can be very tiring and very time taking if you are coming from a far place hence, the best way to explore this beautiful city is by opting for railways.

Best Time to Visit Dwarkadhish Temple

It is always recommended to visit Dwarkadhish Temple and its nearby travel sites between the months of October and February as the weather is quite pleasing and favorable during the winter months. However, it all depends upon your purpose of visiting this holy city viz, if you are excited to witness the unexpressed charm of the festivities of Janmashtami then the best time to visit Dwarka is August and September (the date varies every year). Also, if you are unable to plan your holiday in the above-mentioned months then you can plan it in any month as the pilgrimage can be explored throughout the year. Browse some of our well-tailored Gujarat tour packages and dip yourself in the immense spiritual ambiance of this pilgrimage.

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