Dwarka is a city in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat and is situated on the western most tip of the country on the Kathiwar Peninsula. The city derives its name from the Sanskrit word ‘dwar’, which means door. The city has a population of about 52,000 and is an important religious and spiritual center in Gujarat. It is considered as one of the four most sacred sites or ‘Dham’ for Hindus- the others being Puri, Badrinath-Kedarnath & Rameshwaram. Dwarka has many temples from different periods in history. As the legend goes Dwarka was once the hometown of Lord Krishna. It is the association with Lord Krishna which makes Dwarka such a holy place for Hindus. Thousands of pilgrims throng the Dwarkanath temple on Krishna Janmashtmi- the day when Lord Krishna was born. Best For:
The various temples in and around Dwarka, especially the Jagat Mandir which is worth visiting during Janmashtmi & Navratri.
The best time to visit Dwarka is between the months of October & March. Dwarka has a hot & moist climate. Average summer ( April to June) temperature is about 38°C though on some days the temperature soars up to 42°C. The climate is generally moist due to its proximity to the sea. The monsoon arrives in July and lasts up to September. Winter ( November to February) is cool and pleasant with temperature varying between 20-28°C. In post monsoon months the district experiences strong wind & rain in association with cyclonic storms or depressions in the Arabian Sea.
No permit is required to travel to Dwarka other than a visa for India. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat. Non-Indians can get a permit form the Government to buy & consume alcohol legally.
Toran Tourist Dormitory, Near Govt. Guest House, Dwarka
Office of the Administrator, Dwarka Devasthan Samiti, Dwarkadish Temple Trust.
Dwarka is easily accessible from most major cities in Gujarat. Dwarka is also accessible from other cities in India via Ahmedabad & Rajkot. Jamnagar is the closest city well connected to Dwarka.
By Air:
Jamnagar airport is the closest to Dwarka. It is about 145 kms from Dwarka. Rajkot is an alternate option for air travel. (Dwarka to Rajkot is about 225 kms) There are regular flights operated by Indian, Air Deccan & Jet Airways to Jamnagar as well as Rajkot. Visitors can travel to Dwarka from either of these locations by rail or road. International travelers can get to Dwarka through Ahmedabad, which has an international airport (Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport) 10 kms away from the city. Domestic travelers from the other cities in India can fly to Ahmedabad, Baroda or Rajkot and then travel by rail or road to reach Dwarka.
By Road:
There are a number of Interstate and local buses which connect Dwarka to many cities in Gujarat as well as in the nearby states. There is a regular service of State transport buses & private luxury coach operators connecting Dwarka to various cities in Gujarat like Jamnagar, Junagadh, Somnath, Rajkot, and Ahmedabad etc. Taxis are also a good option. It takes about 9 hrs to reach Dwraka from Ahmedabad, 3 hrs from Jamnagar & about 5 hrs from Rajkot.
By Rail:
Dwarka lies on the metre gauge link between Viramgam and Okha. Jamnagar, Ahmedabad & Rajkot are three cities which are well connected with the rest of the major cities in the state as well as the country. So the best way to travel to Dwarka by rail is to take a train to one of these cities and from here take another train to Dwarka. Saurashtra Mail is available from Mumbai everyday. It also passes via Ahmedabad. Okha Adi Passeneger is also available from Ahmedabad everyday. Uttranchal Exp & Dehradun Exp are available from Dehradun. via Delhi once a week. Puri Express, Ernakulam Exp, Gauhati Exp are the direct trains available to Dwarka
Local Transport:
Private Taxis, Autorickshaws & Tongas are available.
• Jagat Mandir: The Jagat mandir or temple of the world also known as Dwarkadeesh is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The exquisitely carved, majestic temple is believed to be over 2000 years old. It is an imposing 5-storied structure built on 72 pillars. The temple is said to be built by Lord Krishna’s grandson Vajranabha over the Lord’s residential place. The temple has two entrances- The Moksha Dwar (Door to Salvation) and the Swarga Dwar (Door to Heaven). The Moksha Dwar is the main entrance. Outside the Swarga Dwar there are 56 steps that lead to the Gomti River. Janmashtmi & Navratri are the two major festivals celebrated amidst great rejoicing & festivities. • Sharada Peetha: This is one of the four Mathas established by Jagat-guru Shankaracharya. The Matha runs an educational society, an arts college and a Sanskrit Academy. This Matha was set as one of the four traditional seats in the country for the propagation of Hinduism. • Bet Dwarka: Bet Dwarka, an island in the Arabian Sea is 5 kms from the Okha Junction at sea. It is about 30 kms from Dwarka. It is the place where Lord Vishnu slew the demon Shankasura. There is a Krishna temple at Bet Dwarka which is worth a visit. The temple built on reclaimed land is a typical Gujarati temple dedicated to Lord Krishna with ornate carvings. A ferry ride has to be taken to reach Bet Dwarka from Okha. Okha is about an hour away from Dwarka. • Nageswar Mahadev: It has one of the 12 Jyotirlings representing Lord Shiva. It is about 17 kms from Dwarka. • Rukmani Temple: This temple is another tourist attraction. It is dedicated to Lord Krishna’s wife, Rukmani. • The other temples in Dwarka are the Trikamji temple, Kalyanrai temple, the Patrani temple, Durvas temple Nearby Places: Okha- Okha is an all weather port situated about 30 kms from Dwarka. Gopi Talav Tirth and nearby temples like Rancchodrai Temple, Devki Temple and temples of the chief queens of Krishna, Mahaprabhuji Bethak, Bala Hanuman and Shankh Talav. Lighthouse: The lighthouse, which is about 35 kms from Dwarka, also offers a scenic view of the sea and the city of Dwarka.
Where To Eat:
One can find a variety of Indian delicacies here although Gujarati cuisine remains the most popular. Guruprerna is one of the most popular restaurants in the city where one can enjoy good Indian food. There a number of other places like Milan, which serve the Gujarati Thali.
Where To Stay:
There are a number of good hotels, lodges and guest houses in Dwarka.. One can also find dharamshalas & cheaper lodges for tourists on a limited budget.
Hotel City Palace is a 5 star hotel situated at Jawahar road.
Dwarka has little to offer besides the various temples. Not recommended as a stand-alone destination. It is best to cover Dwarka while visiting nearby places like Jamnagar, Junagadh, Sasan Gir, Somnath, Rajkot & Palitana.
