Dwarka, a small ancient city situated on the western shoreline of Gujrat and on the bank of river Gomti, is a perfect tourist destination you could visit in your winter breaks. It is considered as one of the four sacred cities in Hindu mythology thus being steeped in spirituality and culture. Being dotted with ancient temples and beautiful beaches, this city will definitely amaze you with its charm and mystical vibe.
Let me take you to the most sought-after tourist destinations in this abode of Dwarkadhish i.e. Lord Krishna.
Dwarkadhish Temple
The first place any devotee or tourist needs to visit once he sets foot in this city is the Dwarkadhish Temple. Built out of soft limestone, this magnificent temple is a celebration of the Chalukyan style of architecture. The exterior of this temple is adorned with intricately carved sculptures from Hindu mythology that depicts the scenes from Krishna Life and the interior is marked with simplicity and peacefulness. This place will ignite both the devotee and an Instagrammer in you.
Timing: 7.00am to 12.30 pm and 5.00 pm to 9.30 pm
Aarti Timing: 7.00 am, 10.30 am, 7.30pm, 8.30pm
Dwarka Lighthouse
This lighthouse is situated 13 km from Dwarka, on a serene beach located near Shivrajpur village. This palace offers the tourists a perfect quietude and an opportunity to spend some peaceful quality time with their loved ones amidst the picturesque beauty of the setting sun in the Arabian sea and the sound of water crashing on the shore. One unique thing that this palace has to offer is the chance of spotting a dolphin. So look out you might not want to miss out on it.
Tip: Be careful if you are venturing out in the waters especially if you have children with you because there is no rescue team and the tides can be pretty high.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
Dwarka sightseeing cannot be completed without visiting this temple that has a 25m giant statue of Lord Shiva.Believed to be the 1st amongst the 12 powerful jyotirlingas, it is one of the prominent religious places of the hindus. The temple has the traditional hindu architecture and is famous for its rich evocative spiritual history. It is a beautiful place for quiet contemplation, exuding serenity and spirituality owing to the divine presence.
Sudama Setu
This bridge is named after the childhood friend of Lord Krishna, Sudama. It connects Dwarkadhish Mandir of mainland Dwarka and Panchnad or Panchkui Tirth on the island in southeast of it. This provides for the mythological significance of the bridge as the island has five sweet water
wells called Panchkui associated with five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata. Do come to this place because you as well children will love it here. This bridge provides panoramic views of the Dwarkadhish Mandir, Gomti River, and the Arabian Sea. For the children, this place has camel and ATV rides which make it fun and exciting for them.
Timing: 7.00am-1.00pm and 4.00pm-7.30pm
Entry: Rs10 for Adults and Rs. 5 for children.
Beyt Dwarka
This island is considered the real abode of Lord Krishna. The ferry ride that one has to take to reach the temple from the Okha Jetty is altogether a different experience. It takes around 45 min to reach here from the mainland and the sea ride provides an exhilarating experience to the visitor.
It is the first place in Gujarat developed for ecotourism and is also the only marine sanctuary of Gujarat where one can spot corals, crabs, turtles, and Dolphins. This makes it an excellent visiting spot for the children.
Timing: 12.00pm to 5.00pm. Reach at around 4.00 pm to avoid the crowd and enjoy the sunset at 5.30 pm Ferry Cost: INR 10-30/person/side. Groups can hire a private boat for INR2000 for a hassle-free and more enjoyable experience.
ALSO READ: Top 6 Temples to visit at Mathura Vrindavan
Things to do:
Tulabhara- Observe the ancient tradition
It is one of the oldest traditions in India, where a human is made to sit on a weighing scale against commodities.. When you are in Dwarka you can see several weighing scale ceremonies at the temples. If you are a hard core devotee you can also participate in the ceremony and seek the blessings of Lord Krishna as the grain used to measure the human is donated to the poor. Thus bringing blessings to the donor.
Camel Ride- Gomti Bank
If you have children with you, do make them enjoy this camel ride. It would be an unforgettable experience for them and they would cherish it for a lifetime. And for you the sight of children having fun against the blue picturesque beauty of Gomti would be mesmerizing.
Go Bird Watching- Charkala Bird Sanctuary
A perfect activity for both adults and children. If you love birdwatching is the place for you and if you don’t I would suggest still going for it because you will not regret this. Nature never disappoints. It will always give you experiences that you will not be able to pen down in words. For children, it is a great activity to do because their curious and young minds will remember it forever.
This break near the Arabian Sea, on the bank of river Gomti, and in the lap of Lord Krishna will give you an invigorating spiritual experience and will fill your camera rolls with moments you will not forget for a lifetime. So don’t think twice and take this journey with the people you love. Enjoy moments and create memories!
WebStory: Dwarka | Dwarka temple|Shree Dwarkadhish
Frequently Asked Question
Dwarka is a pilgrimage city in western India, Gujarat. It is located on the western shore of the Okhamandal Peninsula on the right bank of the Gomti river. It faces the Arabian sea.
Dwarka is known as the city of Krishna and is full of ancient temples and beaches. It is considered as one of the four sacred cities and is part of the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage. It is also one of the 12 cities of cultural significance and are to be developed by the ASI under its heritage development scheme.
Some famous tourist spot of Dwarka is the marvellous Dwarkadish Temple and the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple. Other than these, there are many important temples here that are architectural masterpieces, beautiful beaches and ghats.
The ideal time to visit Dwarka Dham is from the month of November till the last of February. The city experiences cold winter during this time. If you specifically want to participate in the Janmastami festival here, then visiting the town during August & September would be quite joyful.
BY AIR: Dwarka is connected via the Jamnagar Airport which is at a distance of 130 kms. from it and is connected to all the major cities-like Surat, Mumbai, Delhi, etc. International Travellers can reach the city through the Mumbai International Airport.
BY RAIL: Dwarka Railway Station is located in the Ahmedabad - Okhla Rail route and is linked to other major railheads of the region.
BY ROAD: Dwarka is well-connected with the major cities of Gujarat and also with the other cities of the country. One can travel inside the city by Government operated buses, auto rikshaws or taxis.
Dwarka primarily has vegetarian cuisines because of the influence of Hinduism & Jainism. Some must have dishes of Dwarka are Khaman Dhokla, Khandvi, Thepla. Kadhi, Kichri, Bajra Roti are also famous staple food here. Other than these, sweets like-Ghoogras and Magas are also extremely famous.
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