DWARKA
Significance: One Of The Four Major Hindu Pilgrimages.
Main Attraction: Dwarkadheesh Temple.
Best Season: August-September.
The
sacred town of Dwarka is one of the four holy pilgrimages of Hindus (Char
Dham) in India. One of the main centres of the Krishna legend, Dwarka is
located on the western most tip of the Gujarat
peninsula, a sentinel overlooking the Arabian Sea.
Dwarka is perhaps the most important place on the Saurashtra coast. It is
believed to have been founded by Lord Krishna and was called
'Swarnadwarka' or 'Golden Dwarka'. According to the Krishna legend, it was
the adopted home of Lord Krishna after he gave up Mathura.
A labyrinth of narrow winding streets cluttered with temples, the town
resonates today with the bustle of eager saffron clad pilgrims and the
clatter of celebratory drums. Dwarka really comes to life during the major
Hindu festivals; the most fervent are
shivratri, dedicated to Shiva and
Janmashtami, Lord
Krishna's birthday.
Archaeological excavations show that present day Dwarka is the 6th city
on this site, the earlier five having been submerged in the sea. The
5-storey temple is supported by 60 columns and is crowned by a soaring,
elaborately carved spire.
PRIME
ATTRACTIONS
Dwarkadheesh
Temple (Jagat Mandir): The temple of Jagat Mandir, with the
presiding deity of Shri Krishna known as Dwarkadheesh, is an imposing
edifice and a superb architectural monument. Having a plinth area of 1800
square feet, the temple consists of a shrine that is supported by 60
pillars made of granite and sandstone. Jagat Mandir, with the presiding
deity of Shri Krishna known as Dwarkadheesh, is an imposing edifice and a
superb architectural monument.
Dunny Point: Dunny Point,
first eco-tourism site, promises to be one more feather in Gujarat's cap.
Active nature conservation is a vital aspect of government policy, the
declaration of new nature reserves enables, on the one hand, species to
thrive in protected environment while, on the other, allows visitors to
sample nature without despoiling the ecosystem.
Rukmini Temple: Dating to the 12th-13th century, the Rukmini
Temple has beautiful carvings, especially on the pillars of the 'Sabha
Mandapa'. The temple was built in honour of Rani Rukmani, princess of
Vidarbha, who later got married to Lord Krishna.
Nageshwar Mandir: Nageshwar Mandir is a temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva and houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in an underground chamber.
Beyt Dwarka: The
visit of Dwarka is not complete without a visit 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 Bet, there are temples of Vishnu (in the form of 'matsya'),
Radha, Lakshmi, Satyabhama, Jambuvanti and Devaki.
EXCURSIONS
Okha: A ferry ride from Dwarka to the island of Bet near Okha,
makes a pleasant outing.
Porbandar: South of Dwarka, on
the western coast, Porbandar is a picturesque old seaport associated with
the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. Commemorating this event is the Kirti Mandir
Memorial, which contains the little room where the Mahatma was born, a
library, a spinning hall, a children's nursery school and a prayer hall.
Porbandar has a pleasant beach with beach villas. Its ancient maritime
activities such as trade with Arabia, Africa and Persia have given way to
a thriving industry of cement and chemical units.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Domestic airlines connect Dwarka to
Mumbai .
Rail: Dwarka is located on the Western Railway with direct
connections with Ahmedabad
.
Road: State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centres of Gujarat. Porbandar
is 145 kms from Rajkot.
For travel
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WHERE
TO STAY
Accommodation in Dwarka is for the most part cheap and unelaborate. The
well-kept Toran Guest House out of town near the coast offers good
facilities.
SHOPPING
The narrow street leading to the temples is lined on both the sides by
vendors selling seashells, 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 CENTRES
Toran Tourist Dormitory, Near Government Guest House, Dwarka. Office of
the Administrator, Dwarka Devasthan Samiti, Dwarkadheesh Temple Trust.
(Check all that apply)
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