Dev Bhumi Dwarka

 

The name Devbhumi Dwarka is derived from the famous Dwarkadhish Temple of city Dwarka which is one of the four holy places according to Hindu mythology.

Dwarka is believed to have been the first capital of Gujarat. The city’s name literally means the “gateway to heaven” in Sanskrit, as Dwarka means “gate” and ka references “Brahma”.Dwarka has also been referred to throughout its history as “Mokshapuri”, “Dwarkamati”, and “Dwarkavati”. It is mentioned in the ancient prehistoric epic period of the Mahabharata. According to legend, Krishna settled here after he defeated and killed his uncle Kansa at Mathura. This mythological account of Krishna’s migration to Dwarka from Mathura is closely associated with the culture of Gujarat.Krishna is also said to have reclaimed 12 yojanas or 96 square kilometres (37 sq mi) of land from the sea to create Dwarka.

Dwarka was established as the capital in Saurashtra by the Aryans during the Puranaic. The Yadavas, who had migrated from Mathura, established their kingdom here when the city was known as “Kaushathali”. It was during this period that the city underwent rebuilding and was named DwarkaA friendly population of natives also prompted Krishna to settle at Dwarka when he decided, after fighting Jarasandha, the king of Magadh, to retreat from Mathura. The kingdom, also known as the Yaduvanshi empire, was established by Uugrasena, father of Kansa the then ruler and later Krishna flourished and extended its domainIt is said that Krishna conducted the administration of his kingdom from Dwarka while residing with his family in Bet Dwarka. The city’s Dwarkadhish Temple dedicated to Krishna was originally built around 2,500 years ago, but was destroyed by Mahmud Begada rulers and subsequently rebuilt in the 16th century. The temple is also the location of Dwaraka maţha, also called Sharada Matha/Peeth and “western peeth”, one of the four peeths (Sanskrit: “religious center”) established by Adi Shankaracharya.

As an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus, Dwarka has several notable temples, including Rukmini Devi Temple, Gomti Ghat, and Bet Dwarka. There is also a lighthouse at the land end point of Dwarka.

Archaeological investigations at Dwarka, both on shore and offshore in the Arabian Sea, have been performed by the Archaeological Survey of India. The first investigations carried out on land in 1963 revealed many artefacts. Excavations done at two sites on the seaward side of Dwarka brought to light submerged settlements, a large stone-built jetty, and triangular stone anchors with three holes. The settlements are in the form of exterior and interior walls, and fort bastions. From the typological classification of the anchors it is inferred that Dwarka had flourished as a port during the period of the Middle kingdoms of India. Coastal erosion was probably the cause of the destruction of what was an ancient port.

How to reach?

Dwarka doesn’t have an airport of its own. The nearest airport is located in Jamnagar, which is at a distance of 130 km, approximately 3 hours from Dwarka by road or by train. The easiest and cheapest way to reach Dwarka is to travel by train, bus or car, from any city of India.

Accommodation

In Dwarka, Hotels and Dharamshala’s can be found after every 2-minute walk as soon as one enters the town. There is no lack of accommodation. But, if you are planning to visit during festivals like Holi and Diwali, advance booking needs to be done, at least 1 month before the visit, to avoid any inconvenience. Rooms charges are on per night basis. You can avail them at affordable rates. If you want some peace of mind you can book a hotel near the beach away from the crowd or if you want to enjoy a variety of food, market, and the crowd, It is better to book a place in the center of the town from where everything is easily accessible.

Things to do

Main places of attraction

Dwarka is famous for its temples and beach. It is also known as one of the “Chardham” places, that is, one of the “four sacred hindu pilgrimage sites” of India. It is a dream of every Indian to travel through each of the four pilgrimage sites in one’s life to attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death, especially for the people who belong to Hindu religion.

The main attraction here is the most famous temple of Lord Krishna, who is also known as “Dwarkadhish” – The King of Dwarka. It is located exactly at the bank of river Gomti. This temple host several other Hindu Gods and Goddesses. This temple is also known as “Jagatmandir”. The temple is very huge and always full of people who come to pray and spend their time taking the name of their beloved lord. The Gomti river is located behind the temple and can be reached from within the temple itself. The bath in this river is considered to be sacred. It is said that 5000 years ago, whole Dwarka was made up of Pure Gold. But, Lord Krishna submerged it into the Ocean before leaving his physical body. Although, no scientific evidence or proof has been found for the same. Besides this Dwarkadheesh temple, there are many other temples like-

• Shri Rukmani Mandir
• ISKCON Temple
• Gita Temple
• Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple
• Bhadrakali Temple
• Gayatri Shaktipith
• Samudra Narayan Temple
• Shri Sharda Peeth
• Shree Swaminarayan Temple

All temples can be covered in two days if started from early morning and all are located in close proximity to each other. A personal guide can be booked if you are visiting for the first time and are interested to know each and everything in detail to make it a memorable journey history of Dwarka. 🙏🙏🙏  - Dhruv Jatania