Dwarka in Gujarat, One of the Top Religious Destinations for Hindus in India

Dwarka is a beautiful city located in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat, in India.
The city is about 133 km from the main town in Jamnagar and about 438 km from Ahmadabad. It is one of the most religious destinations for Hindus in India. The place is regarded as the birth place of Lord Krishna and is believed to be one of the holiest places to attain salvation. There are plenty of tourist attractions in Dwarka. This holy city in Gujarat is dotted with several stunning shrines that include captivating structural designs and mesmerizing architectural style. 

Attractions

Dwarkadish Temple- Dwarkadish temple is also known as Jagat temple and is considered to be one of the sites to be visited in the pilgrimage of Char Dham. The temple was originally built in 400 BC by King Vajranabha, the great grandson of Lord Krishna. The present structure was built in the 16^th century. It is a 5 storied temple that has been made out of limestone. The main shrine of this place comprises of the idol of Lord Dwarkadhish, a form of Lord Krishna. The temple is located at the center of the city and along with the shrine of the main deity there are other shrines within the complex of this temple that are dedicated to Balarama, Vasudeva, Deuki, Satyabhama Devi, Jambavati and Rukmani Devi. 

Somanth Temple- Another important temple of this city is the Somanth temple, which is located on the western coast of Gujarat. The temple is an important religious site as it holds one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple has been destroyed six times and has been again rebuilt for six times. Due to this reason, it is also known as the ‘Shrine Eternal’. According to the legends, the temple was originally built in gold by Soma or the Moon God, Ravana again built in silver and Lord Krishna built it in wood. The present structure of the temple was initiated in November 1947, under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Lord Shiva is said to have been pleased by the prayers of the Moon God and decided to reside in this temple for eternity in the form of a Jyotirlinga.

Beyt Dwarka- It is an island located at a distance of about 30 km from the main town of Dwarka. The tourist attractions of this island are the temples, a white beach and coral reefs. Among the temples found in this island, the main temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, which is believed to be situated at a site where Lord Krishna and his family resided. The temple dates back to more than 500 years and was structured by Sri Vallabhacharya. The white sand beach of this island is also very much popular among the tourists as it comprises of rich marine life. This beach supports activities like water sports, camping, marine excursions and picnics.

Best Time to Visit

The place experiences very hot climate during the peak summer season, so the best time to visit the place during the months of October to March.

Accommodation

As the place is a chief Hindu pilgrimage center, there are plenty of hotels and lodges in Dwarka. The hotels and lodges found at this place are ranged from budget, mid-budget and luxury class. Almost all these places are equipped with the modern day amenities ensuring that you have a comfortable stay while visiting this city. Other options for budget travelers found at this place are dharmasalas and cheap lodges. 

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to the place is Jamnagar airport, located at a distance of about 135 km. The airport is well linked with various major cities in India. Tourists can get local and hired taxis outside the airport to get to the holy city.

By Train: The city has its own railway station that is connected with various major cities in the country, such as Jamnagar, Ahmadabad, Rajkot and others. 

By Road: Dwarka has a well established network of roads that connects the place with various major parts in Gujarat as well as other parts in the country. The place receives regular government-owned and private buses from different parts in the state and also from the other parts in India.