Visit Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka: One of the Char Dhams in Gujarat (2024)

The Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat is one of the destinations of the Char Dham. Hindus believe that if they visit these four places, they achieve salvation. Therefore, the Temple has elevated importance in Hinduism. The city of Dwarka lies between Saurashtra and Lothal in India. For obvious reasons, Dwarkadhish Temple is the center of attraction in Dwarka.

The other three locations of Char Dham are Rameshwaram, Badrinath, and Puri. If you plan to visit the Dwarkadhish Temple, read this article to know what to expect and how you can make the most of this journey. Experts claim that the Temple could be more than two thousand years old. It is a Pushtimarg temple and concentrates on Lord Krishna.

The Dwarkadhish Temple Experience

There’s a mythological connection for Dwarkadhish as well. According to myth, the Sage Durvasa once met Lord Krishna and Rukmini. The Sage requested them to show him their palace, and the two agreed. The three started walking towards the palace. However, along the way, Rukmini felt thirsty and wanted water. Lord Krishna brought the river Ganga to the place. Seeing this, an enraged Sage Durvasa cursed Rukmini to stay at the same location forever. Legend says that the Rukmini shrine, that’s about two km away from the Temple is the exact location where Rukmini remained. All this makes Dwarka a unique blend of faith and history.

The main idol of the sanctum sanctorum uniquely depicts Lord Krishna as very dark. The idol is well presented and has several decorations and adornments.

Dwarka has historical and mythological importance. Some claim that the city that Lord Krishna built, Dwarka, is submerged under the water in this area.

The Dwarkadhish Temple is of historical importance because experts claim that this is the place where Meerabai merged with Lord Krishna. Image Source

The Temple has historical importance as well. Experts say that Lord Krishna’s grandson, Vajranabha built the original structure. Several religious personalities, including the Adi Shankaracharya, have visited the Dwarkadhish.

The Dwarkadhish Temple is a formidable construction and is unique in some aspects of its architecture. The main shrine is five stories high and requires more than sixty-five pillars for support. The materials used to build this Temple is sandstone and granite. You will also see several rock sculptures on the walls and pillars.

The Dwarkadhish Temple is well-managed, and the visit is a hassle-free experience. You will see many devotees visit all through the year, with most of the crowd making its way to the Temple during Gokulashthami. The roads leading to the Dwarkadhish Temple has several shops and vendors selling religious artifacts and other travel mementos.

Temple Timings: The Dwarkadhish Temple premises are open from 6:30 in the morning to about 10 PM.

A visit to Dwarkadhish Temple is not just about taking in the experiences like the architecture and hearing stories. Every Temple has a set of rituals that include aartis and offerings to the deities. For the uninitiated, seeing this happen is an exquisite experience.

While there’s a lot many people hovering about to pay their respects to Lord Krishna, you won’t feel that the place is crowded – one of the many surreal experiences you have if you are visiting destinations of religious importance anywhere in the world.

The Dwarkadhish Temple is almost on the banks of a river, so you will see several devotees spending some calm moments at the riverbank. Mythologists tell you that Dwarka is one of the first true democracies, where Lord Krishna is someone who oversees the place, but the decisions are taken by mutual discussion. The main flag of the Dwarkadhish Temple has a fascinating history. One local family makes the flags of the Temple. There are many aspects to the Dwarkadhish Temple, and you will spend hours reading more about the place, even after your visit. Because there are so many people from all walks of life, you should take precautions not to be out of place or distress anyone. One of the aspects to keep in mind while visiting such a temple is dressing up conservatively.

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Stay Options Near Dwarkadhish Temple: Because Dwarka is a place of religious importance, there are several hotels that offer you accommodation at all budgets. If you are booking online, make sure that you read the terms and conditions of the Hotels. Some might not allow unmarried couples to stay in the same room. You also might need to check the kind of cuisine and dishes that are available at the hotel that you intend to stay at. Some hotels might not offer those, and you might either need to skip the hotel entirely or make your food arrangements elsewhere.

Places to Visit Nearby Dwarkadhish Temple

There are a handful of destinations nearby that you can visit. If you are planning to spend a week in the Gujarat area and Dwarka, these are the places that you should plan on visiting.

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You can visit Beth Dwarka, a small island that’s very near the city of Dwarka. An island beach is a place that several tourists come to regularly as well.

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Another destination that you can spend time at is the Rukmini Temple, about which we have written about in this article before.

And then, Dwarka is also home to one of the most pictured depictions of Shri Krishna’s life, his pranks on the young women in the Dwarka City, the Gopi Talav, which means the pond for maidens.

To get an eagle-eye view of the city, head over to the Dwarka lighthouse.