Dwarka is an ethereal town on the banks of the Gomti River. It is where you can hear the hymns and chants that hail Lord Krishna and also see the picturesque beauty of nature at its best. There are several tourist places to visit in Dwarka and they will surely bring a smile to your face. The town is part of the ‘Krishna Pilgrimage Circuit’ that also includes other places like Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Gokul, Govardhan, Kurukshetra and Puri. It is considered among the main pilgrimage sites in Vaishnavism and is one of the destinations in the Chardham Yatra founded by Adi Shankaracharya.
That being said, let us explore the tourist places in Dwarka so that you can make the best itinerary for your visit!
Best Places To Visit in Dwarka
1 – Dwarkadish Temple
One of the most important places to visit in Dwarka is the Dwarkadish temple. This five-storeyed holy shrine is at a height of 40 feet above sea level and is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The current structure of the temple was built during the 16th century using limestone and sand. The word ‘Dwarkadish’ translates to ‘The King of Dwarka’.
The temple has 72 pillars that support the main sanctum sanctorum and there is something very special about the idol found here. It is said that the deity’s idol has a strong magnetic field that attracts metallic objects towards itself. There is a triangular flag hoisted above the central gopuram which shows the sun and the moon. It implies that Lord Krishna will continue to exist as long as the sun and the moon exist. Dwarkadish temple is the 98th Divya Desham among the 108 Divya Deshams that are very important in Hindu Vaishnavism.
Address: Gomti Ghat, 56, Seedi Swargdwaar, Dwarka, Gujarat, 361335
Timings: 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM; 5 AM to 9:30 PM
2 – Gomti Ghat
Gomti Ghat is constructed along the banks of the river Gomti. As you approach the Dwarkadish Temple, you will notice the Gomti Ghat bustling with people. The river has great significance in Lord Krishna’s story. It is said that after Krishna came to Dwarka from Mathura, he used to have his friend Sudhama come over and they spent a lot of time along the Gomti River.
The Ghat is now renovated to add more safety and other facilities. You can take a slow and serene boat ride here that will give you picturesque views of Dwarka town and you can also feel those soothing ripples of the water. The local kids come here all the time, swim in the water and you will also find beautifully decorated camels sitting by the Gomti Ghat.
Address: Dwarka Gomti Ghat, Sudama Setu, Dwarka, Gujarat 361335
Timings: Open 24 hours
3 – Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple
The Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple is one of the most interesting places to visit in Dwarka. The pilgrimage shrine is built on the sea – literally! Thousands of years ago, a Shiva linga was found near the Arabian Sea and the Mahadev temple was built exactly on the spot where it was found. You can access the temple all year round except during the months of June and July. This is when the ocean’s high tides will submerge the temple completely.
Mahashivratri is the main festival celebrated here and several festivities and abhisheka prayers will be offered to the deity on the holy night. This shrine is among the most liked tourist places to visit in Dwarka because you can seek blessings from Lord Shiva and also witness the breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea from its compounds. There is a well-built concrete pathway that leads to the temple so people of all ages can easily access the holy place.
Address: 6XV3+PPC, Near Circuit House, Sunset Point, Dwarka, Gujarat 361335
Timings: Open 24 Hours
4 – Dwarka Beach
Does Gujarat have beaches too? Yes, there are several wonderful beaches in Gujarat and Dwarka Beach is among them. This is one of the most tranquil places to visit in Dwarka because the crowd is less. The rhythmic splashing of waves on the seashore is like music to the ears. The tides aren’t too overwhelming and this place was once the major port for trading between Gujarat and the neighbouring countries.
The Dwarkadish temple and the Hanuman temple are easily accessible from Dwarka Beach so you can visit them all on the same day. Pilgrims usually complete their darshan in the temple and head towards the beach for relaxation. It is absolutely beautiful to witness the sunrise and sunset from this beach, an experience you can never forget in your life.
Address: Beyt Dwarka, Gujarat
Timings: Open 24 hours; Preferably don’t visit post sunset.
5 – Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
The Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country and holds great significance in Hinduism. It is among the most beautiful and powerful places to visit in Dwarka. There is a legend associated with the shrine as well. Supriya was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. A demon named Daruka imprisoned the devotee and Lord Shiva appeared and vanquished the demon. He also blessed the place with his presence in the form of a Jyotirlinga.
One of the main features of the temple is the huge statue of Lord Shiva in a seated posture, something that is visible even from a distance. The temple is built in the Indian Hindu architectural style with many intricate carvings and pillars. The sanctum sanctorum houses the jyotirlinga and abhisheka pooja is offered multiple times a day. Mahashivratri is the main festival celebrated in the temple and people from across the world come here to seek blessings from the Almighty.
Address: Dwarka, Daarukavanam, Gujarat 361335
Timings: 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM; 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
6 – Beyt Dwarka
We have already discussed the Dwarka beach as one of the most gorgeous places to visit in Dwarka. But did you know? There is an island near Dwarka Beach!
Beyt is a small island off the coast of Dwarka and was once believed to be the place of residence of Lord Krishna. It was from this island that the Lord ruled the kingdom of Dwarka. It was called ‘Antardvip’ in Hindu mythology and people of those times had to travel by boat to reach the place.
The marine life and coral reefs present near the beach adjoining Beyt Island are magnificent. Right after the monsoon showers, the water becomes clear and during winters, you can embark on a deep-sea diving adventure to witness the underwater charm. Also, archaeological excavations and deep sea explorations resulted in findings of underwater settlements that must have submerged into the water thousands of years ago, confirming the presence of Krishna’s Dwarka which was believed to have sunk to the bottom of the sea!
If you are visiting Beyt in Dwarka, do not miss out on taking a boat ride which is the main attraction of this place.
Address: Beyt Island, Dwarka
Timings: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
7 – Rukmini Devi Temple
The Rukmini Devi Temple is one of the main attractions and among the important places to visit in Dwarka. It is said that your Dwarka darshan is incomplete without visiting Rukmini Devi in her holy shrine. Rukmini is the wife and consort of Lord Krishna, the reigning queen of Dwarka. There is an interesting legend associated with this temple. Sage Durvasa, known for his anger and bestowing curses, was once invited to Lord Krishna and Goddess Rukmini’s abode for dinner. At that time, Goddess Rukmini was very thirsty and Lord Krishna fetched the Ganges water by prodding the ground with his toe. But sage Durvasa was deeply offended that he was not offered water first and cursed the couple that they would live apart.
Lord Krishna and Goddess Rukmini were apart for over 12 years and during this time, the Goddess used to meditate at the same place where the temple is now built. Owing to this history, there is a popular ritual in the Rukmini Devi Temple where people ‘donate’ water to the shrine. This is called ‘Jal Daan’. The temple is very beautiful with carvings of deities, idols and human figurines. On the panels of the tower’s base, you will find marvellous carvings of elephants or the gajarathas.
Address: Dwarka, Gujarat 361335
Timings: 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM; 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
8 – Sudama Setu
Among all the places to visit in Dwarka that we discussed so far, Sudama Setu is the most recent construction. It is a suspended pedestrian bridge that connects the Dwarkadish temple of mainland Dwarka with Panchkui Tirth in the southeast. The idea to build the bridge was proposed in 2005 but several permission issues delayed its construction. Seeing how the Dwarkadish temple is an Archeological Survey of India (ASI) protected site, the permissions were of paramount importance to start the construction.
The authorities finally received the official ‘nod’ in 2013 and the bridge was inaugurated in 2016. The bridge is 166 metres long and 4.2 metres wide. It is constructed using 40 mm locked coil cable ropes that can carry close to 30,000 pedestrians per hour. The suspension bridge is named after Sudama, a very dear friend of Lord Krishna. While you explore the Sudama bridge, also pay a visit to the Panchkui or the five wells that are believed to have been established by the Pandavas of Mahabharatha.
Address: Near Dwarkadish temple, Dwarka, Gujarat.
Timings: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM for visitors
9 – ISKCON Dwarka
ISKCON Dwarka is one of the most splendid places to visit in Dwarka. How can you come to Krishna’s empire and not see an ISKCON there? This is where you can explore the beautifully carved idols of Lord Krishna along with his consorts, dance to the tunes of his hymns and chant his name all day long! The ISKCON temple in Dwarka is also popular as Sri Sri Rukminidevi Dwarkadish Dham. You will also find the calm and serene atmosphere suitable for meditation and ‘Dhyaan’.
There are certain things to keep in mind while visiting the temple. You can take cameras and click photographs of the temple and its premises but you will not be allowed to click your own pictures or that of your family. The people consider this a holy place of worship and are not inclined to commercialising it. The prasad and food that the temple offers devotees must not be wasted at any cost so refrain from throwing any leftovers in the dustbin.
Address: 6XQ8+7GF, Bharatiya Bhavan, Near Teen Batti Chowk, Ramdhun Rd, Dwarka, Gujarat 361335
Timings: 4:30 AM to 1:00 PM; 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Dwarka is India’s own Atlantis. The only difference is that Atlantis was Plato’s imaginary creation while Dwarka’s existence before the submerging is proved by the evidence of an underwater settlement with remnants of pillars and bastions. The Dwarka that you see today in Gujarat was established on the same shore where the ancient Dwarka once thrived. People also go on deep-sea diving adventures to see the remnants found in the water.
There are so many good places to visit in Dwarka, from temples to islands, that people come here in large numbers every year. You will find a significant crowd most of the time and temples like Dwarkadish and Nageshwar Mahadev are tight-packed all year round. Dwarka receives very little rainfall, almost 18 days per year and following this, the Bhadkeshwar Mahadev temple will be closed. Keeping these things in mind, plan your perfect itinerary to cover all the places to visit in Dwarka and add yet another worthwhile trip to your travel portfolio!
