Dwarka, an ancient city and Hindu pilgrimage destination lies in the Dev Bhumi district in the northwestern part of Gujarat. Thousands of devotees come here every year to worship the holy gods. It is one of the seven Hindu Pilgrimage sites that is marked as one of the holiest cities in the country.
The word Dwarka can be broken into two parts — ‘dwar’ which means door in Sanskrit and ‘ka’ which means moksha or path to salvation. This city, also called Char Dham is amongst the four principal holy places in India. Dwarka is also one of the seven holy cities, known as Sapta Puri.
Archaeologists found out that the ancient city of Dwarka is submerged under the Arabian Sea. They are still working to excavate the remains of the city. Mythology says that this place was founded by Lord Krishna and he lived here for 36 years of his life. This place played a prime role when he was involved in the battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas.
With its rich heritage, this city has some great mythological significance. This city also has some beautiful temples that will leave you in awe. In this article, we have listed 10 temples that you must not miss while you are visiting this holy city of Dwarka.
Dwarkadhish Temple
Dwarkadhish Temple temple was built on land that was recovered from the sea by Lord Krishna. It was built by Vajranabha almost 2,200 years ago and dedicated to Lord Krishna. Dwarkadhish Temple also called Jagat Mandir and its architecture is inspired by the Chalukya style. The main festival celebrated here every year is Janmashtami and the temple is considered to be one of the seven Moksha Puri.
The main shrine is elaborately designed into five storeys with limestone and sand. This temple architecture is inspired by the dynasties that ruled the region. The main attraction of the temple is the black marble idol of Lord Krishna. The devotees pray to the lord after cleaning themselves in the Gomti river.
Lord Shiva Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
Amongst 12 self-existing temples or Jyotirlinga, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple also has a rich history. This temple is a shrine built for Lord Shiva and thousands of devotees flock here on the eve of Shivaratri. The massive statue of Lord Shiva mesmerizes everyone irrespective of religion.
Rukmini Devi Temple
This temple may be a small structure but it is a very significant one. It was built for Lord Krishna’s beloved wife, Rukmini Devi who is also known to be an incarnation of Devi Lakshmi and can be dated back to the 12th century. The intricate carvings on the walls of this shrine depict Lord Krishna and Rukmini Devi together.
Gomti, Samudra Narayan Temple
Gomti, Samudra Narayan Temple is located at the point where the Gomti River meets the Arabian Sea. This temple was built as a dedication to Goddess Gomti. The temple holds many idols, like Mother Asta Bhavani, Samudra Devi, Lord Varuna, and Mira Bai.
Another interesting thing is the temple has five wells that are collectively called Panchanada Teertha and they contain sweet water. The Gujarat mandir attracts thousands of tourists every day with the sea waves crashing on the temple walls creating the most calming atmosphere.
The white marble Gita Temple
The white marble Gita Temple is one of the youngest temples on our list which was built by the Birla family with white marble in 1970. This temple was mainly built to preserve the Hindu religious book Bhagavad Gita’s teachings and values. This temple also provides accommodation for traveling pilgrims. You can witness the walls of the temple engraved with excerpts from the holy book ‘Bhagavadgita’.
Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Mandir
Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Mandir is believed to be 5,000 years old and was built around a self-manifested Shivling that was found submerged in the Arabian Sea. One needs to visit it during the monsoon season as this temple gets submerged under the sea every year. This Gujarat famous temple is especially famous for its breathtaking views and calm surroundings.
Gayatri Shaktipeeth Temple
Gayatri Shaktipeeth Temple holds utmost importance for the Gayatri family during the Dham Yatra time. This temple was built as a dedication to Maa Gayatri on Ratneshwar Road. The Gayatri Shakti Peeth temple holds mythological significance and values for Hindus. This temple organizes the Annukat, a Hindu festival where the Gods are offered various vegetarian dishes.
ISKCON Dwarka Dham
ISKCON Dwarka Dham temple was built by HH Mahavishnu Goswami for the devotees to build a connection with Lord Krishna. ISKCON is a non-profit organization that is a major center of Vedic Culture and Education. ISKCON temple was built for the sole purpose of spreading Lord Krishna’s consciousness and imparting the great teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
Makardhwaj Mandir
Makardhwaj Mandir is located in the Devbhumi Dwarka district on the island of Dwarka or Shakhodhwar. This temple was built for the Shri Hanuman and his son Makardhwaj. At the entrance of the temple, you can see the father and son’s idols.
Swaminarayan Temple
Swaminarayan Temple is one of the newest structures compared to the other temples situated in the city that has been dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, who is said to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Although this shrine has been built quite recently, the architecture and the carvings of the temple have been inspired by ancient Indian culture. This Dwarka Mandir is located very close to the Dwarkadhish temple.
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