Dwarka

Shri Krishna's royal capital on the western sea, where Dwarkadhish reigns in the Jagat Mandir; one of the Char Dham.

To protect his people from the repeated attacks of Jarasandha on Mathura, Shri Krishna built the city of Dwarka on the western sea coast and brought the Yadavas there. Here he ruled as king and came to be known as Dwarkadhish, the Lord of Dwarka; here he married Rukmini and lovingly welcomed his childhood friend Sudama. According to the Bhagavatam and the Mahabharata, after Krishna's departure from the world the city was swallowed by the sea. Dwarka is one of the Char Dham and is also counted among the seven sacred cities.

The Dwarkadhish temple, also called the Jagat Mandir, rises in several storeys near the point where the Gomti river meets the sea. The flag on its spire is changed several times a day, and devotees consider offering a flag a great blessing. Steps lead down from the temple to the Gomti Ghat, where pilgrims traditionally bathe before darshan. Next to the temple is the Dwarka Sharada Peetham, the western seat established by Adi Shankaracharya. A short distance from town stands the temple of Rukmini Devi; according to popular tradition it stands apart from the main temple because of an episode involving the sage Durvasa. Bet Dwarka, an island near Okha, is revered as Krishna's residence; it can be reached by boat and now also by the Sudarshan Setu bridge.

Janmashtami is the greatest festival. The Phuldol festival at Holi and the Annakut after Diwali are also celebrated with great devotion.

Practical note: Dwarka is in the Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat and has its own railway station. Jamnagar, roughly 130 km away, is the nearest large city with a major airport. Pilgrims often also visit the nearby Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.

State

Gujarat

Nearest City

Jamnagar

Main Temples

Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir), Gomti Ghat, Rukmini Devi Temple, Bet Dwarka, Dwarka Sharada Peetham

Associated Leela

Krishna's royal capital as Dwarkadhish