Dwarka

Introduction and history: Dwarka is one of the most important Hindu Pilgrimage cities in Gujarat. According to Hindu mythology it is believed that Dwarka was the kingdom of Lord Krishna. It is also believed that Lord Krishna settled here after leaving Mathura. It is one of India’s seven oldest towns, where he reigned for decades. There are lot of stories and beliefs associated with the city since the Mahabharata time frame. When Arjuna was hesitant to launch the battle against his own gurus and relatives, Lord Krishna set out from Dwarka to the site of the battle, to instruct him, which is popularly known as Bhagavad Gita. This is also the place where Lord Krishna received his poor friend Sudhama and the Lord finally abandoned his body and reached the heavenly adobe. In recent years the city remains point to a level of prosperity unusual at that time. It has been visited by many persons, which include Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Narsinh Mehta, Mira, Kabir and Nanak.

What to see and when to go: Jagat Mandir is the main temple which is believed to be the adobe of Lord Krishna. The festival of Lord Krishna, called as Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated there every year here with great splendor and amidst great rejoicing. The Sharada Peeta, Bet Dwarka and Nageswar Mahadev are some of the other attractions of the city. October to March is the ideal time to visit Dwarka.
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Accommodation: Various types of hotels are available in Dwarka to suit all budgets. Many hotels charge starting from 500 and luxury accommodation can cost up to 2000 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Jamnagar is the nearest airport and is about 150 Kilometers from Dwarka. Jamnagar is connected with Mumbai with frequent flights connecting them. Visitors can travel to Dwarka from Jamnagar either by road, rail or bus. It is one of the important railway stations in the railway line that runs from Viramgam to Okha, which is well connected with nearby cities Ahmedabad (378 Kilometers), Rajkot (217 Kilometers) and Jamnagar (137 Kilometers). The state highway connects Dwarka with the above mentioned cities as well.

Related links:

• Official website of Jagat Mandir: http://www.dwarkadhish.org/
• Tourist information: http://www.gujaratplus.com/

See also (nearby places): Gopi talao, Bet Dwaraka, Rukshmani Mandir, Harisiddhi Mandir, Porbandar and Somnath are nearby tourist attractions.