Dwarka Yatra Circuit - Five Sacred Places
जय द्वारकाधीश - द्वारका दर्शन
Gomti Ghat, Rukmini Devi Temple, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Bet Dwarka - the complete Dwarka pilgrimage
This is Page 3 of the Dwarkadhish Temple complete guide. Dwarka is more than one temple. Lord Krishna's life in this city spread across multiple sacred locations - some within walking distance of the main temple, some requiring a half-day journey. A pilgrim who visits only the Dwarkadhish Temple has done perhaps half the yatra. This page covers all five sacred sites and how to plan your visit. For the story of Krishna and the temple history, see Page 1.
Suggested Dwarka circuit: Minimum 2 days to do justice. Day 1: Dwarkadhish Temple (Mangla Aarti morning, full darshan, Sandhya Aarti evening) + Gomti Ghat bath + Rukmini Devi Temple (during the 1-5 PM Anosar break) + Bhadkeshwar Mahadev at low tide. Day 2: Nageshwar Jyotirlinga (about 17 km) + Bet Dwarka (via Okha, about 30 km, then across Sudarshan Setu). Both Day 2 sites can be done in one day by taxi.
The Five Sacred Places of Dwarka - With Stories
पांच पवित्र स्थान
Each place tells a chapter of Lord Krishna's life in Dwarka
The main shrine - Lord Krishna as King of Dwarka, with a 5-storey, 78-metre spire. See the four-armed black stone idol of Dwarkadhish and attend the aartis (timings on Page 2). The flag with the sun and moon on the spire is changed several times a day. Many pilgrims first go down the 56 steps to Gomti Ghat for a holy dip, then come up for darshan.
Just outside the Swarg Dwar (south gate), 56 steps descend to the Gomti river ghat - Gomti Ghat. Taking a bath in the Gomti before darshan is one of the oldest traditions of the Dwarka yatra. Here the Gomti meets the Arabian Sea - a sacred Sangam. The ghat is especially beautiful in the early morning, with the temple spire right above.
The Sudama Setu - a pedestrian bridge across the Gomti - gives a beautiful view of the river, the sea and the temple spire. Worth walking across in the evening, especially before the Sandhya Aarti.
The Rukmini Devi Temple, about 2 km from the main temple, is dedicated to Lord Krishna's chief queen Rukmini, princess of Vidarbha. The Bhagavata Purana (10th Skandha) tells how Rukmini sent a message to Krishna asking him to save her from a forced marriage to Shishupala, and Krishna came and took her away in his chariot.
Why does Rukmini have a separate temple? Local tradition says Krishna and Rukmini invited the sage Durvasa for a meal and pulled his chariot themselves. On the way Rukmini became thirsty, and Krishna brought out Ganga water for her. She drank without first offering water to the sage. Durvasa was angered and cursed her to live apart from Krishna. That is why her temple stands outside the town.
The temple has fine stone carvings and is believed to be around 800 years old. Visit during the Anosar break (1:00-5:00 PM) when the main temple is closed. It is a short auto ride away.
Nageshwar (Nagnath), one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is about 17 km from Dwarka on the road to Okha. So in one day you can have darshan of both Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva.
The Shiva Purana tells of a Shiva devotee named Supriya who was imprisoned by the demon Daruka. Supriya kept chanting the name of Shiva, and Lord Shiva appeared and destroyed the demons to protect his devotee. The temple complex has a large seated statue of Lord Shiva that can be seen from the road. (Some other temples in India also claim to be the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.)
Check the darshan timings locally on the day. Most pilgrims combine Nageshwar with Bet Dwarka in a half-day or full-day taxi trip. See our 12 Jyotirlingas guide.
Devotees believe the Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka town marks Krishna's royal seat, while Bet Dwarka (Beyt Dwarka) island was his residence. "Bet" means island in Gujarati. Tradition also links Bet Dwarka with the meeting of Krishna and his childhood friend Sudama.
Getting there: Since February 2024 the island is connected to Okha by road over the Sudarshan Setu, a 2.32 km cable-stayed bridge - the longest in India. You can now drive from Dwarka to Bet Dwarka in about an hour. Earlier pilgrims had to take a boat from Okha jetty.
The island has a Dwarkadhish temple of its own, and shrines of Rukmini, other queens of Krishna and Hanuman (Hanuman Dandi temple). Mobile phones are generally not allowed inside the Bet Dwarka temple either. Plan half a day; it is easy to combine with Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, which is on the same road.
More Sacred Spots in Dwarka
अन्य दर्शनीय स्थल
These add-ons can be done in a few hours alongside the main circuit
| Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple | A small Shiva temple on a rock by the sea, about 1-2 km from the main temple. At high tide the waves surround it. Beautiful at sunset. Check tide conditions locally. |
| Sudama Setu | Pedestrian bridge over the Gomti river, named after Sudama, Krishna's childhood friend. Walk across in the evening for a lovely view of the temple spire and the sea. A small entry fee may apply. |
| Gita Mandir | A white marble temple with verses of the Bhagavad Gita inscribed on its walls. Close to the main temple. |
| Dwarka Lighthouse | The lighthouse near the sea front gives a wide view of the Arabian Sea and the town. Visiting hours are limited - check locally. |
| ISKCON Dwarka | ISKCON temple in Dwarka with kirtan and prasad. A peaceful stop for Krishna devotees. |
Shree Dwarkadhish Temple Dwarka - Complete 5-Page Guide
- Page 1: Story of Lord Krishna, Char Dham and Sapta Puri, Temple History, Submerged Dwarka
- Page 2: Complete Timetable (from dwarkadhish.org), Four Aartis, Darshan Rules, Live Darshan
- Page 3 (this page): Five Sacred Places - Gomti Ghat, Rukmini Temple, Nageshwar, Bet Dwarka
- Page 4: How to Reach, Janmashtami, Hotels, Gujarat Pilgrimage Circuit, FAQ
- Page 5: Fact Check - True or False, Myths, Submerged Dwarka Archaeology
Sources and References
- dwarkadhish.org - Dwarka Darshan (Official Site Guide)
- Wikipedia - Dwarka (places, history)
- Wikipedia - Rukmini Devi Temple, Dwarka
- Wikipedia - Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
- Wikipedia - Bet Dwarka
- Wikipedia - Sudarshan Setu (Okha - Bet Dwarka bridge, opened Feb 2024)
- Shiva Purana (Nageshwar Jyotirlinga story)
- Bhagavata Purana 10th Skandha (Rukmini story, Krishna's life in Dwarka)
- Dekho Dham - 12 Jyotirlingas Complete Guide
जय द्वारकाधीश. Jay Dwarkadhish. Jai Shri Krishna.