Dwarkadhish Temple is located in Gujarat’s Dwarka district and is one of India’s most visited pilgrimage sites. It is on a small hillock dedicated to the King of Dwarka, Lord Krishna. Devotees require roughly 50 steps to reach the main complex where the black marble Lord Krishna idol is positioned. Above all, Dwarkadhish Temple is one of the four abode seats of Bada Char Dham Yatra. The temple has Nagara, Solanki, and Chalukyan-style architecture in its interior and exterior walls.
Looking up from the more significant spiritual lens, Jagat Mandir, aka Dwarkadhish Temple, bills itself as one of the 7 holy pilgrimage sites of Sapta Puri. The temple’s main shrine is a five-story building with 72 pillars supporting a stand, and its walls are intricately sculptured with mythological characters. Opposite the main shrine of Lord Krishna is his mother’s shrine, Devaki. Furthermore, around the main audience hall (Mandapa) are several other shrines dedicated to the family members, including sons, critical wives of Lord Krishna, elder brother, grandson, etc.
There is more to learn about the Dwarkadhish Temple than it is one of the famous sites of the Hindu Pilgrimage Circuit. The priests of the temple follow daily rituals with clockwise precision. In August, there is a celebration vibe at Dwarkadhish Temple, aka Jagat Mandir in Janamaithri. From architecture to the best time, visiting hours, and how to reach, here is your quick information about Dwarkadhish Temple.
History of Dwarkadhish Temple
Dwarkadhish Temple has a hefty long history of 2,500 years back, and from the archeological studies, Dwarkadhish Temple was reconstructed several times after Mahmud Begada in 1472 destroyed the original temple structure. It was during the 16th and 17th centuries when the temple reconstruction was considered. The recent construction of the temple was found to be dated in the 17th-18th century in the Chalukyan and Nagara style of design by theologian Adi Shankaracharya.
Dwarkadhish Temple is believed to have been established by Lord Krishna’s grandson, Vajranabh, at the cusp of the Gomti River and the Arabian Sea in 400 B.C. Even though the city of Dwarka, submerged in the sea, has been mentioned in the Mahabharata epic as the Dwarka Kingdom. Even more, Dwarka in the Mahabharata is noted for utopian architecture.
Dwarkadhish Temple Legends
Dwarkadhish Temple makes visitors drop their jaws to the ground with fascinating legends that are more than one! One of the traditional stories of Dwarkadhish Temple is that when it was time for Lord Krishna to depart from his physical form, he went to Somnath. Afterward, a hunter mistook his feet as deer ears and shot him dead. At the same time, the whole city of Dwarka got submerged in the water where it had been reclaimed initially.
In the other story, the part of mythology says that Dwarka city was the ruling capital of Lord Krishna in his adult days, and he married Rukmini. When Lord Krishna moved with Yadava Clans from Braj or Mathura to Dwarka due to killing his maternal uncle, Kamsa or Kansa, he made the Dwarka city his base after asking the sea god to allow him some space to establish his kingdom.
The third mythological legend is that Dwarkadhish Temple was built overnight with the divine architectural power of the Vishwakarma. In conclusion, amidst the temple reconstruction, the famous 16th-century poet Meera Bari had legends to be merged with his idol at Dwarkadhish Temple, which had never been seen before. It is believed that today’s Devbhoomi Dwarka is in its seventh form. Earlier, Dwarka city was swallowed by sea six times.
Location of Dwarkadhish Temple
Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, Gujarat, stands on the Western Tip, where the River Gomti meets the Arabian Sea.
Visiting Hours of Dwarkadhish Temple
In the ordinary course, 6 AM to 1 PM and then from 5 PM to 9:30 PM are the visiting hours of Dwarkadhish Temple.
Best Time to Visit Dwarkadhish Temple
Devotees would have to spend 1-2 hours exploring the Dwarkadhish Temple comprehensively. In conclusion, it would be a day-hopping venture. Therefore, the best time to visit Dwarkadhish Temple is from September to March, when the sun is not hot above the head. If planned correctly, you can see the Dwarkadhish Temple throughout the year because the festive celebrations run all year round, whether small or large.
Entrance of Dwarkadhish Temple Dwarka
There are two entryways to reach Dwarkadhish Temple. One is Swarg Dwar (door to heaven), and the second is Moksha Dwar (gate to Liberation). The latter one, North Gate, aka Moksha Dwar, is often used by pilgrims to enter and exit as it is close to the primary market. Subsequently, the other shrines around the Mandapa are located at the north gate.
The SwargaDwar (south gate) is best to use if you come from Gomti Ghat. One has to climb 52 steps (approx.) to reach the entrance of the Dwarkadhish Temple.
The Architecture of Dwarkadhish Temple
The current structure of the Dwarkadhish Temple is the amalgamation of the piece of work dating from the 8th – 18th century C.E. The conservation work of Dwarkadhish Temple is still in the process. The government now maintains this sacred religious site. Firstly, the Dwarkadhish Temple is made of limestone to withstand sea breeze erosion. Secondly, the shrine is a five-story building with a 43 m spire where the Lord Krishna idol is placed. Thirdly, it has 72 pillars to support the walls, which are heavily sculptured with excellent craftsmanship.
Jagat Temple, or Dwarkadhish Temple, has a large complex of approximately 60 x 60 m. Inside the main sanctum, visitors will see the idol of the king of Dwarka, Dwarkadhish, as a four-arm statue. Dwarkadhish Temple Main Shikhara (spire) has 7 floors, roughly 80 m (approx.) in height. All those seven floors speak for Sapta Puri, India’s famous 7 pilgrimage center, with Dwarka being the base.
Dhwajarohan or Flag Ceremony at the Dwarkadhish Temple
Fifty-two yards of cloth depicting the sun and moon, a fluttering flag from the sea breeze, is hosted at the top of the Shikara. Pilgrims are astonished because the flag is visible from a few kilometers away. Moreover, the flag is changed dramatically in the morning and twice in the evening. The flag ceremony is not mainstream. It is considered significant where the Brahmins of Dwarka are fed. Consequently, visitors who want to sponsor a flag change must wait around 2 years. The blend of different flag colors symbolizes the quality. For instance, white symbolizes purity, green incarnates peace, red represents joy, and blue personifies strength. As a result, attached to the main flag are 52 small flags speaking for 52 Yadava Clans.
Famous Festivals Celebrated in Dwarkadhish Temple
Holi is in March, and Rukmini Vivah is celebrated enthusiastically at Dwarkadhish Temple in the same month. Most importantly, the temple gets thronged by heavy tourists annually in August as on the 8th day of the 8th month of the Indian Calendar, Lord Krishna was born as the 8th incarnation of the Hindu God, Vishnu. Also, Ram Navami and Basant Panchmi in April and Sharad Purnima and Diwali in September/October are the best times to go to Dwarkadhish Temple to attend the festive gatherings in the spiritual aura.
How to Reach Dwarkadhish Temple
Dwarkadhish Temple By Air: Dwarka city does not have an airport, and the nearest airports to reach Dwarkadhish Temple are Porbandar (110 kilometers/2 hours) and Jamnagar (126 kilometers/2/2.5 hours). The international airports are located in Surat, Ahmedabad, and Vadodara.
Dwarkadhish Temple By Train: Great news for train lovers! Dwarka city has a railway station with its city’s name and good train connectivity across India.
Dwarkadhish Temple By Road: A bunch of state-run buses operate to and from Dwarka. So, connectivity by road is fine if you are coming from anywhere across Gujarat.
Essential Travel Tips for Dwarkadhish Temple
- Adhere to the temple timings.
- Entry to the temple is free.
- Anyone can seek blessings from Lord Krishna, irrespective of religion.
- No electronic gadget is permitted inside. Place your items in the digital locker.
- The differently-abled person or senior citizen can take a wheelchair facility at the temple gate.
- Devotees can take the packed Prasad from the Radha Krishna shrine inside the complex.
- Devotees can stay in affordable Dharamshala around the temple.
- New age temples are located outside the stone throw distance of 5-10 km (approx.).
- Wander across Sudama Bridge or Gomti Bridge to get the best capture of the temple.
- Local commute in Dwarka is possible by cab, auto, and foot journey.
- Explore the beaches of Dwarka if you get some extra time.
