Dwarkadhish Temple is located in Gujarat’s Dwarka district and is one of India's most visited pilgrimage sites. It is dedicated to the King of Dwarka, Lord Krishna, on a small hillock. 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, Chalukyan style architecture in its interior and exterior walls.
Looking up from the larger 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 to 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, key 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. There is a vibe of celebration at Dwarkadhish Temple, aka Jagat Mandir in Janamaithri, in August. From architecture to best time and visiting hours along with 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 got reconstructed several times after Mahmud Begada in 1472 destroyed the original temple structure. It was during the 16-17th century when the temple reconstruction came into consideration. The recent construction of the temple was found to be dating 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 Gomti River and the Arabian Sea in 400 B.C. Even though the city of Dwarka, which was submerged from the sea, has been mentioned in the Mahabharata epic as the Dwarka Kingdom. Even more, Dwarka in the Mahabharata has its mention as a 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; 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 into the water where it had been reclaimed initially.
In the other story, the part of mythology says; Dwarka city was the ruling capital of Lord Krishna in his adulthood 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 has it that Dwarkadhish Temple was built overnight with the divine architectural power of the Vishwakarma. In conclusion, the popular 16th-century poet Meera Bari amidst the temple reconstruction had legends to be merged with his idol at Dwarkadhish Temple and was never seen before. It is believed that today’s Devbhoomi Dwarka we see is in its seventh form. Earlier, Dwarka city was swallowed by sea six times.
Location of Dwarkadhish Temple
Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka city of Gujarat stands on the Western Tip where the River Gomti meets the Arabian Sea.
Visiting Hours of Dwarkadhish Temple
In the normal 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 slice out 1-2 hours to explore 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 visit the Dwarkadhish Temple throughout the year because the festive celebrations run all year-round, be it small or large.
Entrance of Dwarkadhish Temple
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 main market. Subsequently, the north gate is where the other shrines around the Mandapa are located.
The SwargaDwar (south gate) is best to use if you are coming from Gomti Ghat. one has to climb 52 steps (approx.) to reach the gate 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. This sacred religious site is now maintained by the government.
Coming to the point, firstly, Dwarkadhish Temple is made of limestone, and as a result, it can 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 that are heavily sculptured with excellent craftsmanship.
Jagat Temple or Dwarkadhish Temple has a large complex of approximately 60x60 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 a total of 7 floors, roughly 80 m (approx.) height. All those seven-floor speak for Sapta Puri, India's famous 7 pilgrimage center, with Dwarka being the base.
Dhwajarohan or Flag Ceremony at the Dwarkadhish Temple
A 52 yards of cloth depicting the sun and moon, a fluttering flag from the sea breeze, is hosted at the top of the Shikara. Pilgrims get astonished because the flag is visible from a few kilometers. Moreover, the flag is changed thrice in the morning and twice in the evening. The flag ceremony is not mainstream. In fact, it is considered significant where the Brahmins of Dwarka are fed. Consequently, visitors who want to sponsor a flag change must take around a 2 years waiting period.
The blend of different flag colors symbolizes the quality. For instance, white symbolizes purity, green incarnate peace, red as joy, and blue personifies strength. As a result, attached to the main flag are 52 small flags speaking for 52 Yadava Clans.
Dwarkadhish Temple and Famous Festivals Celebrated Here
Holi in March, Rukmini Vivah in the same month are celebrated with full fervor at Dwarkadhish Temple. Most importantly, the temple gets thronged by heavy tourists annually in August as on the 8th day of the 8th month of Indian Calendar Lord Krishna was born as the 8th incarnation of Hindu God, Vishnu.
Also, Ram Navmi 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
By Air: Dwarka city does not have its own airport, and the nearest airport to reach Dwarkadhish Temple is Porbandar (110 kilometers/2hours) and Jamnagar (126 kilometres/2.5 hours). The international airports are located in Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara.
By Train: Great news for train lovers! Dwarka city has its own railway station with its city’s name and has good connectivity of trains across India.
By Road: A bunch of state-run buses operate to and from Dwarka. So connectivity by road is not a concern if you are coming from anywhere across Gujarat.
Important 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 at 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 like 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.
