Dwarkadish Temple
Arrived in Dwarka around 7.30 am on Fri 31st July. Dwarka is beautiful with the crashing Arabian Ocean greeting the Gomati river at their confluence on the western tip of the Gujarat peninsula.
The city is one of the Saptapuris (seven holy cities) of India (others include Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Ujjain, and Kanchipuram). It is also one of the four holy dhamas (others being Rameshvaram, Puri, and Badrinath) and pilgims flock to bathe here and take darshan of Dwarkadish (Lord of Dwarka) in the famous 5 story high 16th century temple. The original temple is said to have been built by Vajranabha (great-grandson of Krishna) and the inner sanctum of the temple is said to date back over 2500 years.
Most famous for being Krishna’s capital city, Dwarka was totally submerged by rising sea levels and today archaeological excavations indicate that it was built on four (some say five) former cities. When I arrived much of the surrounding low-lying areas were flooded by heavy rains and it was easy to imagine a total inundation here.
When bathing at one of the many ghats (steps down to the river) the swell of the waves rolling in from the sea meant jumping up and hanging on to a rail at the same time. Still lots of lovely salty water in the lungs nonetheless.
Bathing Ghats at the Gomati river and ocean confluence.
There is a small temple to Samudra (literally meaning ‘ocean’ the right at the tip of the confluence where waves crash high against its back wall.
Samudra Temple
There was no internet café in Dwarka. Actually there was, but the owner was in London at the time so it was closed. People here were very kind and despite being the only white person in town it was a hassle free place and I left the following day on a train bound for Mumbai feeling refreshed and uplifted.
Anuradha in India 