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 Dwarka, an important
pilgrimage center associated with the life of Lord
Krishna is situated in the extreme west of Gujarat in the Saurashtra
peninsula. It is believed that Krishna himself created the place,
as he ruled his kingdom. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas named Nageshwar
Mahadev is manifested at Dwarka. Dwarkadish temple is the 2,500-year-old
Jagat Mandir or Nij Mandir is the major attraction of Dwarka. It’s
an imperative pilgrimage for all Hindus and measured to be the ancient
kingdom of Lord Krishna. Dwarka may also be called as that place
where Lord Vishnu slew the demon Shankhasura. It is placed on the
right bank of Gamut Creek and placed on 20°22' north latitude
and 69°05'
east longitude.
Dwarkadheesh Temple
The Dwarkadheesh
temple is a five-story high, generously impressed conical spire
rising to a height of 157 feet There remains a one-meter tall, four
handed black idol of Ranchhodrai, the ruler of Dwarka. The Temple
is festooned with a special hall for audience. The
temple is a great example of fine art and architecture.
Rukmini
Amid the great number of temples of different periods in the history
of Dwarka, pilgrims mostly prefers to visit the temple of Rukmini,
Lord Krishna's wife, who is believed as an incarnation of Lakshmi,
the goddess of wealth and beauty. Rukmini is a small temple
sites 1.5km north of town, an architectural masterpiece. Rukmini
is supposed to dates back to the 12th century.
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Dwarka is also a sacred seat of Adi Shankaracharya, famous for establishing
four seats or Maths in different directions of the state. Gomati
Ghat Temples and Samudra Narayana Temple (Sangam Narayana) erected
at the place where Gomti meets with ocean is an important pilgrimage
site for a huge number of devotees. Nageswara Mahadeva is 10
kms far from Dwarka includes one of the twelve Siva Jyotirlingas
in an underground sanctum. Gopi-tallava is the sacred kund (pond)
where Lord Krishna met with the gopis. Bhalka Tirth is that
spot of Dwarka where pilgrimage visits for its significance.
The place where Lord Krishna was mistaken for a deer and struck
by an arrow hile resting in a deerskin. Very near to the place
lays Somnath with its shrine built by Soma, the Moon. This grandiose
tombstone is the current replication of the earlier construction.
So, Dwarka having a huge accumulation of temples related to
Lord Krishna contributes a lot to in the expansion of pilgrimage
tour to Gujarat as well as India.