Full Day Dwarka Sightseeing Tour

The city of Dwarka in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district is considered to be a very holy city as it is one of the Chardham in the All-India Chardham circuit and is also one of the Saptapuris, i.e. the seven holiest cities in Hinduism. According to tradition, Dwarka was the capital city of Lord Krishna in ancient times. Traditional accounts describe it as a very prosperous city known by the name of Swarna Dwarka.

In the present times, pilgrims from far and wide visit Dwarka to pay their respects to the Dwarka Naresh, Lord Krishna, the king of Dwarka. The city is situated on the Okhamandal Peninsula's western shore. After pick-up from your hotel, we proceed to the sightseeing places of Dwarka, which include Bet Dwarka, Rukmini Temple, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Gopi Talav, Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple and Shivrajpur Beach. If time permits, Hanuman Dandi Temple, Samudra Narayan Temple and Gita Mandir can also be visited.

Visit the famous Dwarkadhish Temple dedicated to the 'King of Dwarka', Lord Krishna. According to tradition, this temple was built by Lord Krishna's great-grandson, Vajranabha.

After darshan at Dwarkadhish Temple and after participating in some of the temple rituals, we undertake activities such as pradakshina at the temple and exploring the temple's ornate architecture. Once done with that, we may climb down the flight of 56 steps starting from the temple's Swarga Dwar to reach the river Gomti.

If you have time at hand, taking a holy dip at Gomti Sangam Ghat, the place where the river meets the sea, is considered to be highly auspicious and is believed to wash away one's sins. So, you could consider doing that. There are numerous places to see around the river Gomti. So, we would proceed to visit the many ghats built along the river, with the most important being the Chakratirtha Ghat. We would also visit places like Gomti Kund and some other small shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna and Sudama.

If we have time at hand, we would also enjoy a boat ride on the river Gomti, at your own cost. The ride gives you a view of the ghats and the temple from the water.

Temple Darshan Timings

Both main temples close in the afternoon, so a one-day route has to be planned around darshan timings. The hours below are the ones listed on Incredible India, the Government of India tourism portal.

Timings change on Janmashtami and other festival days. Entry to Dwarkadhish Temple is free. Photography is not allowed inside, and phones and cameras have to be deposited at the entrance.

Good to Know Before You Go

• October to March is the comfortable season for a full day outdoors. The sea at Shivrajpur can be rough in the monsoon, so follow the lifeguards before getting into the water.
• Start early. A 7:30 AM pickup gets you to Bet Dwarka well before its midday break. Start late and you can reach during the closure.
• Dress modestly for the temples and carry footwear that is easy to take off.
• Leave cameras and extra gadgets at the hotel, since they are not allowed inside Dwarkadhish Temple.
• For seniors, the hardest part is the 56 steps between Swarga Dwar and Gomti Ghat. They can skip the steps and still complete darshan.
• On weekends, Janmashtami and holidays, darshan queues are longer. Ask for an earlier pick-up on those days.

Gujarat Tourism lists Shivrajpur Beach as open from 8 AM to 7 PM, with an entry fee of ₹30 per adult. Entry fees are not part of the tour fare.

Places to Visit

• Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, 16 km from Dwarka. A seated Shiva statue about 25 metres tall stands beside the temple.
• Dwarkadhish Temple has five storeys and stands on 72 pillars.
• Rukmini Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna's queen, stands 2 km outside Dwarka.
• Bet Dwarka is an island about 2 km off Okha. Its main Krishna temples are the Dwarkadhish Temple and Shri Keshavraiji Temple.
• Gomti Sangam Ghat is where the Gomti meets the sea, at the foot of the 56 steps from Swarga Dwar.
• Gopi Talav is a pond linked with the gopis. The yellowish clay from its banks is sold as gopi chandan.
• Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple is a small Shiva temple on a rock at the edge of the Arabian Sea.
• Shivrajpur Beach is a Blue Flag certified beach 12 km from Dwarka, with changing rooms, toilets and lifeguards.

Reaching Dwarka

Dwarka has its own railway station. There is no airport in Dwarka. Porbandar and Jamnagar are the nearby ones.

How You Reach Bet Dwarka

Your car drives to Okha, about 30 km north of Dwarka, and crosses to the island over Sudarshan Setu. The 2.32 km bridge was inaugurated on 25 February 2024, so the ferry is no longer the only way across.

The ferry from Okha jetty still runs for those who want the boat ride. The ticket is paid by you.