Dwarka (Thiru Dwarakai)

Description : Dwarka is considered to be one of the 7 Mukti Stala pilgrimage centers of India and is located on the west coast of India in Gujarat on the extreme western tip of the Kathiawar peninsula. Dwarka is associated with several legends associated with Krishna.

Nearby is Somnath, again one of the prime pilgrimage centers of India, of great historic and religious significance. Aadi Sankara established one of his four Peethams here at Dwarka, the other three being Sringeri, Puri and Joshi Mutt.

Legend has it that Krishna built the city of Dwarka with the aid of Viswakarma, (off of the west coast of India) - as his capital, after moving from Mathura.

The Dwarkadeesh temple has a five storeyed tower supported by 60 columns. This temple is known as the Jagat Mandir and is believed to have been built by Sambha the grandson of Krishna. Visitors enter through the Swarga Dwar and exit through the Moksha Dwar here.

The Rukmini temple here is believed to be 1600 years old. The Gomati Sangamam where the river Gomti reaches the sea is located close by. A little north of Dwarka, one can ferry across to Bet - Dwarka island where Krishna killed the demon Shankhasura.

There are shrines to Rukmini, Trivikrama, Devaki, Jambavati, Lakshmi Narayan and other deities here. There is another temple to Rukmini, believed to be the site of Krishna's marriage with her. Archeological excavations have revealed five earlier cities here, all submerged now.