Dwarkadhish Temple

દ્વારકાધીશ મંદિર

Krishna · Dwarkadhish

Dwarka, Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat · Vaishnava tradition

Dwarka is one of the four Char Dham, alongside Badrinath, Puri and Rameswaram.

The story begins: “Mathura is under siege.”

Read the story
Directions

At the gate

Darshan hours
  • 6:30 am – 1:00 pm · Morning darshan
  • 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm · Evening darshan
Next aarti or puja (India time)
See the schedule below
Getting there
Train: Dwarka railway stationAir: Jamnagar or Porbandar airport

Not yet confirmed: dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths, walking distance. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

3 accounts are recorded. Each is told separately, in the words of its own tradition — they are never merged.

Told in: The Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10, chapter 50

A city raised in the sea

Mathura is under siege. Jarasandha has come against the city again and again, and now a second enemy — the king the text calls a barbarian — is on his way.

Krishna decides on a fortress that no human force could penetrate. He will settle his family there first, and only then deal with the invader. After talking it over with his brother Balarama, he has a fortress built within the sea, twelve yojanas in circumference, and inside it a city.

The Purana lingers on the city because it is the work of Vishvakarma, the builder of the gods, and shows his full skill. It has wide avenues, commercial roads and courtyards laid out on spacious plots. There are parks and gardens planted with trees and creepers from the heavenly worlds. Gateway towers carry golden turrets, with upper levels of crystal. Houses are covered in gold, with golden pots before them, jewelled roofs and emerald floors. There are treasuries, warehouses and stables for fine horses, built of silver and brass. Every household has its watchtower and its temple to its family deity. All four social orders live there, and Krishna's own palaces are the city's chief beauty.

The gods send gifts. Indra brings the Sudharma assembly hall, where a mortal is not subject to the laws of mortality, and the parijata tree. Varuna gives horses as swift as the mind, some dark blue and some white. Kubera gives his eight treasures, and the rulers of other worlds bring what they have.

Then Krishna moves the whole population of Mathura to the new city by the power of his yogamaya, so that no one has to make the journey. Balarama stays behind to guard Mathura, and Krishna walks out of the city's main gate unarmed, wearing a lotus garland.

This is the city the temple is named for. Dwarkadhish means the lord of Dwaraka, and the shrine on the Gomti creek is held to stand where Krishna ruled.

Told differently elsewhere. This account does not agree with “Asked to leave Mathura”, given on this page too. We tell each as its own tradition tells it, and do not choose between them.

Where this account comes from

Told in: The account of the Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, as published on the temple's website

Asked to leave Mathura

The temple's own account gives a different reason for Krishna's move west. Jarasandha attacks Mathura seventeen times and each time Krishna leads the city's defence. After the eighteenth invasion, Vikadru, a member of the Yadava assembly, argues that the attacks come because of Krishna, and asks him to leave for the people's good. Krishna agrees, crosses Gomantak, which the temple identifies as Girnar, and founds Dwarka in Saurashtra, where he becomes Shri Dwarkadhish.

Read this account

In the account the temple publishes, Krishna does not leave Mathura because he has chosen a better fortress. He leaves because his own people ask him to.

The pressure comes from Jarasandha, Kansa's father-in-law. Jarasandha attacks Mathura seventeen times, and seventeen times Krishna leads the people and drives him back. Krishna also has two of Jarasandha's allies, Hansa and Dhimak, killed, which weakens the attacking army.

Then comes an eighteenth invasion, and with it a voice from inside the city. Vikadru, a member of the Yadava assembly, stands up and puts the case plainly: the invasions keep coming because of Krishna. The temple's page gives his words — "Hence in these circumstances, for the good of the people I request you to leave us."

Krishna accepts. He leaves Mathura, crosses Gomantak — which the temple identifies with the Girnar mountain — and goes on to Saurashtra. There he builds Dwarka, which the temple calls the City of Gold, and governs it as a state founded on dharma. From this he takes the name by which the temple knows him: Shri Dwarkadhish, the lord of Dwarka.

The difference from the Bhagavata Purana's account is in the motive, not the destination. In the Purana, Krishna decides on his own to move his people beyond the reach of any human army, and the gods furnish the new city. In the temple's account, he goes because the assembly asks him to, for the people's sake. Both end at Dwarka, and both explain why the god of this temple is worshipped not as the cowherd of Vraja but as a king.

Told differently elsewhere. This account does not agree with “A city raised in the sea”, given on this page too. We tell each as its own tradition tells it, and do not choose between them.

Where this account comes from

  • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Krishna become Dwarkadhish dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09
Told in: The Mahabharata, Mausala Parva, section 7

The sea takes Dwaraka

After Krishna's death, Arjuna comes to Dwaraka to perform the last rites for Krishna and Balarama and to lead the survivors out. On the seventh day he sets out with the women, children, elders and citizens of the Vrishnis, Krishna's great-grandson Vajra among them. As they leave, the ocean floods the city behind them. On the road Arjuna's strength fails him against robbers; he settles the survivors elsewhere and gives Vajra the rule of Indraprastha.

Read this account

Krishna — Vasudeva in the text — is dead, and Arjuna has come to Dwaraka to do what is left to be done. He tells the citizens and the officers of the city to prepare to leave. He sees to Vasudeva's funeral, at which the wives who accompanied him are burned with him. He performs the rites for the Vrishnis who have been killed, and cremates Rama — Balarama — and Vasudeva.

On the seventh day Arjuna sets out. With him go the widows, the children and the old, the citizens and the servants of the Vrishnis, Krishna's household, and Vajra, Krishna's great-grandson. Arjuna leads the procession himself.

Behind them the sea comes in. The text says that whatever ground the procession passed over, the ocean immediately flooded with its waters. The people hurry on in alarm.

The journey does not end well. Robbers attack the column and carry off many of the women. Arjuna finds that his celestial weapons will not come to mind, that his bow will barely string, and that his arrows run out. He takes it as the work of destiny. He settles the survivors in several places, and gives the rule of Indraprastha to Vajra.

The episode matters to the temple in two ways. It is the tradition behind the city under the sea — the temple's own website keeps a section on submerged Dwarka. And it names Vajra, whom the temple calls Vajranabha: the great-grandson who, in the temple's chronology, built the first memorial at Dwarka to his forefather.

Where this account comes from

  • Itihasa: Mahabharata, Mausala Parva, section 7, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli sacred-texts.com
  • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09

In one minute

Why Dwarkadhish Temple matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. Dwarka is one of the four Char Dham, alongside Badrinath, Puri and Rameswaram.

    Source for: Dwarka is one of the four Char Dham, alongside Badrinath, Puri and Rameswaram.
    • Government: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Incredible India: Dwarkadhish Temple incredibleindia.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  2. The temple's own chronology begins with a memorial built by Vajranabha, Krishna's great-grandson, at the site of Krishna's city on the Gomti creek.

    2 sources for: The temple's own chronology begins with a memorial built by Vajranabha, Krishna'
    • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: District Administration, Devbhumi Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple devbhumidwarka.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09

  3. A flag of 52 yards of cloth flies over the spire; the temple explains the 52 yards as the 52 administrative divisions of Krishna's Dwarka.

    Source for: A flag of 52 yards of cloth flies over the spire; the temple explains the 52 yar
    • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Dwaja Arohan dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09

  4. Pilgrims enter by the Swarga Dwar, the gate to heaven, and leave by the Moksha Dwar, the gate to liberation.

    Source for: Pilgrims enter by the Swarga Dwar, the gate to heaven, and leave by the Moksha D
    • Government: District Administration, Devbhumi Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple devbhumidwarka.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Māru-Gurjara

The Ministry of Tourism describes the building as 16th-century Chalukya style. It is shown here as Māru-Gurjara, but that is not yet verified: no ASI or academic study naming the style has been found.

  • Detail

    Swarga Dwar and Moksha Dwar

    Two gateways: the Swarga Dwar (gate to heaven), used to enter, and the Moksha Dwar (gate to liberation), used to leave.

  • Detail

    The 56 steps to the Gomti

    A flight of 56 steps runs up to the rear of the temple from the Gomti side.

    Where to stand: On the Gomti ghats, looking up at the rear of the temple.

    flight from the Gomti side to the rear of the temple: 56 steps
    • Government: District Administration, Devbhumi Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple devbhumidwarka.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09

  • Spire

    The 52-yard flag

    The flag on the spire, of 52 yards of cloth with 52 small flags along its border, bearing a sun and a moon. Government sources disagree on the spire's height (about 43 m per the district administration, 78 m per the Ministry of Tourism), so no height is given here.

  • Inscription

    Brahmi script on the first floor

    The temple's chronology cites Brahmi script on the first floor of the Harimandir, dated to around 100 BCE, as evidence of an early renovation of that portion.

    c. 100 BCE, per the temple's chronology

  • Detail

    Memorial to Adi Shankaracharya's visit

    A memorial inside the temple to Adi Shankaracharya's visit in the 8th century. The temple's chronology adds that he established a shrine of Adyashakti on the fourth floor.

  • Sacred water

    Gomti

    The temple stands on the Gomti creek.

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

Morning darshanDarshan closes for short intervals for bhog and the abhishek (08:00–09:00).6:30 am – 1:00 pm
Mangla Arti6:30 am
Shringar Arti10:30 am – 10:45 am
Rajbhog (darshan closed)12:00 pm – 12:20 pm
Evening darshanOpens with Uthappan darshan; closes for short intervals for bhog.5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Sandhya Arti7:30 pm – 7:45 pm
Shayan Arti8:30 pm – 8:35 pm

Confirm on the day. Times change on festival days and without notice.

Before you go

  • No dress code or entry rules have been confirmed for this temple yet. Traditional, modest clothing is always the safe choice; ask at the entrance.

Walking, steps and access

We have not yet confirmed how much walking or climbing is involved, or whether there is wheelchair access. If you are travelling with elders, ask at the temple office or the devasthanam enquiry counter before you set out.

Getting there

  • By air: Jamnagar or Porbandar airportContinue by road or rail, per the Devbhumi Dwarka district administration.
  • By train: Dwarka railway stationAbout 2 km from the temple, per the district administration.
  • By road: NH-947The national highway leads directly to Dwarka city.

PIN 361335 (not yet checked with India Post)

Sevas

  • Dhwaja Arohan (flag offering)Booked through the Shree Guggali 505 Samiti office, Prembhikshuji Road, Dwarka; contact details on the temple's page.Book

Prices as published by the temple when we checked. They change; the temple’s booking site is final.

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

  • Krishna JanmashtamiKrishna Janmotsav

    Krishna's birth festival, for which the temple keeps a dedicated Krishna Janmotsav page; the Ministry of Tourism names Janmashtami among the festivals celebrated at Dwarka.

Customs you will see here

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

  1. Krishna founds Dwaraka

    The Bhagavata Purana's account of Krishna moving the Yadavas from Mathura to a city built in the sea.

    Source for: Krishna founds Dwaraka

In the historical record

  1. c. 400 BCE

    Vajranabha's memorial, in the temple's chronology

    The temple dates to about 400 BCE an umbrella-type memorial (chhatri) built by Vajranabha east of the Harimandir in memory of his forefather. The district administration repeats the tradition as more than 2,500 years ago.

    Disagrees with: An archaeological dating of about 1,200 years

    2 sources for: Vajranabha's memorial, in the temple's chronology
    • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: District Administration, Devbhumi Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple devbhumidwarka.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09

  2. c. 800

    Adi Shankaracharya renovates the temple

    The temple's chronology credits Adi Shankaracharya with renovating the temple and establishing an Adyashakti shrine on the fourth floor.

    Source for: Adi Shankaracharya renovates the temple
    • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09

  3. 1241

    Temple damaged in an attack

    The temple's chronology records an attack on Dwarka by Mohammad Shah that damaged the temple. Five Brahmins died resisting; their shrines near the temple are now associated with the name Panch Peer.

    Source for: Temple damaged in an attack
    • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09

  4. 1559

    Image installed by Shankaracharya Anirudhashrama

    The temple's chronology records that Shankaracharya Anirudhashrama had an image made at Dungarpur and installed it on the temple campus.

    Source for: Image installed by Shankaracharya Anirudhashrama
    • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09

  5. 1861

    Renovation under Maharaja Khanderao

    Maharaja Khanderao renovated the temple, and the British repaired the summit, damaged in fighting with the Vaghers. In 1903 a Gaikwad Maharaja had a golden pitcher placed on the summit.

    Source for: Renovation under Maharaja Khanderao
    • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09

  6. 1960

    Government takes over upkeep

    The temple's chronology records that from 1960 the Government of India began looking after the temple and gradually renovating it.

    Source for: Government takes over upkeep
    • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09

  7. An archaeological dating of about 1,200 years

    The district administration reports that the Department of Archaeology dates the temple to about 1,200 years ago, against the tradition crediting Vajranabha more than 2,500 years ago. The Ministry of Tourism gives a third account: originally built in 200 BCE and rebuilt over the centuries, with the present form from the 16th century.

    Disagrees with: Vajranabha's memorial, in the temple's chronology

    2 sources for: An archaeological dating of about 1,200 years
    • Government: District Administration, Devbhumi Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple devbhumidwarka.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Incredible India: Dwarkadhish Temple incredibleindia.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

Around here

Worth the detour

  • Temple

    Somnath

    The Jyotirlinga at Prabhas Patan on the same Saurashtra coast; the temple's own account places Dwarka in relation to Prabhas Patan.

  • Place

    Bet Dwarka

    The island to which, in the temple's chronology, a Dwarkadhish image was moved for safety during a raid.

  • Ghat

    Gomti ghats

    The creek-side steps below the temple, reached by the 56-step flight from the rear of the shrine.

Also in Devbhumi Dwarka district

Sources

Where this page comes from

  • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Little History dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Time Table dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Dwaja Arohan dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Temple administration: Shree Dwarkadhish Devasthan Samiti, Krishna become Dwarkadhish dwarkadhish.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: District Administration, Devbhumi Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple devbhumidwarka.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Incredible India: Dwarkadhish Temple incredibleindia.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Purana: Bhagavata Purana 10.50.48–57 vedabase.io
  • Itihasa: Mahabharata, Mausala Parva, section 7, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli sacred-texts.com
Corrections made to this page (2)
  • 2026-10-09: changed “traditional” to “canonical”. A dated modern event reported by a dated documentary source; "traditional" presented it as folklore. No source disputes it.
  • 2026-10-09: changed “traditional” to “canonical”. A dated modern event reported by a dated documentary source; "traditional" presented it as folklore. No source disputes it.

Cite this page

Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Dwarkadhish Temple”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/dwarkadhish-dwarka (accessed ).

Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence