Quick answer: The ten temples of a Dwarka yatra are Dwarkadhish (Jagat Mandir), Gomti Ghat with Sangam Narayan, the Sharada Peeth, Rukmini Devi, Bhadkeshwar Mahadev, Gita Mandir, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Gopi Talav, the Bet Dwarka temple and Hanuman Dandi. Dwarkadhish is open roughly 6:30 am to 1 pm and 5 to 9:30 pm. Plan two days: one in Dwarka town, one for Nageshwar, Gopi Talav and Bet Dwarka, now reached by road over Sudarshan Setu.
Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)
Dwarka is the western dham of the Bada Char Dham and one of the seven Moksha Puris, the city Shri Krishna is believed to have built after leaving Mathura. Here he is worshipped as Dwarkadhish, king of Dwarka, not the child of Braj. The town sits where the Gomti meets the Arabian Sea, and the island of Bet Dwarka, his traditional residence, lies about 30 km north. Since the Sudarshan Setu opened in February 2024, Bet Dwarka no longer needs a crowded ferry. This guide covers ten temples, with deity, story, timings, dress, distance from Dwarka station and a practical plan.
Which temples should you visit in Dwarka?
The town cluster (Dwarkadhish, Gomti Ghat, Sharada Peeth, Gita Mandir, Bhadkeshwar and Rukmini Devi) is within about 2 km. The Okha road to the north has Nageshwar, Gopi Talav and finally Bet Dwarka with Hanuman Dandi. A car covers the northern loop in five to six hours.
1. Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir)
Deity: Shri Krishna as Dwarkadhish, in a four-armed black stone form. Tradition holds that the first shrine was built by Krishna’s great-grandson Vajranabh; the present five-storey temple, with its carved shikhara and 72 pillars, is several centuries old. Devotees enter by the Moksha Dwar on the north and reach the Gomti by the 56 steps of the Swarga Dwar on the south. The large flag on the shikhara is changed several times every day, an honour families book well in advance. Timings: reported as about 6:30 am to 1 pm and 5 to 9:30 pm, with Mangla Aarti at opening and Shayan Aarti around 8:30 pm; one source gives a 6 am opening. Rules: phones and cameras are generally not allowed inside; lockers are near the gates. Dress: modest; men in shirt and trousers or dhoti, women in saree or salwar. From station: about 2 to 3 km.
2. Gomti Ghat and Sangam Narayan
Significance: the ghat below the Swarga Dwar, where the Gomti meets the sea. A snan here before darshan is the traditional start of a Dwarka yatra, and the small Sangam Narayan (Samudra Narayan) temple stands at the confluence. Timings: open always; the evening Gomti aarti is held around sunset. From station: about 2.5 km.
3. Sharada Peeth
Significance: the western math established in the tradition of Adi Shankaracharya, one of four cardinal maths (the others at Jyotirmath, Puri and Sringeri). It stands within the Dwarkadhish temple precincts and is the seat of a Shankaracharya. Timings: follow the main temple. From station: about 2.5 km.
4. Rukmini Devi Temple
Deity: Rukmini, Krishna’s chief queen. Tradition says she lives apart from Dwarkadhish because of a curse by Sage Durvasa, which is why her temple stands outside the town. The local story also explains why devotees offer water here, as the area was cursed with scarcity. The exterior carvings are beautiful. Timings: about 6 am to 12 noon and 1 to 9 pm. From station: about 2 km.
5. Bhadkeshwar Mahadev
Deity: Shiva, in a small temple on a rock at the sea’s edge. At high tide waves surround it; tradition says the sea performs abhishek. Mahashivratri is its main festival. Timings: about 6 am to 9 pm, depending on the tide. From station: about 2 km.
6. Gita Mandir
Significance: a white marble temple built by the Birla family, with verses of the Bhagavad Gita inscribed on its walls. It is quiet, cool and easy for elders, and has a dharamshala attached. Timings: about 6 am to 1 pm and 4 to 9 pm. From station: about 2 km.
7. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
Deity: Shiva as Nageshwar, lord of serpents, worshipped by many as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (Darukavana). A tall seated Shiva statue stands outside the temple. Timings: about 6 am to 12:30 pm and 5 to 9 pm, with abhishek allowed for men in dhoti at set times. Distance: about 16 to 17 km from Dwarka. Our Nageshwar Jyotirlinga guide covers rituals and other claimants to the name.
8. Gopi Talav
Significance: the pond where, by tradition, the gopis of Braj met Krishna for the last time. Its yellow clay, gopi chandan, is used by Vaishnavs for tilak, and you can buy it here. Timings: daylight. Distance: about 20 km, on the way to Bet Dwarka.
9. Bet Dwarka Temple
Deity: Krishna as Dwarkadhish, in the island palace believed to have been his residence. Local tradition says this is where Sudama brought him a handful of rice, so rice is a common offering. Timings: darshan in morning and afternoon-evening windows with a closure around midday; check locally. Access: by road from Okha over the 2.32 km Sudarshan Setu, opened on 25 February 2024. Distance: about 30 to 32 km from Dwarka to Okha, then across the bridge.
10. Hanuman Dandi
Deity: Hanuman together with his son Makardhwaj, a rare pairing. The temple is on the far side of Bet Dwarka island. Timings: daytime. Distance: about 4 to 5 km from the Bet Dwarka temple.
Dwarka temples at a glance
| Temple | Deity | Approx. timings | From Dwarka station | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarkadhish | Krishna | 6:30 am to 1 pm; 5 to 9:30 pm | 2 to 3 km | Flag changed several times daily |
| Gomti Ghat | Sangam Narayan | Always; aarti at sunset | 2.5 km | Snan before darshan |
| Sharada Peeth | Shankaracharya math | As main temple | 2.5 km | Western math |
| Rukmini Devi | Rukmini | 6 am to 12; 1 to 9 pm | 2 km | Water offering |
| Bhadkeshwar | Shiva | 6 am to 9 pm (tide) | 2 km | On a rock in the sea |
| Gita Mandir | Gita | 6 am to 1; 4 to 9 pm | 2 km | Quiet, easy for elders |
| Nageshwar | Shiva (Jyotirlinga) | 6 am to 12:30; 5 to 9 pm | 16 to 17 km | Abhishek in dhoti |
| Gopi Talav | Gopis | Daylight | 20 km | Gopi chandan |
| Bet Dwarka | Krishna | Morning and evening windows | 30 to 32 km + bridge | Via Sudarshan Setu |
| Hanuman Dandi | Hanuman and Makardhwaj | Daytime | About 35 km | On Bet Dwarka island |
Timings are from recent reports and vary; Janmashtami and Holi bring special schedules.
How to plan 1 to 3 days of darshan in Dwarka
One day
- Morning: snan at Gomti Ghat, Mangla darshan at Dwarkadhish.
- Late morning: drive north: Nageshwar, Gopi Talav, Bet Dwarka and Hanuman Dandi.
- Evening: back for Rukmini Devi, then evening darshan at Dwarkadhish and the Gomti aarti.
Two days
Day one for the town: Dwarkadhish, Gomti, Sharada Peeth, Gita Mandir, Bhadkeshwar at sunset and Rukmini. Day two for the northern loop. Seniors should choose this.
Three days
Add Porbandar (Sudama Mandir and Kirti Mandir, about 100 km) on the way to Somnath, about 230 km from Dwarka. Read our Somnath Jyotirlinga guide to plan that leg.
Dress code and etiquette in Dwarka
- Modest clothing at all temples; avoid shorts and sleeveless tops.
- Leave phones and cameras at the hotel or in lockers before Dwarkadhish.
- For abhishek at Nageshwar, men usually need a dhoti; ask at the counter.
- Dwarka is a vegetarian town around the temple. Gujarati thalis are the local speciality.
- Coastal wind is strong in the monsoon; hold children’s hands on the Gomti steps and at Bhadkeshwar.
When is the best time to visit Dwarka?
October to March is the most pleasant season. Janmashtami (August or September) is the biggest festival, with lakhs of devotees and long queues; plan months ahead. Holi brings the Phuldol utsav. April to June is hot and humid, and June to September brings the monsoon with rough seas, though the bridge means Bet Dwarka remains accessible.
How to reach Dwarka
- Train: Dwarka station (DWK) on the Okha line has direct trains from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Mumbai, and long-distance services from north India.
- Air: Jamnagar airport is about 130 to 140 km and Porbandar about 100 km away; Rajkot’s airport is a further option.
- Road: Jamnagar to Dwarka is roughly 2.5 hours on a good highway.
How we can help
Our Dwarkadhish Dham Yatra (2 nights, 3 days) covers the town temples, Nageshwar and Bet Dwarka. The Gujarat Spiritual Pilgrimage: Somnath and Dwarka (4 nights, 5 days from Rajkot) links two Jyotirlingas and the dham, and the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga yatra (2 nights, 3 days from Rajkot) suits a shorter visit. See our Bada Char Dham yatras, or use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
Frequently asked questions
What are the Dwarkadhish temple timings?
The temple is reported to open around 6:30 am with Mangla Aarti and stay open until about 1 pm, then reopen around 5 pm and close at about 9:30 pm, with Shayan Aarti around 8:30 pm. Some sources give a 6 am opening. On Janmashtami and other festivals the schedule changes, so confirm locally.
How do I reach Bet Dwarka now?
By road. The 2.32 km Sudarshan Setu, India’s longest cable-stayed bridge, opened on 25 February 2024 and links Okha with Bet Dwarka island. Okha is about 30 to 32 km from Dwarka. Earlier, yatris had to take crowded ferries; the bridge makes the visit far easier for elders and families.
How far is Nageshwar Jyotirlinga from Dwarka?
Nageshwar is about 16 to 17 km from Dwarka, roughly 30 minutes by road, on the way to Gopi Talav and Bet Dwarka. Most families visit all three in one half-day loop. Men who wish to perform abhishek usually need to wear a dhoti; ask at the temple counter for the permitted timings.
How many days are enough for Dwarka?
Two days is ideal: one for Dwarkadhish and the town temples with the evening Gomti aarti, and one for Nageshwar, Gopi Talav and Bet Dwarka. One day is possible with an early start and a car. Add a day if you are continuing to Porbandar and Somnath.
Why is the flag at Dwarkadhish changed so often?
The large flag on the temple shikhara is replaced several times each day as an act of devotion, sponsored by families who book the honour long in advance. Devotees believe seeing the flag is itself darshan. The ceremony, with the flag carried up the shikhara, is a moving sight from the temple courtyard.
Can I carry a phone inside Dwarkadhish temple?
Phones and cameras are generally not permitted inside the Dwarkadhish temple. Lockers are available near the gates, but queues can be long on busy days. The easiest plan is to leave phones and valuables at the hotel and carry only cash for prasad and offerings.
Why is Rukmini Devi temple away from Dwarkadhish?
According to tradition, Sage Durvasa cursed Rukmini to live apart from Krishna after she drank water without first offering it to him. Her temple therefore stands about 2 km outside town. Devotees offer water here in memory of the story. The carvings on its outer walls are worth a careful look.
What is the best time to visit Dwarka?
October to March is the most comfortable. Janmashtami is the most important festival but extremely crowded, so book stays early. Summers (April to June) are hot and humid, and the monsoon brings rough seas. Weekday visits in winter offer the calmest darshan.