Shivrajpur Beach, which just received Blue Flag beach accreditation, is situated 12
kilometers from Dwarka (Gujarat) along the Dwarka-Okha Highway Shivrajpur Beach, one
of Gujarat's most well-known beaches, is the ideal place to spend the weekend with family
and children. You might be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of dolphins or other lovely
birds. Shivrajpur Beach is currently drawing visitors from all across India owing to the blue
flag accreditation, and the state government is also enhancing the beach by providing a
variety of facilities nearby. Immerse yourself in a variety of adventure activities with friends
and family like snorkeling, scuba diving, island tours, sea bathing, or sit by the silent sea
and watch the sun bid adieu to the day!
Visiting hours: 8 AM to 7 PM

BET DWARKA
A small island off the coast of Dwarka and accessed via Okha is home to the namesake
temple, and supposedly the residence of Lord Krishna when he arrived here. The
establishment of the temple is credited to Guru Vallabhacharya. Apart from the main temple,
others in the complex commemorate Hanuman, Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi Narayan,
Jambavati, Devi and others.
 Bet Dwarka, also known as Shankhodhar, is said to have been the residence of
Lord Krishna during his ruling years at Dwarka. It derived its name from the word ‘bet’ which
translates to ‘gift’ and is believed that Lord Krishna received it from his friend Sudama. In
the ancient epic, Mahabharata, Bet Dwarka is known by the name of ‘Antardvipa’ to which
people of the Yadava clan needed to travel by boat. Explorations and excavations carried
out under the sea have revealed the presence of settlements whose age can be traced
back to the era of the Harappan civilisation and that of the Mauryan rule. In the later years,
the region was under the administration of the Gaekwad clan of the state of Baroda. During
the revolt of 1857, Vaghers attacked the region and captured it, but had to concede defeat
in two years and return the region back to the Gaekwads.
 The best time to visit is between November and February, and during Janmashtami
which is celebrated with great fervour.

NAGESHWAR TEMPLE
The revered site is home to one of the 12 jyotirlingas (self-manifested shivalinga) in India.
The red building lies at a short distance from the town. At the end of a large hall is the main
sanctum with the shivalinga. Close to the temple is another important spiritual spot called
Gopi Talav Tirth, a lake that is connected to the legends of gopis visiting Lord Krishna and
eventually offering their lives to merge with the soil here.

Legend goes that it was here that a demon called Daaruka imprisoned a Shiva
devotee called Supriya. The chants of ‘Om Namaha Shivay’ by Supriya invoked Lord Shiva
who arrived here and vanquished the demon. A self-manifested Shivalinga appeared here
and is prayed to this date.
The best time to visit is between November and February, and during Shivratri which
is celebrated with great fervour.

GOPI TALAB
Gopi Talav is a mid size lake located around 20 kms from Dwarka on the way to Bet Dwarka. The story
behind the lake takes us back to Lord Krishna’s childhood when he was revered by the gopis of
Vrindavan. When Krishna shifted his capital to Dwarka, the gopis couldn’t bear his estrangement. They
came to meet him in Dwarka and performed raas on the day of sharad poornima. After the raas, they
offered their lives to the soil of this land and merged with Lord Krishna. The soil here is fine and smooth
bearing a yellow color and is believed to have divine properties that can cure many diseases, especially
those related to skin. Today, many tourists purchase this soil, popularly known as Gopi Chandan, as a
token of their visit. The whole area around Gopi Talav is made up of ghats for bathing with many shrines
peppered around them. Many species of fishes and birds are found here thus contributing to a great
atmosphere for photography. Gopi Talav is an important component of Dwarka’s sightseeing tour,
conducted by the Dwarka Municipal Corporation as well as the local tour operators.

Rukashmani temple
Located relatively on the outskirts, the Rukmini Mata Temple commemorates Lord Krishna’s
queen. The temple is said to be more than 2500 years old but it may have been
reconstructed over time. The present temple is said to belong to the 12th century. It is much
more modest than Dwarkadhish in structure and sculptures but inspires the same
devotional fervour. Carvings of gods and goddesses embellish the exteriors and the main
idol of Rukmini is housed in the sanctum. Carved naratharas (human figures) and
gajatharas (elephants) feature in the panels at the base of the platform.
An interesting legend surrounds the different addresses for the temple of Lord
Krishna and his Queen, Rukmini. It is said that sage Durvasa requested Krishna and
Rukmini to pull a chariot to take him to their house for a meal. On the way, when Rukmini
asked for water to quench her thirst, Lord Krishna prodded the ground with his tow, and the
River Ganges appeared. Rukmini quenched her thirst but forgot to ask the sage if he

wanted a drink of water too. Durvasa felt insulted and cursed her that she would live
separately from her husband
 The best time to visit is between November and February.