Dwarka & Somnath Travel Guide: Temples, Bet Dwarka and the Saurashtra Coast

Dwarka and Somnath are 230 km apart on Gujarat's Saurashtra coast, according to the Shree Somnath Trust, and most pilgrims see them together. Dwarka stands on the western tip of the Kathiawar peninsula. Somnath sits on the shore of the Arabian Sea, near Veraval.

Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir)

The main reason to visit Dwarka is the Dwarkadhish Temple, also called the Jagat Mandir, where the Gomti creek meets the Arabian Sea. Gujarat Tourism says it is believed to be more than 2,500 years old and has been renovated several times, notably in the 16th and 19th centuries. More than 50 steps lead up to the carved sanctum under a 43 m spire. Visitors go in by the "swarg" door and out by the "moksh" door. The temple committee gives darshan in a morning and an evening session, with the temple closed in the afternoon.

Gomti Ghat and the town

Below the temple, a bridge called the Sudama Setu crosses the Gomti creek towards the beach; Gujarat Tourism lists it as open from 7 am to 1 pm and from 4 to 7.30 pm. The temple committee's own list of sights in Dwarka also names Gomti Ghat, the Sharda Peeth, the Gayatri and Geeta temples, a lighthouse and a sunset point, so there is plenty to see around the darshan sessions.

Rukmini Devi Temple

On the outskirts, the temple to Krishna's queen Rukmini is more modest than Dwarkadhish but draws the same devotion. Gujarat Tourism says the present building belongs to the 12th century and lists it as open from 7.30 am to 8 pm. A local legend explains why the queen has her own shrine apart from her husband's: after she drank without offering the sage Durvasa any water, he cursed her to live apart from Krishna.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and Gopi Talav

Nageshwar, 18 km from Dwarka, is listed by Gujarat Tourism as one of India's twelve jyotirlingas, a self-manifested Shiva lingam in a red temple at the end of a large hall, open from dawn to dusk. Close by is Gopi Talav Tirth, a lake tied to the legend of the gopis who came to Krishna. Gujarat Tourism gives November to February as the best months, with Shivratri celebrated here with fervour.

Bet Dwarka

Bet Dwarka is a small island off the coast, reached from Okha, where tradition places Krishna's home. Gujarat Tourism credits Vallabhacharya with founding its main temple, whose complex also has shrines to Hanuman, Vishnu, Shiva and Lakshmi Narayan, and lists it as open from 7.30 am to 12 pm and from 4.30 to 6 pm. The district administration lists the Dandi Hanuman temple, 5 km east of the main one, and a gurdwara honouring Bhai Mohkam Singh, one of Guru Gobind Singh's five beloved ones.

The Sudarshan Setu and the ferry

The Sudarshan Setu, which links the Okha mainland to Bet Dwarka, was opened on 25 February 2024. PIB describes it as the country's longest cable-stayed bridge, about 2.32 km, and says pilgrims had to rely on boats before it. Gujarat Tourism's page for the island still describes a public ferry from Okha that takes about 15 minutes, so ask locally which way is running on your day, and allow time for the crossing.

Shivrajpur Beach

Twelve kilometres from Dwarka on the Dwarka–Okha highway, Shivrajpur Beach has Blue Flag accreditation, according to Gujarat Tourism, which lists it as open from 8 am to 7 pm, with snorkelling, scuba diving and island tours among its activities. Gujarat Tourism recommends it as a family outing, and it suits the late afternoon between the temple sessions.

Somnath Temple

The Shree Somnath Trust calls Somnath the first of the twelve Aadi Jyotirlings. The temple stands on the shore of the Arabian Sea, and Gujarat Tourism places it at the meeting of the Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers. The Trust records that it was attacked and rebuilt several times between the 11th and 18th centuries. The present temple was rebuilt after independence at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's resolve, and Dr Rajendra Prasad, then President of India, performed its pran-pratistha, or consecration, on 11 May 1951.

Triveni Sangam, Bhalka Tirth and Ahalyabai Temple

Within about 20 km of Somnath the Trust lists the Triveni Sangam Ghat, Bhalka Tirth, the Ahalyabai Temple and Prachi Tirth, among others. At the Triveni Sangam the Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati meet the sea. Bhalka Tirth is where, in the story Gujarat Tourism tells, a hunter named Jara mistook Krishna for a deer and shot him. Queen Ahalyabai Holkar built the Ahalyabai Temple in 1782.

• Dwarka by air: there is no airport at Dwarka, and the district administration says no regular flights run there from other major cities. Porbandar Airport is about 95 km away; Jamnagar is further, and official pages give figures from 110 to 145 km.
• Dwarka by train and road: Dwarka station (DWK) has regular trains from major cities, and the National Highway 151 route serves road traffic.
• Somnath: the Trust gives the nearest airport as Diu, 85 km, then Rajkot at 200 km and Ahmedabad at about 390 km. Somnath station is half a kilometre from the temple, and Veraval is 7 km away.
• Between the two: the road is about 230 km. Porbandar is roughly 130 km from Somnath and 95 km from Dwarka, so it breaks the journey; our Somnath to Dwarka distance guide covers the road and rail options.

• Somnath Temple: the Trust's FAQ says entry is free, footwear comes off (a free shoe house is provided), and mobile phones, cameras, smartwatches, laptops, tablets and calculators are not allowed inside; a free cloakroom has lockers. Photography is prohibited. Mini skirts and disrespectful dress are not permitted, and smoking is not allowed near the temple. Wheelchairs and golf carts are available at the main gate, with a lift inside.
• Who may pray: the Trust says a person with faith in Hinduism can offer prayer at Somnath. If you follow another religion and want to be sure, ask the Trust before you travel.
• Rooms and offerings: the Trust says online room bookings and puja and donation registrations are accepted only through somnath.org, or offline at its Ahmedabad office or its booking office in Somnath, and warns of fraud through chats, WhatsApp, private phone numbers and UPI accounts.
• Dwarkadhish Temple: the committee says its timings may change on special days and festivals, so check its website on the day.