Beyt Dwarka, Dwarka - Timings, Festivals, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

About Beyt Dwarka

At a distance of 2 Km from Okha, and 33 Km from Dwarka Railway Station, Beyt Dwarka is an inhabited island located at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch. The island measures 8 Km long and averaging 2 Km wide. The island's name 'Shankhodhar' derives from the fact that the island is a large source of conch shells. Also known as Beyt Shankhodhar, it was one of the main ports of the town before the development of Okha and is among the most popular places to visit as part of the Dwarka pilgrimage packages.

History of Beyt Dwarka

The ASI explorations revealed that the presence of certain settlements whose age can be traced back to the era of the Harappan civilization and that of the Mauryan rule. Dwarka is mentioned in the copper inscription dated 574 AD of Simhaditya, the minister of the city of Vallabhi during the Maitraka dynasty. The region was under the administration of the Gaekwad clan of the state of Baroda during the 18th century. During the revolt of 1857, Vaghers attacked the region and captured it. In 1859, through a joint offensive with the British, Gaekwad and other princely state troops ousted the rebels and recaptured the region. After independence of India in 1947, the region became part of the Saurashtra state which later merged with the state of Bombay. When the state of Gujarat was carved out of the Bombay state, Bet Dwarka came under Jamnagar district of Gujarat and became part of Devbhoomi Dwarka district in 2013.

Mythology of Beyt Dwarka

Bet Dwarka or Beyt Dwarka is an extremely sacred pilgrimage destination as it is believed to be the original home of Lord Krishna during his ruling years at Dwarka. It is said that lord Krishna resided with his family at Bet Dwarka. The place derived its name from the word 'beyt' which means meeting and this is the place where Sudhama came to meet his friend Lord Krishna. Beyt Dwarka is also mentioned in the ancient epic, 'Mahabharata' as 'Antardvipa' to which people of the Yadava clan needed to travel by boat. The island is also known as Shankhodhar as the island is source of conch shells.

Things to do in Beyt Dwarka

The island of Beyt Dwarka has a lot of temples, coral reefs and white sand beaches. The main temple at Beyt Dwarka is Dwarkadhish Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, which is believed to be built on the residence of Lord Krishna, and the original idol at the temple is said to have been established by lord Krishna's wife, Devi Rukmani. The idol has a striking resemblance with the idol at Dwarkadheesh temple. The only difference is that in this temple the idol holds the shankha or conch in an oblique position. This temple is over 500 years old and was built by Sri Vallabhacharya. The key offering made at this temple is that of 'rice' and this is of course a reminiscence of the legendary tale that tells how Sudama; friend of Lord Krishna had brought him 'rice' as gift.

In addition, one can also visit the temples of Shri Keshavraiji, Narasinhji, Hanuman Dandi and Vaishnav Mahaprabhu Baithak in Beyt Dwarka. Hanuman Dandi temple of Bet Dwarka enshrines idols of Lord Hanuman and that of Makardhwaja, the son of Hanuman. According to myths, a drop of sweat from Hanuman ji's body was gulped by a fish who later delivered a son known by the name of Makardhwaja.There is a narrow street which leads to these temples that are crowded by vendors selling local crafts, idols, cassettes, coconut and seashells.

The island is made of sandstone and is surrounded by several sand beaches. On the eastern side is a thin peninsula known as Dunny Point. It is also the only marine sanctuary of Gujarat where one can spot few types of corals, crabs, turtles, dolphins etc. Beyt Dwarka is the first place in Gujarat developed for ecotourism, and temporary camps are set up for tourism during the summer.

Festivals of Beyt Dwarka

Beyt Dwarka celebrates numerous Hindu festivals with immense fervor. The most prominent of these is Janmashtami, which marks the birth of Lord Krishna and is observed through intricate prayers, rituals, and cultural displays. Additionally, festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and Navratri are celebrated with lively traditions and artistic performances.

Beyt Dwarka Dress Code & Other Restrictions

While Dwarkadhish Temple in Beyt Dwarka doesn't have a strict dress code, it is recommended to adhere to modest clothing that covers your upper arms and legs as a sign of respect. Men are encouraged to wear a dhoti or pajama paired with an upper garment, as well as formal trousers and shirts. Women may opt for a saree, half saree, or chudidhars. It is advisable to refrain from wearing contemporary attire such as mini-skirts, shorts, and sleeveless tops while on the temple grounds.

Non-Hindus are welcome to explore Beyt Dwarka, and appreciate the temple's architectural beauty; however, access to the sanctum sanctorum may be restricted.

Beyt Dwarka Temple Timings

Monday: 9 AM - 1 PM & 3 PM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 1 PM & 3 PM - 6 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM - 1 PM & 3 PM - 6 PM
Thursday: 9 AM - 1 PM & 3 PM - 6 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 1 PM & 3 PM - 6 PM
Saturday: 9 AM - 1 PM & 3 PM - 6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM - 1 PM & 3 PM - 6 PM

Beyt Dwarka Entry Fee

Entry is Free
Ferry available for Rs. 20 - Rs. 100

Best Time to Visit Beyt Dwarka

The ideal time to visit Beyt Dwarka is from October to March when the town enjoys cool winter weather that is conducive to sightseeing. It is advisable to steer clear of the summer and monsoon seasons; specifically, the summer months from April to June are excessively hot, with average temperatures reaching approximately 40 degrees Celsius, while the monsoon months of July and August are characterized by high humidity, leading to significant discomfort.

How to Reach Beyt Dwarka

Jamnagar Airport is the nearest airport which is about 126 Km from Dwarka and has direct flights from Mumbai. Dwarka Railway Station is well connected by trains with Okha, Tuticorin, Guwahati, Gorakhpur, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Somnath, Allahabad, Varanasi, Puri, Rameswaram, Jaipur, Bhavnagar, Kochi, Howrah, Nathdwara, and Viramgam. Dwarka has well road connectivity with Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Amreli, Porbandar, Somnath, Gandhidham, Bhuj, Gandhinagar, Baroda, Bhavnagar, Surat, Jamnagar, and Junagadh. Upon arriving in Dwarka, you can take a cab or a bus from the Dwarka bus depot to reach Beyt Dwarka or proceed to Okha jetty, which is situated about 33 kilometers from Dwarka. From Okha jetty, boat services are available to Bet Dwarka Island.