Dwarka Somnath Tour is considered as one of the most pious pilgrimage destinations for Hindu devout. Somnath is devoted to Lord Shiva but Dwarka is revered with the devotion of Lord Krishna. Dwarka is one of the pilgrimage sites of the Char Dham Pilgrimage circuit which includes Dwarka, Puri, Rameswaram and Badrinath. Anyone going on Dwarka Somnath Tour starts their divined journey from Ahmedabad. Dwarka and Somnath are located not so far, it takes 4 hours to reach Somnath from Dwarka.
Places to Visit in Dwarka:
One of the stop offs of Char Dham Pilgrimage circuit, Dwarka is popularly known as the “Home of Lord Krishna”. Dwarka is situated on the western end of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The entire atmosphere of the pilgrimage is dipped into spiritualism and so vibrancy lingers in the ambience. Dwarka is considered as the only city which is a part of Char Dham and also of the seven holy cities. Dwarka is considered as the first capital city of Gujarat which literally means “Gateway to Heaven”. Although the place is known for spiritualism but it never hinders the importance of several beaches, ports, lighthouses and lakes. The serenity and tranquility of Dwarka charms tourists with everything it holds.
Dwarkadhish Temple:
Constructed in Chalukya Styled architecture, Dwarkadhish Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. As per the belief the temple is around 2200 years old and was constructed by Vajranabha. Pilgrims who visits this temple gets so fascinated by the black splendid idol and feels like that god is really present in front of them. Janmashtami celebration of Dwarkadhish Temple is the most popular occasion and at this time the temple is flocked by thousands of devotees. This five storied shrine is beautifully constructed with limestone and sand. The environment of the temple is filled with devotees chanting prayers and performing rituals.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple:
If you move towards Beyt Island from Gomati Dwarka then you can spot a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. Thousands of devotees flock at this temple from every nook and corners of the country. There is a belief among Hindu devout that if they visit this temple then they will be free from the effects of poison. As per the mythological epic Shiva Purana, if someone reads with a deep devotion about the birth and death of this Jyotirlinga then they will get the proper attainment of everlasting happiness and prosperity. One can spot Nageshwar Jyotirlinga in two other Indian states Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Beyt Dwarka:
A Small Island, also known as Beyt Shankhodhar was once serving as the main port of Gujarat before Okha development. Spotting dolphins hopping into the sea, marine excursions, camping and organizing picnics on the beach can be witnessed if you are at Beyt Dwarka. The island is home to numerous temples among which Keshavraiji is the most significant one which was built around 500 years back by Vallabhacharya. The boat ride is of around 10-12 miles which is never upsetting as the view of seagulls hopping into the sea makes it a delightful and a soul enriching ride which no one would want to miss.
Gomati Ghat:
Situated on the banks of the River Gomti, the Ghat holds numerous small temples, all dedicated to different gods and goddesses. There is a Gomati Kund which is the confluence of Arabian Sea and Gomati River which holds spiritual value.Devotees flocking at this place take dip into the holy water of River Gomati having a belief in their heart to get rid of their sins and to cleanse the soul. The river holds almost 12 Ghats surrounded by and each Ghat holds a temple including Samudra Narayan Temple, Panchnanda, Chakra Narayan etc. The shrines are accessible by hiring a boat which gives the spell bound beauty of the entire town. You can buy souvenirs like tea stands, wooden decorated camels and some jewelleries.
Lighthouse:
Dwarka is however commonly known as Land of spiritualism but besides this the city also houses multitude of forts and museums and Lighthouse is also one of them which gives a visual treat to tourists visiting the city. The monument is opened only for a short time in a day which is from 4:30 -6 in the evening. Watching sunset from the height the monument gives a treat to the eyes and mesmerizes the tourists. Dating back to early 19th century the monument was constructed and has gone through many installations like to detect fog the sound horn equipment or vibrator was installed and before that lamp was installed. The tower was initially 18 metres high which has now touched the height of 43 metres. If you are a photogenic then this can be the perfect place to accumulate pictures of the panoramic views of the city.
Nearby Places to Visit Somnath:
Situated in the westernmost state of India and on the banks of the Arabian Sea the place holds numerous popular temples including Somnath Temple. The region is not limited to temples only, Gir National Park, Chorwad a newly developed Beach Resort, Veraval a major fishing Port also stand here. Celebration of auspicious festivals and organization of various fairs witness thousands of tourists coming and participating in the functions.
Somnath Temple:
This is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and the significance of the temple is mentioned in many of the Hindu epics like Rig Veda and some others. It is believed that the temple has been destroyed several times by Muslim and Portuguese invaders and is renovated every time. Originally the temple was constructed with gold by King Somraj then it got constructed with silver by Ravana. Due to its coastline location tourists can experience the fresh,cool and gentle breeze which provides them a proper relax by freshening their mood. The main Shikhara of the temple is at a height of almost 155 feet and the Kalash made of stone weighs around 10 tonnes. An evening show gets organized inside the temple which has an ocean view setting accompanied with light and sound.
Triveni Ghat:
Situated at the convergence of three rivers – Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati, the Ghat is a must visit destination in Somnath. Watching sunset from this Ghat is an Eye treating and soul enriching view and the place is generally very much crowded during evening. You can enjoy the boat ride too and can buy the items made up of shells. If you are a photogenic then this can be the place where you can get some beautiful clicks but you will have to face the excess crowd. If you are a religious person then you may visit two temples which are located there like Gita Temple and Lakshmi narayana Temple which are located near to the Ghats.
Junagadh:
The flamboyant street life and the splendid architectures make Junagadh the most beautiful district whose beauty is much inspiring to others. The district is also known as Sorath which was the ancient name of Junagadh. The district still holds the evidences of the princely State of Junagadh of the Medieval Era. The main attraction of this temple is Girnar Hill which is located at the east side of the city. The hill has been serving as a religious site to Hindus, Jains and the Buddhists from a very long time in fact we can say that it has been doing so since 3rd century BC. A home of Asiatic Lions “Gir National Park” is also located very close to Junagadh.
Bhalka Tirth:
It is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna which is not so big in size. The significance of the temple is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita. The legend behind the origin of this temple is based on a misconception of a huntsman. Once Lord Krishna was resting in a forest under the Peepal tree on a deer skin and the poacher shoot the arrow thinking that there is a deer and Lord Krishna got injured. To ask for the forgiveness and to show his devotion the poacher marked the place as Lord Krishna’s resting and the temple got constructed at the same place after some time. The development of this place is given under the assistance of Central government.
Laxminarayan Temple:
The temple is constructed on 18 pillars on which the inscriptions of Bhagavad-Gita is carved out which are eye catching and informative as those are the sacred messages of Lord Krishna. Laxmi Narayan Temple is located on the banks of the Triveni Teerth and modern Indian architecture style has been used to design the temple. You can witness 24 Avatars of Lord Vishnu which are depicted in the walls of the temple. Devotees can do the Darshan of several other gods and goddess as there are beautifully designed idols present inside the premise of the temple.
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