Information about Dwarka and Jagat Mandir (Dwarikadhish Mandir)

The holy town of Dwarka in Gujarat State is believed to be the legendary city of Dwarka built by Lord Sri Krishna between 3500 and 5000 years ago. Dwarka city is located in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat. It is one of the most ancient cities in India and houses the famous Dwarkadhish Temple, which is one of the biggest Hindu pilgrimage places in India. The city was also called Swarna Dwarka (golden Dwarka) because of its prosperity. It even finds reference in the great Hindu epic of Mahabharata. After Shri Krishna killed his maternal uncle Kansa, his father-in-law was enraged. In order to take revenge of his son-in-law, he attacked Mathura 17 times, along with his friend Kalayavan.

To save the people from the threat of the war, he decided to shift his capital from Mathura to Dwarka, which was basically a piece of a land reclaimed from the sea. The city was designed and constructed by the celestial architect Vishwakarma. It was a planned city and served as the capital city of the Lord till His holy presence on the earth. After he died, the Yaduvansh (Krishna's clan) declined. It is said that the original city built by the Lord submerged in the sea after he departed from the world. Later, one of the grandsons of the Lord constructed the Dwarkadhish Temple.

Dwarkadhish Temple is also known as the Jagad Mandir and it is made from limestone and sand. The spire of the temple is about 170 feet high. The flag on the top of the shrine is the symbol of the majesty of the Lord and is changed three times in a day. Dwarkadhish Temple has five storeys and stands on 60 pillars. It has a unique construction and did not even budge at the time of Tsunami or Earthquake. The temple mainly has two doors, with the entrance door being called the Swarga Dwara and the exit door the Moksha Dwara.

Dwarkadhish Temple is adorned with rich carvings and is an architectural gem. It welcomes the poor and the rich alike. The temple is one of the important Moksh Dhams of India. One can have the splendid view of River Gomati from the temple, as it flows nearby. Apart from Lord Krishna, there are a number of deities present in the Dwarkadhish Temple. The temple holds the same significance for Hindus like Mecca for Muslims. It is thronged by thousands of pilgrims each year, who come here in quest of the eternal peace.

Dwarkadhish Temple Darshan Timings

Morning 7.00 to Afternoon 12.30 and Evening 5.00 to 9.30

SHREE DWARKADHISH TEMPLE MORNING TIMINGS

Morning

7.00 Mangla Arti

7.00 to 8.00 Mangla Darshan

8.00 to 9.00 Abhishek Pooja (Snan vidhi) : Darshan closed

9.00 to 9.30 Shringar Darshan

9.30 to 9.45 Snanbhog : Darshan closed

9.45 to 10.15 Shringar Darshan

10.15 to 10.30 Shringarbhog : Darshan closed

10.30 to 10.45 Shringar Arti

11.05 to 11.20 Gwal Bhog Darshan closed

11.20 to 12.00 Darshan

12.00 to 12.20 Rajbhog : Darshan closed

12.20 to 12.30 Darshan

12.30 Anosar : Darshan closed

SHREE DWARKADHISH TEMPLE EVENING TIMINGS

5.00 Uthappan First Darshan

5.30 to 5.45 Uthappan Bhog Darshan closed

5.45 to 7.15 Darshan

7.15 to 7.30 Sandhya Bhog Darshan closed

7.30 to 7.45 Sandhya Arti

8.00 to 8.10 Shayanbhog Darshan closed

8.10 to 8.30 Darshan

8.30 to 8.35 Shayan Arti

8.35 to 9.00 Darshan

9.00 to 9.20 Bantabhog and Shayan : Darshan closed

9.20 to 9.30 Darshan

How to reach Dwarka :

Domestic Airport: Nearest Airport is Jamnagar (146 Kms) / Ahmedabad (378 KM)

International Airport: Ahmedabad (378 KM)

Rail: Well Connected by Rail network. Connects Dwarka and Jamnagar, 132 kms away. Connecting Mumbai (945 kms.) via Rajkot (270 kms.) and Ahmedabad (453 kms.). Dwarka lies on the metre gauge link between Viramgam and Okha.

Road: State transport buses and luxury coaches are available from different parts of Gujarat.

ATM at Dwarka

State Bank of India – ATM

Bank of Baroda – ATM

Where to stay at Dwarka.

• Hotel Dwarkesh
• Toran – Gujarat Tourism Hotel
• Kokila Dhiraj Dham

Reasonable types of accommodations are available in and around the temple. There are numerous government cottages and dharamshalas, which are good enough to cater to your accommodation needs.

Other Attractions Near The Dwarkadhish Temple

The other temples in Dwarka are the Trikamji temple, Kalyanrai temple, the Patrani temple, Durvas temple, etc. Sharda Pith set up by Adi Shankaracharya imparts instruction in Sanskrit. Darukvan in the region is one of the Jyotirlingas.

Eakadashi (Agiyaras) Calendar

Now you can quick access upcoming "Eakadashi (Agiyaras) by visiting http://myvaishnavparivar.blogspot.com you will find one calendar which is showing next coming Ekadashi (Agiyaras) List. I hope this will help us a lot. Kindly correct me if I am wrong.

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• Nathdwara (Shreenathaji)

Shreenathaji [ Nathdwara ]

Shreenathaji [ Nathdwara ]

Meaning the 'Gate of the Lord', Nathdwara, one of the biggest Hindu pilgrimage sites in India, houses Lord Krishna as Govardhan Giridhari. Originally enshrined at the Mount Govardhana in Vraja Bhoomi, Mathura, this image of Krishna is known as Shrinathji. Nathdwara is situated 48 km north east of Udaipur in Rajasthan, on the banks of the Banas River. Nathdwara enshrines Shrinathji - an image of Krishna, which was originally, enshrined at the Vraja Bhoomi at Mount Govardhana near Mathura. During the rule of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, this image was brought to Mewar for the sake of protection. It is believed, the chariot carrying the image got stuck here. Hence, with due permission from the Rana of Mewar, this temple was established here. The Vallabha Sampradaya of Vaishnavism also rates this place very highly.

Nathdwara is a town in Rajasthan state of western India. It is located in the Aravalli hills, on the banks of the Banas River in Rajsamand District, just north of Udaipur. This holy town is famous for its temple of Krishna which houses the Shrinathji, a 12th century image (murti) of Krishna. The image was moved in the 17th century from Govardhan hill, near Mathura, to protect it from the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's campaign against Hindu worship in his empire. The Haveli of Shrinathji (as the temple is called), was once a royal palace of the Sesodia Rajput rulers of Mewar.

Nathdwara - BASIC INFORMATION

Area 75.50 sq. km.

Population 30,885

Altitude 230 meters

Languages Hindi,English,Rajasthani

Best Time to Visit September to February

STD Code 02953

Climate (Tentative)

Summer: 42.2 degrees Celsius 27.3 degrees Celsius

Winter: 27.0 degrees Celsius 9.7 degrees Celsius

Rainfall: 31 cm

How to reach Shreenathaji (Nathdwara)

It is well connected by Road network.

Rail : You can get train frequency up to Udaipur from Ahmedabad. From Udaipur you will get private as well at Stat Transport Vehicles to Reach Shreenathaji (Nathdwara)

Road : It is very well connected by Road. You will get good frequency from all major town of Rajasthan as well as from Ahmedabad.

Air : Nearest Airport is Udaipur or you can use Ahmedabad / Jaipur airport as well. From Airport you will find private vehicles / State Transport Buses to reach Shreenathaji.

History

Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 4 narrates the story of Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasi Madhavendra Puri who was visited by Shri Gopalji (original name of Shri Nathji) in Vrindavan and given a pot of milk. Later He appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to excavate His image from a jungle and install it in a temple on Govardhan hill. The installation was accompanied by Annakuta ceremony, a huge feast offered to the Lord. His worship was taken over by devotees in the Vallabha sampradaya shortly after Srila Madhavendra Puri's disappearance.

This modest temple attracts Krishna devotees from all over the world including various parts of India, but is significantly important to the Gujarati people of India, thereby making it one of the wealthiest temples of India. The town is often called Shrinathji rather than its original name, Nathdwara. During any major Hindu festival it is common to see enormous crowds packing the entire town and the temple complex.

Life in this town revolves around the Haveli, the term used for all the temples of the Pushtimarg Vaishnavism. Interestingly, this is one of the most colorful sects within the devotional side of Hinduism which also happens to be one of the few that do not advocate renunciation for spiritual growth. It is this worldly, practical and realistic view of life that lends itself to the colorfulness of the sect.

Shrinathji was evidently quite popular with other medieval devotees as well as there were Gaudiya preachers who founded Shrinathaji temples in present-day Pakistan (Dera Ghazi Khan). Shrinathji was even worshiped as far away as Russia (in the lower Volga region) and other places on the Central Asian trade routes. Tradition holds that he will one day return to Govardhana.

Where to Stay

The Nathdwara Temple Board are having dharmashals for the devotees around the temple. The famous and good places to stay are as follows:

* Dhiraj Dham-Located in the Market.

* New Cottages-Located in the Market.

* Chitalwala and Balasinor -Located in vegetable Market.

* Vallabh Cottages-Very near to Temple.

ATM at Nathdwara (Shreenathaji)

* ICICI Bank ATM

* Bank Of Baroda ATM