Dvārakā (Dvāravatī)

Kṛṣṇa’s city · Gujarat

Dvārakā appears in the Sapta Purī verse as Dvāravatī, “the city of many gates”. It is also the western Char Dhām; see that section for the temple, the Śāradā Pīṭha and visiting tips.

For many pilgrims a visit includes Beṭ Dvārakā, an island reached by boat and remembered as Kṛṣṇa’s residence; Nāgeśvar, one of the places associated with the Jyotirliṅga; and the Gopī Talāv pond. The best season is October to March, and Janmāṣṭamī is celebrated with great joy.

Tradition says Kṛṣṇa’s poor childhood friend Sudāmā came to Dvārakā with only a handful of flattened rice as a gift. Kṛṣṇa welcomed him warmly, ate the rice with delight and sent him home without being asked for anything — only for Sudāmā to find his hut transformed. The story is a favourite lesson about friendship and humble offerings.

Gujarat · Also a Char Dhām · Beṭ Dvārakā · Janmāṣṭamī

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