The medieval island which is the birthplace of Lord Krishna is a must pilgrimage for a person travelling around Gujarat. Its nearness to Somnath (one of the 12 Jyotirlings) is an added advantage.
We reached the Bet (Port of Okha) post a short visit to new Dwarka at mid noon during our 3 day whirlwind tour of Gujarat via Junagadh. Enroute to the port, you can see loads of fish being dried on the roadside on bamboo poles and the stench coming from them is heavenly. The port was crowded and getting parking space was a nightmare considering the swarm of devotees who had descended there. To reach the island, you need to hop onto a ferry. The 10 minute ride from the Okha costs you Rs. 25/. A problem here is that the ferry has to be fully loaded and so their owners make you wait in the Sun till their boat is full or you can shell out some extra cash and ensure you don’t have to wait.
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| The new Dwarka Temple |
So other than the temple itself, Bet Dwarka has 2 other attractions; the vendors selling exquisite Sea Shells near the shores and the Sea Gulls who follow you on your boat ride.
You can purchase a pouch of bird feed before boarding the boat. Once the journey begins, the birds approach the boat in flocks. Their shrill cries and the flapping of wings is a site to behold. The bird keep you company till you are close to the shore and then fly off. This process is repeated when you are returning back from the temple. Often you may see a Bird plucking a feed right off a person’s hand.
Photography of the temple is not permitted so you may have to deposit the camera in one of the several shops outside. The island has several restaurants all of them serving local fare which is best avoidable (Jalebis, Samosas etc..) or you can carry some food from the city. The Archaeological Survey of India has deployed divers to survey the ocean depths around Dwarka, though they are some distance off and you may be unable to view their catch.
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