Hidden Places to Visit in Dwarka: 12 Offbeat Gems

Most visitors to Dwarka see the Dwarkadhish temple and Bet Dwarka and leave, but the coast around Krishna's city hides some of Gujarat's most beautiful and untouched spots. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, takes you beyond the obvious to twelve hidden gems: secret beaches, a marine sanctuary, sea temples and quiet sacred pools. For the classic sights, see our best places to visit in Dwarka; this guide is about what most people miss.

Hidden places in Dwarka at a glance

Why go beyond the temple in Dwarka?

Dwarka is far more than a single darshan. Beyond the famous Dwarkadhish temple, the surrounding coast is one of the most ecologically rich and historically layered corners of Gujarat, home to India's first Marine National Park, ancient sea temples, eco-tourism islands and beaches that see barely a fraction of the temple's crowds. Exploring these hidden places turns a one-day pilgrimage into a genuine journey of discovery, rewarding travellers with solitude, wildlife and scenery that most visitors never even hear about. They also let you spread your trip across two or three unhurried days rather than a single rushed one and see a side of Krishna's city that stays with you long after.

1. Dunny Point, Bet Dwarka

The finest hidden gem of them all, Dunny Point sits at the far, untouched tip of Bet Dwarka island, reached by a long boat ride from Okha. It is Gujarat's first eco-tourism site, ringed by coral and clear blue water, with no electricity and just the sound of the sea. Nature lovers come for the dolphins, seabirds, starfish and the peaceful, commercialisation-free shore and some camp overnight under the stars. Note that a visit needs a boat and sometimes prior permission, so plan ahead. The reward is a rare taste of the coast as it once was, with sunrises over an empty horizon and marine creatures at your feet, a genuinely unforgettable escape.

2. Poshitra Beach and the Marine National Park

Near Okha, at the entrance to the Gulf of Kutch, Poshitra, also spelled Positra, is a stunning, little-visited stretch of coast within India's first Marine National Park. At low tide the exposed reef reveals corals, sea anemones, octopuses and other marine life and the mangroves and birdlife add to the wild beauty. It is a place for slow, respectful exploration, ideally with a local guide who knows the tides and it feels a world away from the temple town. Time your visit for a daytime low tide, when the marine life is easiest to see and wear sturdy footwear for the rocky reef.

3. Okhamadhi turtle beach

A quiet fishing hamlet near Okha, Okhamadhi or Okha Madhi, has a peaceful beach and a turtle breeding centre where, in season, conservationists protect nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings. It is an offbeat, low-key stop for nature lovers, with soft sands, a working-village feel and a chance to learn about the coast's fragile marine ecology away from any crowds.

4. Bhadkeshwar Mahadev temple

Just outside the town, Bhadkeshwar Mahadev is a small Shiva temple set on a rocky outcrop in the sea, reached by a short causeway that the waves wash over at high tide. Around 5,000 years old by legend and surrounded by the Arabian Sea on all sides, it is one of the most atmospheric and photogenic spots in Dwarka, especially at sunset, yet many pilgrims pass it by.

5. Gopi Talav

About 20 km north of the town, on the road towards Nageshwar, Gopi Talav is a serene sacred pond linked to the gopis of Krishna's story and famous as the source of the yellow Gopi Chandan clay. Quiet, uncrowded and deeply devotional, it is a reflective counterpoint to the busy temples and a favourite of pilgrims who want to connect with the softer, emotional side of the Krishna legend.

6. Sudama Setu and Panchkui Tirth

Right behind the Dwarkadhish temple, the swaying Sudama Setu footbridge crosses the Gomti creek to Panchkui Tirth, an island with five sacred sweet-water wells said to have been created by the five Pandava brothers. An old Lakshmi Narayan temple and a quiet beach lie across the water and the crossing gives some of the best views back at the temple and the ghat. It is close to the centre yet surprisingly overlooked.

7. The Dwarka lighthouse

Near Dwarka beach stands the old lighthouse, a working landmark for mariners and a wonderful, little-used viewpoint. Climb it in the late afternoon, with the guard's permission, for a sweeping panorama of the town, the temple spire and the Arabian Sea glowing at sunset. The lighthouse has guided ships along this coast for well over a century, a reminder of Dwarka's past as an overseas trading port and its flashing beam is still a familiar night-time sight across the town. It is a simple, memorable experience that most visitors never think to seek out.

8. Hanuman Dandi temple, Bet Dwarka

On Bet Dwarka island, a few kilometres from the main temple, the Hanuman Dandi temple is unusual for showing Hanuman together with his son Makardhwaja, a rare depiction. Set amid greenery away from the crowds, it is a peaceful, offbeat stop, often combined with a spiritual walk around the island's quieter points like Sundarvan and Shankh Holiya.

9. Shivrajpur beach and its marine life

Better known for its Blue Flag tag, Shivrajpur hides an offbeat side too. Beyond the clean sands and turquoise shallows, the waters here offer scuba diving and snorkelling among corals and colourful fish, run by local operators, revealing an underwater world few associate with Dwarka. Come for the beach, stay for the marine adventure and enjoy the calm, well-kept shore and the nearby lighthouse.

10. Nishpap Kund and Chakra Tirth

Around the Gomti Ghat area lie several small, sacred water tanks and shrines that most visitors walk straight past, including the Nishpap Kund, believed to cleanse one of sins and the Chakra Tirth. Tucked into the lanes behind the temple, these quiet spots reward those who slow down and explore the older, devotional corners of the town on foot.

11. Sundarvan and Shankh Holiya Points

For the truly adventurous, the far reaches of Bet Dwarka hold points like Sundarvan and Shankh Holiya, remote stretches of shore and dargahs reached on a spiritual walk around the island. Wild, windswept and almost empty, they are for travellers who want to trade the temple queues for solitude, sea views and a sense of discovery. A local guide and a boat are essential here.

12. Murvel and the secret sunset coves

Along the coast around Okha and Bet Dwarka lie little coves and beaches like Murvel, known to locals but rarely on tourist maps, where you can watch the sun sink into the Arabian Sea in near solitude. These unnamed, uncrowded stretches, with only fishing boats and seabirds for company, are the perfect end to a day of offbeat exploring and a reminder of how wild this coast still is.

Tips for visiting Dwarka's hidden places

These offbeat spots need a little more planning than the main temples:

• Hire a car for the day, as many gems lie 15 to 30 km out; a Somnath Dwarka taxi service makes it easy.

• Check boat timings and any permissions for Dunny Point and the marine spots before you set out.

• Carry water, sunscreen, a hat and snacks, as remote beaches and islands have few or no shops.

• Take a local guide for the marine sanctuary and the far Bet Dwarka points.

• Respect the fragile ecology: do not touch or step on corals, do not litter and keep a safe distance from turtles, dolphins and nesting birds.

• Start early to fit the outlying spots into daylight, allow buffer time for the boats and catch a coastal sunset to end the day.

How to plan a hidden Dwarka trip

Group the hidden places by area to save time. The Bet Dwarka gems, Dunny Point, Hanuman Dandi and the far points, form one boat-based day from Okha, while Poshitra, Okhamadhi and Shivrajpur cluster along the northern coast and Bhadkeshwar Mahadev, Gopi Talav, Sudama Setu and the lighthouse sit close to the town. Plan the season with the best time to visit Dwarka, read our Dwarka city guide for the classics and use how to reach Dwarka to plan your arrival. Combine them with the main Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and Rukmini Devi temple for a full trip.

Extend your trip beyond Dwarka

With more days, pair these hidden places with Somnath, the first Jyotirlinga down the coast, for a fuller Saurashtra journey and try the local snacks from our famous street food in Dwarka. Book Somnath Dwarka hotels near the temple and let the Experience My India Somnath Dwarka tour packages arrange the offbeat and the classic sights in one smooth trip with a car and driver.

Related guides

To plan the rest of your Dwarka trip, these Experience My India guides help:

Plan your offbeat Dwarka trip

Experience My India can build these hidden gems and the classic sights into one smooth trip. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.