Nava Dwarka: The Nine Sacred Krishna Temples Pilgrimage

For the most devoted followers of Lord Krishna, the Nava Dwarka is the fullest pilgrimage of all, a circuit of nine sacred temples tracing his life and it centres on Dwarka, the golden city. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers what Nava Dwarka is, the nine sacred temples and their significance, how it relates to the classic five and how to plan this great Krishna pilgrimage.

What is Nava Dwarka?

Nava Dwarka, meaning the nine Dwarkas, refers to a sacred pilgrimage circuit of nine holy temples dedicated to Lord Krishna in western and western-central India, across Gujarat and Rajasthan. Each of the nine shrines marks a different chapter or place in Krishna's divine life, from the golden city of Dwarka where he ruled, to the shrines of his family and friends and the coast where his earthly journey ended. The Nava Dwarka is the fuller and more elaborate version of the Krishna Dwarka pilgrimage, extending the well-known five temples or Pancha Dwarka, with four more revered sites, most of them along the Gujarat coast. Completing all nine is a deeply meaningful lifetime aspiration for a Krishna bhakt and while lists can vary slightly by tradition, the circuit always weaves together the great story of the lord across the sacred land of the west. To undertake the Nava Dwarka is to follow Krishna's own path, from his arrival on the Saurashtra coast to his reign as king and finally his departure from the world, a journey that binds his whole earthly life into one continuous act of devotion.

The nine Nava Dwarka temples at a glance

Here are the nine Nava Dwarka temples, their locations and their significance:

The nine Nava Dwarka temples in detail

1. Mukti Dwarka, the Dwarkadhish Temple. The main Dwarkadhish temple, also called Gomti Dwarka or Mukti Dwarka, stands by the Gomti River at Dwarka, where Lord Krishna is worshipped as the King of Dwarka. It is the heart of the Nava Dwarka circuit and one of the four Char Dham of India.

2. Rukmini Dwarka. The Rukmini Devi temple, near the main city of Dwarka, is dedicated to Lord Krishna's consort, Goddess Rukmini and is an essential and beautiful stop on the pilgrimage.

3. Bet Dwarka. An island off the Okha coast, Bet Dwarka is believed to be the actual residential abode where Lord Krishna lived with his family during his reign, reached by a short boat ride across the sea.

4. Mool Dwarka. Also spelled Moola Dwarka, this sacred site near Kodinar on the coast is where Lord Krishna is believed to have first set foot on the Saurashtra region after leaving Mathura, the root or mool, of the Dwarka story and a quiet, atmospheric shrine cherished by devout pilgrims.

5. Sudama Dwarka. At Porbandar, the Sudama temple honours Krishna's devoted childhood friend Sudama, whose story of friendship and humility and of Krishna's boundless generosity to a poor devotee, is one of the most beloved in the Krishna legend.

6. Dakor Dwarka. Near Ahmedabad, the majestic Sri Ranchhodrai temple at Dakor, with its intricate wood carvings, honours Lord Krishna as Ranchhod, the name he earned after retreating from the demon Jarasandha to save the people of Mathura and is one of the most visited Krishna shrines in Gujarat.

7. Nathdwara, Shrinathji Dwarka. Near Udaipur in Rajasthan, Nathdwara houses the revered swayambhu or self-manifested, form of Shrinathji, Lord Krishna as a child lifting the Govardhan hill, worshipped in the Pushtimarg tradition.

8. Kankroli Dwarka. Near Nathdwara in Rajasthan, on the Rajsamand Lake, the Kankroli temple is where the sacred idol of Dwarkadhish, known as the Bade Dwarkadhish, is worshipped by the Vallabhacharya sect.

9. Prabhasa Tirth. Near Somnath at Veraval, Prabhasa or Prabhas Tirth, is the sacred ground tied to the final earthly departure of Lord Krishna, close to the Bhalka Tirth, where he is believed to have left his mortal body, a poignant close to the pilgrimage.

Nava Dwarka and Pancha Dwarka

It helps to understand how Nava Dwarka relates to the better-known Pancha Dwarka. The Pancha Dwarka or five Dwarkas, is the classic circuit of five temples: Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Dakor, Nathdwara and Kankroli. The Nava Dwarka or nine Dwarkas, is the fuller version, taking those five and adding four more revered Gujarat sites: the Rukmini temple, Mool Dwarka, the Sudama temple at Porbandar and Prabhasa near Somnath. So the Nava Dwarka includes the whole of the Pancha Dwarka and extends it deeper into the Gujarat coast, tracing more of Krishna's story. Devotees may choose the five or the nine depending on their time and devotion and many complete the pilgrimage in stages over the years, first the five, then adding the coastal Gujarat shrines on later visits to Saurashtra.

The Gujarat Dwarkas: the heart of the circuit

What makes the Nava Dwarka special for a Saurashtra pilgrimage is that six of the nine temples lie in Gujarat, most of them along the coast we know best. Dwarka itself, with the Dwarkadhish temple, the Rukmini Devi temple and the Gomti Ghat; Bet Dwarka, the island abode; Mool Dwarka near Kodinar; the Sudama temple at Porbandar; and Prabhasa near Somnath, all cluster within the Saurashtra region. This means much of the Nava Dwarka can be completed on a single Somnath and Dwarka circuit, before the pilgrimage continues to Dakor and the Rajasthan temples. For pilgrims focused on the Gujarat coast, these six shrines form the heart of the journey, easily woven together by road in a way the scattered Rajasthan temples are not.

Best time and tour duration

The best time for the Nava Dwarka pilgrimage is the cooler winter months, from November to February, when the weather across Gujarat and Rajasthan is pleasant, ideal for the long hours of sightseeing and temple queues. The summer, April to June, is extremely hot in both states and best avoided. A comprehensive rail or road tour covering all nine locations typically spans about 11 to 13 days, given the distances involved. Group train tour packages generally start from around Rs 38,000 per person, covering basic transit, accommodation and standard meals, though prices vary by operator, season and inclusions and are subject to change. The Gujarat coastal shrines alone can be done in a shorter trip if you are not covering all nine, making the Nava Dwarka accessible even to those without a fortnight to spare.

How to plan the Nava Dwarka pilgrimage

Because the Nava Dwarka spans Gujarat and Rajasthan, most pilgrims plan it as one long tour or in stages. A common approach is to complete the Gujarat coastal shrines first, on a Somnath and Dwarka circuit, taking in Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Rukmini, Mool Dwarka, Sudama at Porbandar and Prabhasa near Somnath and then continue to Dakor and the Rajasthan temples of Nathdwara and Kankroli. Plan your arrival with our how to reach Dwarka guide, time the trip with the best time to visit Dwarka and consider a private car and driver for the flexibility to visit the coastal shrines at your own pace or a group tour for the full nine across both states. Grouping the temples by region, the Gujarat coast first and Rajasthan later, keeps the long pilgrimage manageable and lets you give each sacred place the time it deserves.

Tips for the Nava Dwarka pilgrimage

A few pointers for this great pilgrimage:

• Complete the six Gujarat shrines first on a Somnath and Dwarka circuit, then add Dakor and the Rajasthan temples.

• Allow about 11 to 13 days for the full nine or a shorter trip for the Gujarat coastal Dwarkas alone.

• Travel in the cool winter months, November to February, for the most comfortable pilgrimage.

• Start at Dwarka, the heart of the circuit, with the Dwarkadhish temple, the Rukmini temple and Bet Dwarka.

• Consider a private car and driver for the coastal shrines or a group train tour for the whole circuit.

• Book well ahead in the peak winter season and around Janmashtami, when the temples are busiest.

Plan your Nava Dwarka trip

Experience My India can plan the Gujarat heart of your Nava Dwarka pilgrimage, the coastal shrines we know best. Begin at Dwarka with the Dwarkadhish temple, Rukmini and Bet Dwarka, continue to Mool Dwarka, the Sudama temple at Porbandar and Prabhasa near Somnath, book Somnath Dwarka hotels and let the Experience My India Somnath Dwarka tour packages or a Somnath Dwarka taxi service handle the temples and the drives. You can also explore the wider Gujarat tour packages to extend the pilgrimage to Dakor and Rajasthan.

Related guides

To plan your Nava Dwarka trip, these related guides help:

Plan your visit

Experience My India can arrange the Gujarat heart of your Nava Dwarka pilgrimage. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.