Dwarka: The Lost City of Gold

A city believed to have been the birthplace of Krishna soon drowned in the depths of the Arabian Sea as soon as he died. Today, the ancient city not only attracts devotees of Krishna from all over the world, but it also attracts archaeologists and historians to explore its unexplored mysteries. Spread across miles of land, this city was made of gold, and today it’s nothing but a ruined kingdom, hiding some secrets beneath its ancient ruins.

Dwarka: When Krishna resided on earth; Image Source: Goibibo

Dwarka is known by several names in our country- India’s Atlantis, City of Gold, Gateway to Heaven, and most importantly, Krishna’s Kingdom. Submerged in the waters of the Arabian Sea, this city is considered one of the seven holy places in India and one of the four dhams of India, according to the claims of Shankaracharya.

People are still confused about whether Dwarka is a historical city or a mythological city. Snuggled at the mouth of the Gomati river and the Gulf of Kutch, this city also finds its mention in some of the greatest Indian epics, including the Vishnu Purana, the Bhagvat Purana, the Skanda Purana, the Harivansha, and the Mahabharata.

The city of Dwarka not only claims to possess historical stories about where invaders and rulers made and destroyed the city, but it also mentions the mythological origin wherein we find several of our favorite characters, including Krishna.

Many believe that the character of Krishna, the war of Mahabharata, and the magnificent city of Dwarka were all fictional. But the ruins of Dwarka claim that Krishna indeed existed on earth, the war of Mahabharata did happen, and the city of Dwarka, too, existed 5000 to 7500 years ago. But how was the city of Dwarka built?

In an excerpt from Manoshi Sinha Rawal’s book, Blue Vanquisher, Krishna says, “Our kingdom will spread across Saurashtra, Kathiavad, and Sindh." Our capital shall be Dwarka, located on an island in the sea. Jarasandh can never attack Dwarka. Our people will be completely safe there. They will stay in peace and contentment. "

True to his words, the city of Dwarka still houses Krishna’s devotees, and people still live in peace and harmony without worrying about what the future holds for them. The legend of Dwarka starts with the meaning of its very name, ‘gateway.’ Popularly monikered with different names like Mokshapuri, Dwarkamati, and Dwarkavati, this city has been existing in the realm of Indian history since time immemorial.

The story of Dwarka starts when Lord Krishna left his hometown, Mathura, to come and settle in Dwarka after killing his uncle, Kamsa. Whenever one delves deep into the culture and legends of Gujarat, this migration of Krishna from Mathura to Dwarka carries a lot of importance. When Krishna created Dwarka, it is said that he regenerated 12 yojanas or 96 kilometers from the sea.

This city was established as the capital of Saurashtra, a peninsular region of Gujarat, by the Yadava clan. In the early days, this city was known by the name of Kaushathali, but later on, the city was rebuilt and renamed Dwarka. The people at Dwarka were quite friendly, and they invited Krishna to stay in the kingdom after he left Mathura.

According to legend, the kingdom of Dwarka was established by Kamsa’s father, Ugrasena. But it was under the rule of Krishna that the kingdom flourished with wealth and happiness. It is said that Krishna ordered the mystical architect, Vishwakarma, to build the kingdom of Dwarka. In two days, the majestic kingdom of gold was built to perfection.

Clad with gold, precious jewels, and stones, the city was no less than a treasure to behold. Krishna administered the entire kingdom from his residence at Bet Dwarka. The city of Dwarka, which was built on the land earlier occupied by the sea, soon submerged in the depths of Arabian waters when Krishna left his mortal body.

When we come to the history of humans that carries traces of invasions and destruction at Dwarka, the first name that comes to our mind is Mohammad Shah. He invaded the city of Dwarka and ruined its temple in 1241. To stop him from further destroying the city, five Brahmins fought against him and died. To honor their bravery, a temple named Panch Peer was built.

The lost glory of Dwarka was not even brought back when, once again, Mahmud Begada, the Sultan of Gujarat, ransacked the city and destroyed the temple. But later on, the Dwarkadhish temple was restored. The famous saint Vallabha Acharya also brought the idol of Dwarkadhish that Rukmini was quite fond of, and hid it in a stepwell called Savitri Vav when the Muslims once again invaded the city. Later on, when Turk Aziz invaded the city, the idol was shifted to Bet Dwarka.

The tale of Bet Dwarka is again an amalgamation of mythology and history. Bet Dwarka was the place where Krishna resided, and he also administered the entire town of Dwarka from here. The island is said to be the location where Krishna received a gift (Bet) from his childhood friend Sudama.

According to mythology, Sudama and Sri Krishna attended the same gurukul as youngsters. Sudama remained a lowly Brahmin while Krishna rose to become the regal ruler of the Yadavas. Sudama's destitution had reached an all-time low, so he decided to pay a visit to his buddy Krishna, hoping that he would assist him. He could only afford a few kernels of rice as a present. He scraped them and presented them to Krishna, who greeted him with affection and dignity.

Sudama was so overwhelmed by the welcome that he refused to seek assistance. When he arrived home, he saw that Krishna had already dispatched assistance. His small cabin had been transformed into a palace. Bet Dwarka is claimed to have been referenced in the Mahabharata as the Antardivip.

The entire city of Dwarka, along with the Okhamandal region, was ruled by the Gaekwads of Baroda when the 1857 rebellion took place. One year later, a war broke out between the local Vaghers and the British. Though the initial battle was won by the Vaghers and they ruled for one year, later on, a troop consisting of the British, the Gaekwads, and the armies of other princely states overthrew the Vaghers.

During these attacks, Colonel Donovan led his troops inside the temple, ruined it, and looted every precious thing that ever existed in the temple. Bet Dwarka was the place that suffered the most during these attacks. When the local people of Kutch, Jamnagar, and Porbandar complained about this, the temple was restored. Maharaja Khanderao and Maharaja Gaekwad together restored the temple and brought back its lost glory. Since 1960, the Government of India has been taking care of the temple.

Some have rejected Dwarka and its theory as a mere fable. However, many passionately think that this narrative has a historical foundation. Archaeological excavations have been placed in front of the modern city's famed Dwarkadhish temple. According to the findings of these digs, there is an indication of a demolished proto-historic village. For hundreds of years, there was no indication that any of the traditions were accurate or that such a gorgeous metropolis existed as portrayed in the epic. However, things began to change towards the turn of the twentieth century.