Beyt Dwarka is also known as Beyt Shankhodhar. It is a small island and is a 5 minute ferry ride away from Okha. Okha is 32 km from Dwarka. It is believed to be the original abode of Lord Krishna. The island is filled with ancient temples that many devotees from all over India visit.
Shri Krishna Temple : It is a 500 year old temple. It was built by Shri Vallabhacharya; it is believed that it enshrines an idol made by Rukmini. This is a famous story where Lord Krishna’s friend Sudama presented him with rice and so the tradition is continued by the visitors who present the Brahmins here with donations of rice. Beyt Dwarka is also associated with the legend according to which Lord Vishnu slew the demon Shankhasura.
Hanuman Temple: The beautiful Dandiwala Hanuman Temple is located 5 km east of the Beyt Dwarka’s main temple. It has the facility of accommodation for devotees who might want to perform special worships. One of the rare features of this temple that is not found in many Hanumans’ temple is the idol of Hanuman’s son Makardwaja. The myth is that Lord Hanuman impregnated a fish with a drop of his perspiration, which conceived and gave birth to a son as strong as Lord Hanuman. Legend also says that during the famous war of Lanka, Ravana kidnapped and kept both Lord Ram and Laxman in Patal (the world underneath the earth) and Hanuman entered Patal and had to fight Makardhwaja, who was guarding it. This is where they met and recognized each other as father and son. Hanuman Jayanti celebrated on a large scale here and on Dussehra, the idol of Shri Krishna is adorned like Shri Ram, who is carried here for a special visit on a palkhi (palanquin).
Kachoriyu: Is a temple of Shri Rama. It has sculptures of Garuda (eagle), Shankha (conch shell), Chakra (sharp circular weapon), along with the idol of Lord Hanuman at the entrance. The pond situated near the temple is called Kachoriyu Talav.
Haji Kirmani Pir:Towards the eastern seashore of Beyt Dwarka, the shrine of Haji Kirmani Pir is situated, who is considered one of the important Sufi saints, hailing from Kirman, Iran.
Gurudwara: Beyt is believed to be the birthplace of Panjpyare’s Sikh saint Shri Hukamchandji so many Sikhs visit this Gurudwara located in the Budhiya area.
To reach Beyt Dwarka first you have to reach Okha Port jetty (32 km from Dwarka). From there ferry or small boats are available to take you to Beyt Dwarka. No planes, trains or buses go there.