User:Nvvchar/sandbox/Dwarka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dwarka (pronunciationⓘ) also spelled Dvarka, Dwaraka, and Dvaraka, is a city and a municipality of Devbhoomi Dwarka district in the Gujarat state in India. It is located on the western shore of the Okhamandal Peninsula on the right bank of the Gomti creek. Dwarka, is one of the foremost Chardham four sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites, and is one of the Sapta Puri, seven most ancient religious cities in the country. Dwarka is often identified with the Dwarka Kingdom, the ancient kingdom of Krishna and is believed to have been the first capital of Gujarat.
Dwarka
દ્વારકા | |
---|---|
city | |
Coordinates: 22.23°N 68.97°E / 22.23; 68.97 | |
Country | India |
State | Gujarat |
District | Devbhoomi Dwarka district |
Elevation | 12.17 m (39.93 ft) |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 33,614 |
Languages | |
• Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
The legend of Krishna has been proved partially by scientific marine archaeological investigations conducted by the Marine Archaeology Unit of the National Institute of Oceanography and the Government of Gujarat. The final inference of these marine under water investigations is that “there was really a city which got submerged in Dwarka in 1500 BC and that the "architectural evidence and antiquities such as a seal and inscriptions go to indicate that it was the city of Mahabharata age”. References to Dwarka are cited to an epigraphic reference inscribed on a copper plate, dated 574 AD found in Palitana, Greek writer of the Periplus of Erythraean Sea ascribing Dwarka as Baraca, and in Ptolemy’s Geography identifying Barake Island as Dwarka.
Dwarka, along with Okhamandal region, was under Gaekwad of Baroda state during Indian rebellion of 1857. A war occurred at Okhamnadal in 1858 between the local Vaghers and the British and the Gaekwads. The Vaghers won the battle and ruled till September 1859. Later by joint offensive of British, Gaekwad and other princely states troops ousted the rebels and recaptured the region in 1859.
The Dwarkadhish Temple dedicated to Krishna, was originally built around 200 BC but was destroyed by the Mughal rulers, and was rebuilt in the 17th century. In 1861, the temple was renovated by Maharaja Khanderao, when the British refurbished the shikara of the temple. Maharaja Gaikwad of Baroda got a golden pinnacle fixed on the shikara of the temple in 1958 when the then Pontiff Shankaracharya got the temple refurbished. Since 1960, the temple is maintained by the Government of India. The temple is also the location of Sharda Peeth, one of the four peeths (religious centers) established by Adi Shankaracharya. As the holy town is a well known pilgrimage centre for Hindus other important temples, other than the Dwarakadhisa temple, are the Rukmini Devi temple, the Gomti Ghat and its temples, and the Beyt Dwarka. There is also a light house at the land end point of Dwarka.
Most of the revenue of Dwarka is derived from its pilgrimage status. Prior to the reallocation of the districts, this city was part of Jamnagar district.