Bet Dwarka

Bet Dwarka (also spelled Beyt Dwarka) or Shankhodhar is an inhabited island at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch, situated 2 km (1 mi) off the coast of the town of Okha, Gujarat, India, and 25 km (16 mi) north of the city of Dwarka. Northeast to southwest, the island measures 8 km (5 mi) long and averaging 2 km (1 mi) wide. The island's name "Shankhodhar" derives from the fact that the island is a large source of conch shells (Hindi: शंख, romanized: shankha, lit. 'conch or scallop shell').

Bet Dwarka
Island
Map of Bet Dwarka
Bet Dwarka Location in Gujarat, India Show map of Gujarat Bet Dwarka Bet Dwarka (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 22°26′58″N 69°7′2″E
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Devbhoomi Dwarka district
City	Dwarka
Area
• Total	11 km2 (4 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	15,000
• Density	1,400/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	GJ-37
Website	gujaratindia.com

History

Bet Dwarka marked with other sites of Indus Valley Civilization, Late Phase (1900-1300 BCE)

Bet Dwarka is considered to be part of the ancient city of Dvārakā. In Indian epic literature such as the Mahabharata and the Skanda Purana, this city is the abode of Krishna. Gujarati scholar Umashankar Joshi suggested that Antardvipa in the Sabha Parva of the Mahabharata can be identified as Bet Dwarka, as the Yadavas of Dwarka are said to have travelled to it by boat.^[1]

Undersea archaeological remains suggest the existence of a settlement during the Late Harappan period of Indus Valley civilization, or immediately after it. The settlement can be reliably dated to the time of the Maurya Empire, as a part of Okha Mandal or Kushdwip area. Dwarka is mentioned in a copper inscription (dated 574 CE) of Simhaditya, the son of Varahdas (the king of Dwarka) and the minister of the city of Vallabhi during the Maitraka dynasty.^[2]

Bet Dwarka under Baroda state, Amreli division, 1909

During the 18th century, the island, along with Okhamandal region, was controlled by the Gaekwads of Baroda. During the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Vaghers captured this region. In 1859, through a joint offensive with the British, Gaekwad and other princely state troops ousted the rebels and recaptured the region.^[3][4][5]

After Indian Independence in 1947, the area was integrated into the Saurashtra State. Later, Saurashtra merged with Bombay State under the state reorganization plans. When Gujarat was created from the bifurcation of Bombay State, Bet Dwarka was under the jurisdiction of the Jamnagar district of Gujarat. In 2013, it became part of the Devbhumi Dwarka district, created from the Jamnagar district.^{[citation needed]}

Archeology

During investigations undertaken in the 1980s, the remains of earthen pots and other artifacts of the Late Harappan period were found. In 1982, a 580-metre (1,900 ft)-long protection wall dating from 1500 BCE was found, which is believed to have been damaged and submerged following a sea storm. The artifacts recovered include a Late Harappan seal, an inscribed jar and a mold of a coppersmith, and a copper fishhook.^[6] The shipwrecks and stone anchors found during excavations suggested historic trade relation with Romans.^[7] The temples on the island were built around the end of the 18th century.^[2]

Places of worship

Dwarkadhish Temple and Shri Keshavraiji Temple are major temples of Krishna on the island. Additional pilgrimage places include Hanuman Dandi temple, Vaishnav Mahaprabhu Bethak, and a gurdwara. The small temple of Abhaya Mata is situated on the southwest side of the island.

Access

Bet Dwarka can be reached by ferry service from Okha. As of 2016, the Okha–Beyt Dwarka Signature Bridge—the first sea bridge in Gujarat—is under construction between Okha and Bet Dwarka. The 2 km (1 mi) long bridge is estimated to cost ₹400 crore.^[8] This bridge, known as Sudarshan Setu, was completed and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024.^[9][10][11]

The island is made of sandstone and is surrounded by several sand beaches. On the eastern side is a thin peninsula known as Dunny Point. Bet Dwarka is the first place in Gujarat developed for ecotourism, and temporary camps are set up for tourism during the summer.

Gallery

• 
  Hanuman Dandi temple
• 
  Shri Keshavraiji Temple Main Gate
• 
  Gurudwara Bet Dwarka
• 
  Sea from Bet Dwarka

See also

• Islands portal

• Shivrajpur beach

References

1. Rao, S.R. (1991). "Further excavations of the submerged city of Dwarka" (PDF). Recent Advances in Marine Archaeology: 51–59. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
2. Rao, S. R.; Gaur, A. S. (July 1992). "Excavations at Bet Dwarka" (PDF). Marine Archeology. 3. Marine Archeological Centre, Goa: 42–. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
3. Ramanlal Kakalbhai Dharaiya (1970). Gujarat in 1857. Gujarat University. p. 120.
4. Achyut Yagnik (24 August 2005). Shaping Of Modern Gujarat. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 105–109. ISBN 978-81-8475-185-7.
5. "Gujarat During The Great Revolt: The Rebellion In Okhmandal". People's Democracy. 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
6. Gaur, A. S. (25 February 2004). "A unique Late Bronze Age copper fish-hook from Bet Dwarka Island, Gujarat, west coast of India: Evidence on the advanced fishing technology in ancient India" (PDF). Current Science. 86 (4). IISc: 512–514. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
7. Gaur, A.S.; Sundaresh and Sila Tripati (2004). "An ancient harbour at Dwarka: Study based on the recent underwater explorations". Current Science. 86 (9).
8. "Nitin Gadkari approves construction of sea-link to connect Okha, Bet Dwarka". The Indian Express. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
9. "PM to inaugurate Sudarshan Setu; 10 key points on Okha-Beyt signature bridge". mint. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
10. "Sudarshan Setu: Design and Architecture, Construction & Features". 1 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
11. "Gujarat's Sudarshan Setu: How India's Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge will Improve Connectivity". News18. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.

Bibliography

• S. R. Rao (1991). "Further excavations of the submerged city of Dwarka". Recent Advances in Marine Archaeology: Proceedings of the second Indian Conference on Marine Archaeology of Indian Ocean Countries, January 1990. National Institute Of Oceanography. pp. 51–59.
• Gaur, A.S., Sundaresh, P. Gudigar, Sila Tripati, K.H. Vora and S.N. Bandodkar (2000) Recent underwater explorations at Dwarka and surroundings of Okha Mandal, Man and Environment, XXV(1): 67–74.
• Gaur, A.S. and Sundaresh (2003) Onshore Excavation at Bet Dwarka Island, in the Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, Man and Environment, XXVIII(1): 57–66.