2405:205:C869:475F:0:0:C7E:50AD at 13:24, 17 May 2021

2021-05-17T13:24:38Z

New page

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bet Dwarka
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Island
| image_skyline = Bet Dwarka Okha Gujarat Map.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Map of Bet Dwarka
| pushpin_map = India Gujarat#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gujarat, India
| coordinates = {{coord|22|26|58|N|69|7|2|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Gujarat]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Devbhoomi Dwarka district]]
| subdivision_type3 = City
| subdivision_name3 =[[Dwarka]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 11
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 15000
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code =
| registration_plate = GJ-37
| website = {{URL|gujaratindia.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Bet Dwarka''' (also spelled '''Beyt Dwarka)''' or '''Shankhodhar''' is an inhabited island at mouth of the [[Gulf of Kutch]] situated {{convert|3|km|0|abbr=on}} off the coast of [[Okha, India|Okha]], [[Gujarat]], India. The island measured northwest to southeast in {{convert|13|km|0|abbr=on}} long with an average east-west width of {{convert|4|km|0|abbr=on}}. It is a strip of sandstone situated {{convert|30|km|0|abbr=on}} north of the town of [[Dwarka]].<ref name=xbd>{{cite journal |last= Rao |first= S. R. |last2= Gaur|first2=A. S. |date= July 1992 |title= Excavations at Bet Dwarka|url=http://drs.nio.org/drs/bitstream/2264/3085/2/J_Mar_Archaeol_3_42.pdf?origin=publication_detail|journal= Marine Archeology|publisher= Marine Archeological Centre, Goa|volume=3 |pages=42–|access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref><ref name=cs>{{cite journal |last= Gaur|first= A. S. |date=25 February 2004 |title=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|url=http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/feb252004/512.pdf|journal=Current Science |publisher=IISc |volume= 86|issue=4 |pages= 512–514|access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Indus Valley Civilization, Late Phase (1900-1300 BCE).png|250px|Bet Dwarka marked with other sites of Indus Valley Civilization, Late Phase (1900-1300 BCE)|thumb|right]]
Bet Dwarka is considered a part of the ancient city of [[Dvārakā]] in Indian epic literature, the abode of [[Krishna]], found in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and ''[[Skanda Purana]]''. Gujarati scholar [[Umashankar Joshi]] suggested that ''Antardvipa'' in ''Sabha Parva'' of Mahabharata can be identified as Bet Dwarka, as the Yadavas of Dwarka are said to have travelled to it by boats. It derives its name ''Shankhodhar'' from the fact that the island is a large source of [[conch]] shells (''Shankh''). Archaeological remains found under the sea suggest the existence of a settlement during [[Late Harappan]] period of [[Indus Valley Civilization]], or immediately after it. It can be reliably dated to the time of the [[Maurya Empire]]. It was a part of Okha Mandal or Kushdwip area. Dwarka is mentioned in a copper inscription of Simhaditya, the minister of [[Vallabhi]] under [[Maitraka]], dated 574 AD. He was the son of Varahdas, the king of Dwarka.<ref name=xbd/>

[[File:Baroda state 1909.jpg|thumb|250px|Bet Dwarka under Baroda state, Amreli division, 1909|right]]
The island, along with Okhamandal region, was under [[Gaekwad of Baroda|Gaekwad]] of [[Baroda State]]. During [[Indian rebellion of 1857]], the [[Vagher]]s captured the region in 1857. Later by joint offensive of British, Gaekwad and other princely states troops ousted the rebels and recaptured the region in 1859.<ref name="Dharaiya1970">{{cite book|author=Ramanlal Kakalbhai Dharaiya|title=Gujarat in 1857|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wps5AQAAIAAJ|year=1970|publisher=Gujarat University|page=120}}</ref><ref name="Yagnik2005">{{cite book|author=Achyut Yagnik|title=Shaping Of Modern Gujarat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FYDviPFeoSAC&pg=PT108|date=24 August 2005|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-81-8475-185-7|pages=105–109}}</ref><ref name="PD">{{cite web | title=Gujarat During The Great Revolt: The Rebellion In Okhmandal | publisher=People's Democracy | volume=XXXIissue= 40 | date=October 7, 2007 | url=http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2007/1007/10072007_1857.htm | access-date=15 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116021507/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2007/1007/10072007_1857.htm | archive-date=16 January 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

After independence of India in 1947, it was integrated in [[Saurashtra State]]. Later Saurashtra merged with [[Bombay State]] under state reorganization scheme. When [[Gujarat]] was created from bifurcation of Bombay State, Bet Dwarka came under [[Jamnagar district]] of Gujarat. [[Devbhoomi Dwarka district]] was created from Jamnagar district in 2013 so it became part of it.

==Archeology==
During the investigation In 1980s, the remains of earthen pots and other artifacts of [[Late Harappan]] period were found near Sidi Bawa Peer Dargah. In 1982, a 580 meter long protection wall dated 1500 BC was found which believed to be damaged and submerged following seastorm. The artifacts recovered include a Late Harappan seal, an inscribed jar and the mould of coppersmith, a copper fishhook. The shipwrecks and stone anchors found during excavations suggested [[Indo-Roman trade relations|the historic trade relation with Romans]]. The temples on the island are built around end of eighteenth century.<ref name=xbd/><ref name=cs/><ref>{{cite journal|last=Gaur|first=A.S.|author2=Sundaresh and Sila Tripati|title=An ancient harbour at Dwarka: Study based on the recent underwater explorations|journal=Current Science|date=2004|volume=86|issue=9}}</ref>

==Places of worship==
Dhwarkadhish Temple and [[Shri Keshavraiji Temple, Bet Dwarka|Shri Keshavraiji Temple]] are major temples of [[Krishna]]. Hanuman Dandi and Vaishnav [[Mahaprabhu]] Bethak and a Gurudwara are also pilgrimage places. Much later constructed Sidi Bawa Peer Dargah, Haji Kirmai Dargah are also situated here. A small temple of Abhaya mata is situated south of this island.

==Access==
Bet Dwarka can be reached by ferry service from Okha. The first sea bridge of Gujarat is under-construction between Okha and Bet Dwarka. The {{convert|2|km|0|abbr=on}} long sea bridge is estimated to cost {{Indian Rupee}}400 crore.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/nitin-gadkari-approves-construction-of-sea-link-to-connect-okha-bet-dwarka-2826538/|title=Nitin Gadkari approves construction of sea-link to connect Okha, Bet Dwarka|date=2016-05-31|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2017-07-18|language=en-US}}</ref>

The bet is surrounded by several sand beaches. The southeast most end of bet is known as Dunny Point which is three side surrounded by sea. It is the first place in Gujarat developed for ecotourism. The temporary camps are set up for tourism in summer.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Hanuman-Dandi-Temple-dwarka.jpg|Hanuman Dandi temple
Shri Keshavraiji Temple Main Gate.jpg|Shri Keshavraiji Temple Main Gate
Gurudwara Bet Dwarka.jpg|Gurudwara Bet Dwarka
Samudratiram at bet dvaraka.JPG|Sea from Bet Dwarka
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[Shivrajpur beach]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Islands of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Beaches of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Devbhoomi Dwarka district]]
[[Category:Dwarka]]

Bet Dwarka - Revision history

2405:205:C869:475F:0:0:C7E:50AD at 13:24, 17 May 2021