Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
Dwarka, Gujarat
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, on the road between Dwarka and Okha. The Jyotirlinga is in a sanctum a few steps below ground level, and a tall statue of Shiva in a garden marks the temple from afar. The shrine is linked to the Shiva Purana and to the ancient forest called Darukavana.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of the Jyotirlinga in the sanctum
- See the tall seated statue of Shiva (about 25 metres) in the garden
- Walk around the garden and the pond
- Take part in the aarti if the time suits you
Ideal for
- Devotees of Shiva completing the twelve Jyotirlingas
- Pilgrims on the Dwarka circuit
- Families, as the visit is short and easy
Good to know
- Sources disagree on timings: roughly 6 am to 12:30 pm and 5 pm to 9:30 pm, so check locally
- Sources also disagree on the distance from Dwarka town; allow about half an hour by road (an estimate)
- In some arrangements visitors may be asked to wear a dhoti or cover up for abhisheka, so ask on the day
- Phones and cameras may be restricted inside; check at the gate
- Mondays and Shivaratri are the busiest
Spiritual significance
Nageshwar is counted among the twelve Jyotirlingas, the self-manifested forms of Shiva. Its place on the Dwarka route is why many pilgrims visit Shiva and Krishna on the same day.
Why it matters
- A Jyotirlinga: one of Shiva's twelve most sacred shrines
- A Shaiva stop on a Vaishnava trail: Shiva and Krishna in one journey
- The great statue: easy to spot and a favourite for photographs