The ancient city of Dwaraka, situated on
the extreme West Coast of Indian territory, occupies an important place
in the cultural and religious history of India. The fabulous
architectural planning of the Dwaraka temple has attracted tourists from
all over the world. The town has association with Lord Krishna, who
founded this town by reclaiming 12 yojanas of land from the sea. During
its glorious past, Dwaraka was a city of beautiful
gardens, deep moats, and several ponds and palaces (Vishnu Purana), but
it is believed to have submerged just after the disappearance of Lord
Krishna. Due to its historical importance and association with the
Mahabharata, Dwaraka continues to attract archeologists and historians
besides scientists.
Sri Krishna killed the demon Kamsa (his maternal uncle) and made Ugrasena (His maternal grandfather) the king of Mathura. Enraged, Kamsa's father-in law, Jarasandha (king of Magadh) together with his friend Kalayavana attacked Mathura 17 times. For the safety of the people, Krishna and the Yadavas decided to move the capital from Mathura to Dwaraka.
ri Krishna and the Yadavas left Mathura and arrived at the coast of Saurashtra. They decided to build their capital in the coastal region and invoked Visvakarma, the deity of construction. However, Visvakarma said that the task could be completed only if Samudradeva, the lord of the sea, provided some land. Sri Krishna worshipped Samudradeva, who was pleased and gave them land measuring 12 yojanas and henceforth, Visvakarma built Dwaraka, a city in gold.
Anyone engaged in the devotional service of the Lord is recommended to live in one of three places: Dwaraka, Mathura or Vrindavana. Because devotional service in these three places is magnified, those who go there to follow principles in terms of instructions imparted in the revealed scriptures surely achieve the same result as obtained during the presence of Lord Sri Krishna. His abode and He Himself are identical, and a pure devotee under the guidance of another experienced devotee can obtain all the results, even at present.
Submergence of Dwaraka After Sri Krishna left for His abode and the major Yadava heads were killed in fights among themselves (Due to gandhari curse), Dwaraka became submerged in the sea. Before leaving, lord Krishna himself said that ;After I go, there will be no one to save you.’ This is the account given by Arjuna in the Mahabharata: "The sea, which has been beating against the shores, suddenly broke the boundary that was imposed on it by nature. It rushed into the city, coursing through the beautiful city streets, and covered up everything in the city. I saw the beautiful buildings becoming submerged on by one. In a matter of a few moments, it was all over. The sea had now become as placid as a lake. There was no trace of the city. Dwaraka was just a name; just a memory." The Historical Dwaraka The city of Dwaraka has been under investigation by historians since the beginning of the 20th century. The exact location of this port city has been under debate for a long time. Several literary references, especially from the Mahabharata, have been used to suggest its exact location. Dwaraka is mentioned in the Mahabharata (Mausala Parva) and an appendix to the epic, Harivamsa, refers to the submergence of Dwaraka by the sea. Dwaraka was a city state extending up to Bet Dwaraka (Sankhoddhara) in the north and Okhamadhi in the south. In the east, it extended up to Pindata. The 30 to 40 meter-high hill on the eastern flank of Sankhoddhara may be the Raivataka referred to in the Mahabharata. Discovery of Dwaraka Excavations at Dwaraka helped add credence to the legend of Krishna and the Mahabharata war, as well as provide ample evidence of the advanced societies that lived in these areas such as the Harappan settlements. The Dwarakadhisa Temple prompted the setting up of a Marine Archaeology Unit (MAU) jointly by the National Institute of Oceanography and the Archaeological Survey of India. Under the guidance of Dr. Rao, a great marine archaeologist, a team consisting of expert underwater explorers, trained diver-photographers and archaeologists was formed. The technique of geophysical survey was combined with the use of echo-sounders, mud-penetrators, sub-bottom profilers and underwater metal detectors. This team carried out 12 marine archaeological expeditions between 1983 to 1992 and articles and antiquities recovered were sent to Physical Research Laboratory for dating. By using thermo-luminescence, carbon dating and other modern scientific techniques, the artifacts were found to belong to the period between 15th to 18th centuries B.C. In his great work, The Lost City of Dwaraka, Dr. Rao has given scientific details of these discoveries and artifacts. Between 1983 to 1990, the well-fortified township of Dwaraka was discovered, extending more than half mile from the shore. The township was built in six sectors along the banks of a river. The foundation of boulders on which the city's walls were erected proves that the land was reclaimed from the sea. The general layout of the city of Dwaraka described in ancient texts agrees with that of the submerged city discovered by the MAU.
Some
of the Evidences found during excavations near coastal Gujarat
According to the discoveries, Dwaraka was a prosperous city in ancient
times, which was destroyed and reconstructed several times. The work of
great excavators like Z.D. Ansari and M.S. Mate allowed chance discovery
of temples of the 9th century A.D. and 1st century A.D. buried near the
present Dwaraka. Conclusions arrived at after carrying out these
underwater archaeological explorations support and validate the dates
arrived at through astronomical calculations. They also prove that the
reconstructed city was a prosperous port town, and that it was in
existence for about 60-70 years in the 15th century B.C. before being
submerged under the sea in the year 1443 B.C. (Editors' note: Although
the adherents of western, empirical science date Dwaraka to 1443 B.C. or
roughly 3,400 years ago, ancient Vedic astronomical texts and
present-day practitioners of the Vedic tradition assert that the current
epoch of Kali-yuga began in 3102 B.C. Lord Krishna's disappearance and
the subsequent submergence of Dwaraka occured shortly before this date.
Therefore, Dwaraka can be no less than 5,000 years old.) "The discovery
of the legendary city of Dwaraka which is said to have been founded by
Sri Krishna, is an important landmark in the history of India. It has
set at rest the doubts expressed by historians about the historicity of
Mahabharata and the very existence of Dwaraka city. It has greatly
narrowed the gap of Indian history by establishing the continuity of
Indian civilization from the Vedic age to the present day." (S.R. Rao,
former adviser to the NIO who is still actively involved in the
excavations). 
Rao
said that if a fraction of the funds spent on land archaeology were
made available for underwater archaeology, more light could be shed on
Dwaraka, which had much archaeological significance because it was built
during the second urbanization that occured in India after the Indus
Valley civilization in northwestern India. Dwaraka's existence disproves
the belief held by Western archaeologists that there was no
urbanization in the indian subcontinent from the period between 1700
B.C. (Indus Valley) and 550 B.C. (advent of Buddhism). As no information
was available about that period, they had labelled it the Dark Period.
Among the objects unearthed that proved Dwaraka's connection with the
Mahabharata epic was a seal engraved with the image of a three headed
animal. The epic mentions such a seal given to the citizens of Dwaraka
as a proof of identity when the city was threatened by King Jarasandha
of the powerful Magadha kingdom (now Bihar). The foundation of boulders
on which the city's walls were erected proves that the land was
reclaimed from the sea about 3,600 years ago. The epic has references to
such reclamation activity at Dwaraka. Seven islands mentioned in it
were also discovered submerged in the Arabian Sea. Pottery, which has
been established by thermo-luminescence tests to be 3,528 years old and
carrying inscriptions in late Indus Valley civilization script, iron
stakes and triangular three-holed anchors discovered here find mention
in the Mahabharata. "The findings in Dwaraka and archeological evidence
found compatible with the Mahabharata tradition remove the lingering
doubt about the historicity of the Mahabharata. We would say that
Krishna definetely existed." S.R. Rao. Dwaraka inundated by tsunami?
Could a tsunami have struck the coast of Gujarat to drown the ancient
city of Dwaraka? Experts and others closely associated with the
discovery of the lost city off the coast of Saurashtra don't discount
this possibility. They speak of the Mahabharata talking about the sea
suddenly engulfing the city after Lord Krishna's disappearance and
Arjuna taking Krishna's grandsons to Hastinapura. "The Bhagavata Purana
(11.30.5) mentions 'ete ghora mahotpata dvarvatyam yama-ketavah,
muhurtam api na stheyam atra no yadu-pungavah.' The literal translation
is 'This calamity itself has become a symbol of death. The Yadavas
should not stay here even a moment longer.' The suddenness of the
present tsunami has caused similar devastation to what seems to have
happened to ancient Dwaraka and its inhabitans." But here are three
texts including the Harivamsa, the Matsya Purana and the Bhagavat-gita,
which state that it took seven days to vacate Dwaraka before it was
submerged by the sea. If we suppose that Dwaraka submerged due to a
tsunami, the gradual movement of the sea can't be explained. According
to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, 11th Canto, Krishna sends a message to the
people of Dwaraka. He tells them that once he leaves this world, there
would be no one on this earth to save Dwaraka. The sea would finish
Dwaraka and hence he asks the 56 crore Yaduvamsis to leave Dwaraka. 
Dwaraka
destroyed by tsunami One story also says that when lord krishna left
dwarika for meditation, it was the end of the third and final ice age
(Treta yuga in Hinduism) and hence tsunami like destruction was bound to
happen. Source: Report about the excavations done by Dr. S.R. Rao of
the Marnie Archaeology Unit of the National Institute of Oceanography of
India.
Sri Krishna killed the demon Kamsa (his maternal uncle) and made Ugrasena (His maternal grandfather) the king of Mathura. Enraged, Kamsa's father-in law, Jarasandha (king of Magadh) together with his friend Kalayavana attacked Mathura 17 times. For the safety of the people, Krishna and the Yadavas decided to move the capital from Mathura to Dwaraka.
ri Krishna and the Yadavas left Mathura and arrived at the coast of Saurashtra. They decided to build their capital in the coastal region and invoked Visvakarma, the deity of construction. However, Visvakarma said that the task could be completed only if Samudradeva, the lord of the sea, provided some land. Sri Krishna worshipped Samudradeva, who was pleased and gave them land measuring 12 yojanas and henceforth, Visvakarma built Dwaraka, a city in gold.
Anyone engaged in the devotional service of the Lord is recommended to live in one of three places: Dwaraka, Mathura or Vrindavana. Because devotional service in these three places is magnified, those who go there to follow principles in terms of instructions imparted in the revealed scriptures surely achieve the same result as obtained during the presence of Lord Sri Krishna. His abode and He Himself are identical, and a pure devotee under the guidance of another experienced devotee can obtain all the results, even at present.
Submergence of Dwaraka After Sri Krishna left for His abode and the major Yadava heads were killed in fights among themselves (Due to gandhari curse), Dwaraka became submerged in the sea. Before leaving, lord Krishna himself said that ;After I go, there will be no one to save you.’ This is the account given by Arjuna in the Mahabharata: "The sea, which has been beating against the shores, suddenly broke the boundary that was imposed on it by nature. It rushed into the city, coursing through the beautiful city streets, and covered up everything in the city. I saw the beautiful buildings becoming submerged on by one. In a matter of a few moments, it was all over. The sea had now become as placid as a lake. There was no trace of the city. Dwaraka was just a name; just a memory." The Historical Dwaraka The city of Dwaraka has been under investigation by historians since the beginning of the 20th century. The exact location of this port city has been under debate for a long time. Several literary references, especially from the Mahabharata, have been used to suggest its exact location. Dwaraka is mentioned in the Mahabharata (Mausala Parva) and an appendix to the epic, Harivamsa, refers to the submergence of Dwaraka by the sea. Dwaraka was a city state extending up to Bet Dwaraka (Sankhoddhara) in the north and Okhamadhi in the south. In the east, it extended up to Pindata. The 30 to 40 meter-high hill on the eastern flank of Sankhoddhara may be the Raivataka referred to in the Mahabharata. Discovery of Dwaraka Excavations at Dwaraka helped add credence to the legend of Krishna and the Mahabharata war, as well as provide ample evidence of the advanced societies that lived in these areas such as the Harappan settlements. The Dwarakadhisa Temple prompted the setting up of a Marine Archaeology Unit (MAU) jointly by the National Institute of Oceanography and the Archaeological Survey of India. Under the guidance of Dr. Rao, a great marine archaeologist, a team consisting of expert underwater explorers, trained diver-photographers and archaeologists was formed. The technique of geophysical survey was combined with the use of echo-sounders, mud-penetrators, sub-bottom profilers and underwater metal detectors. This team carried out 12 marine archaeological expeditions between 1983 to 1992 and articles and antiquities recovered were sent to Physical Research Laboratory for dating. By using thermo-luminescence, carbon dating and other modern scientific techniques, the artifacts were found to belong to the period between 15th to 18th centuries B.C. In his great work, The Lost City of Dwaraka, Dr. Rao has given scientific details of these discoveries and artifacts. Between 1983 to 1990, the well-fortified township of Dwaraka was discovered, extending more than half mile from the shore. The township was built in six sectors along the banks of a river. The foundation of boulders on which the city's walls were erected proves that the land was reclaimed from the sea. The general layout of the city of Dwaraka described in ancient texts agrees with that of the submerged city discovered by the MAU.
Some
of the Evidences found during excavations near coastal Gujarat
According to the discoveries, Dwaraka was a prosperous city in ancient
times, which was destroyed and reconstructed several times. The work of
great excavators like Z.D. Ansari and M.S. Mate allowed chance discovery
of temples of the 9th century A.D. and 1st century A.D. buried near the
present Dwaraka. Conclusions arrived at after carrying out these
underwater archaeological explorations support and validate the dates
arrived at through astronomical calculations. They also prove that the
reconstructed city was a prosperous port town, and that it was in
existence for about 60-70 years in the 15th century B.C. before being
submerged under the sea in the year 1443 B.C. (Editors' note: Although
the adherents of western, empirical science date Dwaraka to 1443 B.C. or
roughly 3,400 years ago, ancient Vedic astronomical texts and
present-day practitioners of the Vedic tradition assert that the current
epoch of Kali-yuga began in 3102 B.C. Lord Krishna's disappearance and
the subsequent submergence of Dwaraka occured shortly before this date.
Therefore, Dwaraka can be no less than 5,000 years old.) "The discovery
of the legendary city of Dwaraka which is said to have been founded by
Sri Krishna, is an important landmark in the history of India. It has
set at rest the doubts expressed by historians about the historicity of
Mahabharata and the very existence of Dwaraka city. It has greatly
narrowed the gap of Indian history by establishing the continuity of
Indian civilization from the Vedic age to the present day." (S.R. Rao,
former adviser to the NIO who is still actively involved in the
excavations). Rao
said that if a fraction of the funds spent on land archaeology were
made available for underwater archaeology, more light could be shed on
Dwaraka, which had much archaeological significance because it was built
during the second urbanization that occured in India after the Indus
Valley civilization in northwestern India. Dwaraka's existence disproves
the belief held by Western archaeologists that there was no
urbanization in the indian subcontinent from the period between 1700
B.C. (Indus Valley) and 550 B.C. (advent of Buddhism). As no information
was available about that period, they had labelled it the Dark Period.
Among the objects unearthed that proved Dwaraka's connection with the
Mahabharata epic was a seal engraved with the image of a three headed
animal. The epic mentions such a seal given to the citizens of Dwaraka
as a proof of identity when the city was threatened by King Jarasandha
of the powerful Magadha kingdom (now Bihar). The foundation of boulders
on which the city's walls were erected proves that the land was
reclaimed from the sea about 3,600 years ago. The epic has references to
such reclamation activity at Dwaraka. Seven islands mentioned in it
were also discovered submerged in the Arabian Sea. Pottery, which has
been established by thermo-luminescence tests to be 3,528 years old and
carrying inscriptions in late Indus Valley civilization script, iron
stakes and triangular three-holed anchors discovered here find mention
in the Mahabharata. "The findings in Dwaraka and archeological evidence
found compatible with the Mahabharata tradition remove the lingering
doubt about the historicity of the Mahabharata. We would say that
Krishna definetely existed." S.R. Rao. Dwaraka inundated by tsunami?
Could a tsunami have struck the coast of Gujarat to drown the ancient
city of Dwaraka? Experts and others closely associated with the
discovery of the lost city off the coast of Saurashtra don't discount
this possibility. They speak of the Mahabharata talking about the sea
suddenly engulfing the city after Lord Krishna's disappearance and
Arjuna taking Krishna's grandsons to Hastinapura. "The Bhagavata Purana
(11.30.5) mentions 'ete ghora mahotpata dvarvatyam yama-ketavah,
muhurtam api na stheyam atra no yadu-pungavah.' The literal translation
is 'This calamity itself has become a symbol of death. The Yadavas
should not stay here even a moment longer.' The suddenness of the
present tsunami has caused similar devastation to what seems to have
happened to ancient Dwaraka and its inhabitans." But here are three
texts including the Harivamsa, the Matsya Purana and the Bhagavat-gita,
which state that it took seven days to vacate Dwaraka before it was
submerged by the sea. If we suppose that Dwaraka submerged due to a
tsunami, the gradual movement of the sea can't be explained. According
to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, 11th Canto, Krishna sends a message to the
people of Dwaraka. He tells them that once he leaves this world, there
would be no one on this earth to save Dwaraka. The sea would finish
Dwaraka and hence he asks the 56 crore Yaduvamsis to leave Dwaraka. Dwaraka
destroyed by tsunami One story also says that when lord krishna left
dwarika for meditation, it was the end of the third and final ice age
(Treta yuga in Hinduism) and hence tsunami like destruction was bound to
happen. Source: Report about the excavations done by Dr. S.R. Rao of
the Marnie Archaeology Unit of the National Institute of Oceanography of
India. 
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