Discovering Ancient Secrets, Dwarka

Dwarka is an important city for Hindu Pilgrimage. It was the fabled capital city of Lord Krishna. The land for the city was reclaimed from the sea near the western shores of Saurashtra. Dwarka was a planned city built on the banks of river Gomati. The beautiful city was also known by various other names like Dwaramati, Dwarawati and Kushsthali. The city was divided into well-organized six different sectors, residential and commercial zones, spacious roads, plazas, palaces and many public places. The "Sudharma Sabha" was a hall build to hold public meetings. The buildings were constructed of stone and brick. The city also boasted of a good harbor. Dwarka is said to be one of the seven most ancient cities or the 'sapta puris' in the country.

Dwarka submerged into the sea after Sri Krishna left for the heavenly abode and the important Yadava kings were killed in fights among themselves. Arjun brought Krishna's grandsons and the Yadava wives to Hastinapur. Soon after Arjun left, the waves covered the city. Arjun has given this account in the Mahabharata.

The search for the lost city of Dwarka began as early as in 1930's. Marine Archaeology Unit (MAU) of the National Institute of Oceanography took part in this search in 1983. The search was carried out in the coastal waters of Dwarka in Gujarat. The well-fortified township of Dwarka that extended more than half a mile from the shore was discovered from 1983 to 1990. The township was built in six sectors along the banks of a river. The understructure of boulders on which the walls of the city were erected suggested that the land was reclaimed from the sea. Dwarka extended up to Bet Dwarka (Sankhodhara) in the north, Okhamadhi in the south and up to Pindara in the east. The general layout of the discovered city of Dwarka is similar to the one described in ancient texts agrees with that of the submerged city discovered by MAU.