Rukmini Devi Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Porbandar, 95 km away, and Jamnagar, 110 km away, are the closest airports.

• By train

  Dwarka Railway Station (DWK) is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  Dwarka is well connected by robust state-run buses, and the temple is on the outskirts of the town.

Why devotees come here

Rukmini Devi Temple stands on the outskirts of Dwarka in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat. It is dedicated to Rukmini, chief queen of Krishna. The temple has a richly carved exterior and a marble idol of Rukmini.

Rukmini Devi Temple is dedicated to Devi Rukmini, chief queen of Krishna and an incarnation of Lakshmi. It is one of the few temples that honour her alone. Local tradition holds that the pilgrimage to Dwarka is complete only after prayers at this temple.

A legend in the Skanda Purana explains why Rukmini and Krishna have separate temples, placed far away from each other. The temple itself is believed to be very old, with an origin traced back to the 5th century BC. The form seen today is thought to date from the 12th century, and the present structure is believed to have been built in the 19th century.

The outside is richly carved with figures of gods and goddesses. Inside the sanctum, a marble idol of Rukmini has four hands, holding a conch, a discus, a mace and a lotus.

Festivals

• Check the date before you travelRukmini Ashtami

  Celebrate it with special prayers, devotional songs, and offerings made to Devi Rukmini.

Tips for your visit

• Visitors are encouraged to bring fresh drinking water along to offer to the deity during their visit.
• Jal daan, the donation of water, is a unique tradition at this temple.

Questions people ask