Nageshwar Temple, Dwarka: Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Guide
श्री नागेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंगWhere Shiva came as light to free a devotee who never stopped chanting.
Nageshwar stands on the road from Dwarka to Okha on the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat. The Shiva Purana’s story of Daruka and the merchant Supriya, the underground sanctum and the great seated Shiva, darshan hours, the easy drive from Dwarka, the Dwarka–Bet Dwarka circuit, and the three temples that share the name.
- 16–18 km from Dwarka town
- ~25 m seated Shiva statue
- Underground sanctum, a few steps down
- 10th Jyotirlinga in the Shiva Purana list
Where is Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and how do you get there?
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is on the Dwarka–Okha road in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat, about 16–18 km from Dwarka town — roughly 25–35 minutes by taxi, auto or local bus. It is the most widely accepted Nageshwar among the 12 Jyotirlingas. The temple is open all year from early morning to night; exact hours: confirm locally.
Nageshwar means “Lord of the Serpents”. Here Shiva is worshipped as a swayambhu (self-manifested) linga of Dwarka Shila stone, set in a sanctum below ground level, with Parvati honoured as Nageshwari. Above it rises a red temple with a large hall, and in the garden beside a pond sits a great Shiva statue, about 25 m (80 ft) tall.
The Shiva Purana’s list of the twelve names “नागेशं दारुकावने” — Nagesh in the forest of Daruka — and tradition places that forest by the western sea, between today’s Dwarka and the island of Bet Dwarka. That is why most pilgrims make Nageshwar part of a Dwarka trip, together with the Dwarkadhish temple and Bet Dwarka. Many people search for it as the Nageshwar Jyotirling of Dwarka.
The legend of Nageshwar
The Shiva Purana (Koti Rudra Samhita) tells how Shiva came to stay in the Daruka forest. This is how the story is told.
- The Daruka forestBy the western sea lay the forest of Darukavana, ruled by the demon Daruka and his consort, who seized travellers and threw them into their dungeon.
- Supriya in chainsOne captive was Supriya, a merchant devoted to Shiva. Even in captivity he kept worshipping and led the other prisoners in chanting Shiva’s name.
- Shiva blazes forthWhen the demons came to silence him, Shiva appeared in a blaze of light, overcame them and set his devotees free.
- The Lord of Serpents staysAt the request of those he had saved, Shiva remained in that forest as Nageshwara, Lord of the Serpents, with Parvati as Nageshwari.
These are stories of faith, told as tradition rather than history. Devotees believe that worship here protects from poison and fear. Another Puranic story links Darukavana to Shiva’s test of the Balakhilya sages, after which he promised to remain there as a Jyotirlinga.
Nageshwar temple timings and darshan
| Daily hours | Usually open from early morning to night, with an afternoon break — exact hours: confirm locally |
| Aarti times | No official schedule is published — confirm locally |
| Official sources | Gujarat Tourism and Incredible India list the temple as open dawn to dusk; we found no official temple website |
| Ticket | No ticket for general darshan has been reported |
| Dress and belongings | Modest dress; phones and leather items may have to be deposited — follow the rules posted at the temple |
| Busiest days | Mondays, Shravan, Mahashivratri and the December–January holidays |
Private guides online give three different sets of hours, so we don’t print one. Checked against Gujarat Tourism and the Devbhumi Dwarka district site (October 2026).
Festivals at Nageshwar
| What | Date | Status / source |
|---|---|---|
| Mahashivratri 2027 | 6 Mar 2027 | Drik Panchang; night-long worship |
| Shravan 2027 | Not announced yet | Gujarat follows the Amanta Shravan, usually late July to August |
| Every Monday | Weekly | Shiva’s day — the busiest day of the week |
The temple is open all year. Gujarat’s Shravan month (Amanta) begins about two weeks after the North-Indian (Purnimanta) Shravan, so check the Gujarat calendar when planning.
How to reach Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
By air
Porbandar Airport is about 107 km from Dwarka and Jamnagar Airport about 126 km (Gujarat Tourism). Rajkot and Ahmedabad have more flights but are much further.
By rail
Dwarka railway station is about 16–18 km from the temple, with trains from Ahmedabad, Rajkot and beyond. Okha station is at the far end of the same road.
By road
From Dwarka town it is about 16–18 km on the Okha road — around 25–35 minutes by taxi or auto. Local buses also run on this road.
At the temple
Level ground and a short walk from the parking. The sanctum is below ground level, so expect a few steps down.
Sample Dwarka and Nageshwar trip
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Day 1Arrive Dwarka → Dwarkadhish
Arrive by train at Dwarka or by road from Porbandar or Jamnagar airport. Evening darshan at the Dwarkadhish temple and the Gomti ghat.
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Day 2Nageshwar → Bet Dwarka
Early drive to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga (16–18 km), then Gopi Talav and Bet Dwarka via Sudarshan Setu from Okha. Rukmini Devi temple on the way back.
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Day 3Coast road → Somnath
Drive about 230 km along the Saurashtra coast to Somnath for the evening aarti — the two Gujarat Jyotirlingas in one trip.
Every yatra is planned for your dates, group and pace — Price: Get Quote.
Before you go
- Pick your seasonNovember to February is the most comfortable. Summer on the coast is hot and humid, and the monsoon runs July to September.
- Go earlyReach early in the morning, especially on Mondays, in Shravan and in the December–January holidays, when Dwarka is busiest.
- EldersThe approach is flat; only the few steps into the underground sanctum need care. Carry water and a cap for the open courtyard.
- Plan the circuitCombine Dwarkadhish, Nageshwar and Bet Dwarka in one day with a hired car — it saves waiting for buses between stops.
Dwarka to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and Bet Dwarka in one day
Nageshwar sits on the same road as the rest of the Dwarka pilgrimage, so most families see it in one day: morning darshan at the Dwarkadhish temple in Dwarka, then Nageshwar (about 16–18 km), Gopi Talav a little further on, and Bet Dwarka across Sudarshan Setu, the cable-stayed bridge from Okha opened on 25 February 2024. The Rukmini Devi temple is about 15–18 km from Nageshwar.
Taxis and autos run on the Dwarka–Okha road, and local buses use it too (check timings locally). For the two Gujarat Jyotirlingas together, Somnath is about 230 km from Dwarka along the coast.
Which is the real Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?
Three temples are linked with the name. Nageshwar near Dwarka (Gujarat) is the most widely accepted, following the Shiva Purana’s Darukavana “by the western sea”. Maharashtra’s tradition honours Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli district, and some devotees read Darukavana as a deodar forest and honour Jageshwar near Almora in Uttarakhand. Each tradition is sincere, and we respect all three.
Somnath is first in both standard lists of the twelve; in the Shiva Purana’s list Nageshwar is the tenth. Like Baidyanath, it is one of the Jyotirlingas where more than one temple carries the name.
Plan your Nageshwar and Dwarka yatra with Suzu
We plan Dwarka–Nageshwar–Bet Dwarka trips from Ahmedabad, Rajkot or your city, add Somnath along the coast, or fit Nageshwar into the full 12 Jyotirlinga journey — cars, stays and darshan timed around the Monday and holiday crowds, with elders in mind.
Questions pilgrims ask
Where is Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?
On the Dwarka–Okha road in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat, between Dwarka town and Bet Dwarka — about 16–18 km from Dwarka.
Which is the real Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?
The temple near Dwarka is the most widely accepted. Maharashtra’s tradition honours Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli, and some devotees honour Jageshwar in Uttarakhand — traditions differ.
What are Nageshwar temple timings?
There is no official published schedule. The temple usually opens early in the morning and closes at night with an afternoon break; confirm exact hours and aarti times locally.
How do I go from Dwarka to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga?
By taxi, auto or local bus on the Okha road — about 16–18 km, roughly 25–35 minutes.
How tall is the Shiva statue at Nageshwar?
The seated Shiva statue in the temple garden is about 25 m, roughly 80 ft, tall.
What is the story of Nageshwar?
The Shiva Purana tells how Shiva appeared as light to free his devotee Supriya, a merchant held captive by the demon Daruka, and stayed there as Nageshwara, Lord of the Serpents.
Can I visit Dwarkadhish, Nageshwar and Bet Dwarka in one day?
Yes. They lie on one road, and Sudarshan Setu, opened in February 2024, links Okha to Bet Dwarka by road.
Which is the nearest airport and railway station?
Porbandar Airport is about 107 km from Dwarka and Jamnagar about 126 km. Dwarka railway station is about 16–18 km from the temple.
Keep exploring
Yatras & circuits
Seasonal yatras
Temple guides
Planning guides
Sources
- Gujarat Tourism — Nageshwar Jyotirlinga (official)
- Devbhumi Dwarka district — Nageshwar Temple (official)
- Incredible India — Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
- Business Today — Sudarshan Setu inaugurated (25 Feb 2024)
- Shiva Mahapurana, Koti Rudra Samhita (Sanskrit)
- Wikipedia — Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
- Wikipedia — Aundha Nagnath Temple
- Wikipedia — Jageshwar
- Drik Panchang — Maha Shivaratri 2027
Legends are retold in our own words as traditions. Animations are original artwork by Suzu Travels.
