Harshad Mataji Tample

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The entire area of Saurashtra in the Gujarat State of India is full of holy temples. Most of the people have a strong and deep faith on such holy temples even in present scientific scenario. This faith provides them with the strength to face the challenges of life and surpass them successfully. One such holy place of pilgrimage is the ancient temple of Harshad Mata, situated at around twenty five miles away from the city of Porbandar in Gujarat State. This temple attracts thousands of tourists every year from all the remote corners of India and even from abroad.

Harshad Mata temple can be reached easily from either Porbandar or Dwarka. It is located almost in the middle of these two cities of Gujarat. It is very well connected by road from all the major cities of Gujarat State. There are also regular daily trains from Mumbai for Porbandar that leaves Ahmedabad at around 7 pm in the evening and reaches Porbandar by around 7 am in the next morning. However, we visited this holy temple in a hired car from city of Vadodara, which happens to be my native place

. This minalpur was a main port and trading used to be done with foriegn shores.Once during the holy festival of Navratri, the 7 wives of Prabhatsen were playing garba. So Jagdamba Mataji from the Koyal hill, also doned ornaments and fine clothes and took the appearance of a beutiful lady, came down to play the Raas.King Prabhatsen who was watching the festivities from the palace got attracted to this fine lady and the flames of evil passion got ignited in him, so in the late night, when Mataji started going back to the hill, he started to follow her. Looking at this she got angry and cursed him and told him to come every night to the temple to be eaten alive.

So every night, the King had to go to the temple to be roasted alive in the fire pit and to be eaten. The next day she would make him alive and send him back to his palace. This daily curse had taken its toll on King Prabhatsens health and he became very weak and thin.During that time, the maternal cousin of prabhatsen, the Great King, Vir Vikramaditya came on the pilgrimage of Dwarka and became his guest. On seeing the condition of his cousin, King Vir Vikramaditya asked for the reason and he was told this tale of tourture. So the great king vikram decided and took the appearance of Prabhatsen and went for fullfilling the curse of his cousin. Seeing show of love and courage pleased Mataji, so she granted a wish to him. King Vikram asked for 2 wishes. 1. to relieve his cousin of the curse and 2. to become his guest at the capital city Ujjain of his kingdomof Malvan.

She granted his wishes.But about accepting his wish about her visit to Ujjain, she kept the condition that she would follow the his caravan on foot and she forbade him to look back and check whether she was coming or not which he agreed and he looked then Mataji will stop at that point only. On reaching the outskirts of his capital city of ujjain on the banks of river Shipra, King Vir Vikramaditya out of curosity looked back and thus Harshidhi Mataji stopped there itself.Even today the Temple of Harshidhi Mataji is still there and It is said that since then, Mataji goes daily there for night stay and comes back to Koyla hill during the day.

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Medhakrik Dam:
Medhakrik Dam is 45 kilometers distant from Porbandar on Dwarka road Harshad mata’s mandir is there which is a pilgrimage Centre. This old temple is related to story of “Raja Bhuj”. Similarly it is also related to the story of shah saudagar(A rich bussiness) of that time. This tample is situated on the very beautiful seashore, beside this, a medhakrik Dam site is also very near to this temple.

Kirti Mandir:
Kirthi Mandir, the birth-place of the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, is the main centre of attraction for the tourists. It was built by Shri Nanji Kalidas and Shri Purushottam Mistry.

Tara Mandir (Planetarium):
Tara MandirAll celestial bodies like stars and planets are projected scientifically by special effect movies on an overhead round screen in a theatre and explained elaborately to the joy of the viewers.

Chowpatty:
Porbandar’s coastal line is just half a kilometre away from the city. Popularly known as Chowpatty, it is one of the main attractions for the local population as well as tourists, to visit and enjoy the beautiful scenery throughout the year.

Bharat Mandir:
Pictures, sculptures and symbols and portraying Indian culture and religion have been exhibited in this place. It is the mirror of Indian tradition.
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Sudama Mandir:
Extremely poor but self-respected Sudama and Krishna’s friendship brings tears of joy, when remembered. It is in memory of this Sudama that a temple has been built in the heart of the city, known as Sudama Mandir.

Darbargadh:
Darbargadh, the fortified palace was built by the Rana Sartanji. This palace has a huge carved stone entrance gate flanked by high turrets and massive wooden doors. It is a typical example of such royal enclosures situated within the town of Gujarat. The nearby edifices on the left of the entrances are also good examples of large mansions with courtyards and intricately carved wooden elements.

Sartanji Choro:
Rana Sartanji built Sartanji Choro, the three storeyed summer pavilion. This palace was built in the Rajput style as a retreat in the middle of the garden. Each side of the garden represent a different reason. The pillars with images of musicians, profusely carved foliated arches and a single dome at the top gives an idea of bygone days, when Rana Sartanji used to compose poems in Braj bhasha, sitting under this pavillion.

Huzoor Palace:
Huzoor Palace is located at the end of Marine Drive, in a huge campus. This sprawling palace is built in the European style with sloping roofs, several wings and big windows, overlooking the sea. The wings are interspersed with the back and front yards which bring nature and the building together by gardens and fountains. The semi-circular porticos with neo-classical pillars, decorated entrance gate and the commanding view makes this palace, a worth visiting place.

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Madhavpura:
Madhavpura is 60 kms. from Porbandar. It is believed that Lord Krishna and Rukmini got married overhere. A large fair is held in March - April

Dwarkadheesh Temple (Jagat Mandir):
The temple of Jagat Mandir, with the presiding deity of Shri Krishna known as Dwarkadheesh, is an imposing edifice and a superb architectural monument. Having a plinth area of 1800 square feet, the temple consists of a shrine that is supported by 60 pillars made of granite and sandstone. The Dwarkadhish temple (also known as Jagat temple) and its Sikhar rises to 170 feet. The pataka or flag of the temple is changed three times a day. Pilgrims and devotees vie with one another to pay for the flag. There are special tailors to stitch it. Before hoisting the flag it is taken round the temple by the donor. The pilgrims enter the temple by Swarg Dwar (the gateway of heaven) and leave by Moksh Dwar (the gateway of salvation). The temple has rich carvings. The ancient shrine has been supported by kings and commoners alike from its inception. It is one of the important moksh dhams. The Gomti River flows nearby. The Temple is believed to be more than 2500 years old.

Rukmini Temple:
Dating to the 12th-13th century, the Rukmini Temple has beautiful carvings, especially on the pillars of the 'Sabha Mandapa'. The temple was built in honour of Rani Rukmani, princess of Vidarbha, who later got married to Lord Krishna. It is very popular among the pilgrims.

Dunny Point:
Dunny Point, first eco-tourism site, promises to be one more feather in Gujarat's cap. Active nature conservation is a vital aspect of government policy, the declaration of new nature reserves enables, on the one hand, species to thrive in protected environment while, on the other, allows visitors to sample nature without despoiling the ecosystem.

Nageshwar Mandir:
Nageshwar Mandir is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in an underground chamber. It is 17 kms from Dwarka. , Gopi Talav Tirth is 23 kms from Dwarka.

Bet Dwarka:
The visit of Dwarka is not complete without a visit to Bet Dwarka, an island at a distance of 30 kms. Off the coast of Okha port, the island is separated by a strip of sea about four kms wide. It takes about half-an hour to cross this channel in a diesel boat operated by the Port Authority. At Bet, there are temples of Vishnu (in the form of 'matsya'), Radha, Lakshmi, Satyabhama, Jambuvanti and Devaki. The sacred pilgrim sight is 32 kms from Dwarka. It is believed that Lord Krishna resided here with his family.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Madhav Petrol Pump:Near garbichawk,Porbandar,Gujrat,India

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

The New Oceanic Hotel:Chowpati,Porbandar,Gujarat,India

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