Bet Dwarka to Dwarkadhish Temple: The Return Journey Explained

The return from Bet Dwarka to Dwarkadhish Temple has two distinct legs and requires a little planning to execute smoothly. The first leg is the ferry crossing from Bet Dwarka jetty back to Okha jetty. This is the same crossing you made on the way out, a 3.5 km boat ride across the creek between the island and the mainland. Government ferries charge ₹40-50 per person for this crossing. The boats run on demand throughout the day and you should not need to wait long for a return boat, particularly in the morning and early afternoon when traffic is heavier.

Once you land at Okha jetty, the second leg is the 36 km road journey from Okha to Dwarka. Auto-rickshaws wait at the Okha jetty and charge ₹400-600 for the full Okha-to-Dwarka trip. If you hired an auto from Dwarka to Okha in the morning with a return agreement, this is the moment to reconvene with your driver. GSRTC buses also operate between Okha and Dwarka for ₹40-60 per person, taking about 60 minutes. The bus is slower than a direct auto but significantly cheaper for solo travellers.

Sudarshan Setu, the 2.32 km cable-stayed bridge between Okha and Bet Dwarka, is an alternative to the boat for both the outward and the return leg. It opened in February 2024, carries two lanes of traffic in each direction and has a 2.5 metre footpath on either side inscribed with verses from the Bhagavad Gita. Crossing by road takes only a few minutes and does not depend on the sea. Many pilgrims now go one way over the bridge and take the boat the other way, so they get both the new view and the traditional crossing.

The most convenient way to do the Bet Dwarka circuit from Dwarka is to hire a full-day auto for the Dwarka-Okha-Bet Dwarka-Dwarka route. Auto drivers near Dwarkadhish Temple and at the Dwarka Bus Stand are very familiar with this circuit. A typical day-hire for this circuit costs ₹800-1,200 depending on whether you add Nageshwar to the route. This covers: Dwarka to Okha (auto waits at Okha while you take the ferry), Okha to Nageshwar (optional), and Nageshwar to Dwarka. You pay separately for the ferry if you take the boat; an auto can drive you across Sudarshan Setu but agree that leg in advance.

Negotiating a clear price before departure is important. Confirm the pick-up time, all stops, waiting time at Okha, and whether the fare includes return to your hotel or just back to the temple area. Most drivers are honest about this circuit as it is a standard tourist route and the prices are well established. If a driver quotes more than ₹1,500 for the full day without Nageshwar, it is worth negotiating or finding another auto.

Shared autos from Dwarka to Okha are also available in the morning from the Dwarka Bus Stand area, charging ₹60-100 per person. These are less convenient if you want flexibility on timing at the island, but they are significantly cheaper for solo pilgrims. The trade-off is that you will need to find transport independently at Okha on the return.

The Bet Dwarka temple has different timings in summer and winter. In summer the temple is open 6 AM-12:30 PM and 3 PM-8 PM. In winter it opens 6:30 AM-12:30 PM and 2:30 PM-7:30 PM. The afternoon break is the key timing constraint for planning your return. If you miss the morning session and need to wait for the afternoon opening, you will be departing the island no earlier than 5-6 PM which makes it impossible to attend the Dwarkadhish Uthapan aarti at 5 PM back in Dwarka. The morning visit is strongly preferred for pilgrims who want to combine Bet Dwarka with an evening at Dwarkadhish.

Valuables and extra luggage can be left in lockers at Dwarka or with your hotel before leaving for Bet Dwarka. The island has no formal luggage storage and the ferry crossing is on an open boat where managing bags requires care. Travel light for this day, a small bag with water, prasad and a change of footwear if needed is sufficient. Mobile phones are permitted at Bet Dwarka unlike at the main Dwarkadhish sanctum, so photography on the island is possible.

The Okha jetty area has tea stalls and very basic food options. If you want a proper meal before or after the ferry crossing, Okha town (about 1 km from the jetty) has dhabas serving standard Gujarat vegetarian food. Most pilgrims bring prasad and dry snacks for the island and eat a proper meal back in Dwarka on return. The island itself has a few small stalls selling coconut water and prasad items but no restaurants.