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                                                        The city of Dwaraka has a 
                                                        very large and old 
                                                        traditional history. Dwaraka was the capital 
                                                        of the western coast of
                        Saurashtra. Dwaraka was 
                                                        a large, well fortified 
                                                        and the prosperous city 
                                                        due to the sea trade 
                                                        which prevailed in this 
                                                        city. This region was 
                                                        full of flowering and 
                                                        fruit-bearing trees. Due 
                                                        to fear of the attack by Jarasangh and Kaalayvan 
                                                        on Mathura, Shri Krishna 
                                                        and Yadavas left Mathura 
                                                        and arrived at the coast 
                                                        of Saurashtra. They 
                                                        decided to build their 
                                                        capital in the coastal 
                                                        region and invoke the
                        Vishwakarma, the deity 
                                                        of construction. 
                                                        However, Vishwakarma 
                                                        said that the task can 
                                                        be completed only if
                        Samudradev, the Lord of the sea provide some 
                                                        land. Shri Krishna 
                                                        worshipped Samudradev, 
                                                        who pleased by the 
                                                        prayers decided to gave 
                                                        them the land measuring 
                                                        12 yojans from the sea 
                                                        near the western shores 
                                                        of Saurashtra and thus 
                                                        the Lord Vishwakarma 
                                                        laid the foundation of
                        Dwaraka.
                                                        Lord Krishna later set 
                                                        up his capital at Dwaraka, on the banks of 
                                                        river Gomati.
                                                        This beautiful city was 
                                                        also known as Dwaramati, 
                                                        Dwarawati and Kushsthali. 
                                                        It was a well planned 
                        city and had well organized 
                                                        six sectors, residential 
                                                        and commercial zones, 
                                                        wide roads, palaces and many public 
                                                        utilities. A hall called 
                                                        "Sudharma Sabha" was 
                                                        built to hold public 
                                                        meetings. The city was 
                                                        one of the busiest ports 
                                                        during the Mahabharata 
                                                        period. After the end of 
                                                        the war of Mahabharata, Shri Krishna lived for 
                                                        36 years at Dwaraka. It 
                                                        was also the land of the Ekalavya 
                        and the saint Dronacharya. According to 
                                                        the legends, the Dwaraka 
                                                        city met a sudden end 
                                                        due to the fury of the 
                                                        sea. According to some 
                                                        other legends, 
                                                        immediately after the 
                                                        death of the Lord 
                                                        Krishna, Dwaraka 
                        disappeared into the sea. Attempts are being still made 
                        to rediscover the lost Dwaraka from the 
                                                        sea. In the early 
                                                        eighties, an important 
                                                        archaeological site was 
                                                        found at Dwaraka. 
                                                         
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