Nageshwar Temple

It is believed that a demon named Daruka imprisoned many people, including a devoted follower of Shiva named Supriya. Even in captivity, Supriya remained absorbed in Shiva's worship and encouraged his fellow prisoners to do the same. When an enraged Daruka moved to kill Supriya, Shiva himself appeared and destroyed the demon, protecting his devotees. The Jyotirlinga here commemorates this event, and Shiva came to be worshipped as Nageshwar, protector from serpents and poison.

A distinctive feature of Nageshwar is that its sanctum lies underground, reached by descending a short flight of steps. The temple complex's roughly 25-metre-tall meditating statue of Shiva has become this site's most recognisable landmark. It's worth noting that tradition holds some disagreement over the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga's location, Aundha Nagnath in Maharashtra and Jageshwar in Uttarakhand are also regarded as the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga in some traditions, though this temple near Dwarka is the most widely recognised.

Nageshwar Temple lies on the route from Dwarka to Bet Dwarka, so pilgrims often cover the Dwarkadhish Temple, Nageshwar, and Bet Dwarka in a single trip. Reaching the underground sanctum involves descending a short flight of steps, manageable for most visitors.

The giant Shiva statue in the temple complex is also a popular photography spot, visible from a distance. The temple is open year-round, and given the coastal climate, visiting between October and March is most comfortable.