Dwarkadhish Gopal Mandir

Gopal Mandir, a Hindu temple, is situated in Madhya Pradesh’s holy city of Ujjain, 2 km from Ujjain Junction. It is one of the best-known pilgrimage sites in Ujjain and one of the top tourist destinations because it is located in the centre of the busy Big Market Square.

Gopal Mandir, also known as the Dwarkadhish Temple, is a shrine to Lord Krishna. Bayaji bai Shinde, the wife of Maratha King Daulatrao Shinde, constructed the shrine in the 19th century. After Mahakaleshwar, Gopal Mandir is the second-largest temple in Ujjain. It is actually an old property that once belonged to Scindia Estates and was later converted into a shrine. It is estimated that the Dwarkadhish Gopal Mandir is 200 years old.

The temple, a marble-towered building, is a stunning example of Maratha architecture. A two-foot-tall, silver-gilded figure of Lord Krishna is kept in the temple, and it is set atop a marble altar with silver-plated doors.

There is a legend about the silver-plated doors that Mahmud Ghazi took from the Somnath Temple and had Mahmud Shah Abdali, an Afghan invader, bring them back to Lahore. The doors were eventually found and installed in the Gopal Mandir after a protracted battle. Additionally, there are idols of Lord Shiva, Parvati, and Garuda in the shrine.

In this temple complex, Janmashtami and Harihar Parva are observed with considerable fanfare. The Harihar Parva festival commemorates the union of Lord Krishna (Hari) and Lord Shiva (Har). Midnight is when Lord Mahakal enters the temple to see Lord Krishna. The big puja lasts for another two hours.