Few towns blend history, mythology, and culture along its sacred shores the way Dwarka does. Now, a report has claimed that it is bracing for an archaeological push.
This heritage site will see excavations on land and underwater. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is planning an intensive and technology-driven phase to examine parts of the region that hadn’t been explored in the past.
Studies in Lord Krishna’s city were carried out last year, though on a limited scale.
In February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also went underwater off the Dwarka coast to view submerged remains on the seabed. That event brought sharp national attention to the site.
Earlier, underwater excavations in Dwarka were done between 2005 and 2007.
ASI officials told the media outlet that the upcoming phase would be more extensive and systematic.
Prof Alok Tripathi, Additional Director General of the ASI, was quoted as saying that new areas at Beyt Dwarka and previously unexplored underwater zones would be examined by the ASI’s Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW).
He said that while Dwarka had been studied for nearly 40 years, earlier work remained limited in scope.
This phase includes the other side of the mouth of the Gomti river.
Officials said modern tools will now be used to go wider and deeper underwater.
On land, the ASI will focus on relatively undisturbed areas of Beyt Dwarka, moving away from zones that were excavated earlier. Prof Tripathi told the media outlet that previous work had largely remained confined to cliff-side areas, while fresh indicators pointed to a substantial settlement deeper inside the forested region.
He said the site showed significant features and that excavations at lower levels could provide crucial insights into settlement planning, economic activities, arts and crafts, and the daily life of the inhabitants.
The Dwarka site continues to draw interest from archaeologists and the wider public. This is due to the enduring belief in a sunken city founded by Lord Krishna.
Explorations were carried out to study submerged archaeological remains off the Dwarka coast. These explorations followed the discovery of sculptures and stone anchors during low tide along coastal stretches.
Excavations so far have yielded a range of antiquities. These include terracotta objects, beads, fragmented bangles, copper rings, iron ingots, and pottery.
Beyond Dwarka, the ASI has already begun work at other locations in Gujarat.
Excavations are reportedly underway at Valabhipur in Bhavnagar district, the ancient capital, and at Lothal, the Harappan-era site known for its water structure believed to be among the world’s oldest dockyards. Near Lothal, with the National Maritime Heritage Complex coming up, archaeologists are opening up a larger area of the site using advanced tools and techniques.
Prof Tripathi said archaeology was not limited to digging alone and that the responsibility also involved placing discoveries in context and addressing gaps in historical understanding. He said India’s archaeological work now matched global standards in its use of technology and increasingly depended on interdisciplinary approaches.
The Dwarka project adds to Gujarat’s archaeological activities over the past decade. This reportedly includes large-scale ASI-led excavations at Vadnagar in Mehsana.
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