The Four Vertices of Travel

                      Dwarkadhish Temple

A Pilgrim’s Quiet Geometry of Life

Travel, I have discovered, is not merely about distance. It is about direction. Oftentimes in the Army the destination was first set on the compass. Even in a desolate desert, if we maintained our direction by stars or compass, we would eventually reach our destination. This principle I remembered for life. 

In the outer world we move across maps, highways, rivers, deserts  and mountains. But in the inner world we travel across questions, doubts, faith and surrender.

Looking back at my life, I sometimes feel that my journey has always been shaped by two parallel identities -  the warrior and the seeker. One trained to march outward, disciplined and purposeful. The other compelled to walk inward, silent and reflective. A kind of “Buddha–Warrior” paradox that life quietly carved into my being. And perhaps that is why pilgrimage has always held a special place in my travels and photo walks of life. 

Over the years, one spiritual goal slowly began to form in my mind — completing the sacred circuit of the Char Dham Yatra.

Four sacred vertices on the spiritual map of India

• Kedarnath Temple
• Badrinath Temple
• Ramanathaswamy Temple
• Jagannath Temple

And finally the western anchor of that sacred geometry

• Dwarkadhish Temple

But like many journeys that matter in life, the road to Dwarka refused to be simple.

When Providence Delays Three times I attempted the journey to Dwarkadheesh. Three times, the path quietly closed. Once, I had almost reached Ahmedabad when my wife suddenly became unwell. The journey had to be abandoned. On another occasion, fate reversed the roles. This time I fell ill soon after reaching Ahmedabad and had to return home. The third attempt collapsed even before it began. A plan made with a cousin slowly dissolved under the weight of circumstances. Three unfinished attempts. Three reminders that pilgrimage happens only when it is permitted. In matters of faith, determination alone is not enough. There is always a silent element of grace.

Seeking Permission in Braj

This time I decided that the journey must begin properly — at the playground of Krishna himself. Before heading west to Dwarka, we first completed the sacred Braj Circuit. We offered our prayers at

• Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
• Vrindavan
• Gokul
• Nandgaon
• Barsana
• And then came the most meditative moment of the circuit — the sacred Govardhan Hill Parikrama 

Walking the Govardhan Parikrama, step by step, you slowly realise that pilgrimage is not about reaching somewhere  Rather, it is about dissolving something somewhere.

Here is the link to that beautiful Braj Circuit 

https://iamaktewari.blogspot.com/2025/10/pilgrimage-vibes-full-tour.html

Later, as Holi approached I decided to partake in a Holy Photo Walk at Vrindavan. While in Vrindavan, I also had the joy of playing Holi with the beloved Lord at the famous Banke Bihari Temple. Only after offering our prayers there did we feel ready to move towards Dwarka.

Porbandar: Seeking Cosmic Permission

Our journey west began at Porbandar. Before proceeding to Dwarka, we visited the ancient Surya Temple, a unique shrine that houses representations of the planetary deities. Standing before each of them, I silently prayed. If the journey was meant to happen, may the cosmos allow it.

                          Surya Temple 

Pilgrimage sometimes feels like submitting a travel request not to a government — but to the universe itself. Arzi legani padti hai...

While at Porbandar, also called Sudamanagri, we visited the famous Sudama Temple, Chaupati Beach, Hari Mandir, Jambuvanti Caves and places of birth of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi. 

                        Sudama Temple

                           Chaupati Beach

                       Sudama Temple

                    Jambuvanti Caves

             Kirti Temple- Gandhi Residence 

                              Hari Temple

Arrival at Dwarkadheesh

And then, on 7 March 2026, we finally arrived at Dwarka. At the majestic Dwarkadhish Temple, something beautiful happened. We were able to go around the temple deity twice and had the rare blessing of offering prayers in a quiet and unhurried manner. Anyone who has visited a crowded temple will understand what a gift that is. For a few moments, time slowed down. The warrior in me stood still. The seeker in me bowed.

                  Darshan of 07 Mar 26

The Final Footprints of Krishna

The pilgrimage did not end there. We continued to explore the sacred geography of Krishna’s final earthly days.

At Bhalka Tirth, we stood at the very place where the hunter Jara’s arrow struck Krishna — the moment when the Lord chose to withdraw his physical presence from the world.

                      Bhalka Tirth Temple

Later we visited the serene Triveni Sangam, where it is believed that Krishna’s mortal remains were laid to rest before he departed this world.

We also paid our respects at the sacred Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and crossed the waters to the island shrine of Bet Dwarka.

                  Nageshwar Jyotirlinga 

                       Rukmani Temple

Each place felt like a page from an ancient epic.

The Lions of Gir

As if to end the journey with a flourish from nature itself, we travelled into the forests of Gir National Park.

The safari turned into an unforgettable finale. That day we sighted 17 lions and cubs. For a photographer, a traveller and a lover of wild landscapes, it felt like the universe had added its own exclamation mark to the pilgrimage.

Completing the Sacred Geometry

With the darshan of Dwarkadheesh, something quietly completed itself in my life. The four vertices of the sacred pilgrimage were now fulfilled. A spiritual bucket list, quietly completed. But what stays with me is not the satisfaction of finishing something. It is the deeper realisation that any pilgrimage is not about reaching God. It is about being reshaped along the journey. Perhaps that is the real geometry of travel. Four sacred vertices across India. But the true centre of the journey lies somewhere within. We all have travelled a million miles. But finally all journeys end at home. The net distance travel is Nada. It's a zero sum travel game. But yes, I have as a warrior and seeker undertaken  both the outward and inward journeys in a manner which have both tempered my mind and soul equally. Compared to my own yester years self, I am a better person in my own eyes.

And the warrior – pilgrim continues to walk.