AHMEDABAD: Dwarka, the ancient coastal city of Gujarat closely associated with the legend of Lord Krishna and home to the revered Dwarkadhish temple, is witnessing new rounds of archaeological excavations, both on land and underwater, senior officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said. The proposed work aims to explore previously unexplored areas using modern technology to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s historical and cultural past, reports Parth Shastri. Underwater archaeological excavations in Dwarka were last carried out between 2005 and 2007, while limited exploratory studies were again carried out in 2025.Dwarka’s upcoming exploration phase is expected to be more extensive: ASIAccording to ASI officials, the coming phase will be more extensive and systematic. Alok Tripathi, additional director general of ASI, told TOI that new areas at Beyt Dwarka and unexplored underwater zones will be covered by the agency’s Underwater Archeology Wing (UAW). “Dwarka has been studied for almost 40 years, but the work so far has been limited in scope and objectives. We are now studying the other side of the mouth of the Gomti river,” Tripathi said. Experts said modern tools and technology would be used to enable larger and deeper excavations in the Arabian Sea. Tripathi himself was part of the five-member UAW team that conducted underwater exploration work in Dwarka in February last year. During this time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also dived underwater off the coast of Dwarka to look at the submerged remains discovered on the seabed, drawing national attention to the site. On land, the focus will be on relatively undisturbed areas of Beyt Dwarka. Previous excavations were largely concentrated near the cliff area. “We are now penetrating deeper into the forest area where we have discovered signs of a significant settlement. The site has some notable features and excavations at deeper levels could reveal important details about settlement planning, economic activities, arts and crafts and the way of life of the inhabitants,” Tripathi said. The place has attracted attention due to the legend of the lost city of Dwarka, believed to have been founded by Lord Krishna. The ASI website says that explorations were carried out to understand the submerged archaeological remains off the coast of Dwarka as sculptures and stone anchors were found in coastal areas during low tide. According to the ASI website, the excavations have so far unearthed many antiquities, including terracotta objects, beads, fragmented bangles, copper rings, iron ingots and pottery. Apart from Dwarka, the ASI has also initiated excavations at other important sites in Gujarat. Work has begun in Valabhipur, the ancient capital in Bhavnagar district, and Lothal, the Harappan-era site known for its water structure and believed to be one of the oldest shipyards in the world. With the upcoming National Maritime Heritage Complex near Lothal, archaeologists are uncovering a larger area of the site using advanced tools and techniques. Tripathi emphasized that archeology goes beyond excavations. “Our mission is to put insights into perspective and fill gaps in historical understanding,” he said, adding that India’s use of technology in archeology was at par with global standards and was increasingly based on interdisciplinary approaches. There has been significant archaeological activity in Gujarat in the last decade, including extensive ASI-led excavations in Vadnagar in Mehsana district, Prime Minister Modi’s hometown, which revealed evidence of continuous occupation over two millennia. The state is also home to significant Harappan sites such as Dholavira, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Lothal, highlighting Gujarat’s rich and diverse archaeological heritage.
