Lakhpat

Koteshwar: (52 km from Lakhpat)
Koteshwar is a famous place of pilgrimage located at the farthest tip of western India at the Kori Creek. The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang (640 AD) described the town as a flourishing port, 5 miles in circumference, at the mouth of the Sindhu river. It had 80 monasteries and 5000 monks, out of which nothing survives today.

The present day Koteshwar is a fortified town with high wall and gates. The inscription shows that the present fortification and temple were renovated in 1820 AD by rich merchants - Jetha Shivji and Sheth Sundarji. The Koteshwar temple complex is dedicated to Shiva. The white painted high wall at the seashore, the high Shikhara with saffron flags and series of domes make a perfect location for a Shiva Temple. Within the temple, there are images of Hanuman, Ganesha, Revati, Parvati and Swayambhu Shiva Linga.

The Kalayaneshwar Temple is situated close to the Koteshwar Temple at the edge of a sacred square kund. The kund fills up during high tide. Hindus bathe here and perform shraddh (ritual ceremony after the death of ancestors).

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Narayan Sarovar: (49 km from Lakhpat)
Narayan Sarovar is one of the five holy lakes of India, the other four being: Mansarovar in Tibet, Pushkar in Rajasthan, Pampa in South India and Bindu Sarovar in Siddhapur. It is located 2 km away from Koteshwar on Kori Creek. This lake finds mention in the chronicles of Alexander, the Great.

In 1550 AD, the temple priest constructed the embankments and ghats on all three sides of the lake (320m X 300m) except on east. He also constructed separate compartments for bathing, using carved stone jails. The wife of Rao Desalji (1718-41 AD), Vagheli Mahakunwarba, constructed the Laxmi Narayan Temple and Trikamrai Temple in 1734 AD to put the Narayan Sarovar at par with Dwarka. She donated several villages for the upkeep of the temples.

Other temples at Narayan Sarovar are Adi Narayan, Govardhannath, Dwarkanath, and Lakshmiji.

However, it is ideal if a visit to Kuchh can coincide with the Kuchh Mahotsav. This is a tourist festival organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat between February and March every year.

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