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Religious Places near Nakhatrana
Nine sacred places of four faiths surround Nakhatrana, from Mata no Madh, family temple of the Jadeja rulers, to the dargah of Hajipir and the Jain tirths of Tera and Suthari.
Which religious places are near Nakhatrana?
Nine religious places are within a day trip of Nakhatrana: Mata no Madh, Narayan Sarovar, Koteshwar Mahadev, Lakhpat, Vandhay, Yaksh 72, Hajipir, Tera Jain Tirth and Suthari Jain Tirth. They span Hindu, Jain, Muslim and Sikh traditions. The closest mapped site is Yaksh 72 at 12 km; the farthest is Narayan Sarovar at 83 km.
| Place | From Nakhatrana | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Yaksh 72 (Jakh Botera) | 12 km SE | Moti Yaksh, near Kakadbhit |
| Tera Jain Tirth | 34 km W | Tera, Abdasa taluka |
| Hajipir | 39 km N | edge of the Banni |
| Suthari Jain Tirth | ≈54 km SW | Suthri, Abdasa taluka |
| Lakhpat | 73 km NW | Lakhpat taluka |
| Narayan Sarovar | 83 km WNW | Lakhpat taluka |
| Mata no Madh | see map | Lakhpat taluka |
| Koteshwar Mahadev | see map | near Narayan Sarovar, Lakhpat taluka |
| Vandhay | see map | Kutch |
Mata no Madh
Mata no Madh is the temple of Ashapura Mata, family deity of the Jadeja rulers of Kutch, in Lakhpat taluka (Wikipedia). During Navratri thousands of pilgrims walk to the temple on foot, and many of them pass through Nakhatrana on the way.
- What it is
- Religious place (Hindu)
- Where
- Lakhpat taluka, Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- Open the directions link for the route.
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Active temple; visit respectfully and expect large crowds during Navratri.
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Narayan Sarovar
Narayan Sarovar is one of the five sacred lakes (Panch Sarovar) of Hindu tradition, at the far western edge of Kutch near the Koteshwar temple. The Narayan Sarovar wildlife sanctuary nearby covers about 444 square kilometres (nakhatrana.wordpress.com, citing Gujarat Tourism). It is 83 km west-north-west of Nakhatrana in a straight line.
- What it is
- Religious place (Hindu)
- Where
- Lakhpat taluka, Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- 83 km west-north-west in a straight line
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Sacred lake and temples; visit in daylight and dress modestly.
- Nearby
- Koteshwar Mahadev
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Koteshwar Mahadev
Koteshwar Mahadev is a Shiva temple at the westernmost tip of Kutch, near Narayan Sarovar, with views over the creek and the open sea. Its legend connects the temple’s linga to Ravana (nakhatrana.wordpress.com). Most visitors see Koteshwar and Narayan Sarovar together.
- What it is
- Religious place (Hindu)
- Where
- near Narayan Sarovar, Lakhpat taluka, Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- Open the directions link for the route.
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Active Shiva temple; visit respectfully. Usually combined with Narayan Sarovar.
- Nearby
- Narayan Sarovar
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Lakhpat
Lakhpat is a former port town on Kori Creek, enclosed by a fort wall roughly 7 km long, which declined after the 1819 earthquake (nakhatrana.wordpress.com). Inside the walls are a gurdwara associated with Guru Nanak and Muslim and Hindu shrines. It is 73 km north-west of Nakhatrana in a straight line.
- What it is
- Religious place (Sikh, Muslim and Hindu)
- Where
- Lakhpat taluka, Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- 73 km north-west in a straight line
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Fort town and shrines; visit in daylight and cover your head inside the gurdwara.
- Nearby
- Siyot Caves
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Vandhay
Vandhay is home to an Umiya Mataji temple, an important shrine for the Kadva Patidar community of Kutch, and is a regular stop for families travelling between Nakhatrana and Bhuj. Dress modestly and remove footwear before entering, as at other Hindu temples in Kutch.
- What it is
- Religious place (Hindu)
- Where
- Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- Open the directions link for the route.
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Active temple; visit respectfully.
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Yaksh 72 (Jakh Botera)
Yaksh 72, or Jakh Botera, is the Yaksh Dev temple at Moti Yaksh near Kakadbhit, honouring 72 Yakshas (Jakhs), semi-legendary heroes worshipped across western Kutch at shrines called Jakh ni Deri (nakhatrana.wordpress.com). The Yaksh fair here draws large crowds every September. It is 12 km south-east of Nakhatrana in a straight line.
- What it is
- Religious place (Hindu (folk))
- Where
- Moti Yaksh, near Kakadbhit, Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- 12 km south-east in a straight line
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Temple open to visitors; the annual fair is held in September.
- Nearby
- Bhikhurushi, Nanamo Hill
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Hajipir
Hajipir is the dargah of the saint Haji Pir on the edge of the Banni grasslands, north of Nakhatrana. It is one of the best-known religious sites in Kutch (Wikipedia) and draws people of many faiths, especially during its annual fair. It is 39 km north of Nakhatrana in a straight line.
- What it is
- Religious place (Muslim, visited by all faiths)
- Where
- edge of the Banni, Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- 39 km north in a straight line
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Dargah; dress modestly and cover your head inside.
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Tera Jain Tirth
Tera Jain Tirth is the Shri Tera Jirawalla Parshvanath Shwetambar Jain Tirth in Tera village, Abdasa taluka, west of Nakhatrana. Tera is also the seat of a Jadeja royal estate, so the temple and the Tera Darbargadh make a single stop. It is 34 km west of Nakhatrana in a straight line.
- What it is
- Religious place (Jain)
- Where
- Tera, Abdasa taluka, Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- 34 km west in a straight line
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Active Jain temple; dress modestly and follow the temple’s customs.
- Nearby
- Tera Darbargadh
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Suthari Jain Tirth
Suthari Jain Tirth is a Jain pilgrimage centre in Suthari village, Abdasa taluka, whose derasar was established in Vikram Samvat 1895, about 1838 CE (nakhatrana.wordpress.com). Suthari Beach is in the same village, so pilgrims and beach-goers often share the trip. It is about 54 km south-west of Nakhatrana in a straight line.
- What it is
- Religious place (Jain)
- Where
- Suthri, Abdasa taluka, Kutch district, Gujarat
- Distance from Nakhatrana
- About 54 km south-west in a straight line, measured to Suthari Beach in the same village
- By road
- By car or taxi from Nakhatrana. Open the directions link for the current route and road distance.
- Best season
- All year; busiest during Navratri and local fairs.
- Timings and entry
- Active Jain temple; dress modestly and follow the temple’s customs.
- Nearby
- Suthari Beach
- Directions
- Google Maps directions from Nakhatrana
Frequently asked questions
How far is Mata no Madh from Nakhatrana?
Mata no Madh is in Lakhpat taluka, north-west of Nakhatrana, on the way towards Narayan Sarovar and Koteshwar. Many pilgrims walking to the temple during Navratri pass through Nakhatrana, which makes the town a natural halt before the last stretch. Open the directions link for the current route.
Why do pilgrims walk to Mata no Madh during Navratri?
Mata no Madh is the temple of Ashapura Mata, family deity of the Jadeja rulers of Kutch (Wikipedia). During Navratri thousands of devotees make the journey on foot as a vow, walking for days along the highway. Many pass through Nakhatrana, so the town fills with pilgrims and roadside service camps in the days before the festival.
What is Narayan Sarovar?
Narayan Sarovar is one of the five sacred lakes (Panch Sarovar) of Hindu tradition, at the far western edge of Kutch, 83 km west-north-west of Nakhatrana in a straight line. The Koteshwar Mahadev temple stands nearby on the coast, and a wildlife sanctuary of about 444 square kilometres surrounds the area, so most visitors spend a full day there.
What is the Yaksh 72 fair?
The Yaksh fair is held every September at the Yaksh Dev temple at Moti Yaksh, 12 km south-east of Nakhatrana in a straight line. It honours the 72 Yakshas, or Jakhs, semi-legendary heroes worshipped across western Kutch. The fair draws large crowds from surrounding villages.
Which Jain tirths are near Nakhatrana?
Two Jain tirths are within easy reach: the Shri Tera Jirawalla Parshvanath Shwetambar Jain Tirth at Tera, 34 km west of Nakhatrana, and the Suthari Jain Tirth, whose derasar dates from Vikram Samvat 1895, about 1838 CE, near Suthari Beach. Both are in Abdasa taluka, so they combine well in one day.