[ Photo: Udaipurian.com ]

"During the Moghul period temples were in danger of being desecrated and one such temple was that of Dwarkadhishji in Gokul. Devotees transported the idol to Ahmedabad in the care of Goswami Shri Girdharji Maharaj who later on, at the request of Shri Ranjitsinhji, Maharana of Udaipur, brought the idol to Kankroli where it was installed in a shrine in Aasotia village in 1726. The shrine was on the banks of the Rajsamand Lake. The temple was flooded by rains and then Maharaj Kumar Shree Amar Singhji allotted hilly land for construction of a new temple around 1776 and this temple was also on the banks of the Rajsamand Lake. The temple underwent renovations and extensions until 1980. Some claim that the idol was transported finally to Shrinathji at Nathdwara.

The central idol of the temple was imported from Mathura by Maharana Raj Singh in the year 1671 A.D. The temple was constructed at the same time when the Rajsamand Lake was inaugurated – that is in 1676. The grandson of Vallabhacharya, Sri Bal Krishna Ji took the responsibility of taking care of the deity and its idol. It is since then that this temple is one of the most important centers of worship for the followers of the Vaishnavite cult. This temple has the highest rank amongst all the other Vallabhacharya temples. It shall remind you of the Nathdwara temple.

The temple follows the haveli style of architecture and it is far less crowded than the temple at Nathdwara, making for a blissful experience to sit on the steps and contemplate the Lake. The temple stands on top of a hill and it is made of marble, stone, brick, and mortar. While it is quiet for most days of the year, on Poonam or full moon days it comes alive as well as on Holi, Diwali, Ram Navami, Janmashtami, and Akshay Teej. There are festivals and fairs during these times. Like in other temples there is a garbha graha or sanctum where the idol is installed and there are adjoining rooms for various purposes." (Udaipurian.com)

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