204 - DWARKA TO NAVIBANDAR Navibandar Position. Navibandar (21º 26'.7 N, 69º 47'.4 E) is a small town situated between the Southern bank of Bhadar river and the sea coast. It lies 40 km S of the city Porbandar. Bhadar river flows into the sea close NW of the town. Function. Navibandar is a fishing villageand provide shelter to small fishing crafts on the Southern bank of the river. Navibandar Light (21º 27'.02 N, 69º 47'.16 E) is exhibited from the sea wall of the centre bastion of the town. Storm signals are displayed by using the brief system. Anchorage. Vessels can anchor with the above light-structure bearing 099º distant 1 mile, in a depth of about 9 m, sand and mud; as shown on the chart. PORBANDAR TO DWARKA General information Route The route leads 60 miles NW from a position SW of Porbandar (21º 37'.90 N, 69º 35'87 E) to a position NW of Dwarka. Topography This stretch of the coastline is virtually straight with a coastal reef that extends about 1 mile offshore in places. The coast is low and rising gradually to the NW between Porbandar and the entrance to Meda Creek; 17 miles NW, thereafter to Okha Madhi, a farther 22 miles NW, it consists of a high sandy ridge, broken by intermittent gaps. Okha Rann, a salt marsh,extends12 miles N from Okha Madhi to Pindara Bay in the Gulf of Kachchh; at high water springs and during the SW monsoon the submergence of this area almost isolates the Okha mandal Peninsula from the mainland. The coast is composed of sandhills from Okha Madhi to Dwarka, 12 miles NW. The Okha mandal Peninsula, situated E and NE of Dwarka, has a cliffy coastline covered with cactus bushes; its hinterland is very low with a substratum of sandstone. The land is only cultivated near the villages and depends on the SW monsoon for water as wells are scarce; the prickly pear grows most profusely. Depths There are no charted dangers except for three dangerous wrecks (22º 05'.40N, 68º 56'.10E), (22º 08.2N, 68º 54'.9E) & (22º 01'.2N, 69º 01'.2E) seaward of the 30m depth contour. Within this contour there are several isolated rocks with depths of about 18 to 19m. Tidal streams The in-going stream abreast Rupen Bandar (22º 15'.57 N, 68º 57'.86 E) sets N with a rate sometimes exceeding 2 kn; the out-going stream sets SSE at about the same rate. Farther N the tidal streams are stronger. Principal marks Landmarks. Barda Hills (21º 48'.93 N, 69º 42'.93 E). Radio Mast (22º 03'.33 N, 69º 10'.49 E) from which a red obstruction light is exhibited. Major lights. Porbandar Light (21º 37'.37 N, 69º 37'.16 E). Navadra Light (white round concrete tower, red bands, 35 m in height) (21º 57'.2 N, 69º 14'.10 E). Dwarka Point Light (white square stone tower, black bands, 43 m in height) (22º14'.30 N, 68º 57'.5 E). Other navigational aids Radio beacon and racon (21º 37'.37 N, 69º 37'.16 E) at Porbandar Lighthouse. Directions The route leads 60 miles NW from a position SW of Porbandar (21º 37'.90 N, 69º 35'.87 E) to a position NW of Dwarka, passing (with positions from Nivadra Lighthouse (21º 57'.02 N, 69º 14'.10 E). SW of a stranded wreck (9½ miles SE) lying about 1¼ miles W of the entrance to Meda Creek, then to SW of Okha Madhi (11½ miles NW), a village standing on elevated rocky land near the coast; a small temple with a dark appearance and an old tower stand near the village. Then to: Clear of a dangerous wreck (18 miles NW), then to SW of Dwarka Point (24 miles NW) which stands, at the W end of a promontory, close SW of the town of Dwarka. Then to SW of a stranded wreck (26 miles NW) which lies near the middle of a reef that extends about 6 cables from shore. Useful marks Pagoda (21º 50'.35 N, 69º 22'.06 E). Two small conical hills (22º 03'.5 N, 69º 08'.3 E). Dwarkanath Temple (22º 14'.26 N, 68º 58'.05 E) surmounted by its conical spire stands, on an eminence, within Dwarka Fort close to the sea. The spire is supported by 60 columns and carved with figures from base to summit. A column stands near the edge of the cliff close W of this temple. Three iron chimneys (22º 14'.8 N, 68º 58'.2 E) are prominent and give a good radar response. Minor ports Meda Creek General information. Meda Creek (21º 49'.87 N, 69º 22'.38 E), which dries, forms the estuary to the Vartu Nadi and several other rivers. A large inland area, situated NE of the head of this creek, floods during the rainy season. Miyani village with a fort, lies about 1 mile within Meda Creek on its E side; the bandar of this village lies abreast it on the W side of the creek. Function. Miyani village has one small fishing jetty with alongside depths of minimum 0.5 m. about 80-100 small fishing crafts operate annually. Limiting Conditions. This Bandar provides shelter and is available to local crafts only. Use of Bandar by fishing crafts is limited in the rainy season. Other Navigational Aids. There are two navigational objects present for navigation. Lord Siva temple (21º50'.11N, 69º21'.87E) located on the sea wall on the Northern side of the mouth of the creek. Harsidhi Mata temple (21º50'.38N, 69º22'.14E) is located on the Koyala hill top facing the sea. Miyani Fishing Jetty. A small fishing jetty is located inside the creek on its Southern side. Jetty is of 31 m in length and 2 m wide with available depth of 0.5 m alongside. It is mainly used by small fishing crafts. Bhogat Anchorage Ghughadwa(Bhogat)Creek (21º59'.00N, 69º11'.75E)lies 2.9 mile North West of Navdra Light. A SPM is installed at position 21º56'.01N, 69º09'.87E off Bhogat. SPM is fitted with a radar reflector. Anchoring and fishing is prohibited on 1000m radius around SPM and 500m either side of pipeline. Tankers waiting area lies 5 mile WSW of SPM. Dwarka General information. The Dwarka town (22º 14'.7 N, 68º 58'.7 E), standing near the SW end of the Okhamandal Peninsula. It is an important place of Hindu pilgrimage. Gomti Nadi. Through Gomti Creek enters the sea, 5 cables SE of Dwarka Point Lighthouse (22º 14'.3 N, 68º 57'.5 E), near an old temple which has a dark appearance and which is washed by the sea at high water. Landing. Landing can be effected on a steep sandy beach close W of the entrance to Gomti Creek; however, a swell from S raises too much surf here and boats should then proceed into Rupen Bandar, 1½ miles NNW. Anchorage. Large vessels can anchor with Dwarkanath Temple (22º 14'.2 N, 68º 58'.l E) bearing 069º distant 1½ miles in depths of about 21 m, sand and rock. Caution. Several vessels have lost anchors when anchored in this vicinity. Storm signals are displayed by using the brief system. Transportation. Dwarka is well connected with rail and road network. There is also one helipad available which can be used during emergency situations. Conspicuous Object. There are two conspicuous objects along the coast Dwarka point light house and a TV tower which is located 1mile North of Dwarka point light house. Rupen Bandar Position. Rupen Bandar (22º 15'.57 N, 68º 57'.86 E), the port of Dwarka, can be identified by asquare flat-topped house standing on a sandy neck of land located on the N side of a creek. Rupen Bandar is predominantly a fishing village and lies 2mile N of Dwarka. It is well connected with road network from Dwarka. General information.Rupen Bandar is a fishing village and provides no shelter to small fishing crafts.The bandar is shallow and its entrance is much obstructed by rocks. Small local vessels lie aground at low water, on a fine sandy beach, sheltered by a fringing reef about 5 cables W; small craft, with local knowledge, can also lie at a pier about 30 mlong situated in the bandar.