Tourist Places in Vrindavan

The small hamlet of Vrindavan is charmingly enchanted by the origins of Krishna. It is Lord Krishna's birthplace filled with his childhood memories, his love, the Raas Leela and his god's love, Radha. Hindus have great significance for the villages of Vrindavan and Mathura, especially because the great epics- Ramayana and Mahabharata have a special mention for them.

Vrindavan is home to numerous temples of Lord Krishna and Radha. The most renowned of which are the Banke Bihari temple and ISKCON temple. The main attraction of Vrindavan is the variety of temples scattered across the deep forests and lovely foliage. The colourful settings effectively convey Lord Krishna's playful and caring demeanour. Everybody can enjoy a lovely adventure in Vrindavan, whether they are religious believers, intellectuals, historians, or people seeking tranquilly. A visit to Vrindavan should be made at least once in a lifetime.

Here is a list of places that you can visit in Vrindavan.

1. Govind Deo Temple

The Govind Deo Temple also called Govind Dev Ji Temple. It is a mile away from the Vrindavan Railway Station.

This temple's architecture is distinctive because it combines elements of Hindu, Muslim, and contemporary styles. It is fashioned like the Greek cross emblem and is composed of red sandstone. The seven-story temple is devoted to the veneration of Govind, another title for Lord Krishna. The building of this temple cost INR 10 million in total.

The invasion by Aurangzeb in 1670 caused the temple to sustain substantial damage, which is why it is currently only three stories high. Most religious activities, including prayer and puja, now occur at the smaller temple behind the main temple because of the extensive destruction.

Furthermore, devotees may access the main hall through a set of stairs, where the ceiling is decorated with a hand-sculpted lotus. Silver and marble make up the inner sanctum. The temple is often flooded with devotees. However, during the holy celebrations of Janmashtami and Holi, the temple is extremely jam-packed.

2. Prem Mandir

One of Vrindavan's largest temples, the Prem Mandir, which is also called the temple of love, is dedicated to the purest form of love of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. The foundation stone for the temple was laid in 2001, and the community officially opened it in 2012. This enormous temple's construction cost approximately INR 150 crores. Fifty-four acres of land make up the vast Prem Mandir property.

This temple is a marble-built, two-story building. There are circles divided in the temple. Lord Ram and Goddess Sita are positioned on the temple's first storey, while Krishna and Radha are situated in the inner circle on the ground floor. The love and passion of Radha and Krishna is depicted in stunning murals that adorn the temple walls. The wall has more than eighty hand-painted panels.

The entire shrine is surrounded by a huge garden full of numerous floral plants, fountains, and lighting. Huge statues of gods and goddesses are also present in the gardens, with Rasa Leela being the most well-known.

Every evening, the temple also hosts a light show during which devotees pray and sing lovely bhajans as artificial lights are used to decorate the white stones of the temple. Evenings from 7:30 till 8:00 are when the light show is held.

3. Kesi Ghat

One of the most significant ghats in the region is Kesi Ghat, located on the Yamuna's bank. This is one of the locations that both tourists and religious adherents attend quite early in the morning. This is among the most unusual places to visit in Vrindavan since it is believed that Lord Krishna bathed in the Yamuna after killing the demon, Keshi. While the river flows in front, the enormous Madanmohan Temple at the rear gives a stunning backdrop. A boat ride is another option available here.

4. Banke Bihari Temple

The Banke Bihari Temple, devoted to the worship of Lord Krishna, is one of the top sights to view in Vrindavan. It is a popular destination for visitors, residents and devotees. People from all walks of life frequently visit it throughout the year. One of the seven renowned temples of the "Thakur of Vrindavan" is the Banke Bihari Temple.

With its arched windows and exquisite stone carvings, the temple's architecture is distinctly Rajasthani. Another distinctive feature of the temple is the idol of Krishna, which shows the Lord as a young boy standing in the "Tribhanga" pose. This temple's idol was also revered as Kunj Bihari, which is Hindi for lake-lover.

Since Lord Krishna is said to dislike the music of loud instruments like conch and bells, so the temple is devoid of these. There is only chanting of the Radha Krishna mantra.

Bihari denotes a cheery soul, while "Banke" indicates bent or twisted in three places. Each day rituals of Shringar, Rajbhog, and Shayan are done in three portions. These are daily rituals of Lord Krishna - bathing, clothing, feasting, sleeping etc.

5. Nidhivan

In Vrindavan, there is a lovely large garden called Nidhivan, also known as Seva Kunj. It is one of Vrindavan's most revered tourist destinations. Due to the numerous tales associated with this location, it is crowded with people all year round. People think that the Rasa Leela is performed every night in the same garden by Radha and Krishna.

People are not allowed to access this area after dark because locals and devotees certainly believe that Lord Krishna arrives every day to dance with his Gopis. And over 1500 wild trees may be found on the garden grounds, a few containing Radha-Krishna idols.

6. ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan

One of the most well-known temples in India is ISKCON, Vrindavan. One other title for this temple is the Krishna Balaram Mandir. This temple was constructed in 1975. The temple was built to inform people about the Vedic and the Gita.

Three temples for the deities Sri GauraNitai, Balaram, Krishna, and Radha Shyamsundar are inside the temple. The nirvana of SrilaPrabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, is also accessible through a sizable white marble archway upon entry. The doors to the temple are equally enormous and entirely made of wood. Visitors can often see the worshippers dancing to the lovely and melodious singing of the prayers, known as kirtans, accompanied by harmoniums.

7. Sri Radha Damodar Temple

The Sri Radha Damodar Temple in Loi Bazaar, adjacent to Seva Kunj, is one of Vrindavan's most exquisite tourist destinations. A Guru named SrilaJiva Goswami built the temple in 1542. The gods revered in the Damodar Mandir were a gift from Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada to SrilaJiva. The idols were moved to Jaipur in 1739 after Aurangzeb's invasion, which caused major damage to this temple.

The two main sections inside the temple are the prayer hall, or bhajankutir, and the Samadhi auditorium of Srila Rupa Goswami and other Goswamis.

8. Seva Kunj

Seva Kunj tells the fascinating stories of Krishan and Radha. It is said that Radharani and Krishna ji used to frequently visit this place and spend hours together. There are various sculptures of Lord Krishna and Radha, mostly on pillars of Seva Kunj, a sizable temple with a domed design. The gates of Seva Kunj are only open during the day and close at sunset. As soon as visitors arrive, they can gaze upon its Lalit Kunj and Nikunj temple, situated in the centre of the temple. Couples love Seva Kunj because it offers a spiritual perspective on the lovely relationship between Lord Krishna and Radha, making it one of the most popular places to visit in Vrindavan. In addition to residents, the region draws a sizable number of tourists from around the world.

9. Pagal Baba Temple

The lovely and amazing Pagal Baba Temple is three kilometres away from the Vrindavan Railway Station, on the Mathura-Vrindavan Road. This is one of the most significant temples in Vrindavan. Pagal Baba, a saint, constructed this temple and devoted it to Lord Krishna. According to the legend, Sheela Nand Ji was a magistrate in the Constitutional Court of Calcutta who left his position to visit Vrindavan in search of spirituality. Since he was acting insanely, people began to refer to him as Pagal Baba. Then he subsequently got the support of his followers and constructed this exquisite temple in Vrindavan.

10. Madan Mohan Temple

Madan Mohan Shrine, called Sri Radha Madan Mohan Temple, is the oldest temple in Vrindavan. It is 50 feet tall and situated on Dwadasa Aditya hill, which overlooks the Yamuna River, close to Kaliya Ghat. In addition to Madana Mohan, Radha and Lalita Sakhi are worshipped here. The view of Vrindavan is stunning from the temple. Lord Krishna is reported to have taken a nap at this temple following his victory over Kaliya Naag.

11. Nandgaon

Nandgaon is a small, charming town with significant religious significance. It is located at the foot of Nandishwara Hill and is 50 kilometres from Mathura and 8 kilometres from Barsana. Hindu tourists revere the village because it is thought to be the birthplace of Shri Nandji and Yashoda Maiyya, Lord Krishna's foster parents. On top of the hill is also a sizable temple devoted to Shri Nandji.

12. Shahji Temple

Shah Kundan Lal constructed the Lord Krishna-dedicated Shahji Temple in 1876. The name of the main deity in this place is Chhote Radha Raman. Its magnificent marble structure has the Basanti Kamra, a hallway with Belgian crystal chandeliers and exquisite murals, as well as twelve imposing spiral columns, each 15 feet tall. Tourists and religious pilgrims come to Shahji Temple to admire its stunning architecture.

13. Sri Ashta Sakhi Temple

Lord Krishna, Radha, and their eight friends are honoured in this temple. This was the one where Lord Krishna is said to have performed his Ras Leela. This temple's design and craftsmanship are as stunning as its tenets.

14. Vrinda Kunj

Beautiful plants and trees line all sides of Vrinda Kunj. The presence of flora only enhances the temple's splendour, elevating it to the status of one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vrindavan. You can participate in pooja, arti, and lectures from the Mahabharata while you're here.

Conclusion

Wake up to the sound of the early bells and prayers being said in the exquisite temples of the town. The stories of Krishna and Radha still strongly resonate in this location, and a mystical aura permeates it year-round.

Visit the temples, take a holy bath in the Yamuna at one of the ghats, and don't forget to see the renowned temple aartis.

So, what are you waiting for? Don't hesitate any longer; plan a vacation to Vrindavan and immerse in the ancient culture, rich with legends and stunning temples honouring Lord Krishna and his philosophy.