Vrindavan is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in India. Vrindavan is the holiest place in India, where Lord Shri Krishna grew up. It is the place where Shri Krishna performed Maharaas with the Gopikas and spread the message of divine love with his beloved, Radharani. It is believed that Shri Krishna still comes every night to do Maharaas (the sacred dance) with Radharani and other Gopikas. People from all around the world come to Vrindavan to experience the divinity of Lord Krishna. Imagine stepping into a world where you will feel the divinity in the air, where spirituality is not just practiced but lived. If you are also planning a tour, we are here to plan your Vrindavan trip. Our Vrindavan travel guide will help you plan your trip and select the best tour itinerary. Here, you will find all the essential information—from how to travel to the best time to visit Vrindavan.
About Vrindavan
Vrindavan is a small city located in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the most sacred and spiritual places in India. Dotted with almost 5000 large and small temples dedicated to Lord Shri Krishna and his supreme consort—Srimati Radha Rani, also called Radhika. Vrindavan has great significance in the Hindu religion because it is the place where Lord Krishna grew up. It is situated near his birthplace, Mathura, just 15km. The city is filled to the brim with devotees, and tourists come daily. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in India that attracts tourists from India and other countries. With so many ancient and new Temples, Ghats, and other shrines, there is also a temple constructed by the International Society—ISKCON. This is one of the major ISKCON Temples in the world.
Best Places to Visit in Vrindavan
Located approx. 15 kilometres from Mathura, Vrindavan lets you feel the divine presence of Lord Shri Krishna in every corner of this sacred city. While roaming the streets and visiting the shrines, you will feel the divine energy. It feels like Shri Krishna still roams here and accompanies his devotees. From morning to evening, the city offers you magical experiences that rejuvenate your soul. Whether you are a spiritual seeker or a curious wanderer who wants to scale every inch of the city, Vrindavan guarantees an experience beyond your imagination. You will feel nothing ordinary here, everything just seems magically divine.
In our Vrindavan travel guide, we have included the top attractions that every tourist must visit during their trip:
Banke Bihari Temple
One of the revered shrines in Vrindavan is the Banke Bihari Temple dedicated to Lord Shri Krishna. Here, Lord Shri Krishna’s idol can be seen in his Shyamal Rang (Dusky color). The strangest thing you will observe here is that Shri Krishna, in his Banke Bihari Avatar, does not hold his flute. Only once a year, he holds the flute in his hands on Sharad Purnima. It is one of the ancient temples in Vrindavan, built in 1854. Here, you will see the Geeta Updesh and other phrases that illustrate Shri Krishan’s life. The temple is a must-visit to seek the deity’s blessings. The biggest Hindu festivals, like Holi, Diwali, and Janmashtami, are celebrated with great fervor at Banke Bihari Temple.
Nidhivan
Adjacent to Banke Bihari Temple, Nidhivan is one of the prominent tourist attractions in Vrindavan. It is the mystical forest of the city. It is believed that Shri Krishan still performs Rasleela with Radharani at Nidhivan every night. The magical appearance of the trees that have intertwined trunks seems like a couple dancing together. The trees are believed to be Gopikas doing Rasleela with lord Shri Krishna. In the middle of this sacred grove, there is a small temple called Rang Mahal, which is a Shringar Ghar of Radha Rani. It is believed that every night, Shri Krishna visits the place to adorn Radha Rani. No one is allowed to enter Nidhivan after sunset. So, if you want to experience this magical site, come before it is closed. Also, to witness the presence of Shri Krishna and Radha Rani, visit early in the morning when the Rang Mahal opens.
Prem Mandir
One of the most recently built, Prem Mandir, is one of the most visited temples in Vrindavan. This is a magnificent temple made of white marble, dedicated to Radha Krishna and Sita Ram. Sprawling over 54 acres of lush green complex, the magnificent white edifice is astonishingly elegant with intricate carvings. It is even more beautiful to watch in the evening when the temple is illuminated with color-changing lights. It gives the temple a mesmerizingly look. Besides, visitors can enjoy a laser light show that depicts the story of Radha Krishna’s pious love. This light show is a must-include in your Vrindavan tour itinerary. The temple boundary has a Krishna Leela Garden showing the story of Shri Krishna’s Rasleela with Radha Rani and Gopikas and other incidents of Shri Krishna’s life like Kaliya Naag Mardan and Govardhan mountain lifting. The temple remains open from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and in the evening from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Radha Raman Temple
One of the most prominent places to visit in Vrindavan is the Sri Radha Raman Temple. This temple was established by Gopal Bhatta Goswami. The temple holds a significant place in Vaishnavas’ lives because it includes both Lord Krishna and Shaligram. The temple has the self-manifested deity out of the Shaligram Shila. You will see a mystical smile on the deity’s face in this temple, which will leave an indelible mark on your heart. The temple is 500 years old and dedicated to Radha Raman Ji. It is a must-visit for people seeking a deep spiritual connection.
ISKCON Temple
Vrindavan has one of the world-famous ISKCON Temples. This heavenly white marble temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his elder brother Balrama. The temple attracts lots of visitors from all around the world. The temple aims to educate devotees and visitors about the Vedas and Gita texts. Along with the positive vibe and atmosphere, the temple’s beautiful architecture will mesmerize you. Devotees here engage in soulful Bhajan, Kirtan, and Bhagavad Gita discourses. The complex also includes the Samadhi of Srila Prabhupada, who was the founder of the ISKCON Temple. Besides, you will see beautiful gardens and a museum inside the temple, along with a Govinda restaurant that serves Satvic Prasad.
Vaishno Devi Dham (Char Dham Temple)
Vaishno Devi Dham in Vrindavan is one of the most visited temples in the city. One can see this temple from afar since it has a huge 141-foot statue of Mata Vaishno Devi. The temple sprawled over 12 acres of land. It is designed to replicate the original temple of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu with hills, a cave, and greenery. After the inclusion of Shiv Dham, Radha Krishna Dham, and Shani Dham, this temple has now been renamed as the Char Dham Temple. You will see a tall statue of Lord Shiva just behind Mata Vaishno Devi’s huge statue. This newly constructed temple has started attracting many tourists and devotees. The temple remains open all the days of the week from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Gopeshwar Mahadev Temple
One of the most-visited places in Vrindavan is Gopeshwar Mahadev Temple. Here you will see Mahadev in a completely different Avatar. It is believed that Lord Shiva, also known as Mahadev, once attended the Maharaas of Shri Krishna and Radha Rani with hundreds of Gopikas on the earth. He was dressed as one of the Gopikas to witness this divine dance and be a part of it. Ever since then, Mahadev has been worshipped as Gopeshwar Mahadev. The temple is also decorated on special occasions.
Kesi Ghat
Kesi Ghat is the prominent ghat of Vrindavan and the only one that still exists today. It is believed that Shri Krishna killed a demon horse named Keshi at this place. Hence, the Ghat is named after that demon. This serene Ghat lets you relax and spend leisure time. You can even enjoy boating in the Yamuna River near Keshi Ghat. Besides, devotees get a magical experience at Keshi Ghat by watching the Yamuna Aarti, which is one of the best things to do in Vrindavan.
Things You Must Know Before Visiting Vrindavan
Before you plan your Vrindavan tour with family, you need to know a few important things about the city. We have curated a list of the essential things in our Vrindavan travel guide that every person must know before visiting:
- Vrindavan is located in Uttar Pradesh, and the climate here from April to June is quite hot and humid. Avoid planning your visit in extremely hot weather.
- All the temples and shrines remain closed from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. So, plan your trip accordingly, especially if you are on a one-day Vrindavan tour.
- We bring lots of things from Vrindavan as blessings, but you should not bring natural things like stone, dust, and water from the holy ground of Braj. Do not take back Tulsi Plant, Giriraj (stones of Govardhan mountain), and any living creature to your home.
- If you are planning your trip during the peak season, book accommodation in advance, as everything gets sold out in advance. The available options will be sold at double the price.
- Explore lesser-known temples and attractions to delve deeper.
Ideal Duration for Vrindavan Mathura Trip
Vrindavan is a sacred religious place located near Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna. When planning your trip to Mathura Vrindavan, you must have at least two days in hand. The area is vast, and there are thousands of temples and attractions to explore. Even a week is too little to explore this divine place. However, Vrindavan is great for a weekend getaway. People from Delhi often visit this sacred place to seek the Almighty’s blessings. Although this place demands a long vacation, one can even plan a 2-day Vrindavan tour itinerary, which includes:
Day 1
- Starting an early day trip from Delhi to Mathura. Visit the Krishna Janmbhoomi Temple and Dwarkadhish Temple. Afternoon, the temples here are closed. So, you can next go to Vishram Ghat near Dwarkadhish Temple to relax and enjoy boating on the Yamuna River. There is a Temple on the Vishram Ghat dedicated to the death God Yamaraj and his sister Yamuna.
- Next, visit Gokul, where you will see Nand Mahal and Yasoda Mahal, located on the bank of the Yamuna River. Visit Raman Reti, which is believed to be the place where lord Shri Krishna used to play with his friends.
Day 2
- Visit Vrindavan, the sacred place where Shri Krishna grew up. It is just 15 km from Mathura. Begin at Banke Bihari Temple. After seeking his blessings, visit Nidhivan, located near Banke Bihari Temple. Explore the Keshi Ghat on the Yamuna River and enjoy boating as well.
- Next, visit the popular ISKCON Temple on the main road of Vrindavan. After this, explore the Radha Raman Temple. In the evening, visit the revered Prem Mandir, famous for its intricate carvings.
With this, you will be able to explore the most famous tourist attractions of Vrindavan and Mathura during your trip.
How to Reach Vrindavan
Vrindavan is located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. It is well-connected with major and minor cities by road and rail. Here are the three different modes people can pick to come to Vrindavan.
By Air: The nearest airport to Vrindavan is Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi, just 150 km away. From the airport, you will find many taxis and cabs that will take you to Vrindavan from Delhi. It only takes 3 and a half hours to drive from Delhi to Vrindavan.
By Train: The best and cheapest way to reach Vrindavan is to take a train. The nearest railway station is Mathura Junction, which is connected with all the major cities in India. You get countless trains from Delhi and other cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Bhopal, Gwalior, etc. Deboard at Mathura Junction, and then you can take a roadways or shared-auto to reach Vrindavan.
By Road: Vrindavan is only 160 km from Delhi. You can book a cab or taxi to reach Vrindavan. Well, you also get private buses and state government roadways from Delhi and other cities to Vrindavan.
Best Time to Visit Vrindavan
- October to March: The best time to visit Vrindavan is between October and March. This is the time when you find pleasant weather. But it is the peak season, so expect a huge crowd. Besides, you will get a chance to indulge in many fairs and festivals in the region during the time.
- April to June: If you are planning your trip to Vrindavan in the summer season between April to June, expect hotter temperatures ranging up to 40-45°C. The crowd will be less so, you will get a quieter atmosphere.
- July to September: You are advised to avoid your trip during the monsoon season as the city receives moderate to heavy rainfall. It can hinder your plan. However, if you are at leisure and have no time constraint problems, you can come during monsoon when you will get a serene atmosphere with fewer tourists in Vrindavan.
