Vrindavan is a city located in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Vrindavan is one of the sacred places associated with Lord Krishna. This pilgrimage place is not only famous among the Hindus. In fact, people from other countries and religions throng this place to seek blessings from Lord Krishna. Here are the 27 best places to visit in Vrindavan that you can visit this Holi.
It is believed that up to this day, Lord Krishna performs Raas Leela at night here. Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Vrindavan is 15 km away from Mathura and it is the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. Vrindavan is a place full of colours, joy and hope. It is a place where everyone wants to go and immerse themselves in the colour of joy. “Radhe Radhe” echoes the streets of Vrindavan. Even the air chants of “Banke Bihari” (Lord Krishna) himself.
Here is a one-stop guide which you must check out before visiting Mathura-Vrindavan. There are 27 best places to visit in Vrindavan. These 10 best places in Vrindavan are the best to visit on Holi 2023.
10 Best Places to visit in Vrindavan
1. Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Mandir
This is the most famous and sacred temple of Vrindavan. The idol of this temple is a combination of both Radha and Krishna. The idol was found in Nidhivan. It was placed inside the sanctum sanatorium of the Bankey Bihari temple in 1864. The temple was constructed by the descendants of Lord Rama. Swami Shri Haridas Ji was the founder of this temple. He was also the Guru of Tansen. The child form of Lord Krishna is worshipped here. There are no bells or other loud items inside the temple. The deity is taken care of as a child therefore no item is kept which can disturb a child.
- Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Mandir Timings :
| For Summer (2 days after Holi) | For winters (2 days after Diwali) | |
| Opening (morning) | 07:45 a.m | 08:45 a.m |
| Shringar | 08:00 a.m | 09:00 a.m |
| Rajbhog | 11:00 a.m – 11:30 a.m | 12:00 p.m – 12:30 p.m |
| Rajbhog Aarti and closing | 12:00 p.m | 01:00 p.m |
| Opening (evening) | 05:30 p.m | 04:30 p.m |
| Shayan Bhog | 08:30 p.m – 09:00 p.m | 07:30 p.m – 08:00 p.m |
| Shayan Aarti and closing | 09:30 p.m | 08:30 p.m |
2. Shri Radha Vallabh Temple
It is situated at a distance of around 300 meters from the Bankey Bihari Ji Mandir. It was constructed by Sundardas Bhatnagar in 1585. There was a belief behind the construction of this temple that whosoever constructed this temple will die within a year. The legend did come true. Sundardas Bhatnagar died after a year of construction of the temple. The main deity of the temple was not made by any human. It is said that Lord Shiva himself sculpted the idol and gave it to a devotee named Atmadev.
- Shri Radha Vallabh Temple Timings: 05:00 am to 12:00 pm and 06:00 pm to 09:00 pm.
3. Nidhivan
It is nearly 200 meters from Shri Radha Vallabh Temple and a must-visit place in Vrindavan. The name literally translates to “Forest of Tulsi”. During the lifetime of Lord Krishna, this site was one of his pastimes. It is still believed that the trees inside Nidhivan come alive at night and become Gopis. Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha come down to earth and perform the “Raas Leela” (sacred dance).
Did you know that nobody is allowed to stay inside the premises of Nidhivan at night? Some people who have tried to spend a night here have either died, gone mad or blind the next day. Inside the forest premises, there is a palace called “Rang Mahal”. Radha and Krishna used to spend their night here after Raslila. There is also a temple called “Bansichor Radha”; where Radha stole the flute of Krishna. Swami Haridas has a small shrine dedicated to him, who was the founder of the idol of Banke Bihari. There is a Raas Leela Sthali, where it is believed that Raas Leela was performed. Lalita Kund is a water pond. It is believed that Lord Krishna made it himself when Gopis asked for water while performing Raas Leela.
- Nidhivan Timings: 05:00 am to 08:00 pm during Summers. 06:00 am to 07:00 pm during Winters.
4. Radha Damodar Temple
It was established by Jiva Goswami in 1542. When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb invaded Vrindavana in 1670; the original deities were shifted to Jaipur. They were brought back in 1739. The temple has a “Giriraj Shila” having the footprints of Krishna. It is believed that four parikramas (circumambulation) of the Radha Damodar Temple are equal to one parikrama of the Govardhana Hill. Srila Prabhupada (founder of ISKCON) also stayed in this temple for six years. There are also some samadhis of Gaudiya saints.
- Radha Damodar Temple Timings: 04:30 a.m to 01:00 p.m. and 04:30 p.m to 09:00 p.m
5. Govind Dev Ji Temple
This temple is also known as Govindji Temple and is about 400 years old. It was built by Raja Mansingh in 1590. Aurangzeb severely damaged the temple. The Govin Dev Ji temple was rebuilt in 1873 AD. The architecture of this temple is based on the childhood home of Lord Krishna.
- Govind Dev Ji Temple Timings: 04:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 05:45 p.m. to 09:30 p.m. during summers. 05:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 05:00 p.m. to 08:45 p.m. during winter.
6. Maa Vaishno Devi Temple
This temple is made for those people who cannot go to visit the original Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra, Jammu. The combined powers of Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati created Vaishno Devi. This temple was constructed in May 2010 by J C Chaudhry, a staunch devotee of Maa Vaishno Devi. It is one of the must-visit places in Vrindavan for everyone.
- Maa Vaishno Devi Temple Tickets price: ₹20 per person.
- Maa Vaishno Devi Temple Timings :
| Events | Timings |
|---|---|
| Opening (morning) | 06:00 a.m to 01:00 p.m |
| Opening (evening) | 07:00 a.m |
| Gufa (morning) | 08:00 a.m to 01:00 p.m |
| Gufa (evening) | 04:00 p.m to 08:00 p.m |
| Mangal Aarti | 06:00 a.m |
| Shringar Aarti | 07:00 a.m |
| Bhog Aarti | 01:00 p.m |
| Shringar Aarti | 07:00 p.m |
| Shayan Aarti | 08:00 p.m |
7. Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Temple (ISKCON Temple)
This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his brother, Lord Balarama. The other deities of the temple are Goddess Radha and Gauranga Nityananda. Near the temple, there is a samadhi mandir shrine of Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON.
- Sri Sri Krishna Balram Temple Timings :
| Events | Timings |
|---|---|
| Samadhi Aarti | 04:10 a.m |
| Mangala Aarti | 04:30 a.m |
| Shringar Aarti | 07:15 a.m |
| Guru Puja | 07:25 a.m |
| Bhagavatam | 08:00 a.m |
| Pushpa Aarti | 08:30 a.m |
| Raj Bhog Aarti | 12:00 p.m |
| Closing | 12:45 p.m |
| Utthapan Aarti | 04:00 p.m |
| Sandhya Aarti | 06:30 p.m |
| Shayan Aarti | 08:00 p.m |
| Closing | 08:15 p.m |
8. Prem Mandir
This temple is considered to be the most beautiful temple in Vrindavan. The temple showcases the various life events of Lord Krishna. The temple is a beauty to behold in the evening. There is a light and sound show which is a must-watch if you’re in Vrindavan. It is also known as the “Temple of God’s Love”. Sri Kripali Ji Maharaj laid the founding stone of this temple on 14 January 2001. It took 11 years to complete this temple. It was opened to the common public in the year 2012.
- Prem Mandir Timings: 08:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 04:30 p.m. to 08:30 p.m.
9. Radha Raman Temple
It is a very peaceful and beautiful temple in Vrindavan. One should definitely visit this temple while in Vrindavan.
- Radha Raman Temple Timings:
10. Mathura Museum, Mathura
It is not exactly in Vrindavan but is a must-visit place near it.
- Mathura Museum Timings: 10 am – 4:30 am
Some other best places to visit in/near Vrindavan are:-
11. Radha Madan Mohan Temple
12. Kirti Mandir
13. Radha Rani Temple, Barsana
14. Shri Shani Dev Mandir, Kokila Van
15. Krishna Janm Bhoomi, Mathura
16. Chandrodaya Mandir (Akshay Patra)
17. Rang Ji Mandir ( Rangnath/Rangmunnar Temple)
18. Rangmahal Mandir
19. Kans Kila, Mathura
20. Dwarkadhish temple, Mathura
21. Kusum Sarovar, Mathura
22. Tilak Dwar, Mathura
23. Geeta Mandir (Birla Mandir), Mathura
24. Vishram Ghat, Mathura
25. Pagal Baba Mandir
26. Madan Mohan Mandir
27. Keshia Ghat
Things you need to know about Vrindavan
- Paid parking is available everywhere which costs around ₹50-₹100. Therefore it is best to travel by local transport.
- All the temples are within walking distance. So it is quite easy to explore on foot.
- It would be best if you visited the temples in the morning. Most of the temples remain closed from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Non-veg is banned completely banned in Vrindavan.
FAQ’S =》
1. How to reach Vrindavan?
Ans – You can reach Mathura station by train. You can get a shared auto there for 50-60₹ per person to reach Vrindavan. If you do not get a direct auto for Vrindavan, then you can get an auto from Deeg Gate Chauraha of Mathura. You can also take a bus to Vrindavan. It takes almost 30 minutes to reach Vrindavan from Mathura.
2. How to reach Vrindavan via Agra?
Ans – You can also reach Vrindavan via Agra. You can reach Agra by flight and then hail a cab/auto to Mathura or Vrindavan. The distance between Vrindavan from Agra is 70kms which takes almost 1:30 hours.
3. How to reach Vrindavan via Delhi?
Ans – You can also reach Vrindavan via Delhi. The distance between Vrindavan from Delhi is 150km which takes almost 3 hours. There are various buses, cabs and taxis available. You can also drive yourself and reach Vrindavan.
4. What is the best time to visit Vrindavan?
Ans – September to March is the best time to visit Vrindavan. The weather remains calm and breezy. It is also easy to explore the city because the summers are too hot to go outside.
5. Where to stay in Vrindavan?
Ans – There are various hotels, ashramas and guest houses available. The prices generally start from ₹500-₹1000.
Vrindavan is divided into two parts, namely New Vrindavan and Old Vrindavan. So you can decide where to stay according to your plan.
- Prem Mandir, Iskcon temple and Vaishno Devi temple fall in the New Vrindavan area.
- Banke Bihari Mandir, Nidhivan and Rangnath Mandir fall in the Old Vrindavan area.
6. How many days are enough to explore Vrindavan?
Ans – 2-3 days are enough to explore Vrindavan. You can pick 1-2 days extra to go around the nearby places.
7. Best nearby places to visit from Vrindavan:
Ans – Barsana, Nandgaon, Kokilavan, Govardhan and Mathura are some of the best places to visit near Vrindavan. One can easily reach all these places within 2-3 hours by road from Vrindavan.
8. How much does it cost for a Vrindavan trip?
Ans – It will generally cost around ₹2500 – ₹3500 per person for 2 days in Vrindavan including hotels, food and transportation. It is also possible to explore Vrindavan for only ₹1000.
9. What are the best foods to try in Vrindavan?
Ans – It totally depends on your choice. Vrindavan is famous for its variety of food items. Sweets, snacks and dairy items are the dishes you must try. Non-veg is banned in Vrindavan therefore you will only get to eat pure veg food items. The price depends on where you go and what you eat. Starting from ₹50 to ₹500 everything is available.
Conclusion
If you ask me, I would say that this is the best time to visit Vrindavan. The Holi of Vrindavan, Mathura and Kashi(Varanasi) are world famous. In case you are planning to visit Varanasi on Holi. You should visit right away as the Masan ki Holi is going to be held on the 4th of March.
