Visit a land that carries the melodious tunes of a beloved flutist and the adorable antics of a mischievous child who had a reputation for stealing makhan (butter). If you haven’t guessed already, we’re taking you to Vrindavan today. All the tales of young Lord Krishna that you’ve come across took place in Vrindavan. This holy city in Uttar Pradesh has a total of 5,500 temples that are dedicated to Krishna and his consort, Radha. Unsurprisingly, Vrindavan is a prime pilgrim spot for all the devout Krishna devotees. Even as a tourist, you’ll enjoy spending time here, especially with this Vrindavan travel guide! Here’s everything you need to know about the place before planning a trip to Vrindavan.
History And Culture Of Vrindavan
Located on the western banks of the Yamuna River, Vrindavan is a city that passes on the stories of Lord Krishna in his childhood and adult years. It’s 10 km away from Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna. The name Vrindavan can be broken into two parts where ‘Vrinda’ means Holy Basil and ‘Vana’ means forest. Long ago, tulsi plants (holy basil) were said to have been found in abundance here.
Mentions of Vrindavan have been found in the Mahabharata – an Indian epic, and Bhagavata Purana – an ancient text of India with eternal tales of the Supreme Gods. It’s also believed that Vrindavan was a lost city until the 1600s when Maharaja Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stumbled upon it.
The people of Vrindavan identify themselves as Brajvasi and their culture is known as Braj culture. And boy, is their culture spellbinding! You should highly consider visiting during Janmashtami or Holi. The Brajvasi really do know how to celebrate the festival with full grandeur. Raasleela (a dance from Krishna’s childhood), Charkula (the traditional dance of Brajvasis), and Phul Holi offer some great sneak peeks into their vibrant culture.
Best Season To Visit Vrindavan
The Peak Season – October To March
To experience Vrindavan in its full glory, visit Vrindavan between October to March. These months are loaded with festivals like Diwali, Janmashtami, and Vrindavan Holi! Even the famous boat festival at the ISKCON Temple and Dussehra happens during this time. You’ll find devotees from all over India gathering to witness the spectacle. The temperature is also pleasant and fluctuates from 10ºC to 27ºC.
The Moderate Season – April To June
If you can handle the infamous heat of North India, you can visit Vrindavan from April to June. The temperature can go as high as 45ºC! Afternoons might become difficult to travel and the Yamuna River will also be all dried up. If you do plan a trip to Vrindavan around this time, make sure you stay hydrated and stay indoors when the sun is at its peak.
The Off-Season – July To September
July to September is relatively calmer. It’s the perfect time to visit if you want to beat the crowd and still enjoy the pleasant weather. During these months, the temperature alternates between 24ºC to 32ºC. The monsoon showers fill up the Yamuna River with freshwater, taking the bathing experience to a whole new level. Even the ghats of Vrindavan come alive during monsoon.
How To Get To Vrindavan?
By Air
The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the closest airport to Vrindavan, located about 150 km away. It’ll take you about 3.5 hours to reach your destination by car.
By Train
Even though Vrindavan has a railway station, most trains don’t stop there. The closest major railway station is Mathura Junction. If you’re taking the scenic route, then you can get down at Mathura and travel to Vrindavan which is 14 km away in a car. Alternatively, you can hop on trains that run between Mathura and Vrindavan. However, you’ll have to check the schedule before booking your tickets.
By Road
Vrindavan is easily accessible by road from all the major cities of India. You can avail of private and government buses that’ll drop you off at Vrindavan.
How To Get Around Vrindavan
All the places to see in Vrindavan are not too far from each other. You can club nearby places and walk on foot or hail a cycle rickshaw that’ll cost you INR 20. You can even book a car that takes you everywhere during the duration of your trip.
Best Places To Stay In Vrindavan
Best Western Vrindavan
Stay in luxury at Best Western Vrindavan. The rooms are spacious to make you’re comfortable and come with air conditioning, a kettle, and a flat-screen TV. There are four different types of rooms to choose from. You can go for a Superior Double Room or choose the Executive Suite – both provide great amenities.
They even have an in-house restaurant that makes delicious breakfasts. Even the location is convenient and saves maximum travel time.
Price: Approx INR 5,500
Address: 12, Ashram Vihar, Chhatikara, Road, Vrindavan
Kridha Residency Hotel
Enjoy facilities like a fitness center, guest lobby and lounge, and free WiFi. Kridha Residency Hotel has a total of 51 rooms, each of them cozy. There’s even an art gallery that has paintings of Radha and Krishna for you to check out.
They have two room styles, Deluxe Room and Executive Room – both of them have a very reasonable price. The furnishing of the rooms is very homely, making you feel welcomed right away!
Price: Approx INR 3,500
Address: Chatikara Road, Near Axis Bank Raman Reti, Vrindavan
Laxmi Dormitory
If you plan to wander the city the entire day and only return for a good night’s sleep, Laxmi Dormitory in Vrindavan is an ideal choice! Not only is it easy on the wallet, but it’s also tidy and spacious. You can stay in a bunk bed in a mixed dormitory room or spend the night in a single bed with a shared bathroom.
Price: Approx INR 512
Address: 100 Feet Road, Chaitanya Vihar, Vrindavan
Go Check Out!
Banke Bihari Mandir
Banke Bihari is said to be a combined form of Radha and Lord Krishna. This is one of the most renowned temples of Vrindavan. You’ll be captivated by the Rajasthani architecture with arched windows and impressive stonework. There’s a sewa that’s performed in three sections – Shringar, Rajbhog, and Shayan. The Shringar is when the idol gets bathed, clothed, and adorned with jewelry. Rajbhog is the afternoon feast and it’s followed by Shayan, when the idol is put to sleep.
You’ll always find devotees meditating at the temple, finding solace in the peace. Perhaps you’ll notice that the Banke Bihari Temple has no bells or conches. It’s because the noises are said to disturb Lord Krishna.
Timings: 7:30 am to 12:00 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Prem Mandir
Also known as the ‘Temple of God’s Love’, this mandir is dedicated to Radha-Krishna and Ram-Sita. It’s made entirely of marble and you’ll find minute patterns carved on the walls. In the main temple, you’ll find scenes displaying instances of Lord Krishna’s miracles. One of them is Krishna raising the Govardhan Mountain with his pinky finger.
Prem Mandir, at night, is fully illuminated with vibrant lights, making the temple an absolute delight to visit.
Timings: 8:30 am to 12 pm; 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Nidhivan
Nidhivan is hands down the most fascinating place in Vrindavan. As per belief, every night, Lord Krishna, Radha, and all the Gopis gather here to perform Raasleela. It’s also why nobody is allowed here after sunset! Not just humans, but even birds are said to fly away once the sun goes down.
There’s a temple inside Nidhivan known as Rang Mahal that has a bed made out of sandalwood. It’s tidied up every evening with a jar of water, some food, and clothes kept as an offering to Lord Krishna. However, the next day, it appears as if the food has been tasted. We don’t know for sure. But it’s a fascinating mystery nonetheless!
Summing Up
Now that you know what all Vrindavan has to offer, planning a trip will be a whole lot easier. You can actually see the places mentioned in the lores associated with Lord Krishna and let your imagination come to life.
FAQs
What Is So Special About Vrindavan?
Vrindavan is special because Lord Krishna spent his childhood and adult years here. It attracts over 5,00,000 devout worshippers of Lord Krishna every year.
How Expensive Is Vrindavan?
Being a pilgrimage site, Vrindavan is not very expensive. You can spend one day in Vrindavan with approximately INR 1,500 per person.
What Is Famous In Vrindavan To Buy?
Brass items and dresses made out of khadi are famous items to buy in Vrindavan. You can visit Khadi Bhavan to check out the khadi clothes. It’s also popular for having Krishna’s clothing, idols, and malas.
What Is The Special Food Of Vrindavan?
It comes as no surprise that the special food of Vrindavan is Makhan Mishri. Little Krishna loved stealing and eating makhan. This sweet is nothing but fresh white butter mixed with Mishri or rock candy. You can get it as prasad at the Banke Bihari Temple.
Are There Non-Vegetarian Restaurants In Vrindavan?
No. Vrindava is a pilgrimage destinations, so all restaurants in Vrindavan are purely vegetarian.
