Vrindavana and Mathura, 135km south of Delhi, are the most important places of pilgrimage for devotees of Krishna. Krishna was born in Mathura and spent His childhood in Vrindavana. There are over 5,000 temples in Vrindavana.

Vrindavana Highlights

Yamuna River
The Yamuna river flows through Vrindavan and Mathura. It is the most sacred river in India as it is so intimately connected with Krishna's pastimes. Situated on the bank of the Yamuna is the Keshi Ghat, where Krishna killed the Keshi demon and saved his friends. One who bathes here gets the benediction of bathing in all of the holy places.

Krishna Balarama Mandir
One of ISKCON's major centres is the Krishna Balarama Mandir. This beautiful marble temple was constructed twenty years ago. There are Deities of Gaura-Nitai, Krishna Balarama and Radha-Syamasundara. In front of the temple is the Samadhi Mandir of Srila Prabhupada. This is where his body was laid to rest after he passed away in 1977. His house has been turned into a museum. There is also a guesthouse, restaurant, gurukula and goshalla.

Sri Sri Radha Govindaji Mandir
Built in 1590 by Maharaja Man Singh for the original Govindaji deity discovered by Srila Rupa Goswami. Govindaji was removed from this temple and reinstalled in Jaipur when the Muslim Emperor Aurangzeb destroyed part of the temple in 1670. Several other Deities are also installed here. As this temple was partially destroyed ,worship is now carried in the new Govindaji Mandir ( located behind the original temple).

Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan Mandir
Sanatana Goswami discovered the Deity of Madan Mohan. Ram das Kapoor, a merchant donated the funds for this mandir in 1580. When the Muslims attacked in 1670, the original Deities were moved to Karoli. Worship is done in the new Madan Mohan Mandir to the replacement Madan Mohan Deity.

The bhajan kutir and samadhi of Sanatana Goswami, together with the puspa-samadhis of Candrasekhara Acharya and Tapana Misra are also here.

Sri Sri Radha Raman Mandir
The Deity of Sri Radha-Raman (one of the few original Deities still left in Vrindavana) was installed here by Srila Gopal Bhatta Dasa Goswami. The Deity manifested from one of the Goswami's shaligram-shilas in 1542. Gopal Bhatta also brought Caitanya Mahaprabhu's kaupina (cloth) and asana (seat ) back from Puri. These can be seen three to four times a year. Gopal Batta's Samadhi is located here. The fires for cooking in the temple kitchen have been burning continuously since the Deity was installed over 435 years ago.

Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda Mandir
Here are the the Radha-Vinod Deities of Lokanath Goswami, Radha-Gokulananda Deities of Viswanath Cakravarti, Caitanya Mahaprabhu Deity of Narottama Dasa Thakur, Vijaya Govinda Deities of Baladeva Vidyabhusana, and the Govardhan-shila given to Raghunath Dasa Goswami by Sri Caitanya.

Also, the samadhis of Srila Lokanath Goswami, Srila Narrottama Dasa Thakura, and Viswanath Cakravarti Thakura lie here.

Seva Kunja and Nidhu ban
Seva Kunja and Nidhuban are gardens where Krishna performed many of His pastimes.

Seva Kunja surrounds the temple of Srimati Radharani . Here Krishna would massage Radharani's feet and decorate her hair with flowers. Today this place is surrounded by temples. The Seva Kunja road leads to Srila Jiva Goswami's Radha Damodar Temple, Srila Syamananda Goswami's Radha Syamasundara temple, and Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraj Goswami's Radha-Vrindavana-Chandra Temple.

Sri Gopesvara Mahadeva Mandir
This is the oldest temple in Vrindavana. Gopesvara Mahadeva is Lord Siva, who came to Vrindavana to become a gopi of Krishna. Here Vrinda Devi blessed Lord Siva and allowed him to enter the rasa dance of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna then offered Lord Siva the guardianship of the Rasa Lila , and placed him in the entrance of the Mandir. Ever since, all Vaisnavas pray first for his mercy to become a servant of the servant of the gopis. Vajranabha, the great grandson of Krishna, also installed the Siva-linga in this temple

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Imlitala
The sacred Imlitala tree is where Srila Sanatana Goswami established the worship of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to sit daily under the Imli Tala. A Deity of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is installed under this tree.

Sri Sri Radha Damodara
This is the temple of Srila Jiva Goswami, and the Radha Damodara Deities. (As well as the -Vrindavan Candra Deities worshipped by Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami, the Radha-Madhava Deities of Jayadeva Goswami, and the Radha-Chalacikana Deities of Bhugarbha Goswami). The samadhis of Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami and Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraj Goswami lie here.

Srila Prabhupada lived here for six years from 1959 to 1965. He translated the first three cantos of the Srimad-Bhagavatam here before starting his journey to America.

Banke Bihari Mandir
Established in 1864 by Haridas Swami, this is one of the the most popular temples in Vrindavana, especially, during Jhulan Yatra, the swing festival.

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