On the Gad: Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana

There are certain journeys that hold a special place in one's heart, filled with a multitude of emotions, bittersweet memories, and unexplainable experiences. Allow me to share one of my life's most exceptional voyages. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana, and it was truly unforgettable. The trip was impromptu, and we made several last-minute changes to ensure it was the best trip possible.

Our journey began by boarding the Jabalpur-Nizamuddin Express train from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. After a nine-hour journey, we arrived in Mathura the following day. Though we had planned our itinerary, we had to make adjustments due to Hariyali Teej falling on the day of our arrival. However, the change in plans worked out well in the end.

On Day 1, we visited Mathura, known as Lord Krishna's birthplace and has many temples and shrines dedicated to him. A must-visit is the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, where it's believed Lord Krishna was born. Unfortunately, we arrived later in the day and found that the temples of great significance were closed until 4:30 PM. We decided to check out the Jai Gurudev Temple instead. This temple was built by Baba Jai Gurudev ji Maharaj in memory of his spiritual master, Pandit Ghurelal Sharma ji.

Later in the day, we planned to explore the Vishram Ghat and other nearby temples. Upon arrival, we discovered that the local rowers offer boat rides covering several temples along the holy Yamuna River. We decided to book a boat ride, typically costing Rs. 180-200 per person. 

However, our experience was beyond what we expected. During the ride, we witnessed several ghats within a distance of approximately 2 kilometres. The most stunning of them all was the one near Dwarkadhish Temple. We also visited nearby markets. By the time we returned, the sun had already set, and the view was mesmerizing.

On our second day, we planned to explore the towns of Barsana and Vrindavan, which are closely associated with Lord Krishna.

Barsana, a small village near Mathura, is renowned for its Radha Rani temple and the Lathmar Holi celebration, where women playfully hit men with sticks.

Vrindavan is home to over 5,000 temples, with the Banke Bihari temple being the most popular due to its unique architecture. This town is known for its Holi Festival, which attracts visitors from all around the world to witness colourful celebrations.

In the morning, we departed for Barsana after checking out of Mathura. We took a cab for a round trip to Barsana and Vrindavan from Mathura, which cost approximately Rs. 2,800.

The route was absolutely stunning, with vibrant green fields and a sky full of billowing clouds.

We had the opportunity to visit Kirti Mandir and were fortunate enough to witness the closing aarti. The feeling was truly divine.

Afterwards, we visited the Radharani temple. The temple is devoted to the goddess Radha and worshipped through the deities Radha Krishna, referred to as Shri Laadli Lal, meaning beloved daughter and son of the town. The temple is situated on the Bhanugarh hill, approximately 250 meters tall. It is prevalent among devotees and tourists, who flock from around the world to celebrate its most famous festivals, Radhashtami and Lathmar Holi.

Later, we visited Vrindavan, which is about 45 kilometres from Barsana. On the way, we stopped for lunch. Since the temples open at 4:30 PM, we had an hour to relax before heading to the ISKCON Temple. This temple is one of the largest ISKCON temples in the world and is also known as Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir. It follows the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.

As we watched the devoted followers dance to the solemn chants of Hare Krishna, a sense of melancholy washed over us and gave us goosebumps.

We then visited the Banke Bihari Temple, which houses an idol of Radha Krishna in their combined form. This idol was crafted by Swami Haridas, a musician and saint from Vrindavan who was believed to be the incarnation of Lalita gopi, a close associate of Radha Krishna in their celestial abode Goloka. Swami Haridas was also the guru of the famous singer Tansen. Legend has it that Swami Haridas sang a verse in Nidhivan praising the divine couple Shyama Shyam (Radha Krishna) at the request of his disciples. Upon hearing the verse, the celestial couple appeared in front of him and merged into one, creating the stone image of Banke Bihari. Swami Haridas named the idol Kunj Bihari or Banke Bihari, and it was later moved from Nidhivan to Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. It is believed that if one gazes into the eyes of Shri Banke for more than 2 minutes, Bihariji will leave the premises and live with the person for the rest of their life. The priests cover the idol with curtains every 2 minutes to prevent this.

We then proceeded to the last site of the day and our trip, the Prem Mandir. It is also known as the temple of divine love and is dedicated to Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna, as well as Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. It's considered one of the most stunning and sophisticated structures in Vrindavan, made of Italian white marble and showcasing the major events in Lord Krishna's life, with the interiors depicting those scenes, including the raising of Govardhan Hill.

Afterwards, we returned to Mathura to catch our train to Bhopal. My excursion to Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana gave me a glimpse into the area's rich culture and traditions. The locals' hospitality, delightful cuisine, and stunning temples made it unforgettable.

Although we were unable to visit all of the places due to time constraints, you can plan your trip effectively to include the following locations:

• Govardhan Parvat
• Radha Kund
• Krishna Kund
• Birla Mandir
• Vaishnodevi Dham
• Dauji Mandir
• Gokul
• Nandgaon

A three-day trip to Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana will allow you to visit all the significant sites.

Here are the timings of a few major attractions:

• Dwarkadhish Temple (Mathura):
• 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM
• 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Kirti Temple (Barsana)
• 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
• 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Radharani Temple (Barsana)
• 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM
• 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM
• 4:30 PM to 8:45 PM
• ISKCON (Vrindavan)
• 4:10 AM to 12:45 PM
• 4:30 PM to 8:45 PM
• Banke Bihari Temple (Vrindavan)
• 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM
• 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
• Prem Mandir (Vrindavan)
• 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
• 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM

You can also combine your trip to Mathura with a visit to Agra or Delhi, as both cities are in close proximity and easily accessible.

I am concluding this post for now. If you found it helpful, please consider sharing it with a friend or on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Thank you for your support.

When travelling, it's essential to be mindful of our impact on the environment. Let's all do our part and avoid polluting.

Stay updated by following me on Instagram and Facebook for regular posts and announcements.