Radhe Radhe!
Exploring towns with such deep roots in our Indian Hindu mythology has always been fascinating. According to legend, the holy Lord Krishna was born in Mathura and raised in Vrindavan by his other parents, which is why both places have their own unique offerings in terms of Shree Krishna Leela Gatha.
Mathura is known as the centre of Brij Boomi (Krishna's territory), whereas Vrindavan is known as Krishna's playground, which regained its fame when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu rediscovered in his search for divine love traces all of Krishna's transcendent pastimes.
If you ever get the chance to visit here, Bhakts says there are many things to see and do. Various worthwhile locations allowed you to observe both heritage and cultural features, with the essence of Radhe Radhe singing throughout.
During my visit to Brij Dham, I had the opportunity to actually feel the stories that I had been hearing since I was a child and to be a witness to those surreal places, as well as learn about notable places around Shri Krishan Leela or birth with other associates of his life,
if you are planning a 2-3 day trip and want to explore the best places and get the essence of the divine place's cultural and religious heritage. Here's a sample itinerary for your next vacation. Beginning in Delhi,
Planning
Planning a vacation ahead of time helps you avoid back-and-forth trips, which we experienced, and allows you to make better use of your time.
There are a variety of ways to get to Mathura at your leisure; in our case, we planned to rent a car. Because we knew we only had limited time to see so many locations, and the simplicity of commuting allows us to see more. It is possible that renting a car will be more expensive. But believe me when I say that spending a few additional funds is well worth it once you understand how simple it is to commute from one location to another.
Pro Tip:
Our advisor recommends starting your journey as early as possible in the morning because when the sun rises, there will be more traffic on the highways, resulting in extra time to get to your destination.
It's always a good idea to book a hotel room in the city. So that you may make the most of your stay in these sacred places by visiting historic temples, praying there, and admiring beautiful architecture while eating a variety of vegetarian delights.
Day 1 :
We got up at 6 a.m. because we knew it would take us 3 to 3:30 hours (depending on traffic) to be at Shree Krishan Janmasthan, where we would begin our journey.
We've placed our car in a parking spot near Potra Kund and are ready to start spending.
Tip: Because phones and other electronic devices are not permitted inside, keep them in your car or in a locker provided by local shops.
Potra Kund
It is one of India's most well-known Kunds, and because of its connection to Lord Krishna, it has a particular place in the hearts of his devotees. This Potra kund is actually a stepwell, known in India as Boali. The connection between this Kund and Lord Krishna is that Mata Devki and Vasudeva used to wash their children's clothes in this stepwell, and clothes back then were referred to as Potra.
Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple, Mathura:
This is the site where Lord Krishna is said to have been born. This location includes caves and khakis portraying god life, as well as big temples for pooja and worshipping. Surrounded by a market and chanting that seemed to convey the story of Shree Krishan's birth times through each stone and carving.
Also read: shri krishna janmasthan temple
There is a mosque, which you will undoubtedly notice. According to locals, during his reign, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb constructed the Shahi-Eidgah Mosque, which is close to Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi, which is thought to be over a Hindu temple.
Kans Quila (Old Fort or Purana Qila of Mathura)
We decided to explore Kans Quila after seeing this. Due to tight one-way highways, we had to keep our vehicle in the market. It is thought to be the fort of Kansa (Lord Krishna's maternal uncle), which is surrounded by a massive longwall and fenced near the Ganga ghat, with architectural influences by Hindu and Muslim influences.
In today's period, the quilt (shape) appears shabby as a result of inadequate upkeep, and it's difficult to understand how rulers ruined its beauty and architecture over time.
Shahi Jama Masjid:
We get an opportunity to look over Shahi Jama Masjid, which is adjacent to the market. When we asked locals about the area, they said: "it was built in 1661 by Abd-un-Nabi Khan." This structure's grandeur spellbinds one with its four minarets and mosaic plastering, as well as the magnificent sculptures." The front of the mosque is etched with 99 names of Allah in Persian script, according to residents.
We sat there for a time, enjoying the peace and quiet while learning about the significance of the location. It is always beneficial to be aware that there will be two components of different religions that operate together.
Birla Temple/Gita Mandir:
On the Vrindavan-Mathura route, on the outskirts of Mathura. It is a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims. The main draw of this temple is that it contains all 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita written on its pillars. - remarked Pandit ji
The temple also holds Lord Krishna's chariot and the Bhagavad Gita Stambh, which contains all of the Bhagavad Gita's carvings.
Shri Bankey Bihari Temple.
It is the most well-known and well-visited Mathura temple devoted to Lord Krishna. It is said that if a devotee gazes long enough into the Lord's eyes out of devotion, Krishna's heart melts and he joins the devotee, leaving his throne behind. Because of this, it is believed that every two minutes, a purdah (curtain) is drawn in front of the idol between the worshippers to break the intensity of feeling that Krishna's image stirs in his devotees.
After that , We chose to have lunch nearby after spending some time visiting the gorgeous market and spending some time around the temple, which is full of sweets (pede) in particular, as well as other fascinating things to carry with you.
We had our lunch in the hotel while having some rest we have a plan to visit the next place which is Nidhivan Vidhivan . which would be the last place to explore since we need to walk around the place. And ended up with this for day one
Nidhivan Vrindavan :
It is said that Lord Krishna performs his Ras Leela every single night here, and that anyone who dares to look over the site in the evening or even attempts to do so has lost their sight, voice, or worse, mental soundness. With a walk-around gated lane, you can get a close look at Nidhivan's trees, It is a must-see destination that attracts visitors from all over the world.
One interesting discovery was that the Tulsi plants located in the premises are in pairs, according to pandit ji.
Day 2 :
On the second day, we planned to go to Govardhan parikrama. It is said that Goverdhan hill, also known as Giriraj hill, is one of the most auspicious mountains in the world, and that all gopas and gopis circumnutated it to please Lord Krishan.
It's a 23 kilometer parikrama that took us 6 hours to finish due to the numerous sights we saw along the way, including
Govardhan Parikarma:
Along the parikrama, you might be surprised to see some devotees performing Dandavata Parikara (where they cover the entire parikrama by drawing marks on the ground while lying flat). I had the opportunity to ask them how long it would take them to get to the end, and he responded three weeks. He went on to say that this ritual is frequently conducted with milk, which is considered more sacred.
Sankarshan Kund:
The cow was drinking water from a pond when she was suddenly attacked by a tiger, according to legend. She did everything she could to keep the tiger away, but the animal was stubborn. Finally, she negotiated a deal with the tiger that she would return to be eaten after nursing her calf and bidding her master farewell, and the tiger agreed to let her go. She returned home and instructed her calf to drink milk till he was satisfied. His master Brahmin was touched by this and chose to offer himself as a sacrifice instead. All three of them eventually made their way back to the pond. it was at this moment that Lord Krishna himself appeared in front of them seeing Lord Krishna's tiger had a change of heart in this way all three of them were saved by the grace of Lord Krishna.
Punchari Ka Lautha Baba Temple:
It is located in Rajasthan, and the legend surrounding this sacred site is as follows: Shri Krishna's friend Lota baba was once playing hide and seek, and it was Krishna's time to find his pal. Lota baba took shelter in the puchari. Krishna set out to find his companion, but he was interrupted by his cowherd buddies who invited him to play with them. Krishna became so engrossed in his game with his cowherd friends that he forgot Lota baba was waiting for him. Lota baba dedicated himself to the Lord in a state of separation and waited for him for the rest of his life.
Uddhav Kund, Govardhan
You’ll find mention of this Kund in the epics, as this is the place where Uddhav Ji sympathized with Dvaraka’s residents. This kund is situated to the west of Kusum Sarovar Govardhan on the east end of Parikrama Marg.
Shyam Kund & Radha Kund:
According to the ancient epics, Lord Krishna's maternal uncle Kans commanded the demon to kill him. However, that demon took the appearance of a bull, and Lord Krishna easily defeated it; however, the cow family is respected in India, so Radha and the villagers claimed that Lord Krishna had committed a crime. As a result, in order to overcome the sin, he bathed in the holy water. Following this, Radha dug a route with her Kangan (bracelet) to allow the holy water to flow to her Kund, which is now known as Radha Kund and is considered the holiest of all holy locations. Lord Krishna's devotees believe that these Kunds have healing powers.
With that, you can find a list of all the kunds we've looked into here.
Day 2 was lots of excitement and walking yet, despite backpacking 21+ kilometres, we didn't feel exhausted, perhaps due to the enthusiasm of pilgrims around us who kept chanting the names of Radhe Radhe throughout our journey.
Pro Tip: Don't forget to feed monkeys during your parikrama; it is believed that if you continue to help those who meet you on your parikrama, you will gain more benefits from your yatra. It's the kind of devotion you're fostering in others.
Day 3:
We began really early in the morning. We had planned to visit a couple well-known temples that had daytime closure times. Our guide informed us that during the day, all significant temples close between 12 and 3 p.m. So it's best to explore them first, and then we'll return to our original location.
Sri Krishna Balram Temple (ISKCON Vrindavan):
Built-in 1975, the Sri Krishna Balram Temple is located on the banks of the Yamuna River, where Balarama used to herd their cow. The Aarti and Bhagavad Geeta lessons given here every day enchant visitors to the heavenly shrine. Located in Vrindavan's Raman Reti neighborhood. It is a prominent tourist attraction for visitors to Mathura.
Shri Pagal Baba Temple:
It is the first of its type, a white marbled temple. Pagal Baba, whose real name is Sri Sheela Nand Ji Maharaj, created the temple, which is a seven-story building with each storey dedicated to a distinct avatar of Lord Krishna.
Prem Mandir vrindavan:
It is one of Vrindavan's newest and most amazing temples, according to our guide, a resurrection of traditional Indian art and Nagara architecture emphasising Rajasthani and Gujrati style with finely carved doors with floral designs.
Pilgrims were treated to a musical fountain, a life-size model, and grand architecture all around, with the finest part being the nighttime lightening show after sunset. The entire temple is a visual pleasure for all visitors.
We have ended up our journey with prem mandir in the evening, we had a fantastic time when we were there. No one wants to return to those areas after seeing them all, yet everyone's life requires a balance of commitment and responsibility. Overall, I can say that traveling here and seeing the decor then and pilgrims will make you fall in love with the enchantments and surroundings. But, like with every good story, there must be a happy ending.
I'm sharing a google list map location where I've mapped all of the places with days and descriptions to aid in effective planning and exploration. Until then, have a wonderful holiday season.