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Vrindavan
Vrindavan, just 15 kilometers from Mathura,
is another major place of pilgrimage. It is
noted for its numerous temples - both old
and modern. The name Vrindavan evokes the
playfulness and lovable characteristics of
Shri Krishna. This is the wood where he
frolicked with the gopikas and tenderly
wooed Radha.
Vrindavan today, is noted for its
numerous temples. The most important are:
The Madan Mohan Temple located near
the Kali Ghat, which was built by Kapur Ram
Das of Multan. This is the oldest existent
temple is closely associated with the Saint
Chaitanya. The original idol of Lord Madan
Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli
in Rajasthan for safe keeping, during
Aurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica of the
image is worshipped at the temple.
The Banke-Bihari Temple built in 1864
is the most popular shrine at Vrindavan. The
image of Banke-Bihari was discovered in
Nidhi Vana by Swami Haridas, the great
Krishna devotee, belonging to the Nimbarka
sect.
The famous Radha Vallabh Temple set
up by the Radha-Vallabhj sect, has the crown
of Radha-Rani placed next to the Shri
Krishna idol in the sanctum.
The Jaipur Temple, which was built by
Sawai Madha Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur in
1917, is a richly embellished and opulent
temple. The fine hand - carved sandstone is
of unparalleled workmanship. The temple is
dedicated to Shri Radha Mahav.
 The Shaji Temple, another popular
temple at Vrindavan, was designed and built
in 1876 by a wealthy jeweler, Shah Kundan
Lal of Lucknow. The deities at the temple
are popularly known as the Chhote Radha
Raman. Noted for its magnificent architecture and
beautiful marble sculpture, the temple has
twelve spiral columns each 15 feet high. The
'Basanti Kamra' - the durbar hall is famed
for its Belgian glass chandeliers and fine
paintings.
The Rangaji Temple, built in 1851, is
dedicated to Lord Ranganatha or Rangaji
depicted as Lord Vishnu in his Sheshashayi
pose, resting on the coils of the sacred
Shesha-nag. The temple built in the
Dravidian style has a tall gopuram gateway)
of six stories and a gold plated Dhwaja
Stambha, 50 feet high. A water tank and a
picturesque garden lie within the temple
enclosure. The annual festival of Jal Vihar
of the presiding deity is performed with
great pomp and splendor at the tank. The
temple is also famous for its 'Brahmotsav'
celebration in March-April, more popularly
known as the 'Rath ka Mela'. The ten-day
long celebrations are marked by the pulling
of the rath (the chariot car) by the
devotees from the temple to the adjoining
gardens.
The Govind Deo Temple was once a
magnificent seven storied structure built in
the form of a Greek cross. It is said that
the Emperor Akbar donated some of the
red sandstone that had been brought for the
Red Fort at Agra, for the construction of
this temple. Built at the astronomical cost
of one crore rupees in 1590 by his General
Man Singh, the temple combines Western,
Hindu and Muslim architectural elements in
its structure.
The Shri Krishna-Balram Temple built
by the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (ISKCON), is one of
the most beautiful temples in Vrindavan
today. The principal deities of this temple
are Shri Krishna - Balram and Shri Radha -
Shyam Sundar. Adjoining the temple is the
samadhi of the Prabhupada, the founder of
the ISKCON sect, built in pure white marble.
Other places of interest include the Sriji
Temple, Jugal Kishore Temple, Kesi Ghat, Lal
Babu Temple, Raj Ghat, Meera-Bai Temple,
Imli Tal, Kaliya Ghat, Raman Reti, Varaha
Ghat and Chaira Ghat.
The Seva Kunj is where Lord Krishna
once performed the Raslilas with
Radha- Rani and the gopikas and Nidhi Van
where the divine couple rested. The samadhi
of Swami Haridas is situated here.
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