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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	~~{{Portal\|India\|Hinduism~~
	}}
	* [[Barsana]]		* [[Barsana]]
	* [[Bhandirvan, Vrindavan\|Bhandirvan]]		* [[Bhandirvan, Vrindavan\|Bhandirvan]]

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{{Short description|City in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Redirect|Brindavanam|the 2010 film|Brindavanam (2010 film)|the 2017 film|Brindavanam (2017 film)}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Vrindavan
| official_name =
| other_name = Vrindaban, Brindaban
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| nicknames = City of Widows
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Kusum Sarovar.jpg
| photo2a = Iskon Temple, Vrindawan.jpg
| photo3a = Lovetemple.jpg
| spacing = 2
| position = center
| color_border = white
| color = black
| size = 266
| foot_montage = Top to bottom: [[Kusum Sarovar]], [[Krishna Balaram Mandir]] and [[Prem Mandir Vrindavan|Prem Mandir (Love temple)]] in Vrindavan}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = India Uttar Pradesh#India3
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| coordinates = {{coord|27.58|N|77.7|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{IND}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Mathura district|Mathura]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Municipal Council]]
| governing_body = Vrindavan Municipal Council
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 170
| population_total = 63,005
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census2011Gov"/>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym = Vrindavan wasi
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +05:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 281121
| area_code = 0565
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| registration_plate = UP-85
| website =
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi]]
|demographics1_title3=Native
|demographics1_info3=[[Braj Bhasha|Braj Bhasha dialect]]
}}
'''Vrindavan''' ({{audio|Vrindavan.ogg|pronunciation}}; {{IAST3|Vṛndāvana}}), also spelt '''Vrindaban''' and '''Brindaban''',<ref name=":0" /> is a historical city in the [[Mathura district]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]. It is one of the most [[sacred]] places in [[Vaishnavism]].<ref name="Hawley">{{cite book |surname=Hawley |given=John Stratton |year=2020 |title=Krishna's Playground: Vrindavan in the 21st Century |place=Oxford; New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0190123987}}</ref><ref name="Madan">{{cite book |title=India through the ages |url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada |last=Gopal |first=Madan |year=1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/176 176] |editor=K.S. Gautam |publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> It is located in the [[Braj|Braj Bhoomi]] region, and is where, according to [[Hinduism]], [[Lord Krishna]] spent most of his childhood days.<ref name="Hawley" /><ref>{{cite web|title=UP gets first officially designated 'teerth sthals' in Vrindavan and Barsana|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/up-gets-first-officially-designated-teerth-sthals-in-vrindavan-and-barsana/articleshow/61277272.cms|date=27 October 2017|publisher=[[Times of India]]}}</ref> The city is about 11 km from [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]], Krishna's birthplace on the [[Agra]]-[[Delhi]] National Highway as [[National Highway (India)|NH-44]].<ref name=route/><ref>{{cite book|last=Keene|first=Henry George|author-link=Henry George Keene (1826–1915)|title=A Handbook for Visitors to Agra and Its Neighbourhood|chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/ahandbookforvis00keengoog#page/n113/mode/1up|chapter=Bindrabun|date=1899|publisher=Thacker, Spink & Co.|pages=98–106}}</ref> The town hosts many temples dedicated to the worship of [[Radha]] and [[Krishna]].<ref name="Madan"/>

== Etymology ==
The ancient [[Sanskrit]] name of the city, {{lang|sa|वृन्दावन}} ({{IAST|Vṛndāvana}}), comes from its groves of ''vṛndā'' ([[Ocimum tenuiflorum|Holy basil]]) and ''vana'' (a [[Grove (nature)|grove]] or forest).<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_023.gif |title=Brindaban|publisher=[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]|date=1909}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Vrindavan is located at {{Coord|27.58|N|77.7|E|}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Vrindavan.html|title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Vrindavan, India|website=www.fallingrain.com|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref> It has an average elevation of 170 metres (557 feet).{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

== Demographics ==
As of [[2011 Indian Census]], Vrindavan had a total population of 63,005, of which 34,769 were males and 28,236 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 7,818. The total number of literates in Vrindavan was 42,917, which constituted 68.11% of the population with male literacy of 73.7% and female literacy of 61.2%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Vrindavan was 77.8%, of which male literacy rate was 83.7% and female literacy rate was 70.3%. The sex ratio is 812 females per 1000 males. The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] population was 6,294 and 18, respectively. Vrindavan had 11,637 households in 2011.<ref name="Census2011Gov">{{cite web |title=Census of India: Vrindavan |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=143385 |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="nayaka1974">{{cite book| title=A students' history of education in India (1800–1973) | authors=Jayant Pandurang Nayaka, Syed Nurullah | year=1974 |edition=6 | publisher=Macmillan | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kNQLHQAACAAJ}}</ref>

Vrindavan lies in the cultural region of [[Braj]].<ref name="LuciaMichelutti1">{{cite web | url=http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/2106/1/U613338.pdf | title=Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town | publisher=London School of Economics and Political Science University of London | work=PhD Thesis Social Anthropology | date=2002 | access-date=20 May 2015 | author=Lucia Michelutti | pages=49}}</ref>

== Religious heritage ==
{{Main|Krishna}}
[[File:Aindra Dasa Kartik 2009.JPG|thumb|[[ISKCON]] devotee singing bhajan in Vrindavan]]
Vrindavan is considered to be a holy place for [[Vaisnavism]] tradition of [[Hinduism]]. It is a center of Krishna worship and the area includes places like [[Govardhan Hill|Govardhana]] and [[Gokul]] that are associated with Krishna. Millions of devotees of [[Radha Krishna]] visit these places of pilgrimage every year and participate in a number of festivals.<ref name = kk2007>{{cite book
|author=Klaus Klostermaier|year=2007|title=A Survey of Hinduism|publisher=State University of New York Press; 3 edition
|isbn=978-0-7914-7081-7|quote = The center of Krishna-worship has been for a long time Brajbhumi, the district of Mathura that embraces also Vrindavana, Govardhana, and Gokula, associated with Krishna from the time immemorial. Many millions of Krishna ''bhaktas'' visit these places every year and participate in the numerous festivals that re-enact divine scenes from Krishna's life on Earth, of which were spent in those very places|page=204|author-link=Klaus Klostermaier}} Vrinda means Tulsi (A sacred species of flora) and van as forest, therefore Vrindavan is a holy forest of Tulsi. Vijaypal Baghel, known as GreenMan is promoting, planting and farming Tulsi in mass around the Vrindavan.</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Swiatyniamadanmohan.jpg|thumb|The 17th century [[Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan|Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple]] was built by [[Raja]] Gopal Singhji of [[Karauli]] dynasty]]
Vrindavan has an ancient past, associated with Hindu culture and history, and was established in the 16th and 17th centuries as a result of an explicit treaty between Muslims and Hindu Emperors,<ref>{{cite news |title=Watch {{!}} John Stratton Hawley on His Latest Book on 'Krishna's Playground' |url=https://thewire.in/urban/watch-john-stratton-hawley-book |access-date=3 March 2020 |work=The Wire |date=25 January 2020}}</ref> and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site since long.

Of the contemporary times, [[Vallabha]]charya, aged eleven visited Vrindavan. Later on, he performed three pilgrimages of [[India]], barefoot giving discourses on [[Bhagavad Gita]] at 84 places. These 84 places are known as [[Pushtimarg Baithak]] and since then are the places of pilgrimage. Yet, he stayed in Vrindavan for four months each year. Vrindavan thus heavily influenced his formation of [[Pushtimarg]].

The essence of Vrindavan was lost over time until the 16th century, when it was rediscovered by [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]]. In the year 1515, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavana, with the purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Krishna's life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mvtindia.com/history/discovery.htm|title=Discovery of Vrindavan by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref>

In the last 250 years, the extensive forests of Vrindavan have been subjected to urbanisation, first by local Rajas and in recent decades by apartment developers. The forest cover has been whittled away to only a few remaining spots, and the local wildlife, including [[peacock]]s, [[cattle|cows]], [[monkey]]s and a variety of bird species has been virtually eliminated. Only a few peacocks are left in the city but monkeys and cows can be seen almost everywhere.

== Temples ==
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2019|reason=Some entries are unsourced and some have unreliable sources}}
{{unreliable sources section|date=November 2019}}

Vrindavan, the land of [[Radha]]rani and the city of temples (mandirs), has more than 1000 or 5000 temples to showcase the pastimes of Radha and Krishna.<ref>{{cite book |author=Rājaśekhara Dāsa |year=2000 |title=The Color Guide to Vṛndāvana: India's Most Holy City of Over 5,000 Temples |publisher=Vedanta Vision Publication |url={{Google books|Q1cvAAAAYAAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}}}</ref><ref>[http://news.vrindavantoday.org/2016/06/seven-main-temples-of-vrindavan Seven main temples of Vrindavan], Vrindavantoday.org</ref> Some of the important pilgrim sites are
*[[Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan|Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple]], located near the Kalidah Ghat was built by Kapur Ram Das of [[Multan]]. One of the oldest temples in Vrindavan, it is closely associated with the Lord [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]]. The original deity of Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to [[Karauli]] in Rajasthan for safekeeping during [[Aurangzeb]]'s rule. Today, a replica of the original (deity) is worshipped at the temple
*[[Radha Raman Temple|Sri Radha Raman Mandir]], constructed at the request of [[Gopala Bhatta Goswami]] and houses a [[saligram]] deity of Krishna as [[Radha Ramana]], alongside [[Radha]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salagram.net/sstp-RadhaRamanVrindavan.html|title=Sri Radha Raman in Vrindavan|website=www.salagram.net|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref>
*[[Banke Bihari Temple]], built in 1862<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bihariji.org/may08/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26|title=Banke-Bihari Temple website|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref> after the image of Banke-Bihari was discovered in Nidhi Vana by [[Swami Haridas]].
*[[Prem Mandir Vrindavan|Prem Mandir]] is a spiritual complex situated on a 54-acre site on the outskirts of Vrindavan dedicated to divine love. The temple structure was established by spiritual guru [[Kripalu Maharaj]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/slideshow/famous-krishna-temples-india_297.html|title=Famous Krishna Temples in India|date=20 August 2013|website=Zee News|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref> The main structure built in marble and figures of Krishna cover the main temple.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aajkikhabar.com/News/Region/Kripaluji-Maharaj-s-Prem-Mandir-will-be-inaugurated-on-17th-February/690284.html|title=Kripaluji Maharaj's Prem Mandir will be inaugurated on 17 February|publisher=Aaj Ki Khabar|first=Mayank|last=Kumar|access-date=29 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330113922/http://www.aajkikhabar.com/News/Region/Kripaluji-Maharaj-s-Prem-Mandir-will-be-inaugurated-on-17th-February/690284.html|archive-date=30 March 2014|url-status=dead|date=13 February 2012}}</ref>
*[[Krishna Balaram Mandir|Sri Krishna-Balarama Temple]] was built by the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON) in Raman-Reti.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.iskconvrindavan.com | title=ISKCON Vrindavan - Home}}</ref> The principal deities of this temple are Krishna and Balaram, with Radha–[[Krishna|Shyamasundar]] and [[Gauranga|Gaura]]-[[Nityananda|Nitai]] alongside. Adjoining the temple is the samadhi of [[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]], the founder of ISKCON, built in pure white marble.
*[[Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir]] is housed in a modern geodesic structure with a traditional gopuram based on [[Khajuraho]] style of architecture. It is being built by one of the [[ISKCON]] factions based in [[Bangalore]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/iskcon-to-build-worlds-tallest-temple-at-mathura-from-today/458198-3-242.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316105823/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/iskcon-to-build-worlds-tallest-temple-at-mathura-from-today/458198-3-242.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 March 2014|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref> At cost of {{INRConvert|300|c}} it will be the tallest temple in world on completion.

== City of Widows ==
Vrindavan is also known as the "city of widows"<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9711/16/india.women/|title=India's widows live out sentence of shame, poverty|access-date=25 March 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061129032657/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9711/16/india.women/ |archive-date = 29 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Indian town with 6,000 widows |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21859622 |access-date=12 January 2021 |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The widows of Vrindavan |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/photos/buzz/the-widows-of-vrindavan-2537551-12.htm |access-date=12 January 2021 |work=cnbctv18.com |date=8 March 2019}}</ref> due to the large number of [[widow]]s who move into the town and surrounding area after losing their husbands. There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 widows. The widows come from states of west Bengal, Assam and Odisha.<ref name="catalyst">{{cite web|url=http://www.catalystmagazine.org/Default.aspx.LocID-0hgnew0ha.RefLocID-0hg01b001006009.Lang-EN.htm|title=Catalyst Magazine: ''Moksha: the widows of Vrindavan''|access-date=25 March 2007}}</ref><ref name="cnn2">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/07/05/damon.india.widows/index.html|title=''Shunned from society, widows flock to city to die''|access-date=5 July 2007 | work=CNN | date=5 July 2007}}</ref> Many spend time singing [[bhajan]] hymns at [[ashram|bhajanashrams]]. An organisation called Guild of Service was formed to assist these deprived women and children.<ref name="cnn" /><ref name="cnn2" /> According to a survey report prepared by the government, several homes run by the government and different NGOs for widows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sulabhinternational.org/content/sulabh-dons-mantle-good-samaritan-save-vrindavan-widows|title=Sulabh dons mantle|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Road===
Vrindavan is well connected by roads and is connected to [[Delhi]] by [[National Highway 44 (India)|National Highway (NH) 44]] of the [[Golden Quadrilateral]] network. Earlier it was NH 2.<ref name=route>{{cite web |title=NHAI |url=http://www.nhai.org/NH2_Delhi_Kolkata_main.htm |access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>

===Rail===
*[[Vrindavan railway station|BDB/Vrindavan]] is on the Mathura-Vrindavan MG link.
*[[Vrindaban Road railway station|VRBD/Vrindaban Road]] is on the Agra-Delhi chord.
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
KesiGhat River.JPG|Kesi Ghat on banks of the [[Yamuna]] river
Vrindavan, India (20566547434).jpg|Rangaji Temple of Vrindavan
PremMandirSideViewFromCanteen.jpg|Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
ISKON TEMPLE 1.jpg|[[Krishna Balaram Mandir]]
Madanmohan Mandir Vrindavan.JPG|[[Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan]]
Pagal Baba Mandir.jpg|Pagal Baba Temple
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|India|Hinduism}}
*[[Gokul]]
*[[Mathura]]
*[[Barsana]]
*[[Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh|Nandgaon]]
*[[Radha Kund]]
*[[Radha Krishna]]
*[[Kusum Sarovar]]
*[[Radha Rani Temple]]
*[[Banke Bihari Temple]]
*[[Radha Raman Temple]]
*[[Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|40em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage-inline}}

{{Hindu holy cities}}
{{Krishna|state=autocollapse}}
{{Mathura district}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vrindavan|Vrindavan]]
[[Category:Krishna]]
[[Category:Hindu holy cities]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Mathura district]]
[[Category:Vaishnavism]]
[[Category:Sacred groves]]
[[Category:Shakti Peethas]]
[[Category:Widowhood in India]]

Vrindavan - Revision history

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