Vrindavan

This article is about the city in Uttar Pradesh, India. For the spiritual Vrindavan, see Goloka. For altar for Tulasi plant, see Tulasi Vrindavana.

"Brindavanam" redirects here. For the 2010 film, see Brindavanam (2010 film). For the 2017 film, see Brindavanam (2017 film).

Vrindavan Vrindaban, Brindaban
City
Clockwise from top: ISKCON Temple , Radha Madanmohan Temple, Radha Damodar Temple, Radha Vallabh Temple, Prem Mandir
Nicknames:  City of Widows
Vrindavan Location in Uttar Pradesh, India Vrindavan Vrindavan (India)
Coordinates: 27.58°N 77.7°E / 27.58; 77.7
Country	India
State	Uttar Pradesh
District	Mathura
Government
• Type	Municipal Corporation
• Body	Mathura-Vrindavan Municipal Corporation
• Mayor	Vinod Agarwal<ref>"BJP's mayoral candidate from Mathura Vinod Agarwal wins". ET Now News. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.</ref> (BJP)
Elevation	170 m (560 ft)
Population  (2011)<ref name="Census2011Gov"/>
• Total	63,005
Demonym	Vrindavan wasi
Languages
• Official	Hindi
• Native	Braj Bhasha
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
PIN	281121
Telephone code	0565
Vehicle registration	UP-85

Vrindavan (hns; IAST: Vṛndāvana), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban,<ref name=":0" /> is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance for Hindus, who believe that Krishna, one of the main Gods in Hinduism, spent most of his childhood in this city.<ref name="Hawley">Hawley, John Stratton (2020). Krishna's Playground: Vrindavan in the 21st Century. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-012398-7.</ref><ref>"UP gets first officially designated 'teerth sthals' in Vrindavan and Barsana". Times of India. 27 October 2017.</ref><ref name="route">"NHAI". Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.</ref><ref>Keene, Henry George (1899). "Bindrabun". A Handbook for Visitors to Agra and Its Neighbourhood. Thacker, Spink & Co. pp. 98–106.</ref> Vrindavan has about 5,500 temples dedicated to the worship of Krishna and his chief consort, Radha.<ref name="Madan">Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 176.</ref> It is one of the most sacred places for Vaishnava traditions.<ref name="Hawley" /><ref name="Madan" />

Vrindavan forms a part of the "Krishna pilgrimage circuit" under development by the Indian Ministry of Tourism. The circuit also includes Mathura, Barsana, Gokul, Govardhan, Kurukshetra, Dwarka and Puri.<ref>"Development of Ramayana and Krishna Circuits". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 15 August 2022.</ref><ref>Bhattacharya, G. (2003). "Vrindavan". Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t090249. ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4.</ref>

Etymology

The ancient Sanskrit name of the city, वृन्दावन (Vṛndāvana), comes from its groves of vṛndā (holy basil) and vana (grove, forest).<ref name=":0">"Brindaban". The Imperial Gazetteer of India. 1909. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2021.</ref>

History

The 17th century 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>"Watch | John Stratton Hawley on His Latest Book on 'Krishna's Playground'". The Wire. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.</ref> and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site since long.

In contemporary times, Vallabha Charya (an Indian saint from 15th century), 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 have the places of pilgrimage. Yet, he stayed in Vrindavan for four months each year. Vrindavan thus heavily influenced his formation of Pushtimarg.

Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan

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 Vrindavan, with the purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Krishna's life.<ref>"Discovery of Vrindavan by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu". Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 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 peacocks, cows, monkeys and a variety of bird species has been virtually eliminated.

Prem Mahavidyalaya

In 1909, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh established India’s first polytechnic college, Prem Mahavidyalaya in Vrindavan, with the dual vision of promoting education and nurturing nationalist thought.<ref name="o379">"जहां राजा महेंद्र का बचपन बीता वहां से ग्राउंड रिपोर्ट: वृंदावन में बनाया था एशिया का पहला पॉलिटेक्निक कॉलेज, यमुना किनारे बनी है राजा की समाधि; लेकिन अब खंडहर हो गया निवास स्थान". Dainik Bhaskar (in हिन्दी). 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2025.</ref> During the inauguration of Prem Mahavidyalaya, Madan Mohan Malviya was also present. Over time, it evolved into an intellectual centre for revolutionary ideas and a meeting place for freedom fighters and Congress leaders.<ref>"Mathura: स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन का केंद्र बिंदु रहा प्रेम महाविद्यालय, अब बनेगा स्मारक". Amar Ujala (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 10 October 2025.</ref>

Prominent figures such as Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, C.F. Andrews, and Jawaharlal Nehru visited the college, leaving their remarks in its visitor book. Mahatma Gandhi spent a day there on 19 April 1915, recording his admiration for Singh’s dedication to the national cause. In 1914, Mahendra Pratap Singh left Prem Mahavidyalaya to seek international backing for India’s independence.<ref name="u253">Today, Vrindavan (15 August 2021). "Independence-Day Special: The story of Vrindavan's Prem Mahavidyalaya, Raja Mahendra Pratap and India's freedom struggle". Vrindavan Today. Retrieved 10 October 2025.</ref>

Geography

Situated on the west bank of the Yamuna River, about 15 kilometres north of Mathura<ref>"Maps, Weather, and Airports for Vrindavan, India". www.fallingrain.com. Retrieved 6 December 2019.</ref> and 125 km from Delhi, Vrindavan has an average elevation of 170&nbsp;metres (557&nbsp;feet). The Yamuna river flows through the city.

Climate

The climate is hot semi arid (BSh), bordering a humid subtropical climate (Cwa).

Climate data for Mathura (1981–2010, extremes 1974–1995)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	29.6 (85.3)	34.1 (93.4)	40.1 (104.2)	45.1 (113.2)	47.1 (116.8)	47.6 (117.7)	44.6 (112.3)	42.7 (108.9)	40.6 (105.1)	42.1 (107.8)	35.1 (95.2)	30.1 (86.2)	47.6 (117.7)
Average high °C (°F)	21.3 (70.3)	24.4 (75.9)	30.4 (86.7)	36.6 (97.9)	41.2 (106.2)	41.2 (106.2)	36.1 (97.0)	34.6 (94.3)	34.2 (93.6)	33.3 (91.9)	29.1 (84.4)	23.3 (73.9)	32.1 (89.8)
Average low °C (°F)	6.4 (43.5)	8.3 (46.9)	13.2 (55.8)	17.9 (64.2)	23.9 (75.0)	25.9 (78.6)	25.5 (77.9)	25.0 (77.0)	23.5 (74.3)	18.3 (64.9)	11.6 (52.9)	7.7 (45.9)	17.3 (63.1)
Record low °C (°F)	1.0 (33.8)	0.5 (32.9)	5.0 (41.0)	7.0 (44.6)	8.5 (47.3)	17.0 (62.6)	11.5 (52.7)	17.5 (63.5)	17.6 (63.7)	11.5 (52.7)	4.0 (39.2)	2.0 (35.6)	0.5 (32.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	10.4 (0.41)	13.6 (0.54)	6.8 (0.27)	10.1 (0.40)	17.8 (0.70)	35.5 (1.40)	164.7 (6.48)	205.2 (8.08)	165.0 (6.50)	18.0 (0.71)	3.9 (0.15)	9.0 (0.35)	660.1 (25.99)
Average rainy days	0.9	1.3	1.0	0.9	1.5	3.0	9.0	9.1	4.9	0.9	0.3	1.1	33.9
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)	65	59	53	48	39	43	67	72	71	63	56	60	58
Source: India Meteorological Department<ref name=IMDnormals> "Station: Mathura Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 481–482. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.</ref><ref name=IMDextremes> "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M220. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.</ref>

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. The 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 the 7+ population of Vrindavan was 77.8%, of which the male literacy rate was 83.7% and the 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">"Census of India: Vrindavan". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 9 October 2019.</ref><ref name="nayaka1974">Jayant Pandurang Nayaka; Syed Nurullah (1974). A students' history of education in India (1800–1973) (6 ed.). Macmillan.</ref>

Vrindavan lies in the cultural region of Braj.<ref name="LuciaMichelutti1">Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 49. Retrieved 20 May 2015.</ref>

Culture and cityscape

Religious heritage

Main articles: Radha, Krishna, and Radha Krishna

ISKCON devotee singing bhajan in Vrindavan

Vrindavan is considered to be a sacred place for Vaisnavism tradition of Hinduism.<ref>"vrindavan mahatmya". purebhakti.com. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2023.</ref> It is believed that Krishna spent part of his childhood in this city.<ref>Sengupta, Arjun (9 March 2023). "Holi: Bringing fleeting color to the lives of Vrindavan's widows". The Indian Express. Retrieved 4 June 2023.</ref> The other prominent areas surrounding Vrindavan are Govardhana, Gokul, Nandgaon, Barsana, Mathura and Bhandirvan. Along with Vrindavan, all these places are considered to be the center of Radha and Krishna worship. Millions of devotees of Radha Krishna visit Vrindavan and its nearby areas every year to participate in a number of festivals.<ref name="kk2007">Klaus Klostermaier (2007). A Survey of Hinduism. State University of New York Press; 3 edition. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-7914-7081-7. 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 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> The common salutation or greetings used in Braj region by its residents is Radhe Radhe which is associated with the Goddess Radha<ref>Lynch, Owen M. (31 December 1990). "ONE. The Social Construction of Emotion in India". Divine Passions. University of California Press. pp. 3–34. doi:10.1525/9780520309753-002. ISBN 978-0-520-30975-3.</ref> or Hare Krishna which is associated with Krishna. Devotees of Krishna believe that he visits the town each night to adore Radha.<ref>Srivastava, Priya (12 August 2020). "Do you know about the 'mysterious' Nidhivan in Vrindavan where Krishna still performs Raasleela?". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 June 2023.</ref>

Temples

Govind Dev Temple, Vrindavan

Vrindavan, the land of Radha Krishna has about 5500 temples dedicated to them to showcase their divine pastimes.<ref>Rājaśekhara Dāsa (2000). The Color Guide to Vṛndāvana: India's Most Holy City of Over 5,000 Temples. Vedanta Vision Publication.</ref><ref>Seven main temples of Vrindavan Archived 13 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Vrindavantoday.org</ref> Some of the important pilgrimage sites are<ref>Anand, D. (1992). "Temples and Places". Krishna: The Living God of Braj. Abhinav Publications. pp. 42–86. ISBN 978-81-7017-280-2.</ref> -

• 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 Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The original deity of 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
• 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>"Sri Radha Raman in Vrindavan". www.salagram.net. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2019.</ref>
• Banke Bihari Temple, built in 1862<ref>"Banke-Bihari Temple website". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2019.</ref> after the image of Banke-Bihari was discovered in Nidhivan by Swami Haridas.
• Radha Vallabh Temple is one of the ancient temple of Vrindavan. It was constructed in 1585 AD and was the first temple made up of red sandstones.<ref>"Chapter 7. Cross-Cultural Dynamics of Mystical Emotions in Vrindaban". The Hare Krishnas in India. Princeton University Press. 14 July 2014. pp. 176–198. doi:10.1515/9781400859894.176. ISBN 978-1-4008-5989-4.</ref>
• Radha Damodar Temple is a Gaudiya Vaishnavism temple, which is dedicated to Radha Krishna and was constructed in 1542 CE.<ref>"Radha Damodar Mandir, Vrindavan - Info, Timings, Photos, History". TemplePurohit - Your Spiritual Destination | Bhakti, Shraddha Aur Ashirwad. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2021.</ref>
• Sri Krishna-Balarama Temple was built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Raman-Reti.<ref>"ISKCON Vrindavan - Home".</ref> The principal deities of this temple are Krishna and Balaram, with Radha–Shyamasundar and Gaura-Nitai alongside. Adjoining the temple is the samadhi of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, was built in pure white marble.
• Prem Mandir, one of the ten largest Hindu temples in the world,<ref>"Top 10 Largest Hindu Temples Worldwide". Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.</ref> 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 Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Kripalu Maharaj.<ref>"Famous Krishna Temples in India". Zee News. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2019.</ref> The main structure built in marble and figures of Krishna cover the main temple.<ref>Kumar, Mayank (13 February 2012). "Kripaluji Maharaj's Prem Mandir will be inaugurated on 17 February". Aaj Ki Khabar. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.</ref>
• 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>"News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates". News18. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2019.</ref> At cost of ₹300 crore (US$42 million) it will be the tallest temple in world on completion.
• Shri Rambag Mandir, Vrindavan Shri Rambag Mandir is a Ramanandi Sampradaya temple, which is the first and oldest Shri Ram Mandir. Made up of white sandstones and dedicated to Shri Ram Darbara, the temple was constructed in 1930.

City of Widows

Vrindavan is also known as the "city of widows"<ref name="cnn">"India's widows live out sentence of shame, poverty". CNN. 16 November 1997. Archived from the original on 29 November 2006. Retrieved 25 March 2007.</ref><ref>"The Indian town with 6,000 widows". BBC News. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2021.</ref><ref>"The widows of Vrindavan". cnbctv18.com. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2021.</ref> due to the large number of widows who move into the town and surrounding area after losing their husbands. There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 widows.<ref name="catalyst">Sheik, Fazal (6 July 2006). "Catalyst Magazine: Moksha: the widows of Vrindavan". Catalyst. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2007.</ref><ref name="cnn2">"Shunned from society, widows flock to city to die". CNN. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2007.</ref> Many live in extreme poverty and spend time singing bhajan hymns at bhajanashrams, as documented in historian William Dalrymple's The Age of Kali (1998). 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>"Sulabh dons mantle". Retrieved 6 December 2019.</ref>

Culinary tradition

Vrindavan and Mathura, the twin cities which are associated with Krishna are main centers of Braj Cuisine.<ref>"Braj Cuisine Echoes The Legends Of Lord Krishna, Radha And Holi". Slurrp. Retrieved 17 August 2024. Even now, Krishna is an integrated part of the Braj community and diet, influencing the culture in indelible ways. The essential elements of Braj cuisine are based on a few beliefs and traditions</ref> Vrindavan Peda, Vrindavan Dahi Arbi jhor, Vrindavan khichdi,<ref>"Budget bites". The Times of India. 1 July 2010. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 August 2024. There's even a dry fruit khichdi, which we didn't have the stomach to try and a Vrindavan khichdi, which comes with a side of Gatte ka saag and papad</ref> Bedmi puri, Dubki Aloo jhor, Moong Dal cheela, Heeng Kachori are some of the famous cuisines popular in this religious city.

Vrindavan Dahi Arbi with paratha

Transportation

Road

Vrindavan is well connected by roads and is connected to Delhi by National Highway (NH) 44 of the Golden Quadrilateral network. Earlier it was NH 2.<ref name="route" />

129&nbsp;km from New Delhi

117&nbsp;km from Gurgaon

54&nbsp;km from Agra

9&nbsp;km from Mathura

While in Vrindavan, battery-powered e-rickshaw are available for commuting within city limits.

Rail

• BDB/Vrindavan is on the Mathura-Vrindavan MG link.
• VRBD/Vrindavan Road is on the Agra-Delhi chord.

Air

The nearest Airports are Agra Airport which is 71.3 km away and New Delhi International Airport is 150 km away.

Noida International Airport in Jewar is expected to open in May 2025.

Gallery

<gallery> KesiGhat River.JPG|Keshi 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 Radharani 5.jpg|Wall art of the name Radha Pagal Baba Mandir.jpg|Pagal Baba Temple </gallery>

See also

• Barsana
• Bhandirvan
• Gokul
• Goverdhan
• Mathura
• Nandgaon
• Phulhar
• Radha Kund