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devotee
06 March 2015, 09:24 PM
Dear friends,

Has anyone of you visited Mathura Vrindavan ? If yes, please share your experiences and also suggestions for people who want to go there first time.

OM

smaranam
08 March 2015, 01:29 AM
Jai Shri KRshNa, Devoteeji

I shall merely stick to being your tour guide.

First, Recommended places to visit:

1. Banke Bihari ji
2. Nidhivan and the Rang Mahal inside, Swami Haridas ji samadhi
3. Vrindavan Bihariji Mandir (next to Nidhivan). Don’t miss my KAnhu’s Baby hand in the tree in the yard – hold it.
4. Chir haran KAnhA on a tree (open-air) across Yamuna at KAlyiA ghAt -- where there are boat rides. Here you will see turtles on shore. KRshNa showed Himself to Ma Yashoda in a turtle’s mouth, when He was deep inside the doha fighting with KAliyA.
5. KAliyA – KrshNa mandir between Vrindavan Bihariji and Chir haraN KAnhA
6. Kesi ghaat
7. Belvan
8. Ranganathji Mandir (SonekA KhambA) – the Ranganath here is amazingly beautiful, behind this mandir in the same campus/compound, please do visit kaach ka mandir – a small place – here you will find a life size Baal KRshNa sleeping in a swing and you can swing Him. Ask someone/your guide when at the Rangnathji mandir about this one. You have to walk out in the back yard, and turn left in an alley to get there. It is all on the same grounds.
9. KRshNa-praNAmI mandir – beautiful , also called kaanch ka mandir. Coloured glass etchings of Radha KRshNa and all Vraj vasi leela. This mandir is special – there is no mUrti of Radha KRshNa – the altar has the Yugal-Kishore’s mukut (crown – KRshNa’s and Radha’s), and KRshNa’s Flute. That’s it.
10. Of Course, KRshNa-Balram MAndir (ISKCON), Try attending mid-morning kirtan and bhog arati at noon. Evening Gaurarti and kirtan as always. On Sunday there is Prasad in Balram hall at 3 pm.
11. All mandirs by the 6 Goswamis – Radha-MadanMohan, RadhaRamaN (svayambhU), Radha-GokuLAnanda (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pUjya Govardhan Shila here), Radha-DAmodar, GovindDev, Shyamanandji (Radha-Shyamsundar)
12. Jiv Goswami Samadhi
13. Dauji Mandir
14. PREM Mandir (by Barsana Dham – JKP – Jagatguru Kripaluji Maharaj) –MUST VISIT. Breathtaking Radha KRshNa on swing. Walk into their house ... the tall and beautiful Yugal Kishore... I will not describe anything , amazing Mandir.
15. VaishNo devi mandir (inside -- a tall Subhadra as the devi and the most adorable natkhat Bal Krishna next to Sis – on my first visit I did not expect Him to be there and you should have seen the laugh on His face at my surprise.)



Outside Vrindavan
16. Govardhan - parikrama and mandir
17. Radha-kund – out of the chor world of the gwals into the world of the sakhis. Sawariya, aja, aja kanhai tuze radha hai pukare muze kyon tarsaye, bhul gaya tu vada…

18. GokuL – Life size Baal KRshNa – you can hold Him, hug Him all you want. Then chaurAsi khambe across (84 pillars built by Vishvakarma)
19. MathurA mandir – birthplace of Shri KRshNa
20. Nandagaon - home where Shri KRshNa ran and walked – get some fresh makhan in a dron-cup for Him as you climb up to the mandir. See the pastures down the hill for Nanda maharaj’s 9 lakh cows
21. Barsana – Radha’s haveli and mandir on a hill. . For the Gopis – get the instant foot mehendi outside Radharani’s haveli and get into the mood. Even men who are gopis – don’t be shy.
22. Lakshmi Mandir just outside Vrindavan, Get khichaDi Prasad.
23. GaruD Govind Mandir -- ChhatikarA (ancient, built by VajranAbh , KRshNa's great grandson)


Keep a day for 16, 17,19 ,
a day for 20, 21 ,
an evening for 14,15
combine 8,9 together (old part of town) or whichever way you choose to group the places. 8 is also close to 2 and several others.
and visit 18 - GokuL on the way back home and if possible squeeze in 22,23, (at least 23) on the way out of Vrindavan.
Don’t blame me later if you need an extra day becs you came back for 2,3,4 the next day – just by yourself – free of anyone over your shoulder just you and Him.


In the first trip I stole Bal KRshNa from Vraj (GokuL to be precise).
In the second trip 4 years later all arranged by Him, it was His turn. I was telling Banke Bihari lal -- tu itna na kariyo shringaar, nazar tuze kag jayegi. He welcomed in style. With a maha-laddu & streams of teertha, then He stole my slip-on shoes and made my secret wish of walking barefoot in Vraj come true (so it got officially sanctioned by the Lord Himself -- If He can argue about going barefoot because His cows do too, I can argue about going barefoot because my ShyAmsundar does too). So, 5+ days barefoot everywhere, on the last day, barefoot all the way to Radha Kund, when taxi stopped � km away, barefoot Radha ki galiyan me , till the Sakhis finally got me simple slippers on the way back from the kund.
He also arranged for attending the " accidentally discovered " bhagvat katha by RadhaKrshNaMaharaj (Nimbarki, nani baino mayro) for exactly 2 days -- day1 -- KRshNa janma, day2 -- Radha-KRshNa vivAha procession! Of all the topics in Bhagvat, He chose these on these 2 days - my last 2 days in Vrindavan trip2.
Also, after day1 of 2,3,4,5 on day2 I saw a group of devotees walking and kirtaning. Asked them where are you going? Vraj parikrama! Can I join? Yes of couse :) They were from my hometown, spoke my mother tongue. That took care of 1,11,12,14. This was no accident either. Arrangement courtesy Tribhanga-lalita Govinda.



So,Hari takes the luxury called footwear away (gives you that spiritual experience) and Radha replaces the loss with comfortable soft slippers.
Radhe KRshNa Radhe Shyam!


What saubhagya – I was at Radha Kund on new yrs eve (Dec 31) when a great swamiji there was having his annual grand festival – baskets of fruits were being offered all along the kund steps to the Radha KrshNa in lotus at center of the lake – I joined the followers in arranging some baskets of oranges and guavas. It was truly blissful.


SawariyA ...



-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now comes the practical part for the embodied beings that we are --

By train: from a city in Bharat to Dehli, Dehli to Mathura junction. Bus or rickshaw to Chhatikara.
Buses: From Dehli bus terminal Sarai Kale Khan, you can get a Mathura-bound bus to Chhatikara every half hour.
From Dehli airport: Taxi into Vrindavan takes a minimum of 3 hours.

Stay: There are hotels like Shubham, Krishna, Nidhivan… and then there are ashrams – VaishNo-devi guest house, Balaji Ashram, Folga Ashram, Jagannath Mandir Ashram, and ISKCON MVT (Mayapur Vrindavan trust) … also some dharmashalas. Many options. Online booking possible with some.



Some hotels serve ultra-spicy food (but vegetarian no-onion-garlic). Govinda's inside KRshNa-Balram Mandir is very good – not spicy, reasonable and it is KRshNa Prasad.


Recommend staying on the Bhaktivedanta Marg (fondly named after Shrila PRabhupad) – the road that brings you into Vrindavan from ChhatikarA / Mathura highway, somewhere between KRshNa BalrAm Mandir (ISKCON) and Banke Bihari Mandir. VaishNo-Devi Mandir guest house is also very good but you will be a bit far away from the central Vrindavan locations.


http://www.pilgrimageindia.net/hindu_pilgrimage/mathura_vrindavan.html
http://www.iskconvrindavan.com/visitPlace
http://www.purebhakti.com/arriving-in-new-delhi-traveling-to-india-97/883-where-to-stay-in-delhi-mathura-vrindavan-and-govardhan.html

devotee
08 March 2015, 07:07 AM
Thanks, Smaranam ! You have prepared a great helpful guide to Mathura-Vrindavan tour !! :)

OM

smaranam
08 March 2015, 08:56 AM
You are very welcome

smaranam
08 March 2015, 10:53 AM
P.S. Forgot to mention that HanumAnJi (who is always watching over at such teerthas) --- some members of His gang, made several attempts to snatch my purse (giving blessings in return) and I am glad that HanumAnJi Himself succcessfully snatched away my fruit bag (an orange and an apple) at the Kaliya-ghat --- Vrindavan Bihariji --- Chir-haran KanahA spot (most pavitra, outside Nidhivan). He wanted a share of Shri Ram's prasad, fair enough. I am happy to let Him have it :) except it was just some fruit I was carrying as fuel for the day, not officially prasad as such.

So yes, watch out for Hanumanji's gang. Do not leave cameras, handbags, packed prasad, footwear, sunglasses... in open locations. Hold on to the purses close to the heart -- remember we are embodied and need the purse.
And don't call them "monkeys" or "bandar" :)

devotee
08 March 2015, 07:41 PM
P.S. Forgot to mention that HanumAnJi (who is always watching over at such teerthas) --- some members of His gang, made several attempts to snatch my purse (giving blessings in return) and I am glad that HanumAnJi Himself succcessfully snatched away my fruit bag (an orange and an apple) at the Kaliya-ghat --- Vrindavan Bihariji --- Chir-haran KanahA spot (most pavitra, outside Nidhivan). He wanted a share of Shri Ram's prasad, fair enough. I am happy to let Him have it :) except it was just some fruit I was carrying as fuel for the day, not officially prasad as such.

So yes, watch out for Hanumanji's gang. Do not leave cameras, handbags, packed prasad, footwear, sunglasses... in open locations. Hold on to the purses close to the heart -- remember we are embodied and need the purse.
And don't call them "monkeys" or "bandar" :)

:) :) :)

Yes. While browsing on net for hotels and other information, I got this message strongly. At a few places it was recommended to take rooms which are not facing the road to avoid Hanuman-troubles" !

OM

grames
08 March 2015, 09:32 PM
Dear Devotee and Smaranam.,


This is very informative and also sweetest content :) Thank you to both of you! Going to Store it in my drive for my future travel plans!

Hare Krshna!

Believer
09 March 2015, 10:42 AM
Namaste,

It should be noted that the narrow main road in Vrindavan can become very crowded in the evening. In our last trip there, it took about 30 minutes just to pass through the stretch in front of the Prem Mandir. After that the road was closed by the police shortly before reaching the ISKCON mandir and the traffic was being diverted to side streets. So, the travel into the Vrindavan central area can be very tedious and slow in the evening hours. If there are time constraints on the duration of the trip, private taxis can be hired in Delhi to speed things up. All the hotels have special sleeping areas for taxi drivers who bring the pilgrims/tourists to their hotels. Vaishno Devi mandir has the cleanest and most expensive accommodations but it is the farthest from the central area.

Pranam.

satay
09 March 2015, 11:42 AM
namaste,


Namaste,

It should be noted that the narrow main road in Vrindavan can become very crowded in the evening.

Pranam.

Yes, that's what I recall as well. Aside from the crowded narrow streets Vrindavan is such a peaceful place that it is hard to describe in words. It is a powerhouse for your mental peace.

ShivaFan
09 March 2015, 08:01 PM
Yes I have been to Vrindavan.

I went to many temples.

But it was Banke Bihari Temple that is special to me. Because I have one little stone from the actual wall of that temple (from the right rear outside wall).

I also have dust from Vrindavan from that temple.

In Matura, and honestly I cannot recall the name of the temple but it was very small, there is a marble tile with my name and date carved into it that is among the tiles of that small little temple.

The first time I was in Vrindavan, many decades ago, I purchased my ISKCON Life Membership, and the little card marked as from Vrindavan. At that time, my Life Membership only cost me 1,000 rupees.

Today, that would only be $16 dollars.

smaranam
09 March 2015, 10:38 PM
Sorry, GramesJi, there was an edit after you posted --- I meant to say Radha-GokuLAnanda not Radha-Gopinath. How could I have missed that considering, that MahAprabhU (Chaitanya) 's personal pUjya (worshippable) Govardhan Shila is on Radha-GokuLAnanda's altar today.

(This is for those who do not know the story -- Mahaprabhu used to wear this Shila around His neck and when he cried pools of tears "Ha Krishna, ha krishno " the tears drenched the shila . He later gave the Shila to one of the followers (I thought that was the renounced young Raghunath Das Goswami) when He was in Puri.. (many followers got some token or symbol of love when they had to seperate from him on his order.).

So, might as well get this straight

Archa-Vigraha (Deity form) <---------------> PujArI (devotee who worshiped the deity)
------------------------- <---------------> -----------------------------
1. RadhaRamaN (http://www.radharaman.org/) (svayambhU - self-manifested) <------------------> GopAL Bhatta GoswAmi
2. Radha MadanMohan <-----------> Sanatan Goswami
3. Radha-Damodar (http://radhadamodarmandir.com/history.htm) <-------> Installed by Rup Goswami who handed them to Jiva Goswami (nephew-disciple) on KRshNa's order (Shrila PrabhupAd lived and wrote his Shrimad BhAgvatam commentary in a room in this temple.)
4. Radha-GokuLAnanda (http://radhagokulanandamandir.blogspot.com) <-----------> Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur
5. Radha-Vinod <--------------> Loknath Swami (guru of Narottam)
6. Vijaya Govinda < --------------> Baldev VidyAbhUshaN
7. Radha (installed) Shyamsundar (self-manifest) <-----------> ShyAmAnand Prabhu


jay jay rAdhA-ramaNa hari bol, jai jai rAdhA-ramaNa hari bol (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F68Au3VfDc0)~
_/\_

smaranam
10 March 2015, 12:08 AM
...Whereas, the Damodar of Radha-Damodar that Rup Goswami carved on Shri KRshNa's request, was

Feet of MadanMohan + Chest & Arms of Gopinath + Face of Govinddev

How did GovindDev ji manifest? See "Legend" in this link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Govind_Dev_Ji_Temple
When VajranAbh asked his grandmother "What did Krishna look like?" and he tried creating images, the 1st image (Madan Mohan) she said -- only the feet look like Krishna's
the 2nd image (Gopinath) --- the chest is like Krishna's . The 3rd image (GovindaDev) -- she covered her face with her veil in answer implying "yes this is Him" i.e. the mUrti is exactly like Krishna.

This GovindDevji mUrti is therefore known as VajrakRt (krut/krit) i.e. created by VajranAbha, the great grandson of Shri KRshNa.

How kind of You to hear a simple request and show, point the way to Your svarUpa. Off to JaipUr ... to see You with open eyes, not closed

devotee
27 March 2015, 07:00 AM
Namaste Smaranam,

I have two full days in Mathura Vrindavan (I will take a taxi from Delhi itself which will be with me for the entire period till I get back to Delhi, so expect to reach Mathura early in the morning, may be by 7:00 Hrs) with third day for returning back to Delhi by road. I have to reach Delhi by 17.00 hrs. My tentative plan is to stay in Mathura for the first night, second in Vrindavan at night (both stay will be near the main temples). I think to start with Gokul- Mathura first day and Vrindavan the next day. Not yet decided on third day when I shall leave Vrindavan. I am willing to see Radha Kund near Govardhan but it is not necessary if that proves too hectic because in my opinion, it is important that in spiritual places there is no hurry in mind otherwise you miss the "spiritual feel" of the place.

What do you suggest ? Should I keep Govardhan in my itinerary or plan it some other time ?

OM

smaranam
27 March 2015, 09:06 PM
Namaste

I agree that the trip should not be hurried or like "sight seeing". Always been my first pri. Frankly 2.5 days is not enough and I did not go everywhere in one trip either. My second trip was KRshNa-prasAd and 1 week long, but it doesn't have to be. You will go back again. Certainly.

I would suggest

Plan A
DAY 1 Mathura Gokul and reach Vrindavan by 4 pm on day1. Visit Prem Mandir and VaishNo Devi on this day
DAY2 Mangala aarati at Banke Bihari, Radha RamaN, Radha Damodar, *Nidhivan* Vrindavan Bihari, Kaliya ghat, Kesi ghat lunch break Govinda Dev, Ranganath Mandir KRshNa praNAmi mandir KRshNa-BalarAm mandir
DAY3 Govardhan and back. Leave for Govardhan at 6 am sharp.

Plan B

DAY2 spilled over on Day 3 and skip Goverdhan

You can see how it goes. I think plan A is doable.

NEXT TRIP
Nandagaon Barsana Radha Kunda Shyam Kunda and no Gokul Mathura.
Goswami Mandirs, Banke Bihari Nidhivan

There, I planned the second trip for you :)

he nAtha nArAyaNa vAsudeva ~

devotee
27 March 2015, 10:48 PM
Namaste Smaranam,



I would suggest

Plan A
DAY 1 Mathura Gokul and reach Vrindavan by 4 pm on day1. Visit Prem Mandir and VaishNo Devi on this day
DAY2 Mangala aarati at Banke Bihari, Radha RamaN, Radha Damodar, *Nidhivan* Vrindavan Bihari, Kaliya ghat, Kesi ghat lunch break Govinda Dev, Ranganath Mandir KRshNa praNAmi mandir KRshNa-BalarAm mandir
DAY3 Govardhan and back. Leave for Govardhan at 6 am sharp.

Plan B

DAY2 spilled over on Day 3 and skip Goverdhan

You can see how it goes. I think plan A is doable.

Thanks a lot ! I will try for plan A but in case it fails for any reason, thanks for plan B !


NEXT TRIP
Nandagaon Barsana Radha Kunda Shyam Kunda and no Gokul Mathura.
Goswami Mandirs, Banke Bihari Nidhivan

There, I planned the second trip for you :)

Thank you very much ! With Bhagwan Krishna's grace, if I can go again ... sure !! :)

OM