Mathura Vrindavan : Best time to visit
Vrindavan is located in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India, and is considered a highly religious and historical town. Vrindavan is associated with the divine pastimes of Lord Krishna. It is recognized as the center of Lord Krishna's miraculous childhood pastimes. Numerous temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha Rani are established here, including the famous Banke Bihari Temple, Shri Guru Govind Ji Temple, Radha Vallabh Lal Ji Temple, Parikrama Bihari Ji Temple, and other ancient temples like Radha Raman, Shri Radha Damodar, Radha Shyamsundar, Shri Krishna, Balaram Temple, Gokulesh, Gopinath, Rang Nath Ji Temple, Prem Mandir, Shri Krishna Pranami Temple, and Vaishno Devi Temple, among many others.
This place is also known as the site of Lord Krishna's pastimes. References to it can be found in texts like Harivamsa Purana, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Vishnu Purana. The poet Kalidasa mentioned it in his work "Raghuvamsa" in the context of Indumati's swayamvara. Vishnu Purana describes Lord Krishna's pastimes in Vrindavan. Srimad Bhagavatam tells us that Nanda Ji and his family came to live in Vrindavan to protect Lord Krishna from Kansa's atrocities. It is said that Lord Krishna performed Raas with the Gopis in these forests, and even today, Raas is performed at night.
History:
The life and childhood stories of Lord Krishna indicate that he was raised by Yashoda and Nanda in the village of Gokul near Vrindavan. Vrindavan is believed to be the place where Krishna spent his early childhood. The dense forest served as a playground and recreation area for Krishna, his brother Balaram, and their friends. Vrindavan is known for Lord Krishna's playful childhood activities and his Raas Leela with the Gopis and his love with Radha. This place has become a center of divine love and devotion, symbolizing the divine love between a guru and disciple. Over the centuries, it has not only become a place of worship for Krishna devotees but also a center of Vaishnavism.
How did the name Vrindavan originate?
'Vrinda' is associated with Tulsi (holy basil), which is used in Hindu religious ceremonies and rituals. Garlands of Tulsi leaves are made to adorn the deities. 'Van' means forest. Vrindavan was once considered a forest full of dense Tulsi plants, hence the name Vrindavan.
What is the relationship between Mathura and Vrindavan?
Mathura, located in Uttar Pradesh, is a renowned city historically established by the Kanishka dynasty and known as a religious site. Mathura has been an important center for Indian culture and civilization. It has played a significant role in the development of Indian philosophy, art, and literature. Famous poets and saints like Surdas, Haridas, Dayanand, Guru Swami, and Virjanand are associated with Mathura, which is also famous as the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Vrindavan is a town in the Mathura region, known for Lord Krishna's pastimes. It is situated 15 kilometers from Mathura. Here, magnificent temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha Rani, as well as other temples like Banke Bihari and Guru Govind Ji, are located.
Best Time to Visit Mathura and Vrindavan:
The best time to visit Mathura is between February and March and September to November. During these periods, you will not face extreme weather conditions.
Timings:
The temples open for darshan at 5:00 AM and close at 9:30 PM, but are closed from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. It generally takes 1-2 hours to explore the entire temple.