क्या क्या कहूँ मैं कृष्णा कन्हैया का बलपान,
ऐसा था बसुरी बजाईया का बलपान,
क्या क्या कहूँ मैं कृष्णा कन्हैया का बलपान,
क्या क्या कहूँ…..
Radhe Radhe! nowadays life has been pretty hectic for almost every one of us. We are losing our inner peace to chase materialistic needs and wants, which is unfortunately making us drift away from our spiritual selves too.
So, are you planning to rediscover your spiritual self or want to find inner peace, the Braj Bhoomi, also known as Mathura and Vrindavan might be the great start for it. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, Mathura is the birthplace of our dearest Krishna in Uttar Pradesh and has the most magical and calming sense in the air of the place.
The holy place is one of the very important pilgrimages to all the Hindus and a big attraction to the tourists. The Braj Bhoomi is known for its culture, spirituality, famous festivals –Janmashtami and Holi, artwork, and archaeological investigations.
1. Shri Krishna Janambhoomi, Mathura
You might have heard your grandparents or parents sharing the stories of Shri Krishna’s birth, how his parents Mata Devaki and Vasudev were put in jail by his wicked maternal uncle Kansa and Mata Devaki gave birth to Lord Krishna in the prison cell only.
Located in the busy streets of Mathura, Krishna Janambhoomi Temple now has a little chamber that represents the jail where Shri Krishna was born, along with several other temples.
The atmosphere of the streets is lively and very harmonious with the locals being helpful and welcoming. The city has ranging facility of accommodations, from hostels to Dharamshalas, and guest houses to hotels. To experience love and devotion, we would recommend attending the bhajan Sandhyas in the temples.
Also, when you are visiting the sweet little Krishna’s sweet city Mathura don’t forget to try the famous Mathura ka pera, jalebis, lassi, and kachoris.
2. Dwarikadhish Temple
Mathura’s most beautiful temple is known for its Rajasthani architecture and beautiful ceiling paintings showing the life of Lord Dwarikadhish, one of the forms of Lord Krishna. The temple has a black marble idol in it. According to the stories, the temple was named Dwarikadhish due to Lord Krishna relocating to Dwarika.
Mathura is extremely hot during summer. Hence, the appropriate time to visit the temple is October to March as the climate will be easy to deal with.
But if you want to experience the divinity and the full energy of the devotees, we would recommend you visit during festivals like Janmashtami, hindola Utsav, and Jhoolan Yatra.
3. Banke Bihari Mandir
Another must-visit temple is Shri Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan. The Holi celebration there is one of the most famous and amazing times of the whole year.
We can say from experience that at least once in your lifetime, you should attend this celebration as it is the same day when the devotees can see the full idol of Lord Krishna, the moment is truly surreal. You would only feel devotion, peace, and love within yourself and around you too. On the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, we can see the Lord’s lotus feet.
On our last visit to Bankr Bihari, Vrindavan we got to know that one of the interesting facts about the must-visit temple is that there are no bells or conchs in the premises of the mandir, as the Banke Bihari does not like the sound of these instruments. People just peacefully chant ‘Radha Naam’.
4. Birla Mandir
The famous Birla Mandir, also known as Gita Mandir. It is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narayan – an avatar of Vishnu. The temple is must must-visit due to its architecture, paintings, and calm environment which is full of divinity.
The devoted son, Jugal Kishore Birla in memory of his parents and the entire Bhagavad Gita had built this temple.
The pillars of the temple have Bhagvad Geeta inscribed on them. While the temple is built of red sandstone and is considered as a product of skilled craftsmanship, the marble walls have paintings of gods and goddesses.
You should not miss this must-visit temple if you are in search of serenity and peace.
5. Katyani Peeth
According to the folktales I have heard from my nani and also from the priest of this divine and powerful temple is dedicated to the Katyani form of goddess Parvati. The pandit ji there told me that her hair fell here when Lord Vishnu cut her dead body with his Sudarshan chakra.
Katyayani Shakti Peeth Mandir is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths and people here worship her as Goddess Uma. Thus, the temple is also known as Uma Shakti Peeth or Uma Devi Mandir.
Upon entering the premises of this must-visit temple, you’ll truly feel the strength and power the goddess possesses. The temple is most visited during the nine days of Hindu festival Navratri.
6. Bhuteshwar Mahadev Mandir
Along with Lord Krishna and Goddess Parvati, the city of Mathura has temples dedicated to Lord Shiva as well. The Bhuteshwar Mahadev Mandir is another Hindu temple situated in Garravkendra.
The locals told me that there is another Shakti peeth as after her(Mata Sati’s) body was destroyed by the Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan chakra, the ringlet of Mata Sati fell here and due to which this temple is also a Shakti Peeth.
The Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple is one of the oldest temples which also has the Patal Devi Cave, the goddess worshipped by King Kansa.
The must-visit temple is mostly crowded during the auspicious Sawaan month, especially during Mondays and Shivratri.
If you want to explore more Artistic temples please visit this blog: 11 Hidden Gems: Unlocking the Mysteries of the World’s Most Mysterious Temples
7. Keshava Deo Temple
I’m sure you all must have heard the song “Gori tu lath maar” from Akshay Kumar’s movie ‘Toilet Ek Prem Katha’ which shows the Holi celebration in the backdrop of Mathura, where women are beating men in playful manner. This unique way of celebration is ‘Lath Maar Holi’
This tradition takes place in Uttar Pradesh’s Kesava Deo Temple, which is another Hindu pilgrimage site and one of the most Hindu holy sites close to the major Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura.
The must-visit Keshava Deo temple is different from others because all the events take place in the mandir area, and it even has its own calendar of festivals. Check it out before you plan to visit there so that you can make the most of your trip!
8. Shri Ranganatha Temple
The next temple that should be on your ‘must visit’ list is Rangji Temple which is also known as Sri Ranganath Temple.
The beautiful temple is dedicated to the Lord Ranganatha, an incarnation of Lord Krishna and a South Indian Vaishnava Saint, Lord Sri Goda Ranagamannar and it is situated on the Vrindavan – Mathura Marg
One of the major highlights of the temple is the idol of Krishna present in the form of the groom with Goda (Andal) as his bride.
So, according to the stories, the Goda, which is also known as Andal in South India, was a famous 8th-century Vaishnava Saint known for composing “Tiruppuvai”. It is a hymn for her beloved Lord Krishna and his birthplace Vrindavan.
People believe that seeing her dedication to himself, Lord Krishna answered her prayers by agreeing to become her groom. Onwards this form of Krishna and Andal is worshipped at the Rangji Mandir in Mathura-Vrindavan
The temple is mostly crowded during the annual fest of one of the largest temples in North India and one of the 108 Divyadesams of the Vaishnavas which is the Shri Brahmotsav festival in March- April.
9. Dauji Mandir
We all have heard fun and mischievous stories of Krishna and his elder brother Balrama, also known as Dauji Maharaj from our elders. Lord Balram is known for his strength and has one of the oldest mandirs in Mathura dedicated to him. The vibe of this must-visit temple in Mathura is calm with a beautiful ambiance.
You should definitely visit this temple when you are there during the last days of Phalgun Maas (Hindi month) i.e. during Holi. We’ll suggest from our experience that you should already make a Holi trip to Mathura- Vrindavan with your friends for the next year!
10. Radha Raman Temple
Upon entering the mandir, you will see an immortal flame in the kitchen area which is said to burning since the temple was built.
The Sri Radha Raman Mandir is another holy place for Hindus in Vrindavan, Mathura which is dedicated to Radhi Rani’s sweetheart – Lord Krishna as Ramana’s literal meaning is ‘sweetheart’.
The must-visit temple is one of the early modern Hindu temples which was founded by the Gopal Bhatt. It’s also one of the seven temples that Thakur of Vrindavan owns.
The Gaudiya Vaishnavism devotees are the main category of people who follow and visit the mandir on a large scale.
Conclusion
The magic of Lord Krishna and other gods can be felt in the air of Mathura and Vrindavan. The sweetness of infamous food, the welcoming nature of locals, and bhajan sandhyas held in the temples will purify your soul and maybe you’ll leave the city but the essence of it. You are always going to carry!