Going to Mathura – Vrindavan is like going to my home but sometimes there is so much left around the house that I have to go again and again to see it. Even if nothing is left, you should continue to taste the bread of the house. The same delicious pedas, the same glass full of sweet tea in which water is added for a nominal amount, but Ghaziabad and today’s circumstances have spoiled the habit. The stomach has become fat, so can not eat much sweet and now likes black tea more. When tea is made in our Braj, then one thing is said for sure – stop the leaves, beat the sugar !! If you have understood then I will go and if you have not understood, then ask my mother !! ok sa!! Radhe – Radhe !! Let’s go to Vrindavan from Ghaziabad !!
Vrindavan is easily accessible from Delhi-Ghaziabad. Many trains, buses keep running. Hotels are also plentiful and all types of food are available to eat. Now let’s talk directly about the places to visit in Vrindavan, the holy and revered city of Lord Shri Krishna!
1. Banke Bihari Temple: Banke Bihari Temple is situated on Raman Reti in Vrindavan Dham. It is one of the ancient and famous temples of India. Banke Bihari is a form of Krishna which is depicted in it. It was built by Swami Haridas in 1864. Haridasji is considered to be the incarnation of Rasnidhi Sakhi. He used to be bored with the world since childhood. In adolescence, he took initiation from Ashudhir Ji and started meditating by going to a secluded place in Nikunj near the Yamuna. When he turned 25 years old, he obtained disinterest from his Guruji and stayed away from the world in contemplating the daily pastimes of Nikunj Bihari ji. In the Nikunj forest itself, Swami Haridasji had a dream to remove the idol of Bihariji. Then, according to his orders, the deity, having a beautiful black-brown image, was taken out of the earth. This beautiful idol became famous in the world by the name of Shri Banke Bihari ji. This idol was taken out on Panchami Tithi of Margashirsha, Shukla. Therefore, we celebrate Prakatya Tithi as Vihar Panchami with great enthusiasm.
2. Prem Mandir: Prem Mandir has been built by Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj as a temple of Lord Krishna and Radha. The Prem Mandir was inaugurated on 17 February 2012 while the foundation stone was laid by Kripaluji Maharaj on 14 January 2001. In such a short span of time Prem Mandir has gained a lot of fame! In this two-storey temple, Lord Shri Krishna and Radha ji are seated on the ground floor, while on the first floor there is Ram’s court. Near the entrance, the killing of Kaliya Nag by Lord Krishna is displayed. The experience of seeing this temple in the light of different colors of the evening is one to remember for life.
3. Rangji or Ranganatha Temple: Rangji Temple is one of the few temples in Vrindavan built in the best Dravidian architectural style. It was built in 1851 and has Sri Ranganatha or Rangji as the main deity. … This temple is one of the largest temples of Vrindavan and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Rangji is the embodiment of Lord Vishnu. About five hundred years ago, Saint Swami Rangacharya Maharaj of South India had adopted Vrindavan as his spiritual place. Acharyas of the Ramanuja sect established Acharya Peeth in Vrindavan by the name of Sriranga Mandir. About one and a half hundred years ago, his Mathura resident disciples Radhakrishna, Seth Govind Das, and Seth Lakshmichandra built the Rangji temple. In the Brahmotsavam, Shri Godarangamannar Bhagwan rides on a chariot made of gold and silver and goes out for a city tour. There are seven parikramas in the 60 feet high gold pillar-high par Dakota temple, while the west gate has a seven-story high shikhara. There is a Garuda Stambha (Golden Pillar) in the huge courtyard of the fourth circumambulation of the temple, which is 60 feet high and is completely gold studded. That is why it is also called the temple with gold pillars. Gopurams and mandapams are built in the courtyard, symbols of South Indian culture. The Gopuram on the side of the lion door is of 6 cells and the Gopuram on the east side is of 5 cells. As soon as you enter through the east door, there is a huge baradari resting on 16 pillars in front.
4. Shahji Temple: This temple is a wonderful amalgamation of architecture, painting, and magnificent sculpture. The specialty of this very attractive white marble temple is that its pillars are made of a single stone rock in a circular shape. The paintings of inlaid work in stone are also wonderful here. This temple is also known by the local people as the crooked pillar temple. There is another beautiful place on the right-hand side of the entrance of the temple – Nidhi Van. If you go to Shah ji temple, take special care of the monkeys. They can snatch everything you see from your hand – be it your phone, purse, cap, even a water bottle!
6. Madanmohan Temple: The temple of Madan Mohan ji is a Vaishnava sect temple located in Vrindavan. It was probably built between 1590 and 1627 by Shri Ramdas Khatri and Kapoor, residents of Multan. A temple by the same name exists on a high mound on the other side of the city near Kalidah Ghat.
7. ISKCON Temple (Temple of the British): This temple was established by Sri Krishna Kripa Srimurti Sri Abhay Charanravind Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Let us tell you, the full name of ISKCON is International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Which is called International Krishna Consciousness Association or ISKCON in Hindi. The sacred hymn of this temple is “Hare Rama Hare Rama Krishna”.
8. Vaishno Devi Temple: This temple built in Vrindavan on the lines of Vaishno Devi of Jammu has a different belief of its own. According to people, even today Hanuman ji protects this temple. Its name is recorded in the Limca Book of World Records regarding the height of the idol of the mother installed in this temple.
9. Nidhivan: Nidhivan is a very sacred, mysterious religious place in the religious city of Vrindavan. It is believed that in Nidhivan, Lord Shri Krishna and Shri Radha still make Raas after midnight. After the Raas, Nidhivan sleeps in the Rang Mahal established in the premises.