The temples of Vrindavan with a local guide
Vrindavan is said to have more than 5,000 temples, most of them small household shrines. Your guide meets you on the edge of the old town, where the car stops, and leads you on foot through lanes too narrow for traffic. The first stop is Banke Bihari, built in the 19th century, where the image of Krishna is hidden by a curtain every few minutes and the hall fills with chanting.
From there we walk to Nidhivan, a walled grove of twisted tulsi trees where devotees believe Krishna still dances at night, and which is locked after dark. Nearby are older temples of red sandstone such as Govind Dev, built in 1590 under the patronage of Raja Man Singh of Amber, with a vaulted hall unusual in north India.
We finish at the ISKCON Krishna Balaram Mandir, opened in 1975, where chanting continues through the day and the vegetarian restaurant serves a good, clean lunch. The guide explains etiquette at each stop: shoes off, right hand for offerings, and when photography is welcome and when it is not.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is Banke Bihari Temple safe to visit?
On ordinary weekday mornings, yes, with a guide. On festival days, Janmashtami, Holi and weekends, crowds become very dense and there have been crushes in the past. We avoid those times with older travellers and children. Keep valuables in the car, hold on to spectacles because of monkeys, and follow your guide's lead on when to enter.
What are the temple timings in Vrindavan?
Most temples open early, close from about noon to 4 or 5 pm, and reopen into the evening. Timings change between summer and winter and on festival days, and Banke Bihari opens later than many. Your guide confirms the day's times. Check current status before you travel if your visit depends on a particular darshan.
Can non-Hindus enter the temples in Vrindavan?
Yes. The temples of Vrindavan, including Banke Bihari, ISKCON and Prem Mandir, welcome visitors of all faiths. Dress modestly, remove shoes before entering and follow the guide's advice on photography, which is not allowed inside some sanctums. Leather belts and bags are best left in the car.
Also in Mathura and Vrindavan
More hours to plan around
