Bhakti D
Vrindavan is not just a destination; it is an emotion. For devotees of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, Vrindavan holds an irreplaceable place in the heart. Located in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, on the sacred banks of the Yamuna River, Vrindavan is believed to be the land where Lord Krishna spent his childhood and early youth, filling it with divine leelas that continue to echo in every corner of the town.
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It is said that every grain of dust in Vrindavan is sacred—touched by Krishna’s playful footsteps. Walking through its lanes, one truly feels that timeless presence.
Vrindavan is the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood and performed divine leelas such as:
- Ras Leela with the Gopis
- Lifting of Govardhan Hill
- Kaliya Mardan
- Stealing butter and playing with his friends and Radha Rani
Our Journey
We decided to visit Vrindavan because we were deeply influenced by Premanand Maharaj and felt a strong desire to see him.
We traveled from Mumbai to Delhi by flight. After reaching Delhi, we stayed at a hotel near the airport. The next morning, we booked an Ola outstation cab and reached Vrindavan, where we had already booked our accommodation.
After taking some rest, we went to Keli Kunj Ashram to get information about the darshan.
Darshan at Keli Kunj Ashram
There was a lot of confusion regarding the darshan, the satsang, and their timings. People waiting outside the ashram were saying different things, so we decided to go inside to get proper information. We entered Keli Kunj Ashram at 6 PM. A sevak (attendant) sitting outside explained the procedure for Maharaj’s darshan.
There is a token system in place. One must collect a token a day in advance for the desired day of darshan.
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According to my knowledge, three types of tokens are given there:
1. Satsang Token
Distributed at 4:40 AM. However, people start lining up from midnight to get it.
2. Question-Answer Token
Through this, you can ask your question to Maharaj, and he provides guidance or resolution. These tokens start being distributed at 9 AM, but one must stand in line from as early as 5 AM. You need to prepare your question beforehand.
After 9 AM, the sevaks ask about your question. If they find it appropriate, they give you the Question-Answer token. Otherwise, they provide an answer themselves and ask you to leave, or they give you a token for Mangal Darshan.
3. Mangal Darshan Token
Mangal Darshan means that at 4:30 AM, you are allowed to enter Keli Kunj Ashram, and when Maharaj arrives from his residence, you get the opportunity to have his darshan from very close.
We had gone to get the Question-Answer token, but instead, we were given the Mangal Darshan token. We had a wonderful and close darshan of Maharaj.
Early Morning Darshan
If nothing else works out, every morning at 3:30 AM, Maharaj walks from his residence to Keli Kunj Ashram. At that time, devotees stand along the road to have his darshan. However, even for this, there is a huge crowd.
Thousands of devotees gather and wait along both sides of the road from late night just to catch a glimpse of Maharaj. The entire route from his residence to the ashram is beautifully decorated with rangolis and floral designs.
Due to ill health, Maharaj travels by vehicle for a certain distance. As he nears the ashram, he steps out of the car and continues on foot, accompanied by a group of disciples. He is welcomed with the rhythmic beats of dhol and tasha, and the entire area resonates with chants of “Radhe Radhe.”
The atmosphere is serene, joyful, and filled with devotion. Maharaj’s aura feels extremely positive. Seeing his calm, radiant, glowing, and smiling face brings deep fulfillment to the heart. The image we usually see on television feels almost unbelievable when witnessed in person.
Pravachan, Prasad and Ashram Experience
At 4:30 AM, Maharaj enters the ashram and the pravachan begins. There is a massive crowd, and not everyone is able to get a token. Therefore, arrangements have been made in the adjacent Gautam Rishi Hall, where a screen is set up to watch and listen to the live discourse.
By 10:30 AM, Maharaj’s discourse, question-answer session, and puja rituals are completed, and he departs for his residence. This is what happened on the day we were there—it may vary on other days.
Once Maharaj leaves, free prasad is distributed outside. Around 10:30 AM, the prasad is essentially a full meal. After eating, you are required to wash your own plate and place it back.
The entire Keli Kunj premises radiate positive energy. People stand in line for five to six hours just to catch a glimpse of Maharajji, yet they never seem to tire. The chant of “Radhe Radhe” continues non-stop. All the sevaks carry out their duties with utmost dedication and devotion.
I was blessed with the opportunity to enter the hall where Maharaj delivers his pravachan and have darshan of Radha Rani. I had always seen Maharaj seated in that very spot on TV and YouTube, giving discourses, and that day, I had the fortune to witness it in person. My heart was truly content.
Famous Temples of Vrindavan
Vrindavan is home to thousands of temples, some of which are centuries old. Key ones include:
Prem Mandir:
A modern marble masterpiece dedicated to Radha-Krishna, built by Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj.
Banke Bihari Temple:
A temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. There is usually a huge crowd here. We visited on a Sunday, so it was even more crowded. With the help of a priest, we were able to enter and have darshan.
The idol of Shri Krishna is so beautiful that the moment you see it, you forget all the crowd and chaos and become completely absorbed.
Due to the heavy crowd, children and elderly people must be carefully looked after and held by the hand to avoid getting lost. Keep your necklace, mangalsutra, wallet, and purse safe. Such announcements are repeatedly made.
There are many monkeys around. If you hold your phone in your hand or wear glasses, they may snatch them away. A monkey climbed onto my father’s shoulder, snatched his spectacles, and sat on a tall building. After we gave it a Frooti, it dropped the spectacles down.
There are plenty of food stalls around the temple area offering items like besan chilla, chaat, dahi bhalla, papdi chaat, pani puri, sev puri, lassi, and peda. Many shops sell religious items. When you visit Vrindavan, don’t forget to buy “Brij ki raj” (sacred soil used for tilak at home), as well as a flute (bansuri), gopichandan, tulsi mala, and peda.
Radha Vallabh Temple, Shahji Temple, Madan Mohan Temple, and many others also hold deep historical and spiritual importance.
Local Transport and Food Options
The old temple area consists of very narrow lanes. Instead of taking your own vehicle, it is better to use an e-rickshaw. You can book one for the whole day to visit important places. The drivers are well aware of the narrow alleys, temple routes, and timings.
Walking through every lane of Vrindavan feels as if Lord Krishna once passed through those very paths.
Most restaurants in Vrindavan offer Jain food without onion and garlic. “Brijwasi” and “Murli” are well-known restaurants. Ram Babu Ke Parathe is also famous for its wide variety of delicious parathas.
Exploring Mathura – Birthplace of Lord Krishna
Mathura is 17 km from Vrindavan and is the birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna. At the exact birthplace, there is a temple dedicated to Shri Krishna and Radha Rani. The area is beautiful and worth visiting. If you hire a guide, they will explain the complete history of the place. Every night, a sound and light show is held there.
The Dwarkadhish Temple in Mathura is also worth visiting.
Visiting Barsana – The Land of Radha Rani
Barsana is located 35 km from Vrindavan and is believed to be the birthplace of Radha Rani. A beautiful temple dedicated to her is situated on a hilltop. The surroundings are scenic and breezy, with hills visible all around.
From the archway at the base of the village, local boys take visitors up to the temple on bikes. Aarti is performed at 1 PM, after which the temple closes and reopens at 4 PM.
Darshan of Saints in Vrindavan
It is said that when visiting a pilgrimage place, one should seek not only the darshan of the deity but also of the saints present there. Therefore, we visited Shri Shri 108 Shri Vinod Babaji Maharaj, who is a devoted follower of Radha Rani, at Priya Kunj Ashram. It is believed that Radha Rani herself is pleased with him. He gives darshan between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM.
Before Maharaj arrives, his disciples perform melodious bhajans with beautiful musical instruments. He arrives at 4 PM and answers devotees’ questions.
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How to Reach Vrindavan
- Nearest City: Mathura (around 11 km away)
- By Train: Mathura Junction is the main railway station.
- By Air: The nearest airports are in Agra and Delhi.
- By Road: Well connected via highways and buses.
If you have already visited this sacred land, do share your experience with us. And if you are planning to visit, we hope the information we have shared will be useful to you.
