In October 2009 I went to Vrindavan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh) for one month with my daughter for a spiritual pilgrimage. The area around Vrindavan is known as Braja Mandala. Braja Mandala covers an area of 2325 sq km surrounding Vrindavan and Mathura. Braja is where Sri Krishna performed his pastimes 5,000 years ago. There are twelve principle forests in Braja and all of them are considered places of pilgrimage. Other major places in the Braja area are Nandagram, Varsana, Gokula, Govardhan Hill, and Radha Kund.

Vrindavan and Mathura are the most important Vaishnava holy places in all of India. This is because Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Vrindavan is where he had his childhood pastimes. For a spiritual tour of India, it is an extremely important and highly recommended place to visit.

ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) has one of its major centers in Vrindavan called the Krishna Balarama Mandi. Other interesting temples in Vrindavan are the Govindaji, Madana Mohan, Banke Bihari, Radha-Damodara, Radha-Raman, and Sri Ranganath.

Sri Sri Krsna Balaram (ISKCON Vrindavan)

On the picture above you can see my daughter garlanded with maha-garlands that were offered to the Deities in the Krsna-Balaram temple.

We did many excursions to see the different holy places in the area. I choose a few to give you a glimpse in this extraordinary places.

Madhuvan

In the Madhuvan forest, Dhruva Maharaja attained the darshan of Lord Vishnu during Satya-yuga. Satrughna, the brother of Lord Rama, made his capital in Madhuvan. There is a Deity of Satrughna on the bank of Krishna Kund (on picture above). Krishna Kund was made by Krishna striking his flute on the ground. The village Deity is Balarama. His right hand is raised, and he is pitch black. There is a temple dedicated to Narayana and Dhruva Maharaja here. There is also a cave in which the demon Lavanasura lived.

My daughter with local children on the way from Madhuvan to Talavan (which is another forest in the area).

Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda 

This is a very tranquil and peaceful place. It is considered by Gaudiya Vaishnavas to be the most holy place in the Braja area. It is a very important place to visit. There are two holy tanks here, right next to each other.

Radha Kunda is 26 km (16 miles) west of Mathura.

For years Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda were lost and no one knew exactly where they were located. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavana in 1515, He rediscovered these two important kundas.

In the center of Radha Kunda is a small walled-in area called Kancana Kunda. This kunda is said to mark the location of the original kunda that Srimati Radharani and the gopis dug with their bangles.

Kusuma Sarovara 

A 25-minute walk from Radha Kund is Kusuma Sarovara, which is the best swimming spot in the Braja area. Kusuma means “flower,” and here the gopis would pick flowers for Krishna. Also at this place is a temple dedicated to Uddhava. This temple was established by Krishna’s great-grandson about 4,800 years ago. It is a peaceful place as well. On this picture you can see me with my daughter before taking bath.

Varsana (Barsana)
This is where Srimati Radharani lived and had many pastimes with Krishna. It is 42km from Mathura. There are four peaks that make up Varsana; each one of these peaks represents a head of Lord Brahma.

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