My Yatra to Sacred India: Vrindavan
- The Ayurvedic Mum
- Feb 25
- 6 min read
India’s sacred geography is deeply rooted in the stories of Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva and Lord Rama. In this recent yatra, I had the privilege to visit Vrindavan, Chitrakoot, Prayag, Kashi, and Ayodhya. Each of these places is a profound pilgrimage site, rich in historical and spiritual significance. In this journey, I hope to convey not only the beauty of these holy sites but also the personal connection I felt with each darshan. Let's start this blog series with our first destination: Vrindavan.
Vrindavan Yatra: The Abode of Lord Krishna
Vrindavan is inseparably linked with the divine pastimes of Lord Krishna. Despite missing some of the key temples on my list—like Gopeshwar, Radha Gopinath, Radha Raman, Radha Gokulananda, and the evening Yamuna Aarti—Vrindavan still felt alive with His presence.
Krishna Balaram Temple
We landed on the first day of Kartik, which is considered the most auspicious month to receive Lord Krishna’s mercy. So on this auspicious month, it felt very special to be in Vrindavan, where Krishna’s presence feels eternal.
Vrindavan exists on two planes: the physical and the spiritual. On the surface, one sees the bustling streets, the traffic, the buildings, and the inevitable signs of modern life. Yet, beneath this material facade lies another Vrindavan—a realm that unfolds through the eyes of the Vrajvasis, the devotees who live and breathe Krishna’s presence.
This subtle, spiritual Vrindavan is alive with Krishna’s essence. Here, every corner, every tree, every whisper of the wind tells a story of his divine leelas. It's in this hidden Vrindavan that one truly falls in love with Krishna. Here, Krishna is more than a deity—he’s a friend, a son, a beloved, a brother to each resident. To walk these sacred grounds with an open heart is to glimpse the divine beyond the material, to see Vrindavan as the Vrajvasis do—where Krishna’s presence is felt everywhere, in a love that transcends sight.
The first day in Vrindavan started with the Krishna Balaram Temple, attending Mangal Arati at 4:30am. One of our guides on this journey shared something profound: “When Krishna makes you wait, He is truly inviting you into His dham.” After two years of longing for this Yatra, that sentiment resonated deeply. Even on my first visit, He made me wait for darshan—yet that anticipation made each darshan infinitely sweeter.
Barsana
The day continued with a barefoot parikrama (walk) of Barsana, Radha Rani’s birth place. This parikrama is to immerse oneself in the energy of this holy place, which still refelcts the charm and beauty of Radha Rani. Walking barefoot through the Gahvar forest deepened my connection with each step, a humbling reminder of the path Krishna and Radha Rani and the gopis might have walked.
We went through Sankri Khor which is a narrow passage located in the Gahvar forest, nestled between the Brahma-Parvat and Vishnu-Parvat hills. This slender path holds significant cultural and spiritual importance due to its association with the playful pastimes of Lord Krishna and the gopis (cowherd girls).
We were told the gopis would traverse this path carrying pots of butter. Lord Krishna and his friends would often intercept them, playfully demanding these goods as a form of 'tax' (dana). Krishna and the gopas would break the butter pots on this very passage and it is said that the rocks still smell of this butter !
We stopped at the Krishna Kund, where we chanted the Radha Shatakam, feeling the vibrations of devotion in the air. Numerous temples line Barsana, each showcasing Krishna’s pastimes, and as we moved from one to the next, the stories unfolded like verses in a timeless poem. The main temple is Shri Ladliji / Radha Rani janmabhumi temple is at the top of the hill, from which you can get a magnificient view of all of Barsana.
In the evening, we returned to Vrindavan and joined the Damodar Aarti at Sri Sri Krishna Balaram temple (ISKCON). The sight of the deities, the rhythmic chanting, the devotees dancing and the heartfelt diya offerings to Krishna made this moment and sight unforgettable.
During Kartik, Krishna is remembered as Damodara, where the Lord of the Universe allowed Himself to be bound by the pure love of His mother, Yashoda. Devotees offer ghee lamps, sing the moving Damodarashtakam, and invite Krishna’s mercy into their hearts.
Mathura and Gokul
Our journey continued to Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna. We began at the Dwarkadhish Temple, a grand structure where Krishna is worshipped as the King of Dwarka. Nearby is Vishram Ghat, believed to be the place where Krishna rested after slaying the demon Kansa.
Boat ride on the Yamuna, followed by a bath
From Mathura, we moved to Gokul and Raman Reti, where the very sands carry the essence of Krishna’s childhood. Unfortunately we missed the time to visit Raman Reti.
Visiting Nanda Baba’s house in Gokul, where Krishna took his first steps, crawled, and played, was deeply emotional. Tears of joy and love flowed freely; I was overwhelmed by the thought of little Krishna toddling through those very rooms. There’s no simple way to describe that feeling, but my heart was full, touched by his innocent presence, as though I was right there with him, sharing in his first moments.
This is how I aspire to connect with Krishna—not just in reverence, but in deep, heartfelt closeness. We often approach him initially with awe, only to find ourselves drawn to a more familiar, loving relationship. For me, Krishna is the child I cherish deeply, the baby I want to hold and protect.
This visit to Nanda baba’s house was the first high moment of my yatra.
Govardhan Parikrama
The third day was devoted to the 21-km Govardhan Parikrama, a pilgrimage dedicated to Govardhan Hill, revered as a manifestation of Krishna himself. Although we couldn't complete the entire circuit due to my daughter's ear infection, we managed to experience a part of it by rickshaw. One of the main stops on the parikrama is Radha Kund, considered the most sacred of all kunds.
Practical info: Govardhan is 45mins from Vrindavan in car. The taxi took about Rs2000 and the Rikshaw driver charged Rs 1000 to do 2hrs or ride around Govardhan hill.
By foot, the entire parikrama can take between 8 to 10hrs. To avoid heat, the group started very early in the morning at 4am when it’s cooler. A sun hat is a must have along with loads of water & snacks. For those who want to take a break in between, rickshaws are available/can be booked.
Practical information
Trip organised by Kishori Jani
Embarking on a spiritual journey to Vrindavan with Kishori Radhe Jani was truly transformative. As a devoted mother of four and a passionate Sanskrit and Bhagavad Gita teacher in Leicester, Kishori's deep insights brought each temple and sacred site to life. Her storytelling transported us back 500 years, allowing us to experience the essence of the yatra beyond mere appearances. This beautifully organized trip offered us a profound connection to Vraj's rich spiritual heritage.
Located next to ISKCON temple, this is a popular guesthouse for families and devotees. The building is beautiful and the garden is very serene. It has nice clean rooms (single, double, triple, suite) and attached bathroom. The restaurant has sattvic food only (onion/garlic free) and has a variety of food including tasty western foods & desserts.
This is the best option for accommodation, but book in advance as it is very popular.
Shopping
Loi Bazaar, a big market of small traditional shops
Small clothing shops around the ISKCON temple: Vrinda, Girija, Lali
Gangotri is a beautiful multisstorey modern shop with amazing clothing range for the whole family, and remains affordable. Located in Loi Bazaar, it is tricky to get there as normal rickshaws are not allowed but it took us about a 10 mins walk to get there from the entrance to Loi Bazaar.
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