History of Vrindavan

Although Vrindavan is not actually where Krishna is believed to have been born, it is here that he is said to have spent a great deal of time in play and indulged in the playful act of hiding the clothes of cow herding girls (the gopis) as they bathed in the rive. The river has now meandered away and the woods that once flourished here have long since disappeared although the town maintains some wooded parkland. The details of Krishna's life have similarly been obscured by the myth that now surrounds him. However, Krishna's validity as a historical figure is borne out by ancient scriptures like the Mahabharata that records great battles that were once waged in this region.

Climate of Vrindavan

Like other north Indian cities, Vrindavan experiences an extreme type of climate with hot and humid summers and cold winters. The temperature during the peak summer months can often shoot to around 45 degrees celcius while dropping below 10 degrees during winters. The best time to visit the place are the months from October to March.

How to Reach Vrindavan?

By Air: The nearest airport is located at Agra, though not many direct flights operate to and from here. The nearest international airport is located at Delhi which is well connected to all the major Indian and international cities through regular flights. Buses and taxis are easily available to reach Vrindavan from both Delhi and Agra.

By Rail: The railway station at Vrindavan connects it to all the major Indian cities through a number of direct and indirect trains.

By Road: Vrindavan is situated a little off the Delhi-Agra highway which is well maintained and an ideal way to access the place. State transport buses operate regularly between Delhi-Vrindavan and Agra-Vrindavan. Another option is to hire a private taxi.

Cuisine of Vrindavan

Vrindavan is the historical location where Krishna and Rada, all of only 4000 years ago, became the stuff of legend. Close to Delhi, at 7000 years the oldest capital on the planet, and on the way to the Taj Mahal, we're talking auspicious & holy place of the highest order. But type into Google the word Vrindavan and you're just as likely to discover the fine cuisine of this Pyrmont restaurant than any great swathes of wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita - my how times change thanks to the internet!!

From its start in 2000 Vrindavan Restaurant has been tantalising the tastebuds of thousands of customers in Sydney - most of them in fact from around the world. Its centralised location at the heart of the city sees the restaurant more popular with international tourists than Sydneysiders. It's highly recommended by travellers from India and the UK, as word of mouth reaches those cravers in search of home-style Indian food. Vrindavan’s owner Praveen Kumar and chefs Muniruzzeman and Farooq meet the special dietary requirements of people looking for select regional Indian food, halal
items and hard-to-get Jain cuisine at very short notice.

In a word, the flavours are exquisite. Dishes such as we sampled on a recent highly indulgent lunch were all fresh, vibrant and vital. The Fish Curry (Mahi Ambotik) was intoxicatingly more-ish, while Vrindavan lives up to its catch-phrase of being "the most affordable Indian restaurant on this side of the city". With three days notice, diners looking for extravagance can feast on Lobster Masala, or the unforgettable Sikandari Raan, which is a whole leg of lamb, marinated in wine and spices and finished off in the Tandoor. Having said that, the charming and intelligent host Praveen is at pains to
convey the homespun view that if he failed to do a perfectly decent Butter Chicken, or Chicken Tikka, or Vegetable Jalfrezi, that he's be out of business within the month. So the mainstays of Indian cuisine as enjoyed in Australia are taken very great care of.

Yet Vrindavan is not just an average Indian restaurant. The restaurant can accommodate up to 75 people for group functions – birthday, anniversary, wedding, corporate, farewell etc. If the guest list is more you can cater from the restaurant to your function venue be it home, office, function centre, community hall, cruise boats - you name it and they will do it. Another prominent feature of the restaurant is the door delivery service – the term ‘door’ delivery used instead of ‘home’ as they deliver not only to local residents but also to customers at their local work place and to tourists staying at
furnished apartments and hotels around the area.

Right from the first dish we were impressed by Vrindavan's fine touch. It was a "Chicky Basket for Two" entree, appetisingly presented with two pieces of chicken tikka, two Hariyali chicken (hara meaning 'green' as this is chicken in a mint marinade), and two pieces of Chicken Malai Kebab (a yellow cream and cheese paste). It set the tone for a great afternoon, as did their rather excellent sound system, which was never overbearing but it's great to hear Indian music through quality speakers for a change! This place is run with sincerity and dedication - it's only been going seven years, not much by comparison with the original Vrindavan - yet it's creating a little history of its own.

Fairs & Festivals of Vrindavan

Radha Ashtami Fair
This day is celebrated on the birthday of Radharani which comes after 15 days of Krishna Janmashtami. Whereas Krishna’s birth is marked with solemnity. Radha’s birth celebrations are marked with joy and abandon. The center of festivities remains Barsana, the land of Shri Radha, specially her temple on top of the Brahma hill.
On this occasion, devotees of Radharani organize so many activities. For example: - In the Radhavallabh temple, the celebrations start with the distribution of clothes, cereals, fruits and sweets to all and sundry. The singing and dancing, and spells of the spray of saffron-coloured milk deep thee devotees amused and provide a lot of excitement to the spectators in the galleries above.

Krishna Pakshya Ban Bihar Parikrama Festival
This festival is celebrated on the second day of month Jayastha (May/June). This festival is generally celebrated at Night. Devotees do parikrama of vrindavana in night.

Akshaya Tritiya Festival
This festival day takes place in the month of Vaisakha (April-May). This is the day when the lotus feet of Banke Bihari are seen. This is the only day of the years when it is possible to see the feet of the Deity of Banke Bihari. Large crowds of people come on this day to the Banke Bihari Temple. This is said to be the first day of the creation of the world. This is one of the most crowded days of the year in Vrindavana. At the Garuda Govinda temple, the 12-handed Deity of Govinda is seen mounted on His bird carrier, Garuda. Many people do circumambulation of Mathura and Vrindavan on this day.

Radhastami Festival
This is also a popular day in Vrindavana. This is the appearance day of Radharani. There is an all night kirtana held the night before Radhastami at the Larila Lal Temple in Varsana, ending with an ecstatic mangala aarti. Many people go to Varsana on this day. This festival falls on the eighth day, of the bright fort-night in the month of Bhadra (August-Sept), 15 days after the appearance of Lord Krishna.

Shiv ratri Festival
This is the appearance day of lord shiva. This festival falls in the month of Phalguna (Feb/Mar). This is a special festival celebrated in the gopiswara temple of vrindavan.

Gaura Purnima Festival
This is an important Gaudiya Vaishnava festival that falls at the same time as Holi, in the month of Phalguna (Feb-March). As many temples in Vrindavana were established by followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this is an important festival in Vrindavana.

Basant Panchami Festival
The spring season is celebrated as a festival called ‘Basant Panchami’. It is in the month of February which marks the end of the winter season. On the fifth day of the waxing moon one should celebrate the coming of spring to Vrindavana by offering Krishna many types of leaves and flowers, and fresh shoots of sprouting grasses. Things that symbolize life and new growth. Pale yellow is the colour that predominates in all the festivities ranging from the dresses worn by local devotees, the idol’s decorations, and the festive flower arrangements made.

Karthik Festival
Thousands of devotees from around the world make a pilgrimage to Vrindavan, to visit the places associated with the pastimes of Lord Krishna, circumambulate the Vraja Mandal area and worship at the thousands of temples in the land of Krishna.

Goverdhan Puja Festival
During that ancient Period, Lord Krishna convinced the cowherd men to worship Goverdhan, instead of doing a sacrifice to please Lord Indra, the king of heaven, who is in charge of the rain. Krishna told the cowherd men that Govardhana Hill was supplying so many necessities and should be worshiped instead. After then Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men called in learned brahmanas and began to worship Govardhana Hill by chanting Vedic hymns and offering prasadam. In order to convince the devotees that Goverdhan Hill and Krishna himself was identical he assumed a great transcendental form and declared himself as Govardhana Hill. Krishna began to eat all the food offered there. The identity of Krishna and Govardhana Hill is still honoured, and devotees take rocks from Govardhana Hill and worship them as Lord Krishna.

Monuments of Vrindavan

Rangaji Temple
Built in 1964, the beautiful temple is a concoction of several architectural styles with its huge gate built in a Rajput style, the gopuram carrying a south Indian flavour and an Italian colonnade. The electronic puppet shows near the entrance narrate the story of the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata while its interiors are adorned with colorful murals of gods and goddesses.

Banke Bihari Temple
The most famous temple in Vrindavan, the Banke Bihari Temple was established by Swami Haridas who discovered an idol of Lord Banke Bihari in the nearby Nidhivana. The idol was moved to its present spot and a temple built around it in the year 1864. The uniqueness of the temple lies in the fact that the curtain covering the deity is not always left open like other temples, but pulled open after every few minutes, giving the devotees a much awaited glance of the lord.

ISKCON Temple
The most beautiful temple in Vrindavan the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) was built in 1966 under the patronage of Bhaktivedanta

Swami Prabhupada. The society has since come a long way and today runs a chain of temples, religious centres and schools across the world. The aim of the society is to promote the teachings and ideologies of Lord Krishna.

Krishna Balarama Temple
The huge temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his elder brother Balarama. Just outside the temple is the grave of Swami Prabhupada (the founder of ISKCON) who was laid to rest here after he passed for his heavenly abode.

Yamuna River
One of the holiest rivers in India, the Yamuna and its banks are especially considered holy, being the place where Lord Krishna spent most of the days of his life. A number of temples and ashrams are located along the banks of the river. It is believed that a bath in the river is a sure way to salvation.

Kesari Ghat
Situated on the banks of river Yamuna, Kesari Ghat is the place where demon Kesi was killed by Lord Krishna. Numerous devotees can be seen worshipping and having a bath here. The arti performed here every evening is attended by hundreds of devotees.