Govind Devji Temple, is the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood!
This temple has been standing tall as an architectural wonder for over five centuries. Although the original idol of Lord Krishna is no longer present in the temple, it is said that it resembled his face when he was born. The temple is revered as one of the holiest in the area and is one of the four temples of particular interest among the thousand temples within the periphery of Vrindavan town.
This temple is a blend of Islamic and Hindu architecture, constructed in the Dravidian style. Raja Man Singh is said to have spent a whopping one crore rupees on its construction, and even Akbar himself donated the red sandstone. However, the temple was ordered for destruction by the Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb in 1670, and while his men were at work, the ground started shaking, and the destruction was abandoned at three stories.
The Sri Govind Devji Temple is a seven-storied temple made of red sandstone that resembles a European Cathedral. It has an altar inside that is a blend of marble, silver, and gold with a sculptured lotus flower decorating the central hall ceiling. As one of the most exquisite temples of North India, it stands proud as a specimen of medieval Indian architecture.
Did you know that Govind is another name of Lord Krishna, which means the god of cattle in Sanskrit? This temple, along with those of the other four presiding deities, is considered the oldest and was established by King Vajranabh, the great-grandson of Sri Krishna, about 5000 years ago.
While visiting this temple, be careful of the monkeys who are notorious for snatching away prized possessions like food, mobiles and even cameras. Also, beware of temple scams and frauds by guides. Cab/taxi drivers are prone to charging an excess fare, and one should be ready to negotiate with them. Guides are prone to asking very high rates while temple priests often charge a high amount for rituals which are quite unnecessary. So, keep an eye out and don’t get fooled!
If you’re planning a visit, the ideal duration would be 1-2 hours, and the best time to visit is during the monsoon and winter, especially between October and March. The nearest railway station is Vrindavan Railway Station (BDB), which is only 1.3 km away from the temple. You can take a cycle-rickshaw from there which costs INR 20 on average or an auto-rickshaw. The closest major railway station is at Mathura, 14 km away. Taxis, cabs, buses, and auto-rickshaws are available regularly from Mathura to Vrindavan. The nearest airport is the Kheria Airport in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, which is 53 km away. Public, as well as private transport, is easily available to Vrindavan from there.