ISCKON Temple, Vrindavan
About ISCKON Temple
ISKCON Temple Vrindavan, also called the Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, is a famous temple in Vrindavan’s Raman Reti area. It’s one of the most important ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temples in the world. This beautiful temple was a dream come true for Srila Prabhupada, who founded ISKCON. He wanted to build a stunning temple for worshipping Lord Krishna and Balaram in the same village where They played and performed Their pastimes thousands of years ago.
As you enter ISKCON Vrindavan, the first thing you’ll see is the grand white marble archway of Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi, which is a memorial honoring him. The samadhi has winding stairways shaped like peacocks and is decorated with intricate carvings and large, beautiful domes. When you walk through the big wooden temple doors, it feels like you’ve stepped into a special spiritual world.
Inside, there is a courtyard made of black and white checkered marble, with a tamal tree adding to the peaceful setting. The air is filled with the sound of devotional music played by the temple musicians who perform kirtan 24 hours a day. It’s a joyful atmosphere where people raise their arms and dance in happiness.
The History of ISKCON Vrindavan
The story of ISKCON Vrindavan begins with Srila Prabhupada, who was born in 1896 in Calcutta, India. In 1950, he retired from family life to focus on studying and writing about spiritual topics. He moved to the holy city of Vrindavan and lived in a small room at the Radha-Damodara temple, where he studied sacred texts and wrote books for several years. In 1959, he took on the renounced order of life, known as sannyasa.
With a mission to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna around the world, Srila Prabhupada traveled to the United States in 1965. He arrived in New York with very little money but had a big dream. After facing many challenges, he established ISKCON in July 1966.
On April 20, 1975, during the festival of Ram Navami, Srila Prabhupada’s dream was fulfilled when he opened the Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan. The temple became the home of beautiful Deities, including Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar with Their companions Lalita and Vishakha, and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.
ISCKON Vrindavan Guest house
ISKCON Vrindavan has a guesthouse for visitors who want to stay near the temple. The Shri Krishna Balaram Guesthouse offers different types of rooms:
- Double bed rooms for ₹1,700 per night
- Triple bed rooms for ₹2,500 per night
- Suites for ₹3,500 per night
You can book a room on the temple’s official website, making it easy for travelers to plan their visit.
Govinda's Restaurant
ISKCON Vrindavan also has a restaurant called Govinda’s. It’s located on the ground floor of the Krishna Balaram Guesthouse and serves Krishna prasad, which is food that has been blessed. The restaurant offers a variety of vegetarian dishes and is part of a network of over 150 ISKCON restaurants worldwide, providing delicious meals for devotees and visitors.
ISCKON Temple, Vrindavan Timing
Morning: 04:10 am to 01:00 pm
Evening: 04:00 pm to 09:15 pm
Arti Timing
04:10 – Samadhi Arti
04:30 – Mangal Arti
07:15 – Sringar Arti
07:30 – Guru Puja
08:00 – Srimad Bhagvat Pravachan
12:00 – Raj Bhoga
16:00 – Utthapana
18:00 – Bhagvat Gita Pravachan
18:30 – Sandhya Arti
20:00 – Shayana Arati
ISCKON Vrindavan Photos
ISCKON Temple, Vrindavan Distance
| Place Name | Distance |
|---|---|
|
Mathura Railway Station |
12 km |
|
Banke Bihari Temple |
2.6 km |
|
Prem Mandir |
550 m |
How to Reach ISCKON Temple Vrindavan
By Road: You can easily hire a cab from Agra, Mathura, or Delhi to travel to the ISCKON Temple. It is approx. 160 km from Delhi, 74 kms from Agra, and 10 kms from Mathura.
By Train: The city is well-connected with almost all cities across the country. The nearest railway station is in Mathura, located 12 kms away.
By Air: The nearest fully functional commercial airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, approx. 150 km away.