Barsana
About Barsana
Barsana is a beautiful town in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known as the village of Radha Rani. The Radha Rani Temple and Kirti Mandir are the top attractions in Barsana.
Many people visit these temples to worship and find peace. Radha Rani grew up here, surrounded by friends. It’s also the place where Krishna used to visit her.
Barsana has four special hills: Vrishbhanu Garh, Dan Garh, Vilas Garh, and Maan Garh. These hills are believed to be the four heads of Lord Brahma. According to legend, Brahma wanted to see Radha and Krishna’s divine activities. Krishna, pleased with Brahma’s devotion, turned him into these hills to witness their sacred pastimes forever.
Barsana is a place where you can experience the love and devotion of Radha and Krishna.
History of Barsana
Barsana is closely linked to the story of Radha and Krishna. Krishna’s father, Nand Ji, and Radha’s father, Vrishbhanu, were good friends. Nand Ji was the leader of Gokula, and Vrishbhanu led Raval.
When King Kansa of Mathura became cruel, both families moved to safer places. Nand Ji moved to Nandgaon, settling on Nandishvar Hill. Vrishbhanu moved to Barsana and settled on Bhanugarh Hill, which later became Radha’s home.
Today, Barsana and Nandgaon are famous for their temples. The Radha Rani Temple, or Shriji Temple, stands on Bhanugarh Hill in Barsana. The Nand Bhawan Temple in Nandgaon honors Krishna. Both places celebrate the divine story of Radha and Krishna.
Places to Visit in Barsana
Radha Rani Temple
The Radha Rani Temple is in Barsana, in the Mathura district. It is dedicated to Radha and Krishna, worshipped together as Shri Laadli Lal. The temple is on Bhanugarh Hill, about 250 meters high. From there, you can see all of Barsana.
You can get to the temple by climbing 225 steps or driving up to Kushalbihari Temple and walking for 10 minutes. Many people visit the temple, especially during Radhashtami and Lathmar Holi.
The temple is about 5,000 years old. It was first built by King Vajranabh, Krishna’s great-grandson. After it fell into ruins, Narayan Bhatt found the idols again. Raja Bir Singh Deo rebuilt the temple in 1675 AD, and Raja Todarmal helped finish it.
Know more About Radha Rani Mandir
Kirti Mandir
Kirti Mandir is a special temple dedicated to Kirti Maiya, Radha Rani’s mother. It was built by Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj, who loved Radha and Krishna.
This temple is unique because it is the only one in the world dedicated to Kirti Maiya. It shows Radha Rani sitting on her mother Kirti’s lap, which represents their strong mother-daughter bond.
One of the highlights of Kirti Mandir is the night show. When the sun sets, the temple lights up with colorful lights.
Know more about Kirti Mandir
Main Festivals in Barsana
Lathmar Holi
Lathmar Holi is a fun and unique festival celebrated at Radha Rani Temple. The story behind this festival is that Krishna used to come to Barsana to play Holi with Radha. Radha and her friends would playfully greet Krishna and his friends with sticks and drive them out of Barsana. Today, this tradition continues every year during Holi. The men of Nandgaon, who are treated like sons-in-law of Barsana, visit the town and are greeted by the women with colors and sticks. Thousands of people come to Barsana and Nandgaon to celebrate, and the festival usually lasts for more than a week.
Radhashtami
Radhashtami is the celebration of Radha Rani’s birthday. It takes place 15 days after Janmashtami, which is Krishna’s birthday. On Radhashtami, the idols of Radha and Krishna are decorated with flowers. This is the only day of the year when devotees can see Radha’s feet because they are covered on all other days. Many people come to the temple to offer prayers and take part in the special celebrations.
Distance for Barsana
| Place Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Mathura Railway Station | 44 km |
| Vrindavan | 42 km |
| Mathura Bus Stand | 43 km |
How to Reach Barsana
By Road: You can easily hire a cab from Agra, Mathura, or Delhi to travel to the Barsana. It is approx. 120 km from Delhi, 105 kms from Agra, and 43 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 approx. 44 kms away.
By Air: The nearest fully functional commercial airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, approx. 132 km away.