Jatipura

Jatipura, located on the west side of Giriraj Govardhan, is a historic town with deep spiritual roots. Originally known as Yatipura, it was named in honor of the great saint, Madhavendra Puri, who was also called a “Yati,” a term for a sage or holy person. Over time, locals began calling this area “Jatipura,” as “Y” is pronounced as “J” in the Vraj dialect. Jatipura is also known as Gopala Pura.

Jatipura holds a special place in Hindu traditions, as it is where Madhavendra Puri lived, meditated, and worshipped. When Lord Shrinathji, a form of Lord Krishna, revealed Himself, He was placed on top of Govardhan Hill here. Madhavendra Puri performed the first sacred ceremonies for Shrinathji, such as the abhishek and the Annakut festival, where food offerings are made in thanksgiving. Later, he entrusted the care and worship of Shrinathji to his disciples.

In Jatipura, the Sringa Sthali site is where devotees pour milk over a large stone from Govardhan Hill, known as Govardhan Shila. Each day, hundreds of liters of milk are poured here as a form of devotion. On the eastern side of the hill, Lord Shrinathji first appeared to Madhavendra Puri, and he was initially worshipped in a small temple on top of the hill, which is still visible today.