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Balram Temple
Baldeo is 20km south-east of Mathura and 8.5 km south-east
of Mahavan on the road to Sadabad. It derives its name from
the famous temple dedicated to Balram, the elder brother of
Lord Krishna. It was built by Shyam Das of Delhi 200 years
ago. The main image in the sanctum is that of Baldeo or Balram
with his spouse Revati. Near by is the brick lined tank, the
Kshir Sagar or Ballbhadra Kund, from where the original image
housed in the temple was found. Baldeo is 20km south-east of
Mathura and 8.5 km south-east of Mahavan on the road to
Sadabad. It derives its name from the famous temple dedicated
to Balram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. It was built by
Shyam Das of Delhi 200 years ago. The main image in the
sanctum is that of Baldeo or Balram with his spouse Revati.
Near by is the brick lined tank, the Kshir Sagar or Ballbhadra
Kund, from where the original image housed in the temple was
found.
Radha Rani Temple
Barsana, 50 km to the north-west of Mathura and 19 km
north-west of Govardhan, is situated at the foot of a hill
that is named after Brahma.
Barsana was once the home of Radha-Rani, Krishna's beloved and
consort.
Temples dedicated to the divine couple ornament the four
elevations of the hills. The chief among them is the
Radha-Rani Temple, more fondly referred to as the Ladliji
Temple. The most beautiful temple at Barsana, it was built by
Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo of Orchha in 1675. The new marble temple
adjoining it is a later addition.
The other three shrines are the Man Mandir, Dargah and
Mor-Kutir temples. The area between the hill housing the
Radha-Rani Temple and the adjoning one, is known as th
Sankari-Khor. This is the venur of the annual fair held in the
month of Bhadon (July-August).
The birth anniversary of Radha-Rani is celebrated on the ninth
day of the bright half of Bhadrapad (July-August) at the
Mor-Kutir Temple which was built about 300 years ago.
Women celebrated the occasion by giving laddus to the
peacock-to symbolize the serving of sweets by Radha to Lord
Krishna. Most of the monuments and edifices here have
deteriorated with the advent of time .
Still a few tanks do survive and can be seen, including the
Prem Sarovar, Roop sagar, Jal Mahal and the Bhanokhar Tank.
Barsana is also famous for its 'Lathmar' Holi-celebration of
the festivl of colour that are unique to this town.
Goverdhan Parvat
Govardhan is situated 26 km west of Mathura on the state
highway to Deeg. A famous place of Hindu pilgrimage, Govardhan
is located on a narrow sandstone hill known as Giriraj which
is about 8 km in length. The young Lord Krishna is said to
have held Giriraj up on the tip of a finger for 7 days and
nights to shield the people of Braj from the deluge of rain
sent down by Lord Indra. Govardhan is set along the edge of a
large masonry tank known as the Mansi Ganga, which is believed
to have been brought into existence by the operation of the
divine will. See Your AD Here Its enclosues were built by Raja
Bhagwan Das of Amer in 1637 and embellished by Raja Man Singh,
who built a long flight of steps leading up, from the end of
the tank. Close by is the famous red sandstone temple of
Haridev and the kusum sarovar with exquisitely carved chhatris-the
centaphs of the members of the royal family of Bharatpur, who
perished whilst fighting against the British in 1825. Towards
the south is the beautiful chhatri of Raja Surajmal of
Bhartpur. Fine frescoes-illuminating the life of Surajmal,
vividly depict darbar and hunting scenes, royal processions
and wars.
Nandraj Temple
Nandgaon lies 8.5 km north of Barsana on the metalled road
to Mathura (56 km). According to tradition, it was the home of
Shri Krishna`s foster father, Nand. On the top of the hill is
the spacious temple of Nand Rai, built by the Hat ruler Roop
Singh. The other temples here are dedicated to Narsingha,
Gopinath, Nritya Gopal, Girdhari, Nand Nandan, and Yasodha
Nandan, which is located half way up the hill.
A little beyond is the Pan Sarovar, a large lake with masonry
ghats along its sides. Legend has it , that this was the place
where Shri Krishna used to take his cows for water.Not far
away is the Kadamb grove called Udhoji- ka - Kyar.The spacious
temple to Nand Rai built by the Jat Ruler Roop Singh is
located on a hill.
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