Mathura and Vrindavan, cradled together on the banks of the Yamuna, hold one of the densest concentrations of sacred sites anywhere in India. Every lane seems to lead to another shrine, every shrine to another story from the life of Shri Krishna and His elder brother, Balarama. For a devotee planning a pilgrimage, or simply a traveller curious about Braj Bhoomi, here are twenty temples that together capture the spiritual heart of this land — from ancient stone sanctuaries to the temple we call home, Shri Bade Dauji Mandir.
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
MathuraBuilt around the very prison cell where Lord Krishna is believed to have been born to Devaki and Vasudev, this is considered the single holiest site in Mathura. A marble statue of the young Krishna and a recreation of the ancient cell draw devotees from across the world, especially during Janmashtami.
Dwarkadhish Temple
MathuraRaised in 1814 close to the Yamuna ghats, this richly painted temple honours Krishna in His form as the King of Dwarka. Its ornate pillars and frescoes come alive during the Jhulan Yatra and Holi festivities, when the temple becomes one of the liveliest spots in the city.
Gita Mandir (Birla Mandir)
MathuraA striking red sandstone temple with all eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad Gita inscribed on its pillars, Gita Mandir offers a quieter, more contemplative stop for those wishing to reflect on Krishna's teachings to Arjuna.
Bhuteshwar Mahadev Mandir
MathuraOne of the few temples in this Krishna-centric region dedicated to Lord Shiva, Bhuteshwar Mahadev is also revered as a Shakti Peeth, believed to mark the spot where a lock of Mata Sati's hair fell.
Shri Dauji Maharaj Temple, Baldeo
Baldeo, near MathuraRoughly 20 km from Mathura, this ancient shrine enshrines a towering black-stone image of Balarama beside His consort Revati. It is especially famed for Huranga, the boisterous festival that follows Holi, and is one of the oldest centres of Balarama worship in Braj.
Shri Govind Dev Ji Temple
VrindavanRaised in red sandstone by Raja Man Singh of Jaipur around 1590, Govind Dev Ji was once a soaring seven-storey structure and remains one of the most architecturally significant temples in Braj — its history closely intertwined with that of Shri Bade Dauji, who was once worshipped alongside Govind Dev at this very site.
Banke Bihari Mandir
VrindavanPerhaps the most visited temple in Vrindavan, Banke Bihari is known for a darshan unlike any other — the curtain before the deity is drawn every few minutes so that devotees never gaze upon Him continuously, a tradition said to protect against the intensity of His beauty.
Radha Raman Temple
VrindavanEstablished by Gopal Bhatta Goswami in the sixteenth century, this temple is home to a self-manifested Shaligram deity and a temple kitchen said to have kept its fire burning continuously for over four hundred years.
Radha Vallabh Mandir
VrindavanOne of the seven original Thakur temples of Vrindavan, Radha Vallabh is unusual in enshrining only Krishna, with a crown placed beside Him to represent Radha's eternal, if unseen, presence.
Shahji Temple
VrindavanCompleted in 1876, Shahji Temple blends Hindu, Mughal, and European design — its twelve ornate marble columns and Belgian glass chandeliers make it one of the more visually striking temples in the town.
Radha Gokulananda Temple
VrindavanFounded by Lokanath Goswami between Keshi Ghat and Radha Raman Temple, this modest but historically significant shrine enshrines Radha Vinode and Radha Gokulananda, and holds several important samadhis of early Gaudiya saints.
Gopeshwar Mahadev Temple
VrindavanAmong the oldest Shiva shrines in Vrindavan, its lingam is said to have been established by Vajranabh, Krishna's great-grandson, and it stands as one of the few Shiva temples of real prominence in this Krishna-centric town.
Katyayani Peeth
VrindavanOne of the fifty-one Shakti Peeths of the Goddess, Katyayani Peeth is especially thronged during Navratri, when devotees seek the blessings of Devi Katyayani for strength and protection.
Nidhivan
VrindavanA secluded, densely wooded grove believed to be the nightly site of Krishna's Rasleela, local tradition holds that no one — not even birds or animals — may remain within Nidhivan after dusk.
Shri Gopinath Ji Temple
VrindavanAmong the oldest temples in Vrindavan Dham, Gopinath Ji's temple is also home to the samadhi of Madhu Pandit, said to have been the very first sevait to serve the deity.
Madan Mohan Temple
VrindavanPerched atop Aditya Tila, Madan Mohan is regarded as the oldest of Vrindavan's major temples. Though its red-stone structure has weathered over the centuries, it still offers sweeping views over the Yamuna below.
Shri Rangji (Ranganatha) Temple
VrindavanA rare South Indian-style temple set amid the north Indian architecture of Braj, Rangji Temple is modelled on the Srirangam Ranganatha Swami Temple and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
Priyakant Ju Temple
VrindavanSet beside a small lotus pond, Priyakant Ju is best visited in the evening, when its grounds are lit up and the reflections on the water create a particularly serene atmosphere.
Shri Jugal Kishore Temple
VrindavanAmong the oldest riverside temples in Vrindavan, Jugal Kishore's tranquil setting on the banks of the Yamuna makes it a favoured spot for quiet reflection, away from the busier temple lanes.
Shri Bade Dauji Mandir
Anaaj Mandi, VrindavanAnd finally, closest to our own heart — Shri Bade Dauji Mandir, home to Bhagwan Balbhadra, the elder brother of Shri Govind Dev. Once worshipped side by side with Govind Dev, Dauji alone chose never to leave Vrindavan even when danger scattered every other deity from the town. The vigraha enshrined here at Shri Balbhadra Peeth is the largest form of Balarama anywhere in Braj, cared for since Samvat 1835 by the unbroken seva of the Goswami Pariwar. Read the full history of our temple here →
Planning Your Own Braj Pilgrimage
Most of these temples lie within a short cab or e-rickshaw ride of one another across Mathura and Vrindavan, and a well-paced two to three day visit is enough to cover the majority of this list. Wherever your journey takes you, we warmly invite you to include Shri Bade Dauji Mandir in Anaaj Mandi, Vrindavan — come for darshan, and stay for the story.
Plan Your Visit to Bade Dauji MandirThis guide was compiled with reference to temple listings and traveller resources including Holidify's Vrindavan temple collection and Mathura Vrindavan Temples, alongside the historical account of Shri Bade Dauji Mandir published by Vrindavan Today. All descriptions have been independently written for this blog.