Geography of Vrindavan
The state of Uttar Pradesh in North India is one of the largest in land area and densely populated states in India. The pride of India’s rivers from Ganga, Yamuna, Sarayu, Sharda, Gomti, Ghagra and Rapti running through the length of this state has made it one of the most visited by virtue of the the many religious and spiritual centres that have grown along the banks of these rivers from time immemorial.Vrindavan is one such pilgrimage centre of great spiritual relevance to Indians, situated on the banks of the Yamuna. Before the advent of the modern era, Vrindavan was home to densely forested groves of the ‘tulsi’ or holy basil, known in Sanskrit as ‘vrinda’, from where it has got its name.
Known as ‘braj bhoomi’ or Lord Krishna’s land, this iconic town is well connected to Mathura, Agra and Delhi which are the major cities that bring in thousands of visitors, through a good road and rail network. The nearest airport is located at Agra.
Distances
- Less than 5 kms from Chhatikara junction on the Delhi-Agra highway
- 15 kms from Mathura
- 67 kms from Agra
- 140 kms from Delhi
Important Facts about Vrindavan
- Area in sq.kms. – about 3780 (entire Mathura district)
- Geographically distinct units – eastern and western tracts of theYamuna encompassing Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana and Nandgaon
- Latitude – 27.58°N
- Longitude – 77.7°E
- Elevation – 560 feet above sea level (approx. 180metres)
- Languages spoken – Brajbasha, Hindi and English
- Population – standard population in Vrindavan is around 60,000; however Mathura district has a total population of 2,547,184 (2011 census)
- Local transport – tongas, cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws, private buses
- Closest airport: Agra, 67 kms.
- Nearest railway station: Three local daily train services connect Vrindavan to Mathura. The main railway station with connectivity to other major cities is Mathura. Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai rail services pass through Mathura
Climate in Vrindavan
North India is known to experience extreme climatic and weather conditions; summers are intensely hot where temperatures soar above 45°C (around 115°F), winter temperatures plummet to lows of 4°C. The monsoon months from June to mid September see torrential rains lash the area, flooding often leads to disruption in transport services. The best time to visit Vrindavan is between October to March, especially when winters are mild and spring comes earlier. However, the weather is no deterrent to the devotional throngs of people who visit the place year round. Vrindavan is virtually deluged with multitudes of devotees in the months of August and September when Janmashtami or the ‘birthday’ of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great devotion, joy and pomp.
Religious heritage and saga
Vrindavan is definitely one of the ‘holiest’ places on earth by virtue of containing nearly 4,000 temples both ancient, iconic and recent, as well as several shrines, ashrams, resthouses etc. all within a 10-15 km stretch. The thousands of devotees stand testimony to Vrindavan’s aura of spirituality and divinity. It is also a great centre of learning of Vaishnavism and Krishnaism, both are traditions and tenets of Hinduism in general. Places to Visit around Vrindavan
- Radha Kund – 22 kms
- Govardhan – 26 kms
- Gokul – 33 kms
- Mahaban – 35 kms
- Baldeo – 43 kms
- Barsana – 46 kms
- Agra – 65 kms
- Fatehpur Sikri – 75 kms