Shri Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
Vrindavan, Mathura district · Banke Bihari, Krishna in the 'three-bend' (tribhanga) pose, worshipped as the combined form of Radha and Krishna
Vrindavan's most beloved Krishna shrine, where curtains are drawn every few minutes so the Lord is not 'stolen away' by his devotees' gaze.
Banke Bihari is the heart of Vrindavan for most pilgrims. The black image of Krishna, standing in the graceful three-bend pose and playing the flute, was revealed to the saint-musician Swami Haridas in the 16th century in the grove of Nidhivan. The present temple was built by his Goswami descendants in the 1860s. Worship here treats Krishna as a child: there are no bells, no early-morning aarti on normal days, and a curtain is drawn across the deity every few minutes.
Timings
- Summer (from about Holi to Diwali) – morning: approx. 7:00/7:15 AM – 12:30 PM (Committee timings, Sep 2025)
- Summer – evening: approx. 4:15 PM – 9:30 PM
- Winter (from about Diwali to Holi) – morning: approx. 8:00/8:15 AM – 1:30 PM
- Winter – evening: approx. 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Note: Timings change on festivals and eclipses; check local notices or the live-stream channel before visiting
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
- VIP / special darshan – Not available
- Live darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Shringar Aarti – Free (At opening: approx. 7:00 AM (summer), 8:00 AM (winter))
- Rajbhog Aarti – Free (Late morning, before the midday closing)
- Shayan Aarti – Free (At closing: approx. 9:00 PM (winter), 9:30 PM (summer))
- Bhog and poshak offering through a Goswami – Varies (arranged privately with the Goswami sevayats; no official rate list) (Any day, by arrangement)
- Phool Bangla (flower bower) – Varies (sponsored by devotees through the Goswamis) (Summer season (roughly from Kamada Ekadashi in Chaitra to Hariyali Amavasya in Shravan))
How to book darshan
No online booking is needed or available for darshan. Entry is free and first come, first served. Offerings are arranged in person with the Goswami sevayats.
Dress code
Modest clothing; no formal dress code. Wear footwear you can leave at a shoe stand, and keep belongings minimal.
Best time to visit
October–March for weather. Weekday mornings are calmer. Holi (Rangbhari Ekadashi to Holi), Janmashtami, Akshaya Tritiya and Sharad Purnima are spectacular but extremely crowded.
How to reach
- air: Agra (about 70 km) has limited flights; Delhi airport is about 160 km away. Jewar (Noida International) airport is nearer to Mathura once fully operational.
- rail: Mathura Junction is about 12–15 km away on the Delhi–Agra main line; Vrindavan also has a small station.
- road: Vrindavan is about 3 hours from Delhi via the Yamuna Expressway. E-rickshaws take you from the parking areas to the temple lanes.
Festivals
- Janmashtami – Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami (August–September)
- Holi – Phalguna (February–March)
- Akshaya Tritiya – Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya (April–May)
- Hariyali Teej – Shravan (July–August)
- Sharad Purnima – Ashwin full moon (October)
- Bihar Panchami – Margashirsha Shukla Panchami (November–December)