Prem Mandir
Chhatikara Road, Vrindavan, Mathura district · Radha Krishna (ground level) and Sita Ram (upper level)
A white marble temple of Radha Krishna and Sita Ram, free to enter, with an evening musical fountain show.
Prem Mandir is a modern temple on the Vrindavan–Chhatikara road, built by Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj and run by Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat. The foundation stone was laid on 14 January 2001 and the temple opened to the public on 17 February 2012. Radha Krishna are worshipped on the ground level and Sita Ram on the level above. The temple is known for its marble walls carved with scenes from the life of Krishna, its gardens and its evening musical fountain.
Timings
- Morning session: 8:30 AM – 12:00 noon (official site)
- Evening session: 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM (official site)
- Fountain show: 7:30–8:00 PM (1 Apr–30 Sep); 7:00–7:30 PM (1 Oct–31 Mar) (official site)
- Closed between sessions: approx. 12:00 noon – 4:30 PM
Daily rituals
- 8:30 AM – Darshan and aarti: Morning darshan opens with aarti (official site).
- 11:30 AM – Bhog: Midday offering to the deities.
- 12:00 noon – Shayan aarti and closing: The deities rest; the temple closes for the afternoon.
- 4:30 PM – Evening aarti and darshan: The temple reopens.
- 5:30 PM – Bhog: Evening offering.
- 7:00 PM – Parikrama: Circumambulation of the temple.
- 8:10 PM – Shayan aarti: Night aarti.
- 8:30 PM – Closing: The temple closes.
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free. The official site does not mention any entry fee or ticket. Travel pages state that entry is free and that there is no VIP darshan. Weekends, Janmashtami and school holidays are crowded.
How to book darshan
Prem Mandir is a walk-in temple with free entry. The official site lists no online booking for darshan. Enquiries: +91 88824 80000 or contact@jkp.org.in (as published on the official site).
- Check the day's timings on premmandir.org.in; the fountain show hour changes with the season.
- Leave footwear at the free shoe service on the premises (travel-site report).
- Join the darshan line. For the fountain show, go to the garden area about 20–30 minutes early.
Booking safely
- Entry is free. Do not pay anyone for 'tickets' to the temple or the fountain show.
Check the evening show time on the official site: it moves between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM with the season.
Prasadam and offerings
- Prasad – Check at the temple. The official site lists bhog times but no prasad prices.
Dress code
Modest clothing. No official dress code was found on the temple's site.
Temple etiquette
- Littering is not allowed (travel-site report).
- Footwear is kept at the free shoe service.
- Follow the Parishat's staff for queue and aarti directions.
Why it matters
Prem Mandir was built by Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj and is dedicated to 'prem', divine love. Four original Jagadgurus are honoured to the right of the Sita Ram image (Wikipedia). The Parishat describes the temple as a place for devotion and satsang.
It has a large open campus and a fixed daily timetable with two darshan sessions, which makes it easier to plan with elders and families.
It has two sister temples built by the same organisation: Bhakti Mandir (opened 2005) and Kirti Mandir in Barsana (opened 2019).
History
14 January 2001: Foundation stone
Laid by Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj (Wikipedia).
2001 – 2012: Construction
Construction took about 12 years and involved around 1,000 artisans. The cost is reported as about ₹150 crore.
15–17 February 2012: Inauguration
The inauguration ceremonies ran for three days, and the temple opened to the public on 17 February 2012.
19 March 2026: Visit of the President
President Droupadi Murmu visited and performed aarti, as noted on Wikipedia.
Architecture
The temple stands in a campus of about 22 hectares (55 acres). Wikipedia lists the style as a blend of Rajasthani, Somnath and Gujarati architecture.
Life-size depictions of four leelas of Krishna – the swing (Jhulan), the lifting of Govardhan, the Raas dance and Kaliya Naag – are shown with gardens and fountains. The main walls carry further scenes from Krishna's life and from the saints of the Rasik tradition.
A pillar-less, dome-shaped satsang hall of about 6,800 square metres seats around 25,000 people.
What to see
- Musical and digital fountain show: The official site lists the show at 7:30–8:00 PM from 1 April to 30 September and at 7:00–7:30 PM from 1 October to 31 March. Travel sites call it a light show; the temple calls it the Musical and Digital Fountain.
- Marble carvings: Walk around the outer walls and read the scenes; allow time in daylight.
- Four Krishna leelas in the garden: Jhulan, Govardhan, Raas and Kaliya Naag are shown life-size.
- Evening parikrama and aarti: On the official timetable, parikrama is at 7:00 PM and the shayan aarti at 8:10 PM.
How to cover the temple
Visit in the evening session: darshan from 4:30 PM, a walk round the garden and carved walls, the musical fountain show, and the 8:10 PM shayan aarti. The temple is closed from noon to 4:30 PM.
- Parking and shoe service: Park on site. A free shoe service is provided (travel-site report).
- Radha Krishna below, Sita Ram above: Radha Krishna are on the ground level and Sita Ram on the level above.
- Carved walls and garden: Read the marble scenes of Krishna's life and see the four life-size leelas in the garden: Jhulan, Govardhan, Raas and Kaliya Naag.
- Musical and Digital Fountain: 7:00–7:30 PM (1 October to 31 March) or 7:30–8:00 PM (1 April to 30 September).
- Shayan aarti: At 8:10 PM; the temple closes at 8:30 PM (official site).
Customs and traditions
Evening aarti and parikrama
A circumambulation of the temple at 7:00 PM and shayan aarti at 8:10 PM.
The closing worship of the day (shayan aarti means the aarti at which the deities are put to rest).
Free; join the devotees as directed by the staff.
For elders and differently-abled visitors
Access: Easy. A modern campus with level paths, parking on site and free entry. There is no separate senior queue in the sources, but the pace is orderly and the temple has two fixed sessions a day.
- A free shoe service is available on the premises (travel-site report).
Waiting time
No queue figures were published.
Weekends, Janmashtami and Radhashtami are the crowded times (travel site). The temple is closed from noon to 4:30 PM.
Best time to visit
October to March for comfortable weather, when the fountain show is at 7:00 PM. In summer, visit after 4:30 PM when the temple reopens.
Festivals
Janmashtami and Radhashtami (August–September)
Decorations, cultural programmes and very large crowds (travel-site report).
Jhulan (swing festival) (Shravan (July–August))
Swing decorations; the swing is also one of the four leelas shown in the garden.
How to reach Prem Mandir
- By air: Nearest big airports are Delhi (about 164 km, per a travel site) and Agra; there is no commercial airport at Mathura.
- By rail: Mathura Junction is about 12 km away (travel-site estimate). Vrindavan station is also on the line.
- By road: On the Vrindavan–Chhatikara road (Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg). Parking is available for two-wheelers and cars (travel-site report). Autos and e-rickshaws run from Mathura and Vrindavan.
Road safety
An easy, flat drive within the Mathura–Vrindavan area. The main issues are weekend and festival traffic and getting home after the evening show.
Ordinary town roads on the Vrindavan–Chhatikara road. The temple has parking for cars and two-wheelers (travel-site report).
Where to stay
Most pilgrims stay in Vrindavan or Mathura.
- Hotels and dharamshalas in Vrindavan – Wide range; check online. Book directly with the hotel.
Suggested plan
Evening at Prem Mandir
- Arrive by 4:30 PM when the temple reopens.
- Darshan, then walk around the garden and the carved walls.
- Take a seat for the fountain show (7:00 or 7:30 PM, by season).
- Stay for the 8:10 PM shayan aarti; the temple closes at 8:30 PM.
Tips
- Plan for a closed afternoon: the temple is shut from noon to 4:30 PM.
- Weekends and holidays can be very crowded; weekday evenings are easier.
- Confirm timings on the official site, because the show hours change in April and October.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a ticket?
The official site mentions no ticket or entry fee. Travel pages say entry is free.
When is the light show?
The official site calls it the Musical and Digital Fountain: 7:30–8:00 PM from 1 April to 30 September, and 7:00–7:30 PM from 1 October to 31 March.
Who runs the temple?
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, a non-profit organisation.
Can I take photos?
The official site gives no photography rule. Ask at the gate.
Temples nearby
- Shri Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan – Vrindavan, Mathura district (about 3 km by road)
- Shri Krishna Janmasthan, Mathura – Katra Keshav Dev, Mathura (about 9 km by road)
- Shri Mehandipur Balaji Temple (Ghata Mehandipur) – Ghata Mehandipur, Sikrai tehsil, Dausa district (about 132 km by road)
- Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi – NH 24, Pramukh Swami Maharaj Marg, near Akshardham Metro, New Delhi (about 145 km by road)
More Krishna temples
- Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi – Car Street (Ratha Beedi), Udupi, Udupi district
- Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple – Guruvayur, Thrissur district
- Shri Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir), Dwarka – Dwarka, Devbhumi Dwarka district
- Shri Vitthal Rukmini Mandir, Pandharpur – Pandharpur, Solapur district, on the Chandrabhaga (Bhima) river
- Shrinathji Haveli, Nathdwara – Nathdwara, Rajsamand district (about 48 km north-east of Udaipur)
- Khatu Shyam Ji Temple – Khatu, Sikar district (about 80 km from Jaipur)
Official website: premmandir.org.in
Sources
- Prem Mandir official site (timings, contact, Parishat)
- Wikipedia – Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
- Vrindavan Mathura Tourism – Prem Mandir timings, entry and distances (travel site)
Last checked: 2026-10. Timings and fees change – confirm with the temple before you travel.