Temples in UP

Vrindavan

About VrindavanVrindavan is the place where Lord Krishna was brought up. There are numerous temples and bathing ghats along the river Yamuna in Vrindavan. The ideal time to visit is during the winter season. It would be better to hire a private vehicle for a one day tour of Vrindavan and Mathura. The most important temples is the Banke Bihari Temple, Ranganatha temple. Also the garden where Lord Krishna and Rukmini are believed to visit every evening is very popular.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has constructed a beautiful temple here.

How to reach

Vrindavan is just 15 kms from Mathura.

Nearest Railhead: Mathura
Nearest Airport: Agra
Special OccassionsJanmasthami is celebrated in a very grand manner here.
Temples in proximityGovardhanagiri, Mathur

Mathura (Lord Krishna’s Birth Place )

About Mathura
Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born at Mathura. The lord’s parents Vasudev and Devaki were imprisoned here by King Kansa, Lord Krishna’s uncle because he was told that the eight son of Vasudev and Devaki would kill him. King Kansa kept killing all the kids born to Vasudev and Devaki. But when the eighth son was born in the form of Lord Krishna, a miracle happened and all the doors of the prison opened for Vasudev to take Lord Krishna away from the prison. Vasudev then placed Krishna in a basket and carried him across the river Yamuna to Brijbhoomi when Krishna was brought up by Nand and Yashoda. The son was then replaced by a girl child in the prison and when King Kansa came to kill the girl child, the kid took the form of a goddess and warned him that his days are numbered since Krishna is born to free the earth of Kansa’s clutches.

How to reach
Mathura is easily accessible and close to the national capital of India, New Delhi. Distance between Mathura and Delhi is 145 kms and between Agra and Mathura is 58 kms.

Nearest Rail head: Mathura
Nearest Airport: Agra

Other places of interest

Dwarkadesh temple is a worth visiting temple with paintings of Lord Krishna.

Vishram Ghat is the place where the lord is said to have taken rest after killing Kansa.

Govardhan hill- Lord Krishna is said to have lifted his hill to provide protection to people from heavy rains when he was young.

Temples in proximity

Govardhanagiri, Vrindavan

Ayodhya (Lord Rama’s Abode)

Ayodhya is situated on the right bank of the river Ghagra or Saryu, as it is called within sacred precincts, on latitude 26^o 48’ north and longitude 82^o 13’ east in north India. Just 6 km from Faizabad, Ayodhya is a popular pilgrim centre. This town is closely associated with Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The ancient city of Ayodhya, according to the Ramayana, was founded by Manu, the law-giver of the Hindu. For centuries, it was the capital of the descendants of the Surya dynasty of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king. Ayodhya during ancient times was known as Kaushaldesa.

Skand and some other Puranas rank Ayodhya as one of the seven most sacred cities of India. It was the venue of many an event in Hindu mythology, today pre-eminently a temple town, Ayodhya is also famous for its close association with the epic Ramayana. It is a city of immense antiquity full of historical significance and sacred temples. The Atharvaveda described Ayodhya as `a city built by Gods and being prosperous as paradise itself’. The illustrious ruling dynasty of this region were the Ikshvakus of the solar clan (Suryavansa). According to tradition, Ikshvakus was the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu, who established himself at Ayodhya. The earth is said to have derived its name `Prithivi’ from Prithu, the 6th king of the line. A few generations later came Mandhatri, in whose line the 31st king was Harischandra, known widely for his love of truth. Raja Sagar of the same clan performed the Asvamedha Yajna and his great grandson Bhagiratha is reputed to have brought Ganga on earth by virtue of his penance. Later in the time came the great Raghu, after whom the family came to be called as Raghuvamsha. His grandson was Raja Dasaratha, the illustrious father of Rama, with whom the glory of the Kausala dynasty reached its highest point. The story of this epic has been immortalized by Valmiki and immensely popularized by the great masses through centuries.

Ayodhya is pre-eminently a city of temples.

Remnants of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam can still be found in Ayodhya. According to Jain tradition, five Tirthankaras were born at Ayodhya, including Adinath (Rishabhadeva) the 1st Tirthankar.

• Area : 10.24 Sq. km.
• Population : 40642 (1991 census)
• Altitude : 26.90 meters above sea level.
• Season : October – March.
• Clothing (Summer) : Cottons
• (Winters) : Woollens
• Language : Hindi, Avadhi and English
• Festivals : Shravan Jhoola Mela (July-August), Parikrama Mela (October-November), Ram Navmi (March-April), Rathyatra (June-July), Saryu Snan (October-November), Ram Vivah (November), Ramayan Mela.
• Local Transport : Taxis/Tongas/Tempos/Buses/Cycle-Rikshaws