Celebrate krishna janmashtami visit lord Krishna's birth place

Krishna Janmashtami is a major Hindu festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna. This year, it falls on August 26, 2024. With the long weekend from August 23 to 26, it's a perfect opportunity to celebrate by visiting Mathura, Krishna's birthplace.

Before I explain how to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami over 4 days, let me give you a brief overview of Krishna and the significance of Krishna Janmashtami. I’ll cover what the festival is about, why it’s so important, and why Mathura holds special significance for this day. After that, I’ll provide a detailed plan on how you can spend these 4 days to fully enjoy and experience the celebration.

Who is Krishna?

Krishna, regarded as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is a historical figure who appeared in India about 5,000 years ago. He lived for 125 years, embodying human-like qualities while displaying divine attributes. But what does it mean to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

How can one be all-attractive? If one is very wealthy, if he has great riches, he becomes attractive to the people in general. Similarly, if someone is very powerful, he also becomes attractive, and if someone is very famous, he also becomes attractive, and if someone is very beautiful or wise or unattached to all kinds of possessions, he also becomes attractive. So from practical experience we can observe that one is attractive due to 1) wealth, 2) power, 3) fame, 4) beauty, 5) wisdom, and 6) renunciation. One who is in possession of all six of these opulences at the same time, who possesses them to an unlimited degree, is understood to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Krishna is described as "all-attractive" because he possesses six key qualities to an unlimited degree: wealth, power, fame, beauty, wisdom, and renunciation.

Krishna embodies all these attributes in their highest form, making him the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

About Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Born to Devaki and Vasudev, Krishna was raised by Yashoda and Nanda in Vrindavan. The festival usually occurs on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha, the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapad. Krishna was born in a prison in Mathura, where his life was threatened by his maternal uncle, Kansa. To save him, his father Vasudev carried Krishna across the Yamuna River to Vrindavan. Because of these events, Mathura and Vrindavan hold special significance for Janmashtami celebrations.

Your 4-Day Krishna Janmashtami Travel Plan

Day 1: Friday, August 23, 2024 – Arrival in Vrindavan

• Morning: Depart from Delhi to Vrindavan (approximately 3-4 hours by car or bus).
• Afternoon: Check into your hotel in Vrindavan.

• Late Afternoon (5:30 PM – 9:30 PM): Visit the Banke Bihari Temple, an important site for Krishna devotees. The temple is open from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

• Evening (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM): Explore Nidhi Van, a mystical forest associated with Krishna’s pastimes. Visit during its open hours and respect its sacred nature.

Day 2: Saturday, August 24, 2024 – Vrindavan Exploration and Nearby Sites

Early Morning (5:00 AM – 8:00 AM): Visit the ISKCON Temple in Vrindavan, known for its serene environment and spiritual ambiance.

Afternoon (7:00 AM – 1:00 PM): Visit the Vaishno Devi Temple in Vrindavan, a significant pilgrimage site dedicated to Goddess Vaishno Devi. It’s best to visit before 1:00 PM.

Evening - Head to Prem Mandir, renowned for its beautiful architecture and spiritual atmosphere. (8:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM) The best time to visit is from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM, but it’s open throughout the day.

Late Evening: Relax, explore local markets, or enjoy a meal at a nearby restaurant.

Day 3: Sunday, August 25, 2024 – Goverdhan Parvat, Nandgaon, and Barsana

• Morning: Start with the Goverdhan Parvat Parikrama, a sacred circumambulation around the hill.
• Afternoon: Visit Nandgaon, exploring the sacred forests and temples related to Krishna’s childhood.
• Late Afternoon: Proceed to Barsana, where you can explore Radha Kund and Shyam Kund and visit important temples.
• Evening: Return to Vrindavan for the night or stay in Barsana if preferred.

Day 4: Monday, August 26, 2024 – Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations in Mathura

• Morning: Travel from Vrindavan to Mathura (30-45 minutes by car).
• Midday: Attend the grand Krishna Janmashtami celebration at the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple.
• Afternoon: Explore other sites in Mathura, such as Vishram Ghat and the Krishna Museum.
• Evening: Return to Delhi, concluding your journey.

Drone view of mathura Vrindavan 

Enjoy your trip and the celebrations, making the most of Krishna Janmashtami special occasion!

Adding to this, I have created a youtube video for this trip which you can checkout here.

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