Barsana, Nandgaon and Vrindavan: a Braj itinerary
Braj is small on a map and slow on the road. These plans are built around the one rule that matters: every temple shuts in the afternoon. Use them as they are, or tell us your dates and we will fit them to you.
| From Barsana | Distance | Temple hours to know |
|---|---|---|
| Shriji, Barsana | On the hill, 200+ steps or the ropeway | Summer 5 AM to 2 PM and 5 to 9 PM; winter 5:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 to 8:30 PM |
| Nand Bhavan, Nandgaon | 8 km | Summer 6 to 11 AM and 4:30 to 7:30 PM; winter 6 AM to 1 PM and 4:30 to 8 PM |
| Radha Kund | 18 km | The kunds are open all day |
| Govardhan | 20 km | Parikrama of about 21 km, any hour; most walk it at dawn |
| Banke Bihari, Vrindavan | 45 km | Summer 7:45 AM to 12 PM and 5:30 to 9:30 PM; winter 8:45 AM to 1 PM and 4:30 to 8:30 PM |
| Mathura Junction | 42 km | The nearest big station |
Timings change on festival days and with the season; Banke Bihari has changed its hours more than once. Check the day before, or ask us.
Barsana and Nandgaon
- 5 AM
Leave Delhi NCR - 8:30 AM
Up to Shriji by steps or ropeway, darshan before the heat - 11 AM
Kirti Mandir, Peeli Pokhar, the Ashta Sakhi temple - 1 PM
Lunch and rest; the temples are shut - 4:30 PM
Nand Bhavan in Nandgaon - 7 PM
Sandhya aarti at Shriji, home by 11
Barsana, Govardhan, Vrindavan
- Day 1
Barsana as in the one-day plan, Nandgaon in the afternoon, a night in Barsana - Day 2 morning
Govardhan parikrama by car or e-rickshaw, or Radha Kund and Kusum Sarovar - Day 2 evening
Vrindavan for Banke Bihari's evening darshan, then Delhi or Mathura station
Add the Ashta Sakhi
- Day 1
Barsana slowly: Shriji at Shringar aarti, the town on foot, Maan Mandir - Day 2
The Ashta Sakhi circuit through the eight Sakhi villages, Nandgaon at 4:30 - Day 3
Govardhan or Radha Kund in the morning, Vrindavan in the evening
Stay in Barsana itself and the first darshan is ten minutes away: stays near Shriji. Cars and guides for these plans: tours and cabs. Getting here: how to reach Barsana.
Planning Braj: quick answers
How many days do you need for Barsana?
One full day covers Shriji, Kirti Mandir, Peeli Pokhar and Nandgaon. Two days let you add Govardhan or Radha Kund and Vrindavan without rushing. Three days give you the Ashta Sakhi villages as well.
How far is Barsana from Vrindavan?
About 45 km, a little over an hour by car. Nandgaon is 8 km from Barsana, Govardhan 20 km, Radha Kund 18 km and Mathura 42 km.
What is the best order for Barsana, Nandgaon and Vrindavan?
From Delhi, do Barsana first while it is cool, Nandgaon in the afternoon, and Vrindavan on another day. Vrindavan is on the way back to Delhi or to Mathura station, so it fits the end of a trip.
When are the temples closed?
Every afternoon. Shriji closes from 2 PM to 5 PM. Nand Bhavan in Nandgaon and Banke Bihari in Vrindavan also shut in the afternoon. Plan lunch and travel for those hours.
Tell us your days; we fit the plan to you
Say when you are coming and how many of you there are. You get two or three options with real distances to Shriji and a fixed price. No surge on festival days.
- Reply within a day, usually within hours
- Stays 10% below the walk-in rate when booked through us
- A local lead with every group on festival days
- No VIP darshan promises, because there is no such thing at Shriji