Govardhan in Mathura: The Hill Krishna Lifted, the Parikrama, Story, Timings and Complete Guide

Key takeaways

• Govardhan is a sacred hill in Govardhan town, Mathura district, about 22 km from Mathura.

• Krishna lifted it on his little finger for seven days to shelter Braj from Indra's storm.

• Giriraj Govardhan is worshipped as non-different from Krishna himself.

• The parikrama around the hill is about 21 km and takes 5 to 8 hours on foot.

• Its sites include Mansi Ganga, Kusum Sarovar, Radha Kund, Govind Kund and Danghati.

• The parikrama and darshan are free; Govardhan Puja and Guru Purnima are the great days.

I am Gurudutt, born in Gokul in the Mathura district, guiding pilgrims through Braj since 2018, more than 50,000 of them. Of all the holy places around Mathura, few move the heart like Govardhan, the low green hill that Krishna raised upon his finger to save his people and that the Brajwasis worship as the Lord himself. To walk its parikrama or even to take darshan of its chief sites, is one of the great pilgrimages of Braj. Here is everything for your visit, told by someone from this soil: the story of the lifting, the parikrama, the places to see, the festivals, the timings and how to reach it from Mathura. Book our Mathura Vrindavan Tour Package, message on WhatsApp at +91 7302265809, any day from 8 AM to 9 PM.

The story of Govardhan Hill

The great story of Govardhan is the Giriraj Dharan, the lifting of the hill. In his boyhood, Krishna asked the people of Braj to stop their yearly worship of Indra, the king of the gods and to worship instead Govardhan Hill and the cows and land that truly fed them. Angered, Indra sent a terrible storm to drown Braj; but Krishna lifted the whole of Govardhan Hill upon the little finger of his left hand and held it aloft like a vast umbrella for seven days and nights and all the people and cattle of Braj sheltered beneath it, unharmed, until Indra, humbled, withdrew the rains and begged forgiveness.

From that day Govardhan has been worshipped as non-different from Krishna himself; the Brajwasis say Giriraj is the Lord in the form of a hill and they worship the stones of Govardhan, the Govardhan shilas, as forms of Krishna. It is told, too, that the hill slowly shrinks, a little each day, under an old sage's curse, so that what we see now is far smaller than the mighty mountain of old. To this hill, in every age, the devotees of Braj bring their love. Its guardian Shiva is Chakleshwar Mahadev, who stands by Mansi Ganga.

The Govardhan parikrama

The heart of a Govardhan pilgrimage is the parikrama, the circumambulation of the sacred hill, about 21 km all the way round, which the faithful walk in a single day, many of them barefoot as a vow, in five to eight hours. The most devout perform the dandavati parikrama, measuring the whole distance with full prostrations of the body, which takes many days. The circuit is usually begun at Danghati in Govardhan town or at Jatipura, the two seats of the Mukharvind, the worshipped face of Giriraj and it passes the beautiful and remote Punchhari ka Lota, the tail of Govardhan, on the far side. Along the way lie temples, kunds and leela-spots without numbers, so that the walk is a moving darshan from start to finish.

Places to see around Govardhan

Whether you walk the full parikrama or visit by car, these are the sites no Govardhan trip should miss:

• Danghati and the Mukharvind: the worshipped face of Giriraj at Govardhan town, with the ancient Haridev temple nearby.

• Mansi Ganga: the sacred lake in Govardhan town, created by Krishna from his own mind, with its evening aarti.

• Kusum Sarovar: the most beautiful sandstone lake and ghats on the parikrama, a place of exquisite carving.

• Radha Kund and Shyam Kund: the holiest kunds of Braj, a little off the circuit and supremely sacred.

• Govind Kund: the kund where Indra, humbled, is said to have bathed Krishna and named him Govinda.

Jatipura, with its Giriraj Mukharvind and doodh abhishek and many more kunds, complete this rich landscape.

Govardhan Puja and Annakut

The greatest festival of Govardhan is Govardhan Puja, kept the day after Diwali in memory of the lifting, when devotees build a small hill of cow dung or food to represent Govardhan and offer the Annakut, a great mountain of many dishes, to Giriraj. Across Braj this is a day of joy and feasting. The other high day is the Mudia Purnima, on Guru Purnima, when a vast mela fills Govardhan and lakhs of pilgrims walk the parikrama and the whole holy month of Kartik is a specially blessed time here. You will find the calendar in our Braj festivals guide.

Timings and darshan

The parikrama is an open pilgrimage that may be walked at any hour and many start before dawn to beat the heat; the temples along the way, such as Danghati and Haridev, keep the usual morning and evening darshan with a midday break. There is no entry fee. The table gives the general pattern.

Govardhan, Mathura timings. Approximate; reconfirm on the day.

How to reach Govardhan from Mathura

Govardhan town lies about 22 km west of Mathura and about 26 km from Vrindavan, roughly forty-five minutes to an hour by road. A private car is much the easiest way, taking you to Govardhan and around the main sites and able to meet you at points if you walk part of the parikrama. Buses and shared jeeps run to Govardhan from Mathura for those on a budget. The table sets out the ways.

Ways to reach Govardhan from Mathura. A private car is the easiest.

The nearest railhead is Mathura Junction, about 22 km away and the nearest airport is Delhi, with Agra also an option. Our Mathura Vrindavan Gokul Barsana map shows how Govardhan sits within Braj.

Govardhan and nearby

Govardhan sits in the richest cluster of Braj, so it joins easily with the places around it and with the two great towns. The table gives the short distances; for planning your wider trip, see our guide on how to plan a Mathura and Vrindavan trip.

Distances from Govardhan to nearby places. Approximate; verify on the day.

When to visit

The cool months of October to March are much the best for Govardhan, pleasant for the parikrama and the sites, while the summer sun is fierce on the open road. The great days are Govardhan Puja, the day after Diwali and the Mudia Purnima on Guru Purnima, both of which draw huge, joyful crowds; the whole of Kartik is specially holy. For the seasons in full, see our best time to visit Mathura Vrindavan guide.

Tips for the parikrama and your visit

• Start the parikrama before dawn to walk in the cool and finish by midday.

• Carry water and go gently; the full circuit is about 21 km.

• If you cannot walk it all, see Danghati, Mansi Ganga, Kusum Sarovar and Radha Kund by car.

• Wear comfortable footwear or go barefoot only if you have taken the vow.

• Keep decorum at the temples and kunds and treat the kund water as sacred.

The honest bit

Honest words on Govardhan, from one born in Braj. The full parikrama is long, about 21 km and hard in the heat, so plan it for the cool season and the early hours or, if walking is difficult, take darshan of the main sites by car, which is no less devout. Darshan and the parikrama are free and there is no VIP pass; if you offer for a puja or to a pandit, settle it clearly first. On Govardhan Puja and Guru Purnima the crowds are immense, wonderful in spirit but very heavy, so come prepared or choose a quieter day. If you wish to stay nearby, most pilgrims are based in Mathura or Vrindavan, so see our Mathura Vrindavan hotels and our guide on where to stay in Vrindavan. Come with faith and Giriraj gives his blessing in full.

Why Experience My India is the right choice

I was born in Gokul in the Mathura district and Govardhan is part of my own home ground of Braj. Guiding since 2018, more than 50,000 pilgrims, 4.5 stars across 204 Google reviews, WhatsApp first, 8 AM to 9 PM daily. What a local brings to a Govardhan visit is the car that knows the roads and can meet you along the parikrama, the sites placed in the right order, the story of the lifting and the kunds told on the ground and honest guidance without touts. One clear fare and never a charge for free darshan.

Tip from Gurudutt: if your heart is set on the parikrama, start from Danghati before first light, walk in the cool with the stream of pilgrims and let the car meet you for Kusum Sarovar, Radha Kund and Mansi Ganga along the way. If a full walk is too much, a half-day by car still gives you the Mukharvind, Mansi Ganga, Kusum Sarovar and Radha Kund, the very heart of Govardhan. Either way, take a Govardhan shila home in your heart, if not your hand. It is a pilgrimage I love above almost any other in Braj.

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Plan your Govardhan visit

Tell me your dates and your group and I will build your Govardhan visit into your Braj trip, the hill and its sites in the right order, the parikrama supported by the car, with a guide born on this soil, for one clear price. Our two day Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan, Nandgaon and Barsana tour covers Govardhan and you can browse all our Mathura Vrindavan Tour Packages. WhatsApp +91 7302265809, any day 8 AM to 9 PM. Packages from Rs 1,999 per person, 4.5 stars from 204 Google reviews. Born in Gokul, Mathura.