Radha Gokulananda Temple, Vrindavan: A Seven Goswami Temple by Kesi Ghat, History, Timings and Complete Guide

Key takeaways

• Radha Gokulananda is one of the Seven Goswami Temples of Vrindavan, near Kesi Ghat.

• It stands where Lokanath Goswami did his bhajan and was built by Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur.

• It holds the deities of Radha Gokulananda, Radha-Vinoda and Vijaya Govinda.

• It houses Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's thumb-printed Govardhan shila and the saints' samadhis.

• Darshan is 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily; entry is free.

• Mangala Aarti is at 5:00 AM in summer and 6:00 AM in winter.

I am Gurudutt, born in Gokul in the Mathura district, guiding pilgrims through Braj since 2018, more than 50,000 of them. In the old lanes of Vrindavan, near the beautiful Kesi Ghat and just beside the Radha Raman temple, stands a quiet, modest shrine that carries some of the deepest history in all the holy town: the Radha Gokulananda Temple, one of the Seven Goswami Temples. It is not grand to the eye, but to the devotee it is a treasure house, the very ground where Lokanath Goswami sang his bhajan, the home of ancient deities, of the samadhis of great saints, and of a sacred stone touched by the tears of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself. Here is everything for your visit, told by someone from this soil: the story and the saints, the deities and the shila, the timings, and how to reach it. Add it to your trip with our Mathura Vrindavan Tour Package, message on WhatsApp at +91 7302265809, any day from 8 AM to 9 PM.

The story of Radha Gokulananda Temple

The temple is counted among the Seven Goswami Temples of Vrindavan, the great shrines of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition that follow Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, alongside Radha Madan Mohan, Radha Govind Dev, Radha Gopinath, Radha Damodar, Radha Raman and Radha Shyamsundar. It was founded in the sixteenth century by Shri Lokanath Goswami, a direct associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who was sent to live in Vrindavan and serve Radha and Krishna. Though he was not one of the Six Goswamis, he is so revered that he is called the Seventh Goswami, and this very spot is where he performed his bhajan.

Lokanath Goswami was known for his intense renunciation, living as a lifelong brahmachari, and for long he took no disciple at all; only at the very end of his life did he accept a single one, the great Narottam Das Thakur, whose sweet bhajans are sung by devotees to this day. In time the temple as it now stands was arranged by Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur, one of the most learned of all Vaishnava acharyas. Originally each deity had been worshipped in its own separate temple; when the old temple of Radha-Vinoda fell into disrepair, Vishwanath Chakravarti had a new temple built here and named it the Gokulananda Temple, gathering the deities together under one roof, on the ground made holy by Lokanath Goswami's bhajan.

The deities of the temple

Under one roof the temple brings together the worshipful deities of several great acharyas, each with its own history:

• Radha Gokulananda: the deities of Vishwanath Chakravarti, who first worshipped Gokulananda at Radha Kund before moving to Vrindavan.

• Radha-Vinoda: the small deities of Lokanath Goswami; the original is now in Jaipur, moved long ago for safety, with a pratibhu-murti served here.

• Vijaya Govinda: the larger deities of the scholar Baladeva Vidyabhushana.

• Krishna and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: a small deity of Krishna before Gokulananda and a deity of Chaitanya, worshipped by Narottam Das Thakur.

In the beginning there was no separate deity of Radharani in the temple; it is said that Jahnava Devi had a deity of Radha made in Jagannath Puri and installed beside Radha-Vinoda, so that the Divine Couple might be served together.

The Govardhan shila of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

The rarest treasure of the temple is a Govardhan shila, a sacred stone from the holy hill, that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself gave to Raghunath Das Goswami. In the telling, Mahaprabhu kept this shila for about three years, holding it as he chanted, pressing it to his heart and his eyes, placing it on his head and breathing its fragrance, until it was ever moist with his tears, and only then did he give it away. The stone bears the mark of his thumb. To stand before it is to be near the very touch and love of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and for many devotees it is the most moving darshan in the temple.

The samadhis of the saints

In a small courtyard the temple holds the samadhis, the sacred resting places, of the great souls who lived and served here: Lokanath Goswami who founded it, Narottam Das Thakur his disciple, and Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur who built the present temple, along with the samadhis of other Vaishnavas. To sit quietly among them, under the old trees of the courtyard, is to feel the living presence of the saints of Braj, and it is this that gives the temple its deep, contemplative peace.

Timings and aarti

The temple is open on all days for morning and evening darshan, with a break in the afternoon, and there is no entry fee. The Mangala Aarti, the first worship of the day, is held earlier in summer and a little later in winter. The table gives the timings.

Radha Gokulananda Temple timings, as supplied. Reconfirm on the day.

How to reach Radha Gokulananda Temple

The temple stands at Keshi Ghat in old Vrindavan, on the Parikrama Marg near the Yamuna, between Kesi Ghat and the Radha Raman temple, about 12 to 15 km from Mathura, roughly forty minutes by road. Its full address is Keshi Ghat, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh 281121. A private car with a guide is the easiest way, carrying you to the old-town edge from where the last stretch through the narrow lanes is a short walk, as cars cannot enter the innermost gullies. Autos and e-rickshaws run from across Vrindavan to Kesi Ghat; agree the fare before you sit. The table sets out the ways.

Ways to reach Radha Gokulananda Temple. A private car with a short walk is the easiest.

The nearest railhead is Mathura Junction, about 12 to 15 km away, and Vrindavan has a small local station; the nearest major airport is Delhi, about three and a half hours, with Agra closer for some. Our Mathura Junction to Vrindavan distance guide covers that leg, and to have a car meet your train and bring you to the old town, book our Mathura Vrindavan taxi service.

Radha Gokulananda and nearby

Standing on the Parikrama Marg by the Yamuna, Radha Gokulananda is surrounded by some of Vrindavan's most sacred places, all within an easy walk. The beautiful Kesi Ghat with its Yamuna aarti is beside it, the Radha Raman temple is next door, the Radha Damodar temple and the grove of Nidhivan and Seva Kunj are close, and the beloved Banke Bihari temple is a short way into the lanes. The table gives the short distances.

Distances from Radha Gokulananda Temple to nearby places. Approximate; verify on the day.

You will find these and the rest of the old town in our places to visit in Mathura Vrindavan guide.

When to visit

The cool months of October to March are the pleasantest for old Vrindavan, easy for the walking through the lanes, and of the day the early morning, for the Mangala Aarti, and the evening are the sweetest hours. Being a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple, it keeps Gaura Purnima, the appearance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, with special devotion, along with Janmashtami, Radhashtami and the holy month of Kartik. You will find the calendar in our Braj festivals guide and the seasons in full in our best time to visit Mathura Vrindavan guide.

Tips for your visit

• Come at dawn for the Mangala Aarti, or in the evening, for the calmest darshan.

• Do not miss the Govardhan shila and the samadhis of the saints in the courtyard.

• Wear modest, respectful clothing and footwear you can slip off easily.

• Keep decorum and ask before photographing inside.

• Pair it with Radha Raman, Kesi Ghat and the other Goswami temples for a full old-town tour.

The honest bit

Honest words on Radha Gokulananda, from one born in Braj. This is a modest, ancient temple, not a grand marble one, and that is its beauty; come for its history and its stillness, not for spectacle, and you will be richly rewarded. Darshan is free, and there is no VIP pass here or anywhere in Braj, so keep your money in your pocket. The temple sits deep in the old-town lanes near Kesi Ghat, so a car brings you only to the edge and the last stretch is walked; wear easy footwear and go gently. If you wish to stay near the old town, see our Mathura Vrindavan hotels and our guide on where to stay in Vrindavan. Come with an open heart, sit a while among the samadhis, and stand before the shila of Mahaprabhu; it is a darshan that stays with you.

Why Experience My India is the right choice

I was born in Gokul in the Mathura district, and the lanes of old Vrindavan are my own home ground. 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 visit to Radha Gokulananda is the car to the right edge of the old town and the short walk shown, the temple placed in the right order with Radha Raman, Kesi Ghat and the Goswami temples, the story of Lokanath Goswami, Narottam Das and the shila of Mahaprabhu told on the ground, and honest guidance without touts or pressure. One clear fare, and never a charge for free darshan.

Tip from Gurudutt: come to Radha Gokulananda in the quiet of the early morning, for the Mangala Aarti, when the old courtyard is still and cool. Take darshan of the deities, then sit a while among the samadhis of the saints and before the Govardhan shila of Mahaprabhu, and let the history settle in. Afterwards, step out to Kesi Ghat beside it for the Yamuna, and on to Radha Raman next door and the other Goswami temples. Taken slowly, this modest shrine gives you the very heart of old Vrindavan. It is among the darshans I love most in the holy town.

Plan your visit to Radha Gokulananda Temple

Tell me your dates and your group, and I will build your visit to Radha Gokulananda into your Vrindavan and Braj trip, the temple in the right order with Kesi Ghat, Radha Raman and the Goswami temples, with a car and a guide born on this soil, for one clear price. Our three day Mathura Vrindavan pilgrimage tour takes in the old town and the wider Braj, and you can browse all our Mathura Vrindavan Tour Packages too. 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.