Raskhan Samadhi, Mahavan Gokul: The Tomb of the Muslim Poet Who Loved Krishna, Story, Timings and Complete Guide

Key takeaways

• Raskhan Samadhi is the tomb of the poet Raskhan, between Gokul and Mahavan near Raman Reti.

• Raskhan was a Muslim poet of Pashtun origin who became a great devotee of Krishna.

• He wrote in Braj Bhasha, works such as Prem Vatika and Sujan Raskhan, on the love of Krishna.

• He was initiated by Shri Vitthalnath Ji at Gokul and lived in Braj until 1628.

• The samadhi is a green garden, cherished as a place of shared devotion, restored in 2023.

• It is open throughout the day and free; a private car is the easiest way.

I am Gurudutt, born in Gokul in the Mathura district, guiding pilgrims through Braj since 2018, more than 50,000 of them. In a quiet, green corner of my own home country, between the villages of Gokul and Mahavan and close to the soft sands of Raman Reti, there rests one of the most moving souls of all Braj: Raskhan, the poet whose love for Krishna leapt across every boundary of birth and faith. His samadhi, shaded by old trees and set in a garden, is a place where Hindu and Muslim, and every kind of seeker, come together in shared devotion. Here is everything for your visit, told by someone from this soil: who Raskhan was, his poetry and his love for Braj, the samadhi itself, 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.

Who was Raskhan

Raskhan, whose given name is remembered as Syed Ibrahim, was a Muslim poet of Pashtun descent, born around the year 1548 into a prosperous family near Delhi. His pen name, Raskhan, means a mine or treasure of rasa, the very nectar of divine love, and he earned it. In his youth, the story goes, his heart was caught in worldly love, until he beheld the beauty of Krishna and his whole longing turned, in an instant, to the Lord of Braj. It is told that he once travelled with his Sufi preceptor and, overcome, fell unconscious and was granted a vision of Shri Krishna; from that day he could not leave.

Leaving his old life behind, Raskhan came to Braj and was initiated by Shri Vitthalnath Ji, the son of Vallabhacharya, at Gokul, entering the Vallabh tradition of loving service. Thereafter he lived his days between Vrindavan, Gokul and Mahavan, immersed in the worship of Krishna, accepted with love among the Vaishnavas of Braj despite his different birth. In him, the mystical longing of the Sufi and the sweet devotion of the Vaishnava met and became one.

Raskhan's poetry and his love for Braj

Raskhan poured his love into Braj Bhasha, the tongue of this land, and his verses are treasured across Braj to this day. His known works include the Prem Vatika, the little garden of love, along with Sujan Raskhan, the Danlila and the Astayam, gathered together as the Raskhan Rachnavali. In them he sings the beauty of Krishna's form, the glory of Braj, and the divine play of Radha and Krishna, with a sweetness that has kept him beloved for four centuries.

His most famous verse is a savaiya of pure longing, in which he prays that in whatever form he is next born, he may only remain near Krishna and his Braj: if born a human, to live among the cowherds of Gokul; if an animal, to be a cow in the herd of Nanda; if a stone, to be part of the very Govardhan hill that Krishna lifted on his finger, which you can read of in our Giriraj Govardhan guide; and if a bird, to nest upon a kadamba branch by the bank of the Yamuna. In that single verse lies the whole heart of Raskhan, and the whole heart of Braj.

The Samadhi at Mahavan

Raskhan left his body in Braj in the year 1628, and his samadhi, his tomb, was raised here in the land he loved. It lies today in a peaceful, green and forested area between the settlements of Gokul and Mahavan, on the old Gokul-Mahavan road, near the sacred sands of Raman Reti and to the northern side of the Yamuna, with its address at Mahaban Khadar, Gokul. It is a quiet garden of large shaded trees, flowering plants and birdsong, with the samadhi at its heart and a verse of Raskhan inscribed at the place. Close by stands the tomb of the poetess Taj Bibi, another devotee-poet of Krishna, and the whole site was lovingly restored in 2023. It is, above all, a place of shared devotion, where the memory of a Muslim who loved Krishna beyond all measure draws seekers of every kind.

Timings and darshan

Raskhan Samadhi is an open garden site, so it may be visited through the day, and there is no entry fee. As it lies out among the fields and trees between Gokul and Mahavan, the cool hours are the pleasantest. The table gives the general pattern.

Raskhan Samadhi timings. Approximate; verify on the day.

How to reach Raskhan Samadhi

Raskhan Samadhi lies about 15 km southeast of Mathura, roughly forty minutes by road, on the old Gokul-Mahavan road between the two towns, in the infancy country of Krishna by the Yamuna. A private car is much the easiest way, carrying you to the garden and waiting while you take darshan, with only a short walk from the road. Autos and shared jeeps run from Gokul and Mahavan for those on a budget. The table sets out the ways.

Ways to reach Raskhan Samadhi. A private car is the easiest.

The nearest railhead is Mathura Junction, about 15 km away, and the nearest major airport is Delhi, about three and a half hours, with Agra closer for some. Our Mathura Vrindavan Gokul Barsana map shows how Gokul and Mahavan sit within Braj.

Raskhan Samadhi and nearby

The samadhi sits in the heart of the Gokul and Mahavan country, where Krishna spent his infancy, so it joins easily with the loved sites all around. The ancient Chaurasi Khamba at Mahavan, the eighty-four-pillared house of Nanda Maharaj, is close, the riverside Brahmand Ghat, where Yashoda saw the universe in the infant Krishna's mouth, is nearby, and the Chintaharan Mahadev temple, the Shiva who removes worry, is a short way off, with the Gokulnath temple and the ghats of Gokul beyond. The table gives the short distances.

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

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

When to visit

The cool months of October to March are much the best for Gokul and Mahavan, pleasant for the road and the garden, while the summer is hot by the river. Gokul, the home of the infant Krishna, keeps Janmashtami and the Nandotsav and the Annakut with great joy, and its Mallayuddh and boat festivals draw pilgrims, so a visit timed to a festival is a rich one. 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 early morning or late afternoon, when the garden is cool and quiet.

• Read a little of Raskhan's poetry before you go; it deepens the visit.

• Wear modest clothing and easy footwear, and carry water in the warmer months.

• Keep the quiet decorum of the place, which is a resting place of a saint.

• Pair it with Raman Reti, Chaurasi Khamba and the Gokul ghats for a full Gokul round.

The honest bit

Honest words on Raskhan Samadhi, from one born in Gokul. This is a quiet garden tomb, not a grand temple, and its treasure is its peace and its story rather than any spectacle; come for that, and to honour a great lover of Krishna, and you will be moved. Entry is free, and there is no ticket or VIP pass; keep your money in your pocket. It sits a little out on the Gokul-Mahavan road, so a car that waits saves you the local fares and carries you on to the Gokul sites. If you wish to stay near the infancy country of Krishna, see our Mathura Vrindavan hotels and our guide on where to stay in Vrindavan. Come with an open heart, sit a while under the trees, and remember the poet whose love knew no boundary; it is a gentle, lasting darshan.

Why Experience My India is the right choice

I was born in Gokul in the Mathura district, and this Gokul-Mahavan country is quite literally my 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 Raskhan Samadhi is the door to door car and the fair fare set in advance, the samadhi placed in the right order with Raman Reti and the Gokul sites, the beautiful story of Raskhan and his poetry told on the ground, and honest guidance without touts or pressure. One clear fare, and never a charge for free darshan.

Tip from Gurudutt: give the Gokul-Mahavan country an unhurried morning, and let Raskhan Samadhi be a quiet, reflective pause within it. Sit a while under the old trees, read or recall a line of Raskhan, and feel how a heart from far away came home to Braj. Then go on to the sands of Raman Reti and the ancient house of Nanda at Mahavan, and down to the Gokul ghats on the Yamuna. Taken slowly, this gentle garden gives you the very soul of Braj, that love alone is the true faith. It is a darshan I hold especially dear, being from this soil.

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Plan your visit to Raskhan Samadhi

Tell me your dates and your group, and I will build your visit to Raskhan Samadhi into your Gokul and Braj trip, the samadhi in the right order with Raman Reti, Mahavan and the ghats, with a car and a guide born on this very soil, for one clear price. Our two day Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan, Nandgaon and Barsana tour covers Gokul, 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.