Khadiravan: The Forest of the Bakasura Leela

Khadiravan, now the village of Khayro, is one of the twelve forests of Braj, named for the khadira or acacia tree. In the tradition Krishna, herding his calves here, slew the crane-demon Bakasura, sent by Kansa to kill him.

Khadiravan is the village of Khayro, among the twelve forests of Braj, reached from Mathura or Vrindavan in roughly thirty minutes to an hour. Distances are approximate.

Khadiravan is named for the khadira, a hardy acacia tree that, with the kadamba, once filled the woodland here. Little of that old forest remains today and a village stands in its place.

Khadiravan is famous as the forest where Krishna slew the crane-demon Bakasura, sent by Kansa. The old texts so honour it that they liken visiting Khadiravan to reaching the abode of Vishnu.

In the tradition, as Krishna grazed his calves at Khadiravan, the giant crane-demon Bakasura swallowed him, but Krishna burned within him so that he was disgorged, then tore apart the demon's beak, slaying Bakasura before the cowherd boys.

Krishna slew the crane-demon Bakasura at Khadiravan, in the tradition, while herding his calves, tearing apart the great beak of the demon who had tried to swallow him. Bakasura had been sent by Kansa.

Yes, Khadiravan is one of the twelve forests of Braj, the Dwadasha Vana, honoured on the Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra. Today it is the village of Khayro.

The present name of Khadiravan is Khayro, sometimes Khayara, a village where the old forest of khadira and kadamba once stood. The forest is largely gone, but the leela-site remains.

Yes, for the dramatic Bakasura leela and the merit the texts ascribe to it, though honestly little forest remains and Khayro is rural. Experience My India includes it on a forests-of-Braj route for the devoted.

In the tradition Bakasura was a mighty demon who took the form of a gigantic crane, baka, sent by Kansa to destroy the child Krishna. Krishna slew him at Khadiravan, tearing apart his great beak.

In the tradition the crane-demon Bakasura, sent by Kansa, rushed at the child Krishna as he grazed his calves and swallowed him whole. Krishna burned hot within him until disgorged, then seized and tore apart the demon's beak, slaying him.

Beyond the story, saints read Bakasura, the deceitful crane, as treachery or hypocrisy that would devour the soul, which the Lord, even as a small child, overcomes from within and destroys. The leela shows his protecting power.

In the tradition Kansa, fearing the prophecy that Krishna would slay him, sent a series of demons to kill the child, among them the crane-demon Bakasura at Khadiravan. Each was destroyed by the boy Krishna.

In the tradition the old texts, such as the Adi-Varaha Purana, so honour Khadiravan that they say one who visits it goes at death to Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu. Its merit is held very great for so quiet a forest.

The khadira, a hardy acacia, with the kadamba, once filled the woodland of Khadiravan and gave it its name. Little of that forest remains today and the village of Khayro stands in its place.

Khadiravan's Bakasura leela is one of a chain of demon-slayings across the forests of Braj, with Dhenukasura at Talvan, Vatsasura and others, by which the child Krishna freed the land from the demons Kansa sent.

Yes, honestly, little of the forest of khadira and kadamba survives and Khayro is a rural village. Khadiravan is valued for its Bakasura leela and its merit, not for scenery or grandeur.

The parikrama of Khadiravan is about seven kilometres, for the devoted who wish to walk the whole forest-circuit. Most visitors instead take darshan at the main leela-spot. Experience My India tailors the visit.

Khadiravan's leela-site is open through the day; any shrine keeps hours that vary. Reconfirm on the day. Mornings are calmest at this quiet, rural forest-site.

October to March for pleasant weather, with mornings calmest. The Chaurasi Kos Yatra season brings more pilgrims to the forests. Summers are very hot.

No, Khadiravan's sacred site is mostly free, with voluntary donations. It is an open, rural pilgrimage spot at the village of Khayro.

Allow about 30 minutes for the leela-site, much longer to walk the seven-kilometre parikrama. Experience My India tailors the visit and sequences it with the nearby forests.

No, being rural and off the usual circuit, Khadiravan is quiet, busier only when Chaurasi Kos Yatra groups pass. Mornings are most peaceful.

No, little of the old forest of khadira and kadamba survives and Khayro is a village now. Come for the Bakasura leela and the parikrama, not for woodland.

Yes, for darshan at the main spot, though the full parikrama is long. Experience My India arranges comfortable transport and tailors the visit for elderly pilgrims.

A guide is valuable, since Khadiravan is off the usual circuit, little signposted and the Bakasura leela needs telling. Experience My India provides Braj-born guides.

Khadiravan is the village of Khayro, reached from Mathura or Vrindavan in roughly thirty minutes to an hour by auto or car. Experience My India arranges transport and a guide on a forests-of-Braj route.

Khadiravan, at Khayro, is reached from Vrindavan in roughly thirty minutes to an hour by road, depending on the route. Distances are approximate; Experience My India arranges the journey.

Khadiravan, at Khayro, is reached from Mathura in roughly thirty minutes to an hour by road. Distances are approximate; Experience My India arranges the route.

The nearest major railhead is Mathura Junction. From there, taxis and autos reach Khayro. Experience My India arranges the transfer.

Yes, Khadiravan at Khayro is reached by car or auto, with a short approach to the leela-site. Experience My India handles the drive and the closest approach.

Yes, Khadiravan is visited with the nearby forests on the twelve-van circuit and the Chaurasi Kos Yatra. Experience My India sequences it on a forests-of-Braj route.

Yes, the Khadiravan parikrama is about seven kilometres, for the devoted who wish to circle the whole forest. Most take darshan at the main spot instead. Experience My India tailors the visit.

Yes, Khadiravan and the Braj forests fit a one-day trip from Delhi, about 3 to 3.5 hours each way, though the forests are spread out. Experience My India plans the day.

We include Khadiravan among the twelve forests, tell the dramatic Bakasura leela, find this off-circuit, little-signposted site and tailor the parikrama. Our guides are born and raised in Braj.

Yes, the dramatic story of the giant crane that swallowed Krishna and could not hold him is exciting for families. Experience My India tells it simply and tailors the visit for all ages.

That Krishna here slew the crane-demon Bakasura and that the texts liken visiting it to reaching Vishnu's abode, makes Khadiravan special, among the twelve forests of Braj, for all that little of it survives.

Yes, Khadiravan is a stop on a forests-of-Braj pilgrimage and the Chaurasi Kos Yatra, for the devoted who wish to honour all twelve vans. Experience My India sequences the route.

Yes, the great merit the texts ascribe to Khadiravan and its seven-kilometre parikrama make it especially meaningful for the deeply devoted, beyond the casual visitor. Experience My India tailors the visit.

Near Khadiravan are the other forests of the twelve-van circuit, visited together on the Chaurasi Kos Yatra. Experience My India sequences them on a forests-of-Braj route.

In the tradition Krishna slew the crane-demon Bakasura at Khadiravan, now the village of Khayro, one of the twelve forests of Braj, while herding his calves. Bakasura had been sent by Kansa.

Khadiravan, one of the twelve forests of Braj, is linked to the Bakasura leela, where Krishna slew the giant crane-demon sent by Kansa. Today it is the village of Khayro.

In the tradition the crane-demon Bakasura swallowed the child Krishna at Khadiravan, but Krishna burned within him until disgorged, then tore apart the demon's beak, slaying him before the cowherd boys.

The present name of Khadiravan is Khayro, a village where the old forest of khadira and kadamba once stood. The forest is largely gone, but the Bakasura leela-site remains.

October to March for pleasant weather, with mornings calmest. The Chaurasi Kos Yatra season brings more pilgrims to the forests. Summers are very hot.

Pilgrims visit Khadiravan to honour where Krishna slew the crane-demon Bakasura, for the great merit the texts ascribe to it and on the twelve-forest pilgrimage of Braj.