Kumudvan: The Lily Forest, Smallest of the Twelve

Kumudvan, now Kudaravan near Talvan, is the smallest of the twelve forests of Braj, named for the kumud or water-lily that filled its kund. In the tradition Krishna and the cowherd boys played here and the sage Kapila did austerities by the kund.

Kumudvan is the village of Kudaravan, about two miles west of Talvan, near Mathura, one of the twelve forests of Braj. Distances are approximate.

Kumudvan is named for the kumud, the water-lily, which in Krishna's time grew in abundance in the forest's kund. The boys would make garlands of these lily flowers in the tradition.

Kumudvan is famed as the smallest and one of the gentlest of the twelve forests of Braj, the lily forest where Krishna and the cowherd boys played by the kund and the sage Kapila did austerities.

Yes, in the tradition Kumudvan is the smallest of the twelve forests of Braj, with a parikrama of only about a kilometre. It is a quiet, tender forest-site, now the village of Kudaravan.

The present name of Kumudvan is Kudaravan, a village near Talvan. The ancient forest is gone, but its kund and the small Kapila shrine remain on the twelve-forest pilgrimage.

Yes, for its gentle, tender mood and the lily kund, though it is the smallest and quietest forest, now a village. Experience My India includes it on a forests-of-Braj route, paired with Talvan.

The kund at Kumudvan is called Kumudini Kund, Padma Kund or Vihar Kund, where the water-lilies grew and Krishna sported with the cowherd boys. The texts say a bath there bestows the knowledge of the scriptures.

Yes, Kumudvan is one of the twelve forests of Braj, the Dwadasha Vana, lying west of Talvan, honoured on the Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra. Today it is the village of Kudaravan.

Kumud means the water-lily, the flower that filled the kund of Kumudvan in Krishna's time and gave the forest its name. The boys made garlands of these kumudini lilies in the tradition.

In the tradition Krishna, Balarama and the cowherd boys wandered the delightful forest of Kumudvan grazing the cows, sported in the lily kund and made garlands of kumudini flowers. Krishna also sported there, unseen, with Radha and the gopis.

In the tradition the sage Kapila did austerities and worshipped the Lord on the bank of the kund at Kumudvan and a small shrine of Kapila stands there, the deity only about a foot high.

In the tradition, as told in the Varaha Purana, one who bathes in the Padma Kund at Kumudvan acquires the knowledge of the Vedic scriptures. The kund is the heart of this small, tender forest.

Kumudvan is the smallest forest, of lilies, a little kund and a tiny shrine, with the soft play of Krishna and the cowherd boys. It has none of the grandeur of the great temples, only a sweet, gentle calm.

The kumud or water-lily grew in abundance in the kund of Kumudvan in Krishna's time, giving the forest its name. In the tradition the cowherd boys decorated one another with garlands of these lily flowers.

In the tradition Krishna sometimes, unseen by the cowherd boys, sported in the lily kund of Kumudvan with Radha, Lalita, Vishakha and the other gopis, so the small forest holds a tender memory of their play.

Yes, honestly, Kumudvan is much diminished: the ancient forest is gone, Kudaravan is a village and it is the smallest of the twelve forests. It is valued for its gentle mood and the kund, not for grandeur.

Its smallness and quiet, the lily kund and the tiny Kapila shrine, make Kumudvan a tender, reflective stop, away from the crowds, on a forests-of-Braj pilgrimage. Mornings are most peaceful.

Kumudvan's sites are open through the day; any shrine keeps hours that vary. Reconfirm on the day. Mornings are calmest at this small, quiet forest-site.

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

No, Kumudvan's sacred sites are mostly free, with voluntary donations. It is an open, rural pilgrimage spot at the village of Kudaravan.

Allow about 20 to 30 minutes for the kund and the Kapila shrine, as the forest is small. It pairs easily with Talvan. Experience My India sequences them.

No, being the smallest and most rural forest, Kumudvan is quiet, busier only when Chaurasi Kos Yatra groups pass. Mornings are most peaceful. Its calm is its charm.

No, the ancient forest is gone and Kudaravan is a village now. Kumudvan lives in its kund and the small Kapila shrine, so come for those and the gentle mood, not for woodland.

Yes, the site is small and easily seen, though village paths are uneven. Experience My India arranges comfortable transport and a guide to ease the visit for elderly pilgrims.

A guide is helpful, since this smallest forest is easy to miss and little signposted. Experience My India provides Braj-born guides who know Kudaravan and the lily kund.

Kumudvan is the village of Kudaravan, about two miles west of Talvan near Mathura, reached by taxi or auto. Experience My India arranges transport and a guide, paired with Talvan.

Kumudvan, at Kudaravan, is about two miles west of Talvan, so the two small forests are easily visited together on a forests-of-Braj day. Distances are approximate.

Kumudvan, at Kudaravan, is a short drive from Mathura, among the forests near the city. Distances are approximate; Experience My India arranges the route.

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

Yes, Kumudvan at Kudaravan is reached by car or auto, with a short walk to the kund and shrine. Experience My India handles the drive and the closest approach.

Yes, Kumudvan and Talvan are close, the two small forests west of Mathura, naturally visited together. Experience My India sequences them.

Yes, Kumudvan is one of the twelve forests honoured on the Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra. Experience My India can include it on a forests-of-Braj route.

Yes, Kumudvan and the Mathura-area forests fit a one-day Braj trip from Delhi, about 3 to 3.5 hours each way. Experience My India plans the day.

We include Kumudvan among the twelve forests, find this smallest and easily-missed forest, tell its lily-kund leela and pair it with Talvan. Our guides are born and raised in Braj.

Yes, the gentle story of Krishna and the boys making lily garlands by the kund is sweet for families. Experience My India tells it simply and tailors the short, easy visit for all ages.

That it is the smallest and gentlest of the twelve forests, the lily forest where Krishna played by the kund and Kapila did austerities, makes Kumudvan special, a tender pause on the forest pilgrimage.

Yes, Kumudvan, close to Talvan and Madhuvan, is an easy stop on a forests-of-Braj pilgrimage, the smallest of the twelve vans. Experience My India sequences the route.

Yes, its smallness and rural calm, the lily kund and the tiny shrine, make Kumudvan a tender, reflective stop away from the crowds. Mornings are most peaceful. Experience My India plans an unhurried visit.

Near Kumudvan are Talvan and Madhuvan, with Khadiravan among the forests not far off. Experience My India sequences them on a forests-of-Braj day.

Kumudvan, now Kudaravan near Talvan, is the smallest of the twelve forests of Braj, with a parikrama of only about a kilometre. It is named for the kumud or water-lily that filled its kund.

Kumudvan, one of the twelve forests of Braj, is named after the kumud or water-lily that grew in abundance in its kund in Krishna's time. Today it is the village of Kudaravan.

The present name of Kumudvan is Kudaravan, a village near Talvan. The ancient forest is gone, but its lily kund and a small Kapila shrine remain on the twelve-forest pilgrimage.

In the tradition the sage Kapila did austerities and worshipped the Lord on the bank of the kund at Kumudvan and a small shrine of Kapila stands there today, the deity about a foot high.

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

Pilgrims visit Kumudvan as the smallest and gentlest of the twelve forests, the lily forest where Krishna played by the kund, on the twelve-forest pilgrimage of Braj. It is a tender, quiet stop.