Pili Pokhar: The Yellow Pond of Barsana

Pili Pokhar, the yellow pond, lies in Barsana across from the Radha Rani temple. In the tradition its water turned golden when Radha washed the bridal turmeric from her hands here. It is also called Priya Kunda.

Pili Pokhar lies in the village of Barsana, just across the road from the Radha Rani temple on the hill, on the Barsana parikrama. Distances are approximate.

Pili means yellow and pokhar means a pond, so Pili Pokhar is the yellow pond, named for its golden water, which in the tradition turned yellow from the turmeric Radha washed from her hands.

Pili Pokhar is famous as the yellow pond of Barsana, whose water turned golden, in the tradition, when Radha washed the bridal turmeric from her hands here, a tender moment of her story. Pilgrims bathe here.

In the tradition Pili Pokhar turned yellow when Radha, her hands stained with the bridal turmeric Yashoda had applied wishing her as a daughter-in-law, washed her hands here on her way home to Barsana.

In the tradition Yashoda, charmed by Radha and wishing her as Krishna's bride, applied bridal turmeric to her hands; on her way home Radha, shy of her yellow hands, washed them in this pond, turning its water golden, so it became Pili Pokhar.

Yes, Pili Pokhar is also called Priya Kunda, the dear one's pond and Piyala Sarovar. It lies in Barsana, ringed by pilu trees, across from the Radha Rani temple.

Yes, Pili Pokhar lies just across the road from the Radha Rani temple at Barsana, one of the most accessible of the town's sacred sites, a natural stop coming down from the hill.

Yes, for its tender haldi story and its easy place by the Radha Rani temple, it is a rewarding stop on the Barsana parikrama. Experience My India tells the story on the spot.

Yes, pilgrims bathe in the waters of Pili Pokhar, the yellow pond of Barsana. Reconfirm the current state of the ghat and water on the day. Experience My India advises.

In the tradition Mother Yashoda, charmed by Radha's beauty and grace when she visited Nandgaon, longed to have her as Krishna's bride and so, by the old custom of a mother-in-law, lovingly applied bridal turmeric to Radha's hands.

The haldi story holds a betrothal felt but unspoken: Yashoda's turmeric is a mother-in-law's loving claim of Radha as a bride for Krishna and Radha's shy washing of her hands is the maiden's tender modesty, a sweet foreshadowing of the divine union.

In the tradition Radha, a young girl of Barsana, was shy at what her family and the people of the town might think on seeing the bridal turmeric on her hands, betraying Yashoda's wish and so she hurried to wash them at this pond.

Pilu trees, sometimes called toothbrush trees, ring Pili Pokhar and the Bhakti Ratnakara remembers the pond as a place where Radha and Krishna sported with their friends on the pretext of gathering pilu fruits. Pili Pokhar is also called Piyala Sarovar for them.

In the tradition, as the Bhakti Ratnakara tells, Radha and Krishna with their friends would enjoy their sporting pastimes around this pond on the pretext of gathering the pilu fruits of the trees that ring it, another of the love-pastimes the spot remembers.

No, they are different. Pili Pokhar is Barsana's own yellow pond, with the haldi story; the famous Radha Kund is at Govardhan, far away, with its own pastime. Do not confuse the two.

Devotees find the haldi story dear because it is so human and tender: a mother's loving wish, a maiden's shyness, the bridal turmeric and the yellow pond, a sweet, intimate moment in the great love-story of Radha and Krishna.

Pili Pokhar is one of the tender spots of Barsana, the home of Radha, holding the moment of the bridal turmeric, set right by her temple, part of the living story of Radha that the whole town keeps.

Pili Pokhar is an open sacred pond, accessible through the day; any nearby shrine keeps its own hours. Reconfirm on the day. Mornings are calmest.

October to March for pleasant weather. Radhashtami, Radha's appearance day and the Holi season are the loveliest, when Barsana is radiant, though busiest. Summers are very hot.

No, Pili Pokhar is mostly free, with voluntary donations. It is an open sacred pond by the Radha Rani temple at Barsana.

Allow about 15 to 20 minutes for the pond and its story, as it is small and close to the Radha Rani temple. Experience My India sequences it on the Barsana parikrama.

On ordinary days it is calm, busier at Radhashtami and in the Holi season when Barsana is full. Being by the Radha Rani temple, it shares the town's busy days. Mornings are calmest.

Yes, it is easy and accessible, right across from the Radha Rani temple, a gentle stop on the parikrama. Experience My India arranges comfortable transport and assistance for elderly pilgrims.

Yes, the warm haldi story, of the bridal turmeric and Radha's shyness, is lovely for families, especially those who know the wedding custom and the pond is easy to visit. Experience My India tells it simply.

A guide adds much, telling the tender haldi story on the spot, where it lands warmly and the pilu-fruit pastime. Experience My India provides Braj-born guides.

Pili Pokhar lies in Barsana, just across the road from the Radha Rani temple, reached easily on the parikrama. Experience My India arranges transport to Barsana and a guide.

Pili Pokhar is just across the road from the Radha Rani temple at Barsana, very close, a natural stop coming down from the hill. Experience My India sequences it.

Pili Pokhar, at Barsana, is about 42 to 45 km from Mathura, roughly a 90 minute drive. Distances are approximate; Experience My India arranges the route.

The nearest major railhead is Mathura Junction, about 45 km away. From there, taxis reach Barsana. Experience My India arranges the transfer.

Yes, you reach Barsana by car, then Pili Pokhar is a short step across from the Radha Rani temple. Experience My India handles the drive.

Yes, Pili Pokhar is a natural, easy part of the Barsana parikrama, with the Radha Rani temple, Sankari Khor and the hill-sites. Experience My India sequences them.

Yes, Pili Pokhar at Barsana pairs with Prem Sarovar and, along the belt, Sanket and Nandgaon, for the full love-country day. Experience My India sequences them.

Yes, Pili Pokhar and the Barsana-Nandgaon belt fit a one-day trip from Delhi, about 3 hours each way. Experience My India plans the day.

We bring you to Pili Pokhar by the Radha Rani temple, tell the warm haldi story on the spot, the pilu-fruit pastime and fold it into the Barsana parikrama. Our guides are born and raised in Braj.

Yes, the tender haldi story, the bridal turmeric and Radha's shyness, is a delight for families, especially those who know the wedding custom. Experience My India tells it simply for all ages.

That its golden water holds the moment of Radha's bridal turmeric, washed away in shyness, makes Pili Pokhar special, one of the most tender, human spots in the love-story of Barsana.

Yes, at Radhashtami, Radha's appearance day, Pili Pokhar and all Barsana are radiant, making it a beautiful, though busy, time to visit. Experience My India can time your visit.

Yes, Pili Pokhar is an easy, tender stop on a Barsana pilgrimage, right by the Radha Rani temple, on the parikrama. Experience My India sequences the full circuit.

Near Pili Pokhar are the Radha Rani temple, Maan Mandir and Sankari Khor at Barsana, with Prem Sarovar and Sanket out toward Nandgaon. Experience My India sequences them.

In the tradition Pili Pokhar, the yellow pond of Barsana, turned golden when Radha washed the bridal turmeric from her hands here, the turmeric Yashoda had applied wishing her as Krishna's bride.

Pili Pokhar is the yellow pond of Barsana, across from the Radha Rani temple, whose water turned golden, in the tradition, when Radha washed the bridal turmeric from her hands there. It is also called Priya Kunda.

In the tradition Yashoda, wishing Radha as Krishna's bride, applied bridal turmeric to her hands; on her way home Radha, shy of the yellow stain, washed her hands at Pili Pokhar, turning its water golden.

Pili Pokhar means the yellow pond, from pili, yellow and pokhar, a pond, named for its golden water, which the tradition says turned yellow from the turmeric Radha washed from her hands.

October to March for pleasant weather. Radhashtami and the Holi season, when Barsana is radiant, are the loveliest, though busiest. Summers are very hot.

Pilgrims visit Pili Pokhar to honour the yellow pond where Radha washed her bridal turmeric, in the tradition, to bathe in its waters and on the Barsana parikrama by the Radha Rani temple.