Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, also called ISKCON Vrindavan, is a white marble temple in the Raman Reti area of Vrindavan. It was built in 1975 and is dedicated to Krishna and Balaram. Three altars hold the deities, and the day is marked by aarti, kirtan and Bhagavad Gita classes. Inside the complex you will also find the Samadhi of Srila Prabhupada, a museum, book stalls and Govinda's vegetarian restaurant. Entry is free. The temple is a place of worship first, so plan on prayer, listening to the chanting and a short walk through the grounds rather than a long sightseeing circuit.
Why the temple stands in Raman Reti
Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir was built on the wish of Srila Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which he founded in 1966. He wanted a temple for the brothers Krishna and Balaram in the same town where, in the tradition, they spent their childhood. The temple was completed in 1975 in the Raman Reti area of Vrindavan.
It is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple, and its teaching rests on the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana and the Vedic scriptures. The temple draws devotees from Delhi and from many other countries, and it is one of the major ISKCON temples in the world.
The marble temple and its three altars
The main temple is built entirely of white marble. You enter through a marble archway, and the temple is built around a tamal tree. In its shade, women thread necklaces of dried fruit to offer to the deity.
There are three altars. One holds Krishna and Balaram, the central deities of the temple. Another holds Gaura Nitai. The third holds Radha Shyamasundara, together with Lalita and Vishakha. The deities are richly decorated, and darshan is the main reason most people come.
The floors are marble, the paths are clear, and the premises are kept clean.
Aarti, kirtan and prasad
Daily worship is the heart of a visit. Aarti is held through the day, from the early morning Mangala Aarti to the evening Sandhya Aarti, and a Raj Bhog aarti is part of the schedule too. Hare Krishna kirtan carries through the temple, with devotees singing and dancing in front of the altars. Bhagavad Gita classes are also held every day.
Prasad is distributed to devotees, and sweets and khichdi prasad are among the offerings. A small museum and the Samadhi of Srila Prabhupada add a quieter side to the visit. The museum explains the life, teachings and devotional traditions of Krishna consciousness.
What else is in the complex
The grounds hold about thirty departments. They include a guesthouse, a welcome center, the Samadhi museum, ten book stalls, a bakery, a restaurant, a broadcast studio and a residential ashram for brahmacharis. The Deity department engages more than a hundred devotees in daily service.
Govinda's restaurant serves a fully vegetarian, sattvic menu without onion or garlic. A cafeteria also operates inside, where prices run a little higher. The temple is known as comfortable for foreign visitors, families and older travellers. The entrance, seating, restroom and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
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Is there an entry fee for ISKCON Vrindavan?
No, entry to Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir is free.
How long do you need at the temple?
Plan 45 to 90 minutes for darshan, some time with the kirtan and the museum. The temple is a place of worship rather than a large monument, so the visit is fairly short.
Is there vegetarian food at the temple?
Yes. Govinda's restaurant inside the complex serves a fully vegetarian sattvic menu without onion or garlic. Prasad is also distributed to devotees.
Is the temple wheelchair accessible?
The entrance, seating, restroom and parking lot are all wheelchair accessible. The temple can be crowded, so plan for walking and standing.
What is the best time to visit?
Weekdays outside festival periods are the most comfortable. Early morning suits the first aarti of the day. Weekends and festivals are very crowded.
