Thakur Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple, Vrindavan — Attraction in Uttar Pradesh

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The one thing that I did not like at all was the temple service. Since even after the information that devotees would be crowded for visiting the temple but still they did not make any adequate arrangements to control the crowd. There was no special arrangement for the smooth sight of the devotees. Those servicemen who were appointed for the devotees inside the temple were abusing their own devotees. Bankey Bihari Temple

Location:    Raman Reti, Vrindavan

Built by:    Swami Haridas

Built in:    1864

Dedicated to:    Lord Bankey Bihari (a form of Lord Krishna)

Attraction:    One of the most famous temples

How to reach:    One can easily reach Banke Bihari Temple by taking local Buses, Rickshaws or by hiring Taxis from Mathura Railway Station

Bankey Bihari Temple is the prime attraction and the highly revered shrine of Vrindavan. In Uttar Pradesh, Vrindavan is a small town that is celebrated for this holy shrine of Lord Krishna. Banke Bihari Mandir is the popular temple amongst the Vaishnavites of India. The present temple was built by Swami Haridas in 1864. Here, Lord Krishna is observed in his phase of childhood. The services offered to the Lord are made in such style, as if, nurturing a small child.

In the phrase Bankey Bihari, the term 'Bankey' suggests 'bent at three places' and 'Bihari refers 'the Supreme enjoyer'. Thus, Bankey Bihari is the benefactor of bliss and pleasure. Lord Bankey Bihari is also known Thakurji, the owner of everything. The black wooden idol of Bankey Bihariji was brought in this temple from Nidhivan by Swami Haridas. The services made to deity is regarded as the 'sewa' of the deity. At that time, Swami Haridas tendered the 'sewa' of Bihariji to Goswami Jagannath.

Ever since, the 'sewa' of Bihariji is performed by the descendants of Goswami. Unlike other temples of the Hindus, this temple doesn't observe the 'Mangal Aarti' that is a kind of wishing good morning to the Lord because the child sleeps till late in the morning. Bihariji is worshipped in a different way, classifying the services into three parts, Shringar, Rajbhog and Shayan respectively. During Shringar, the lord is bathed, dressed and decorated with jewelry. In the forenoon, Thakurji is offered Rajbhog, which is a feast including the best delicacies to satisfy the taste buds of the child. The third sewa is known as 'Shayan' and in this service; Bankey Bihari is made to sleep. This temple opens late in the morning because it is considered that the lord plays at night and gets up late. The divine aura of the shrine makes one to forget all his/her miseries and bestows the eternal bliss.

The only thing that is common throughout the temple is the chant of 'radhe radhe'. The Lord loves the name of 'Radha' that is why the shrine is always reverberated with the chant. The structure of the temple is imbibed from the Rajasthani style of architecture. Even after 150 years, the temple has not lost its charm. In fact, thousands of devotees come to visit this temple everyday.

The festival of 'Janmashtami' (Birthday of Lord Krishna) is celebrated here with full gusto and fervor. The whole temple is festooned with flowers and lights. For the day, the 'darshan' of the deity is not allowed as the Lord is said to be in the womb of her mother. The 'darshan' is allowed only when the clock strikes 12 in the night. During months of Sawan and Phagun, the altar of the Lord is brought out of the main shrine, so that devotees can get the 'darshan' of Bihariji.

Even in the month of Phagun, the temple observes much celebration. On Holi, Bankey Bihari is supposed to play Holi and the whole town of Vrindavan gets submerged in colors. Bankey Bihari Temple is also one of the richest temples of India. People donate huge amounts of money and gifts for the services of the Lord. Bankey Bihari is truly the epitome of devotion, dedication and is a...

The fact that it's a holy place automatically nullifies the need to be rated by anyone. Yet, we should write our reviews to help other devotees who wish to get blessings from lord Krishna and know about the arrangements to reach this mighty place. The one star less is for the administrative flaws that really need a push for the wellbeing of the thousands of people who reach here every day. Following are the views of common people, who literally got squeezed in the crowd today, inside the temple, due to mismanagement and negligence by the authorities. Though there are separate doors for the entry and exit (2 each), the crowd entering from both the doors gets mixed in between and the criss cross to reach the centre for darshan of the deity, ruins one's experience. The people coming from the right entrance and moving towards the centre to exit from the left push the crowd coming from the other side and vice versa. And this churns everyone! The experience gets even worse and difficult for children and elderly. This is not it, after the entry and all the struggle if someone manages to reach the stairs for nearer darshan, the security personnel (who are mere spectators for the mishappening at the centre, just two steps away from them) would push people to force towards the exit, or try to separate the men and women (suddenly trying to save people who already suffered and reached nearer to the deity on their own after passing all the push and pull from the mixed crowd!). There are many temples who get more footfall than they get here, but simple arrangements of proper one way traffic flow makes everything hassle free. This needs to be applied here as well, not just for the experience but for the safety also. As what we saw today (in a non-peak hour and no festival and no holiday day) was just a millimetre away from a stampede. Now about reaching the temple. The vehicles were stopped almost 2.5 km away and everyone was forced to either take another means of commute (electric rickshaw) or walk. Then the footwear was forcefully asked to be dropped a km away from the temple (for the first time visitors- you don't really need to follow this). Other tips for first time visitors: Do not fall into the trap of VIP darshan. They will demand anything between ₹100-₹500 per person and drop you in the end of the entry queue (which is not a big deal to pass) to survive the crowd and hand over the pass to the pandits standing near the stairs to get you the darshan from near. We had the passes in hand and waved towards them to let us near but nobody cared. You really do not need any pass, if you can survive the aggressive crowd and manage to reach the front stairs. Attaching the pictures of the passes which were of no use. The prasad, flowers and garlands (phoolon ki maala) which are being sold for kilometres along the way to the temple, are nowhere being offered to the deity. Whatever you hand over to the pandits (if you manage to reach there) they will simply pass it on to someone standing next to you, or shower everything to the crowd at the centre, WITHOUT OFFERING TO THE DEITY. You will need to walk barefoot for miles to reach the temple and reach your vehicle on your way back, so practice walking if you are not used to it before coming here. There are no signboards or small street (gali) markings. And the security personnel outside the temple (remember, there is no one to manage the crowd inside the temple, but they are everywhere outside showing that they are managing everything) may close any street anytime. So don't depend on the way with which you managed to come in. Instead remember the directions, names of the shops, any possible landmark, with which locals can help you reach...

Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most revered and popular temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. The deity of Banke Bihari, a form of Lord Krishna, is unique, depicted in a Tribhanga (triple-bent) posture. The temple exudes a vibrant spiritual atmosphere, drawing devotees from all corners of the world. Temple Timings: Summer: 7:45 AM – 12:00 PM | 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM Winter: 8:45 AM – 1:00 PM | 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM Please note that darshan (viewing of the deity) is periodically interrupted by curtains drawn every few minutes. This unique practice is believed to protect devotees from the intense gaze of the Lord and also adds to the anticipation of His divine glimpse. The temple can get extremely crowded, especially during weekends, festivals like Janmashtami and Holi, and on Ekadashi, so plan your visit accordingly. Nearby Famous Places to Visit: Vrindavan and its surroundings are dotted with numerous significant religious and historical sites that devotees can explore. Here are some prominent ones with their approximate distances from Shri Banke Bihari Temple: Prem Mandir: This grand temple, known as the "Temple of God's Love," is a stunning architectural marvel dedicated to Radha Krishna and Sita Ram. It is particularly enchanting in the evening with its elaborate light shows. It is approximately 2-3 kilometers from Shri Banke Bihari Temple. ISKCON Temple (Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir): A beautiful and serene temple complex, ISKCON Vrindavan is a significant center for the Hare Krishna movement. It is known for its beautiful deities, kirtans, and spiritual ambiance. It is located around 1.5 - 2 kilometers from the temple. Shri Radha Raman Ji Temple: This ancient temple houses a self-manifested deity of Lord Krishna and is one of the seven most revered temples of Thakur of Vrindavan. It is about 0.6 kilometers from Shri Banke Bihari Temple. Keshi Ghat: Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, Keshi Ghat is a principal bathing place and offers a peaceful setting, especially during sunrise and sunset. It is approximately 1 kilometer away. Nidhivan: A mystical forest believed to be the site of Lord Krishna's nightly Raas Leela with the Gopis. Visitors are not allowed to stay in Nidhivan after the evening Aarti. It is around 1-2 kilometers from the temple. Govind Dev Temple: An impressive Hindu temple dedicated to Govind Dev Ji, a form of Lord Krishna, known for its spiritual atmosphere. It is roughly 1 kilometer from the temple. Travel Tips: Foot/Rickshaw: The lanes around Banke Bihari Temple are narrow, and walking or taking an e-rickshaw or cycle rickshaw is often the best way to explore the nearby attractions. Modest Clothing: It is advisable to wear modest clothing when visiting temples. Valuables: Be mindful of your belongings, especially in crowded areas. Visiting Shri Banke Bihari Temple offers a deeply spiritual experience, and exploring the surrounding sacred sites further enriches the journey through the divine land...