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The Rangaji
Temple, built in 1851 is dedicated
to Lord Ranganatha or Rangaji depicted as Lord Vishnu in his sheshashayi
pose, resting on the coils of the sacred Shesha-nag. The temple built
in the Dravidian style has a tall gopuram (gateway) of six storeys and
a gold - plated Dhwaja stambha, 50 feet high. A water tank and a picturesque
garden lie within the temple enclosure. The annual festival of Jal Vihar
of the presiding deity is performed with great pomp and splendour at the
tank. The temple is also famous for its `Brahmotsdav' celebration in March-April,
more popularly known as the `Rath ka Mela'. The ten day long celebrations
are marked by the pulling of the rath (the chariot car) by the devotees
from the temple to the adjoining gardens.
The Govind Deo Temple was once a magnificent seven storeyed structure
built in the form of a Greek cross. It is said that the Emperor Akbar
donated some of the red sandstone that had been brought for the Red Fort
at Agra, for the construction of this temple. Built at the astronomical
cost of one crore rupees in 1590 by his general Man Singh, the temple
combines western, Hindu and Muslim architectural elements in its structure.
The Shri Krishna-Balram Temple built by the International Society
for Shri Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is one of the most beautiful
temples in Vrindavan today. The principal deities of this temple are Shri
Krishna - Balram and Shri Radha - Shyam Sundar. Adjoining the temple is
the samadhi of Shri Prabhupada, the founder of the ISKCON sect, built
in pure white marble.
Other places of interest include the Sriji Temple, Jugal Kishore Temple,
Kesi Ghat, Lal Babu Temple, Raj Ghat, Meera-Bai Temple, Imli Tal, Kaliya
Ghat, Raman Reti, Varaha Ghat and Chira Ghat.
The Seva Kunj is where Lord Krishna once performed
the Raaslila with Radha-Rani and the gopis and Nidhi Van where the divine
couple rested. The samadhi of Swami Haridas is situated here. |
