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Pilgrim Places Uttar
Pradesh
Pilgrim Places
Baldeo
Balram Temple
Baldeo is 20km south-east of Mathura and
8.5 km south-east of Mahavan on the road to Sadabad. It derives
its name from the famous temple dedicated to Balram, the elder
brother of Lord Krishna. It was built by Shyam Das of Delhi 200
years ago. The main image in the sanctum is that of Baldeo or
Balram with his spouse Revati. Near by is the brick lined tank,
the Kshir Sagar or Ballbhadra Kund, from where the original image
housed in the temple was found. Baldeo is 20km south-east of
Mathura and 8.5 km south-east of Mahavan on the road to Sadabad.
It derives its name from the famous temple dedicated to Balram,
the elder brother of Lord Krishna. It was built by Shyam Das of
Delhi 200 years ago. The main image in the sanctum is that of
Baldeo or Balram with his spouse Revati. Near by is the brick
lined tank, the Kshir Sagar or Ballbhadra Kund, from where the
original image housed in the temple was found.
Pilgrim Places
Barsana
Radha Rani Temple
Barsana, 50 km to the north-west of
Mathura and 19 km north-west of Govardhan, is situated at the
foot of a hill that is named after Brahma.
Barsana was once the home of Radha-Rani, Krishna's beloved and
consort.
Temples dedicated to the divine couple ornament the four
elevations of the hills. The chief among them is the Radha-Rani
Temple, more fondly referred to as the Ladliji Temple. The most
beautiful temple at Barsana, it was built by Raja Bir Singh Ju
Deo of Orchha in 1675. The new marble temple adjoining it is a
later addition.
The other three shrines are the Man Mandir, Dargah and Mor-Kutir
temples. The area between the hill housing the Radha-Rani Temple
and the adjoning one, is known as th Sankari-Khor. This is the
venur of the annual fair held in the month of Bhadon
(July-August).
The birth anniversary of Radha-Rani is celebrated on the ninth
day of the bright half of Bhadrapad (July-August) at the
Mor-Kutir Temple which was built about 300 years ago.
Women celebrated the occasion by giving laddus to the peacock-to
symbolize the serving of sweets by Radha to Lord Krishna. Most of
the monuments and edifices here have deteriorated with the advent
of time .
Still a few tanks do survive and can be seen, including the Prem
Sarovar, Roop sagar, Jal Mahal and the Bhanokhar Tank.
Barsana is also famous for its 'Lathmar' Holi-celebration of the
festivl of colour that are unique to this town.
Pilgrim Places
Goverdhan
Goverdhan Parvat
Govardhan is situated 26 km west of
Mathura on the state highway to Deeg. A famous place of Hindu
pilgrimage, Govardhan is located on a narrow sandstone hill known
as Giriraj which is about 8 km in length. The young Lord Krishna
is said to have held Giriraj up on the tip of a finger for 7 days
and nights to shield the people of Braj from the deluge of rain
sent down by Lord Indra. Govardhan is set along the edge of a
large masonry tank known as the Mansi Ganga, which is believed to
have been brought into existence by the operation of the divine
will. See Your AD Here Its enclosues were built by Raja Bhagwan
Das of Amer in 1637 and embellished by Raja Man Singh, who built
a long flight of steps leading up, from the end of the tank.
Close by is the famous red sandstone temple of Haridev and the
kusum sarovar with exquisitely carved chhatris-the centaphs of
the members of the royal family of Bharatpur, who perished whilst
fighting against the British in 1825. Towards the south is the
beautiful chhatri of Raja Surajmal of Bhartpur. Fine
frescoes-illuminating the life of Surajmal, vividly depict darbar
and hunting scenes, royal processions and wars.
Pilgrim Places
Nandgaon
Nandraj Temple
Nandgaon lies 8.5 km north of Barsana
on the metalled road to Mathura (56 km). According to tradition,
it was the home of Shri Krishna`s foster father, Nand. On the top
of the hill is the spacious temple of Nand Rai, built by the Hat
ruler Roop Singh. The other temples here are dedicated to
Narsingha, Gopinath, Nritya Gopal, Girdhari, Nand Nandan, and
Yasodha Nandan, which is located half way up the hill.
A little beyond is the Pan Sarovar, a large lake with masonry
ghats along its sides. Legend has it , that this was the place
where Shri Krishna used to take his cows for water.Not far away
is the Kadamb grove called Udhoji- ka - Kyar.The spacious temple
to Nand Rai built by the Jat Ruler Roop Singh is located on a
hill.
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