India GOKusum Sarovar, Govardhan: the painted cenotaphs on the parikrama
Kusum Sarovar is a sandstone bathing tank on the Govardhan parikrama, between Mansi Ganga and Radha Kund, with three eighteenth-century cenotaphs of the Bharatpur rulers above it. It is open 6:00–18:00 and entry is free. It is at its best early in the morning and late in the afternoon, within those hours.
Braj keeps its finest stonework on this bank. Around a hundred and forty metres of sandstone ghats (the stepped banks that carry you down to the water) run along each side of the square tank, and on a terrace of the same length along one side stand three chhatris: domed pavilions raised as cenotaphs for the Bharatpur ruler Suraj Mal and his queens Kishori and Hansiya, put up by his son Jawahar Singh in the eighteenth century. Under the domes the ceilings still hold painted Radha-Krishna scenes and court scenes, and the pierced screens are cut as finely as anything in the region. It stands on the Govardhan parikrama route, free, roughly 6:00–18:00.
Painted ceilings inside eighteenth-century cenotaphs, best at sunrise or sunset
Opening hours
Official hours: incredibleindia.gov.in · checked 28 September 2026
Why Kusum Sarovar is famous
Kusum means flower, and the tank is named for the flowers that surround it. Tradition holds that Radha came to this grove on the pretext of picking flowers for her friends, and met Krishna here in secret. Pilgrims walking the parikrama, the circuit of Govardhan Hill, stop here to take a dip in the tank.
The tank itself has a long building history. According to Incredible India, it began as a natural pond; Raja Veer Singh Deo Bundela built it into a stone reservoir, and the Jat ruler Suraj Mal of Bharatpur restored the tank and its gardens. In the eighteenth century his son Jawahar Singh raised the sandstone cenotaphs (chhatris) for Suraj Mal and his queens Kishori and Hansiya. The site is a state-protected monument of Uttar Pradesh.
What to see
Braj keeps its finest stonework on this bank.
- The ghats. Around 140 metres of stepped sandstone banks run along each side of the square tank, carrying you down to the water.
- The chhatris. On a terrace of about 460 feet along one side stand the domed cenotaphs. Under the domes the ceilings still hold painted scenes of Radha and Krishna and of court life.
- The stone screens. The pierced jali screens are cut as finely as anything in the region; look at them against the light.
- Narada Kund. A small tank nearby associated with the sage Narada, linked by tradition to his Bhakti Sutras.
- Birds. Some hover over the water in front of the pavilions; others feed in the shallow margins and wet fields on the Radha Kund side.
The tank is a sacred bathing place as well as a monument: follow the lead of the pilgrims on the steps.
Timings and entry
Incredible India gives the hours as 6:00–18:00, and Wikipedia lists the same hours for every day. Entry is free. Come at opening for the early light, or in the late afternoon and stay until closing.
👣 How to get to Kusum Sarovar
Kusum Sarovar is in Govardhan, Mathura district, on the parikrama road between Mansi Ganga and Radha Kund.
- By train
The nearest railway station is Mathura Junction. From Mathura, continue to Govardhan by road.
- By air
The nearest airports are Agra and Indira Gandhi International in Delhi.
- On the parikrama
If you are walking the Govardhan parikrama, the tank lies on the route between Mansi Ganga and Radha Kund; there is no need for a separate trip.
❓ FAQ
Why is Kusum Sarovar famous?
For its eighteenth-century sandstone cenotaphs with painted ceilings, its ghats, and the tradition that Radha met Krishna here while gathering flowers.
Who built Kusum Sarovar?
Raja Veer Singh Deo Bundela turned a natural pond into a stone tank; Suraj Mal of Bharatpur restored it, and his son Jawahar Singh built the cenotaphs in the eighteenth century.
What are Kusum Sarovar timings?
6:00–18:00 every day, according to Incredible India. Entry is free.
How far is Kusum Sarovar from Govardhan Hill?
It is on Govardhan itself: the tank lies on the parikrama route around the hill, between Mansi Ganga and Radha Kund.
What is the nearest railway station to Kusum Sarovar?
Mathura Junction.