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Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan: the town's oldest temple
The Radha Madan Mohan Temple is the oldest temple still standing in Vrindavan: its red sandstone tower was finished in 1580 on Aditya Tila, a mound near Kaliya Ghat above an old bend of the Yamuna. Entry is free. Madan Mohan is a form of Krishna; the original image now lives in Karauli, Rajasthan, and a replica is worshipped here.
The oldest temple still standing in Vrindavan, finished in 1580 on Aditya Tila, a fifty-foot mound above a bend the Yamuna has since abandoned. It belongs to the memory of Sanatana Goswami, the saint who walked Braj identifying and restoring its forgotten holy sites. Its weathered red sandstone shikhara, the tower over the sanctum, is one of the silhouettes the town is recognised by. The original deity went to Karauli in Rajasthan during Aurangzeb's raids, and a replica is served in the newer shrine beside it. Late afternoon light over the rooftops is worth the climb.
The town's first temple, on a mound the river once curved around, and few groups climb it
History of the Madan Mohan Temple
The temple belongs to the memory of Sanatana Goswami, one of the saints who came to Braj in the sixteenth century and walked it identifying and restoring the holy places of Krishna's life that had been forgotten. Folklore says the first shrine here was raised by Vajranabh, Krishna's great-grandson; the temple that stands today was rebuilt in 1580, under Sanatana Goswami's guidance, by Kapur Ram Das, a trader from Multan.
The deity has travelled further than the temple. According to tradition the image of Madan Mohan was found at the foot of a banyan tree by Advaita Acharya. Ahead of Aurangzeb's campaigns it was taken to Jaipur in 1670 and later to Karauli in Rajasthan, where it is still worshipped. A replica was installed in Vrindavan in 1748. In 1819 Nanda Kumar Basu, a zamindar from Baharu, built a new temple; the replica deities are served in this newer shrine beside the old tower.
What to see
- The old tower. A tall, weathered shikhara (the tower above the sanctum) in red sandstone, built in the North Indian Nagara style. It is one of the silhouettes Vrindavan is recognised by.
- The view. Aditya Tila rises about fifty feet above the bank where the Yamuna once curved. From the top you look out over the rooftops and the old river bed.
- The newer shrine. Beside the old temple, where the replica deities are served.
Few tour groups climb up here, and the hill is a calm break from the crowds of the central temples. Late afternoon is the time to come: the low light warms the sandstone and lies soft over the town.
Timings and entry
Entry is free. No confirmed timetable is published. Times also change between summer and winter, so ask locally for the day's darshan times, and plan the climb for late afternoon if you want the light.
👣 How to get there
The temple stands on Aditya Tila, near Kaliya Ghat, close to the Yamuna in old Vrindavan.
- On foot
From the lanes of the old town, walk towards Kaliya Ghat and climb the hill. Wear shoes you can slip off easily: they come off before the shrine.
❓ FAQ
What is the history of the Madan Mohan Temple?
It was rebuilt in 1580 under the guidance of Sanatana Goswami by the Multan trader Kapur Ram Das, and is the oldest temple still standing in Vrindavan. The original deity was moved to Jaipur in 1670 and later to Karauli.
Which god is Madan Mohan?
Krishna, worshipped here with Radha. The deity was originally known as Madana Gopala.
What are the timings for the Madan Mohan Temple in Vrindavan?
No official timetable is published, and times change with the season; ask locally for the day's darshan times.
Where is the original Madan Mohan deity?
In the Madan Mohan temple at Karauli, Rajasthan. A replica has been worshipped in Vrindavan since 1748.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Entry is free.