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Prem Sarovar, the Lake of Love near Barsana
Prem Sarovar is a boat-shaped kund (a stepped sacred tank) about a mile outside Barsana on the road to Nandgaon. Tradition holds that it filled with the tears Radha and Krishna shed in a moment of loving separation, which is why it is called the Lake of Love. Entry is free, and it is a short, quiet stop on a Barsana and Nandgaon day trip from Vrindavan or Mathura.
A kund (a stepped sacred tank) shaped like a boat and ringed by kadamb trees, about a mile out of Barsana on the road to Nandgaon. Tradition holds that it filled with the tears Radha and Krishna shed in a moment of loving separation, which is how it came to be called the Lake of Love. The ghats have been restored, the water sits still, and on most days there is nothing to hear but birds in the branches. Ten minutes is enough, and those ten minutes turn the Radha Rani temple and Nandgaon into one unhurried half-day rather than two errands.
Ten still minutes between Barsana and Nandgaon, beside the tenderest legend in Braj
Where Prem Sarovar is and why people stop
Barsana is Radha's village and Nandgaon is Krishna's. Prem Sarovar lies between them, about a mile out of Barsana on the Nandgaon road, and the story told here belongs to exactly that in-between. By tradition, Radha and Krishna sat by this water in a moment of loving separation, and their tears filled the tank. Prem means love and sarovar a lake.
The kund is shaped like a boat and ringed by kadamb trees. The ghats (the stone steps down to the water) have been restored, the water sits still, and on most days there is nothing to hear but birds in the branches.
What to watch for
Sit on the steps in the first warm hour of the day and watch the open water: turtles surface briefly and go down again. It is a short stop on the way between the Radha Rani temple in Barsana and Nandgaon.
✅ How to reach and when to go
- From Vrindavan or Mathura: Barsana is about 45 km away, and Barsana and Nandgaon have almost no rooms of their own. Hire a car for the day and stop at Prem Sarovar on the road between them; Nandgaon is about 8 km from Barsana.
- Best season: October to March is the comfortable season in Braj; from April to June avoid the middle of the day.
- Holi week: around Lathmar Holi the approach roads fill early and outside vehicles are stopped well short of Barsana, so leave early. See the Lathmar Holi guide.
- Etiquette: a kund is a sacred tank, not a pond: treat it as you would a temple.
❓ FAQ
Where is Prem Sarovar located?
On the Barsana–Nandgaon road, about a mile outside Barsana, in the Braj country of Mathura district.
What is the story of Prem Sarovar?
Tradition holds that it filled with the tears Radha and Krishna shed in a moment of loving separation, hence the Lake of Love.
Is there an entry fee?
No, entry is free.
How far is Prem Sarovar from Vrindavan?
Barsana is about 45 km from Vrindavan, and Prem Sarovar is about a mile outside it on the Nandgaon road.
How much time do I need at Prem Sarovar?
It is a short stop, usually combined with the Radha Rani temple in Barsana and with Nandgaon.