ISKCON Temple Guest House Vrindavan | Shri Krishna Balaram Mandir Darshan

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water,

I will accept it.

~ Bhagavad Gita 9.26

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Situated at Raman Reti road in Vrindavan, the Krishna Balaram Mandir or the ISKCON temple is one of the significant temples of Vrindavan.

ISKCON Temple (view from the road)

ISKCON Temple (once you step in)

To your: Left - Samadhi Temple, Right - Food/souvenir/Book stalls,

In the centre - Main temple)

Built in an ornate architectural manner, the temple was inaugurated by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the year 1975. Spread in a huge expanse, the ISKCON complex today houses a guest house, Govinda’s restaurant, a bakery, a gift shop, Prabhupadji’s house/ museum and his Samadhi Mandir besides the main temple hall.

The construction of the main temple hall reminds you of a haveli, with the main gate opening in a large open courtyard which further leads to the main temple hall housing the deities.

The Main temple resembling a haveli

The temple room housing the deities

Surrounding the courtyard are narrow verandahs where one can get a glimpse of Lord Krishna’s life through the various colorful paintings adorning the temple walls.

Paintings depicting incidences from the life of Lord Krishna

The main temple room houses the deities of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar, Lalita Devi and Vishakha Devi and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai beautifully decorated and decked up with fresh flowers and glittering ornaments.

Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar, Lalita Devi and Vishakha Devi

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram (Lord Krishna in fair hue and Lord Balaram in dark hue)

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai

As we were staying in the ISKCON Vrindavan Guest house, I got the fortune of taking part in the ISKCON temple daily darshan - their morning and evening prayers at various times of the day. The sweet music, the clanging of bells and the blowing of conch shells, the ecstatic singing, the devoted chanting, the euphoric dancing, the divine lights of the lamps...

Srila Prabhupad's huge bronze bas relief depicting His activities and mission.

... everything that I saw and experienced here made me wonder if I had indeed stepped in a different world of the unknown... a world as it was conceptualized and visualized by the founder A. C. Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada many years ago.

With each day I passed in the temple, I learnt something more about the place from the bhaktas residing there. The place was not just a temple for A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, it was a dream. When He had laid its first bricks, he had dreamt of it as a Haven for all Krishna lovers... as a melting pot of devotion, a place where all lovers of Lord Krishna could come together and steer their way to HIS Kingdom through true bhakti, consciousness and devotion. He loved this place and he wanted it to be one of the best in the world.

Gathering of devotees inside the ISKCON Shri Krishna Balaram temple during the Evening Arti.

Even today, his love, affection and inspiration can be felt in every square of the premises – be it in the continuous chants of Hare Krishna Hare Rama echoing in its corridors, be it in the groups of Krishna bhaktas singing glories to the Lord,

ISKCON Bhaktas singing glory to the Lord

be it in the humble services offered by the devotees,

Preparing garlands for the Lord

be it in his own books that were his first love...

Prabhupadji's books

or be it in his Samadhi Mandir (final resting place).

Adjacent to the temple is the magnificent Samdhi Mandir of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a simple room with a life like statue of His divine grace in white marble on the ground level, his final resting place.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupadji's final resting place in the ISKCON Temple - Samadhi Mandir

Overhead is a marble bridge connector housing the Samadhi museum which displays His quotes, activities and teachings from His lifetime beautifying the walls on the first level. The Samadhi hall resonates in a unique aura of divine sanctity and it is here that one can hear silence speak volumes.

Samdhi Mandir (closed) below and the museum upstairs.

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Museum opposite the Samadhi temple, ISKCON Temple Vrindavan.

Moving ahead is the ISKCON Vrindavan guest house building which houses the Govindas Restaurant and bakery, and the gift shop.

A peek at the food items in the Govindas restaurant - ISKCON Temple Vrindavan.

ISKCON Vrindavan Guest House Family Room - clean, neat, budget friendly and well maintained.

Adjacent to it is the prasadam (food offered to Lord Krishna before being served) hall where daily free prasadam is served for the life members while the non members are charged a nominal fee. The prasadam consists of simple satvik food like rice, curry, roti and khichdi and is served on an unlimited basis.

ISKCON Vrindavan - Prasadam ... beats any five star restaurant food, any day!

I do not know if the Krishna Balaram ISKCON temple in Vrindavan is among the best ISKCON Temples in the world or not but after having spent a few days here, I can say that it is definitely one of the best. A must visit for every devotee visiting Vrindavan, it is not to be missed for anything!

Whatever time you spend in its peaceful environs, you will be blessed with many moments that will nudge you to travel within your own self… it’s truly a home away from home!

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Tips, FAQ's and Information for Visitors:

Krishna Balaram Mandir / ISKCON Vrindavan Arti Timings.

Morning:
Aarti Mangla 5:00 am
Aarti Tulsi 5:30 am
Guru Pooja 7:15 am
Pravachan 7:30 am
Aarti Shringar 8:30 am
Aarti Rajbhog 12:00 pm

Evening:
Aarti Dhhop 4:30 pm
Aarti Sandhya 6:30 pm
Geeta pravachan 7:30 pm
Aarti Sayan 8:00 am

Krishna Balaram Mandir / ISKCON Vrindavan Darshan Timings:

Summer:
The temple remains open from 4:30 am to 12:45 pm in the morning and from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the evening.

Winter:
The temple remains open from 4:30 am to 1:00 pm in the morning and from 4:00 pm to 8:15 pm in the evening.

Is there any entry fee for Krishna Balaram Mandir / ISKCON Vrindavan Temple?

There is NO Entry Fee to enter the temple premises and the temple is open to people of all nationalities.

Address: Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, Raman Reiti, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh 281121

Krishna Balaram Mandir / ISKCON Vrindavan Phone Number:
05652 540021

Photography is not allowed inside the main temple hall though it is allowed in the premises. The pictures that you see in the post from inside the main temple hall are from my previous years visits as I have been to ISKCON Temple Vrindavan multiple times in the past when photography was allowed. Rest of the pictures are from this year's visit (July 2019).

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