Barsana

Barsana History

Barsana is the eternal home of Srimati Radharani. Barsana was led by mukhiya (leader) Vrishabhanu (Radharani's father). Radharani's mother's name is Kirtida.

Vrishabhanu Kaka and Kirtida Kaki were very happy on getting Radha as a child but she didn't open her eyes. It was on touch on little Krishna that Sri Radha opened Her eyes for the first time. Check the story of the appearance of Sri Radha here.

Barsana is actually four hills (parvat) which are none other than four heads of Brahma Ji. The four parvat (hills) are Vrishbhanu Garh, Dan Garh, Vilas Garh and Man Garh.

Weather

The weather in Barsana in extreme, both in summer as well as winter. Check the weather of Barsana and Vraj Bhumi region in different seasons of the year.

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How to reach?

Vrindavan to Barsana

Auto: Take an auto from Vrindavan to Chatikara (10 rupees). From Chatikara, take an auto to Chata (30 rupees). At Chata, take an auto to Barsana (30 rupees).
Car: If you have your own car, just travel to Chata and take a left and follow this road to reach Barsana. Take a left turn after Chetak Academy (Do not go up on the overbridge after Chetak Academy).

New Delhi to Barsana

Follow the Delhi - Mathura Highway via Palwal - Kosi Kalan and take a right turn near Chata (use Google Maps to take the right turn).

Places to visit in Barsana

• • Radharani Mandir: The Radharani Temple is the most popular temple in Barsaba and is actually the residence of Srimati Radharani. The view of Barsana from Radharani Mandir is spectacular. The darshan here is indeed a different experience altogether and you can feel the presence of Sri Radha by sincere prayers and remembrance. Holi here is a super awesome experience.
  • Ras Mandir: This is one of the rasa-sthalis (the place where Krishna and Radharani celebrate the rasa festival). It is run by Man Mandir (by Ramesh Baba). There is free prasad (food) for devotees at Ras Mandir usually in morning and afternoon times.
  • Ras Mandap: It is a very confidential place located at Gehvarvan (near Ras Mandir) where Radharani, gopis and Krishna used to perform rasa-dance festival. This place is a confidential place of worship for raganuga devotees. Every evening from 5-7 PM, Ramesh Baba leads sankirtan and sings local folk songs in praise of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna while many little vrajvasi lali (girls) perform rasa dance. This is not an ordinary dance and is for the pleasure of Divine Couple.
    

    

  • Maan Mandir: The Man Mandir is situated atop Mangarh Hill and it is the where Radharani got angry after Krishna didn't come to meet Her. There is a cave below which is the spot where Radharani goes into hiding and crying after getting angry. Ramesh Baba lives at Maan Mandir and it under his guidance that the majority of Barsana developed into what it is today.
  • Chitra Sakhi Mandir: It is located in Chiksauli Gaon (Village) on way to Ras Mandir. Chitra Sakhi is one of asta sakhis, one amongst 8 principle gopis of Srimati Radharani. 
  • Kushal Bihari Mandir: Also called as Jaipur Mandir, Kushal Bihari Mandir was built by a king from Rajasthan. However, before shifting the deities from Radharani Mandir, Sri Radha came into the dream of the king and instructed him that She wants to stay at Radarani Mandir itself. Then onwards, a new deity of Radha Krishna was established here and worship was started. There is a pakoda shop just at the entrance here that sells really awesome pakodas!
  • Mor Kutir: On the way from Ras Mandir to Kushal Bihari Mandir, Mor Kurti is situated atop Vilas Garh Hill. This is the place where Krishna and Radharani dance in the form of a peacock. Surdas, a blind saint had drawn the painting of Radha and Krishna dancing as peacocks after being empowered by it in his dream.
  • Prem Sarovar: It is located around 800m from Barsana and the lake came into existence with a teardrop of Sri Radha and Krishna. They were together and yet feeling intense separation from each other. Tears started coming from Their eyes, and when the parrots started chanting their names, "Radha, Krishna" that they regained their consciousness, and tears came out of their eyes. That's how Prem Sarovar was formed.
  • Pili Pokhara: It is where Radharani washed Her turmeric applied by Yasodha Maiya. Whenever the boy's mother puts turmeric onto girls hands, it means that she has accepted the girl as her daughter-in-law. Once when Radharani had visited Nandgaon, Yasoda Maiya applied turmeric on Radhrani'a hands. Radharani thought extremely happy internally became shy externally and thought what would people in Barsana think after seeing Her turmeric, so while returning, she washed Her hands in PIli Pokara. Since then Pili Pokhara is yellow in colour.
    

    

Hotel in Barsana

There are a lot of hotels right in front of Kirti Mandir which provides good accommodation facilities for tourists. The hotel's owners in Barsana are very simple and humble vrajvasis and these hotels provide cheap yet good facilities for an overnight or longer stay.

Places to eat

There are many food stalls and local chat, samosa and street food shops all around Barsana that have really amazing food. Special mention for the pakoda at Kushal Bihari Mandir (Jaipur Mandir) atop Dan Garh Hill.

Barsana Parikrama

Devotees circumambulate Barsana in a 5 Km walk that usually starts from Ras Mandir (Gehvar Van), walking along Mor Kutir near Vilas Garh, Jaipur Mandir near Dan Garh, Radharani Mandir (atop Bhanugarh) and walk around from Chiksauli Gaon (Chitra Sakhi Mandir) back to Ras Mandir. 

Circumambulating is one of anga (modes) of devotional life and helps in increasing prema-bhakti for Divine Couple Sri Radha and Sri Krishna.

Special attraction

• Ras Sankirtan and lecture at Ras Mandap every evening (5-7 PM) with Ramesh Baba Ji Maharaj

The mood of Barsanavasis and Vrajvasis

A lot of exalted saints live in Barsana. It's very difficult to understand them without their mercy (kripa).

Check this post on the inner confidential mood of vrajvasis who's blessings makes one advance super quickly in devotional life, and how to actually invoke their blessings right away from anywhere in the world.

Barsana (The eternal home of Gaudiya Acharyas)

• Bhakti Vinoda Thakur (Kamala Manjari)
• Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur (Nayan Mani Manjari)
• Aindra Prabhu (in his nitya-eternal vraja swarup takes birth in Barsana as maid-servant of Radharani, as mentioned in his book)

The villages of principal gopis of Radharani is also very closely located around Barsana. Lalita Sakhi's village and birthplace Unchagaon is located just 1 km from Barsana. Sudevi Sakhi's village is hardly 1 Km from Unchagaon. Chitra Sakhi's village Chiksauli is located beside Vilas Garh Hill and on the way to Ras Mandir.

Nearby places from Barsana

• Vrindavan: 45 Km 
• Radha Kund: 21 Km
• Mathura: 52 Km
• Nandgaon: 6 Km
• Vrinda Kund: 7 Km
• Ter Kadamba: 7 Km

Nandgaon, Vrindavan Kund and Ter Kadamba are located around same place. From Barsana, Nandagaon is just 5-10 minute drive.

In Popular Media

• Radhe Radhe Radhe Barasane Wali Radhe song is very popular in India throughout every nook and corner. It is in praise of Radharani and Barsana (Her eternal Home).

Jai Jai Shri Radhe!

Hare Krishna!