Krishna ExperienceMost Vrindavan temples keep two darshan sessions: morning until around noon or 1 pm, and evening from around 4 or 5 pm. In between, the deity rests. Plan your day around that gap.
Timings at a glance
Timings change with the season (winter hours usually start a couple of days after Diwali, summer hours after Holi) and on festival days. Treat these as a planning guide and confirm at the gate.
| Temple | Morning | Evening | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banke Bihari | Winter about 8:00 am–1:30 pm | Winter about 4:00–9:00 pm | Hours extended in 2025; many guides still print the older schedule |
| Prem Mandir | 8:30 am–12:00 pm | 4:30–8:30 pm | Light and fountain show around 7 pm (winter) |
| ISKCON (Krishna Balaram) | Opens about 4:10 am, closes 12:45 pm | About 4:00–8:15 pm | Mangala aarti about 4:30 am |
| Radha Raman | Roughly 8:00 am–12:30 pm | Roughly 6:00–8:30 pm | Very early mangala aarti |
| Radha Vallabh | Roughly 5:30 am–12:00 pm | Roughly 5:30–9:00 pm | |
| Nidhivan | About 5 or 6 am–1:00 pm | About 3:30–7:00 pm (8 pm in summer) | Closed to everyone after the evening aarti |
The temples
The seven temples of the Goswamis
In the 16th century, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sent his followers, the Six Goswamis, to rediscover the places of Krishna's leelas, which had been lost under forest. Seven temples grew from their work and are still called the sapta devalaya: Madan Mohan, Govind Dev, Gopinath, Radha Raman, Radha Damodar, Radha Shyamsundar and Radha Gokulananda. Several of their original deities were carried to Rajasthan for safety in the late 17th century; Vrindavan worships faithful replicas in their place.
How to plan your temple day
- Morning: Banke Bihari at opening, then Radha Raman, Radha Vallabh and the old temples in the lanes, then Nidhivan before it closes.
- Afternoon: temples are shut. Walk to Keshi Ghat, take a boat on the Yamuna, see Madan Mohan's tower from outside, eat.
- Evening: ISKCON when it reopens, then Prem Mandir for the evening lights and fountain show.
Our one- and two-day itinerary lays this out hour by hour.
Questions people ask
Which is the most famous temple in Vrindavan?
Banke Bihari. It draws the largest crowds of any temple in Braj, especially on weekends and festivals.
Which Vrindavan temple is open in the afternoon?
Almost none: the deities rest from roughly noon or 1 pm until 4 or 5 pm. Use those hours for Keshi Ghat and the Yamuna.
Is there an entry fee for Vrindavan temples?
No. Darshan at the major temples is free. Donations are voluntary.