Lord Krishna is one of the revered deities of the Hindu Pantheon. Considered an “avatar”, or, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, his antics are a subject of legends. A guide, a philosopher, a child shepherd, a valiant knight – he possesses several roles, and yet, is at once the “Supreme Personality.” For some, he is the supreme lover, while for others, a brilliant war strategist. Naturally, therefore, there are many Krishna temples in India.
Each of these Krishna mandirs are special in their own way and testify to the several events that occurred throughout his lifetime. While some, are associated with his birth, others portray an important episode that occurred throughout his lifetime. Many of these temples keep on echoing with the chanting of the Bhagavad Gita. The holy book is a scripture that contains is a conversation between Arjuna, a supernaturally gifted warrior and Krishna, his charioteer.
This blog brings you the list of some most famous Shri Krishna temples of India, which you can visit with your family and friends!
ISKCON Temple, New Delhi
Among the many ISKCON temples in India, ISKCON temple in Delhi stands out! This magnificent temple showcases the best of Bhakti traditions while being a symbol of architectural excellence. Standing proudly on the Hare Krishna Hill on East Kailash, the temple’s architectural design was created by the renowned architect Achyut Kanvinde.
The idols of Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi, Sita, Rama, Laxman, Hanuman, and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, are occupied on the atriums of its enormous hall. The Vedic Museum, situated in the premises of this ISKCON temple in Delhi, organizes various shows and exhibitions to promote the timeless Vedic wisdom. If you visit this temple, taste the delicious food at its pure vegetarian restaurant – Govinda’s.
Timings: The ISKCON Temple Delhi is open throughout the week. The main temple hall is closed between 1 pm to 4 pm.
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Dwarkadheesh Temple, Mathura
Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura is considered one of the largest and oldest lord Krishna temple in Mathura. Its defining feature is the black marble idol of Dwarkanath, along with a white marble idol of his counterpart deity, Sri Radharani. This temple’s courtyard, carved in Rajasthani style, is a vision of perfection.
One can also find a small temple of Lord Krishna (Shaliram) on the temple courtyard. Try visiting this famous Mathura temple on the festival of Sri Krishna Janmashtami, when the entire shrine is bathed in the spirit of celebration and festivity.
Timings: Morning – 5.00 am to 12.00 pm; Afternoon – 02.00 pm to 08.00 pm
Shri Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
Shri Banke Bihari Temple is one of the most famous and ancient temples of Vrindavan. Legend has it, that the image of Lord Banke Bihari (Krishna) installed at the Vrindavan temple, was granted to Swami Haridas by the celestial couple Shyama-Shyam (Radhe-Krishna) themselves. The lotus feet of the idol are always kept hidden from public view and are only visible on Akshaya Tritiya.
The “seva” of Bihariji is performed in three parts every day at the temple, with the Rajbhog (feast) being offered in the forenoon. For this reason, the shrine stands out amongst the rest of the famous temples of Vrindavan. If you want to see the temple in all its glory, visit it during the festival of Shri Krishna Janmashtami. This is the only occasion when Mangla Aarti is performed.
Timings: Summer (After Holi) – 7:45 am to 9:30 pm, Winter (After Diwali) – 8:45 am to 8:30 pm
Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
Pilgrims and travelers who visit Prem Mandir in Vrindavan, are left speechless by its divine beauty. It’s said that this incredible Krishna temple in India was a gift by Rasik saint Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj – a spiritual guru. Every corner of the temple is adorned with mirror paintings and figures depicting important events of Lord Krishna’s life. Rising up to 125ft, this grand structure is created of Italian marble.
The magnificence of Prem Mandir, one of the religious places in India is spectacularly embellished during the festivals of Janmashtami and Radhashtami. It’s really one of most beautiful temple of Lord Krishna in India. The fountain show, held in the evenings, is a special crowd-puller.
Timings: 5:15 am to 12 pm; 4:30 pm to 8:15 pm
Fountain Show Timings: 7:00 am to 7:30 am
ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan
ISKCON temple in Vrindavan, also known as Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, amalgamates spirituality and grandeur brilliantly. Visitors entering the ISKCON Vrindavan, are greeted by a vivid white marble archway of Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi (final resting place). Upon reaching the courtyard, visitors are transfixed by the mesmerizing beauty of the Krishna Balaram palace and the presence of the wonderful tamal tree.
One of the most enchanting sights in this Hare Rama Hare Krishna temple, are the statues of the presiding Lords Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Krishna Balaram and Radha Shyamasundar. Manifesting unparalleled grace and beauty, they are sure to cast a magical spell on every visitor. Among the many religious sights in Vrindavan, this one is a must visit.
Timings: 4:30 am to 8:45 pm
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Sri Sri Radha Madhan Mohan Mandir, Vrindavan
Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan Mandir is one of the oldest temples in Vrindavan. Seated atop Dvadasaditya Tila – a 50ft high hill, the presiding deity of the temple is Lord Krishna, accompanied by Radharani and Lalita Sakhi. According to popular belief, the main idol of this Krishna temple in India was discovered by Madan Mohan at the base of an old vat tree in Vrindavan.
A popular story associated with this temple is that its main deity was moved to Jaipur under the rule of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The present deity is said to resemble the original one exactly from the waist down. If you come to Vrindavan, then this is one temple you should definitely visit.
Timings: Summer – 6 am to 11 am, 5 pm to 9.30 pm; Winter – 7 am to 12 pm, 4 pm to 8 pm
Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat
If you wish to become acquainted with the meaning of glory, visit the Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka. Situated on Gomti creek, the Hare Krishna temple is also addressed by the honorific titles “Jagat Mandir” (universal shrine) or “Trilok Sundar” (the most beautiful in all the three worlds). The temple, built of soft limestone, reaches a height of 43m. A sanctum, vestibule and a rectangular hall with porches on three sides can be found inside this temple.
No spiritual journey to Gujarat is complete without visiting the Dwarkadhish Temple. Interestingly, the temple also stands as an important part of the Char Dham in India. The exquisite carvings on its exteriors display a mix of eroticism, mythic intensity and continuity in design. However, the interiors reflect an elegant simplicity and make the shrines stand out amongst the rest of the holy places in India.
Timings: 6.30 am to 1:00 pm; 5:00 pm to 9.30 pm
Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad
There are many places pertaining to religious tourism in Gujarat, and Jagannath Temple is an important one amongst them. The main feature of this temple is the idol of Lord Jagannath, along with his brother and sister – Lord Baldev and Goddess Subhadra. One can also find a Hanuman Temple in its vicinity.
The remarkable Krishna temple in India holds several festivals like Jal Yatra, Rath Yatra, and Janmashtami etc. Amongst these, the Rath Yatra is a wonderful spectacle of festivities. The procession is led by 15 to 20 elephants adorned in decorative dresses, followed by athletes displaying impressive feats of acrobatics. This marvelous display of celebrations will leave you at a loss for words.
Timings: 4:30 am to 1:00 pm; 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Shri Nathji Temple, Nathdwara
If you, as a visitor, are keen on knowing the various aspects of the culture in Rajasthan, you must visit this wonderful temple. Apart from its stately architecture, the principal attraction of Shri Nathji Temple at Nathdwara is its main idol. It’s believed that the Rana (king) of Mewar brought this idol from Govardhan Hill, to safeguard it against Aurangzeb.
The principal deity of this Hare Krishna temple is Gadadhar. He is represented as a black representation of Vishnu. The temple comes alive during festivals like Holi, Diwali and Janmashtami. People belonging to the Vaishnava community also arrive here in large numbers to visit this holy pilgrimage.
Timings: 5:30 am to 12:10 pm; 3:35 pm to 7:20 pm
ISKCON Temple, Bangalore
ISKCON Temple, Bangalore was built in 1997 to promote Vedic culture and spiritual learning. Counted amongst the most popular temples in Bangalore, it is also known as Sri Radha Krishna Temple. This enormous temple sits on top of Vaikuntha Hill. If you plan on visiting this ISKCON Mandir, check out the gold-plated dhwaja-stambha (flag post) and kalash shikara, among the other important features of the temple.
Some of the activities conducted in the Hare Rama Hare Krishna temple are cultural education, youth program, food distribution, Yuga dharma etc. The temple also celebrates various festivals, some of which are Garuda Panchami, Sri Brahmotsava, Sri Radhashtami etc.
Timings: 4:15 am to 12:50 pm; 04:15 pm to 08:30 pm
Balakrishna temple, Hampi
Balakrishna Temple is a part of the magnificent ruins of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hampi. The presiding deity of this ancient temple is Lord Balakrishna (the infant form of Lord Krishna). Krishnadevaraya – the ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire, had this temple constructed to commemorate his victory in the eastern region of Udayagiri.
Visitors here are impressed with the epics which are inscribed on its lower walls. These inscriptions rightly make the shrine enjoy the repute of one of the best spiritual places in India. The temple is flanked by banana plantations to the east and a rocky landscape to the west. Stroll towards the west side of the temple, and you will come across a rectangular building which may have been used as a former granary. This was constructed in the Islamic style of architecture and is an attraction in its own right.
Timings: 5:30 am – 1:00 pm; 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm. The temple is open for visitors from Monday to Friday.
Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt (Temple)
Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt (Temple) in Udupi holds the distinction of being the first among the seven places of pilgrimages. It is one of the most popular religious tourism places in Karnataka. A unique feature of this temple is that the presiding deity can only be worshipped through a window with nine holes called the Navagraha Kitiki.
Some of the festivals which are grandly celebrated here are Makar Sankranti, Ratha Saptami, Madhva Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, among others. This Hare Krishna temple is renowned for its traditions and learning in Dvaita (a form of Vedanta philosophy).
Timings: 5.30 am to 8.50 pm
Venugopala Swamy Temple, Karnataka
Venugopala Swamy Temple represents the epitome of the Hoysala architecture in Karnataka. Built in 12 century AD, this temple has Lord Venugopalaswamy as its presiding deity. Upon visiting this site which outstands amongst rest of the religious places in India, you will be fascinated by the temple’s marvelous architecture. One example of this is the Prakara (the outer part around the Hindu temple sanctum), whose niches are adorned with sophisticated stucco work.
As a visitor, you will be fascinated by the two statues of Lord Vishnu carrying markedly different tools and weapons, located on both sides of the gopuram (huge tower at the entrance of a temple). Its outer stone walls are covered with frieze and depict various scenes from the Ramayana. Of the many incredible temples in Karnataka, this one really stands out!
Timings: 7:00 am – 12:00 pm; 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Guruvayoor Temple, Keralanull
Guruvayoor Temple is counted among one of the top temples in South India, and is often referred to as the “Dwarka of the south.” The main sanctum of the temple, built in 1638 AD, exhibits the four-armed statue of Lord Krishna, which is adorned with holy Tulsi (basil) garlands and pearl necklaces.
If you plan on visiting this temple, you should do so at around 10.00 am, when a special elephant feeding program known as Aanayoottu takes place.
Timings: 3:00 am to 1:30 pm; 4:30 pm to 9:15 pm
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Mayapur ISKCON Temple, West Bengal
Next on our list of sacred shrines associated with Lord Krishna is the Mayapur ISKCON Temple. Holiest of all the places in India, the shrine is the spectacular abode of the Pancatattva, Lord Nrisingha Dev, Srila Prabhupada and Radha-Madhav with the Gopis. Imbued with matchless devotion, this ISKCON temple lures innumerable devotees from all over the world.
Serene natural beauty and religious environ are the major draws of the Mayapur Temple. The tranquil aura is sure to calm your senses and fill you up with happiness. Including the Chadrodaya Mandir, the sanctum sanctorum hosts several festivals namely, Gaura Purnima, Kirtan Mela and Navadvipa Mandal.
Timings: 4:30 am to 1:00 pm; 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Jagannath Temple, Orissa
Another sacred temple of the holy Char Dham Yatra in India, the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha is a must-visit. The temple is popular for the annual Rath Yatra. A unique aspect of the shrine is a finely wooden carved statue of Lord Jagannath which shows a striking contrast to the other temples having stone murals. Additionally, there are idols of Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balbhadra flanking the statues of both deities.
Also, the place differs from other Krishna temples in India because of its distinctive practices, procedures, rituals and sacraments. Interestingly, millions of devotees gather on the occasion of Rath Yatra. They carry the three deities in their specific chariots to the Gundicha Temple.
Timings: 5:00 am to 11:00pm
Radha Raman Temple, Vrindavan
An early modern and amongst the 7 Thakur temples of Vrindavan, the Radha Raman Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Showcasing an exquisite architecture, this Krishna temple in India cherish the Lord in the form of Radha Raman. The original shaligram deity of Krishna is positioned next to Goddess Radharani and hence the name.
Reckoned as one of the popular religious places in India, the shrine is the oldest one and has stood the test of the times. A long history is associated with the temple which leaves the visitors in a state of awe. Offer prayers here and you feel the calmness to the core.
Timings: 7:00 am to 12:00 pm; 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Kerala
Exhibiting the Kerala style of architecture, the Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple dates back to the 17th-century AD. The idol of the lord from the Guruvayoor Temples was brought to the sanctum sanctorum for safe keeping for 12 years. The idol in this Krishna temple is similar to the Parthasarthi.
Devotees visit this one of the religious places in India for the scrumptious payasam served here. An interesting legend is associated with the payasam as well. Apart from this, a wonderful painting of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu steals the limelight. Chambakulam Moolam Festival brings the temple to life.
Timings: 4:00 am to 12:30 pm; 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Pacify you souls and delve into the complete devotion of Lord Krishna by visiting any one or all of these temples.
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