6 ancient places to explore on the Mathura-Vrindavan road

Often when pilgrims think of Lord Krishna, his childhood stories and youthful adventures―the places that most chime with their subconscious are the major cities of Mathura and Vrindavan. But go deeper and beyond these two celebrated cities unveil more layers in the form of towns, villages and lesser known cities that swell, if not more, in as many remarkable and captivating tales that revive a momentous era from the Hindu scriptures.

The entire region together is most aptly christened Brajbhumi meaning the land of Lord Krishna―Braj being one of the names for Lord Krishna and Bhumi translating as sacred land. Embodied in a culturally ethereal spirit of the Lord, Brajbhumi forms a pilgrimage halo with temple cities like Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Mahavan, Govardhan, Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon, Radha Kund, Baldeo, etc. under its vibrant folds.
If you are on a pilgrimage to the blessed Mathura-Vrindavan circuit, covering all the thousands of temples might not always be possible due to paucity of time or other factors. In such a scenario, short listing helps and that’s where this guide can help! Given below is the list of ancient temples lying on the outskirts between Mathura and Vrindavan that should be on your list of important temples to visit: