ISKCON Temple Vrindavan

ISKCON Temple also referred to as Sri Sri Krishna Balram Mandir, is one of the famous religious places to visit in Vrindavan. Devoted to Lord Krishna, ISKCON Temple is located near the Raman Reti area of Vrindavan. The temple, which comes under the administration of the ISKCON Trust, was built in the year 1975. It holds a special significance amongst the followers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). At present, this popular temple in Vrindavan serves as one of the major spiritual centers in the city. Besides its spiritual significance, it’s the architecture of the temple which endears it to a lot of tourists. On entering the shrine, tourists first pass through the magnificent white marble archway of the samadhi of Prabhupada. Thereafter, the imposing wooden temple doors transport tourists directly to a spiritual ambiance. The soothing music of mridangam, kartals, and harmonium of the 24/7 kirtaniyas, all come together to create an experience that is exclusive to the ISKCON Temple. The main attraction of the temple is the altar which is devoted to the brothers - Balaram and Krishna, after whom the temple is named. Throughout the day, various aartis are performed, including, Samadhi Aarti, Tulasi Aarti, Mangala Aarti, Dhoop Aarti, Ra Bhog Aarti, Sandhya Aarti Pushpa Aarti, and Shayana Aarti. Being part of these aartis is also a delightful experience while visiting ISKCON. As a holy offering, Khichdi is served to the devotees at this temple.

Architecture of ISKCON Temple Vrindavan

One can spot the magnificent ISKCON temple right after entering the holy land of Vrindavan. The temple is constructed out of white marble and adorned with pieces of stones that catch one's eyes at the very first sight. The splendid edifice in white is blessed with three altars. The central altar is dedicated to the brothers, Krishna and Balaram. The other two altars are dedicated to Sri Gaur Nitai and Sri Radha Shyamasundar.
The galleries of the temple display various pictures of Lord Krishna, depicting various frolicking scenes of his life. The courtyard of the temple has a beautiful verandah surrounding it which has wall paintings of Sri Radha-Krishna and Sri Gaur-Nitai hung on them. The principal deity of the temple which is the image of Krishna and Balaram is placed under the central spire or Shikhar of the temple. The images of other deities are located among side the central shrine and are well ornamented. The temple is huge and has been divided into various sections to carry out religious activities day and night. The first floor of the temple is more like a balcony with 108 flowers painted on the floor.