Govardhan Hill
गोवर्धन पर्वत
A sacred hill where Krishna is said to have lifted the mountain to shelter villagers from a storm. Pilgrims walk the 21 km circuit around it, passing sacred ponds and temples along the way.
Govardhan Hill is a low sandstone ridge about 22 km west of Mathura. Legend says Krishna lifted the hill on the tip of one finger for seven days and seven nights, sheltering the villagers of Braj from the torrential rains sent by Indra, and so the hill is regarded as a manifestation of the god. Pilgrims walk barefoot around the hill, a circuit of about 21 km (Parikrama). Some prostrate themselves along the way. Sacred sites along the route include the Manasi Ganga pond, Kusum Sarovar and Radha Kund. Ordinary visitors can take an electric tuk-tuk or drive and visit sections of the route. Crowds are very heavy on full moon days and during the Govardhan festival.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Kusum Sarovar
- Radha Kund
- Radha Rani Temple, Barsana
- Jai Gurudev Naam Yog Sadhna Mandir
- Krishna Janmasthan Temple, Mathura
- Government Museum, Mathura
- Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
- Dwarkadhish Temple, Mathura