Place to stay Vrindavan

Looking for a place to stay in vrindavan...Not looking for a dirty or really cheap place - looking for chilled out and relaxed, close to the krishna temple but not noisy - would like to pay Rs200-Rs250 or so...

You get places much more inexpensive than what you think, like a max of Rs 50 per day. The guest-house of Radha-Gopinath-Mandir for instance. It's the oldest live-in house in the area, and built in the Rajasthani Haveli style, with a central court-yard. it is very quiet in the centre of the old town, within minutes to all the major old temples.

If you like to see other options, you can approach the Pujari-families of Radha-Raman-Mandir, which is another main temple right next to Radha-Gopinath just mentioned. They rent out places at a similar rate.

Another option would be to ask merchants at Loi-Bazar which is the central bazar near all these temples.

Radha-Gopinath is not that easy to find because it is inside a cluster of houses, which makes it so quiet. Even though it is one of the oldest, most sung about (in Bhakti-poetry) and most prominent temples of the place, it is not visited by many pilgrims, because it is not found. Which again makes it attractive, because the caretaker pujaris who own the place, are a very modest family with which you can get into close and confidential conversation. Esp Mrs Krishna Goswami is a delight to talk to. So their guest house is esp recommended for single women who seek a place where they are properly respected and find some connection with local residents, and an educated exchange in excellent English with an Indian lady.

How to find Radha-Gopinath. Ask a Cycle Riksha to go to Radha-Raman-Mandir (i.e. temple). It is very famous and everyone knows it and goes there. When you stand in front of the entrance into the court-yard outside of Radha-Raman, just turn right and walk to the back of the cluster of houses around Radha-Raman, along the wall at the side of the path. At the opposite side of the circle you will find to your left a gate entering into the Radha-Gopinath complex. the temple itself follows only after a few turns on the path leading "straight" to it, without possibility to go wrong.

The guest-house is about 30 steps from the gate, to your right, that nicely decorated house. Inspite of the contact possibility to the family, you have all the privacy and distance you want.

There are lots of monkeys in old Vrindavan. Watch your belongings well, and in case you wear glasses, these monkeys are specializing in stealing your glasses from your nose, because they know they will get special treats after . It happens a lot.

Great post Atala.

I was looking for exactly the same info.

I think I'll have to find some of those massively oversized plastic glasses for the monkeys to steal.

Do you have any other advice on Mathura & Vrindavan?

The way they do it is so that you will hardly notice it even happened. Even though I am fully aware of the situation I got mine stolen once inside the Radha-Damodar court-yard (very beautiful Murtis there on the altar). I saw the monkey but did not believe it could happen so fast in the blink of a moment when I did not look at it. These monkeys are sneak-thieves, they will never take when you face them and look at them, but the moment you look away, they are at you.

For wearers of glasses it is best to buy a carved wooden stick, sold in the bazars for exactly that purpose for about Rs 50.

Everyone: watch out when you carry fruit. These monkeys will steal your bag. They can come very close because of the narrow alleys and the walls along the paths in Vrindavan. and please be aware: A monkey is ready to die to get a banana. So just leave it to them, do not defend, if one comes knowing you have bananas.

I got my glasses stolen twice in Vrindavan. First on the bank of the Yamuna; the monkey just jumped from behind, took my glasses and ran away with them high on some tree. It took some 10 minutes for the locals to 'persuade' him to come down. I had to pay for the service, of course. It later dawned on me that they actually train those monkeys to do that. Is it possible??
The second time was near Seva kunja, which is swarming with monkeys. After that time I became really careful. I went home with my glasses almost eaten And the look on that monkey's face while chewing them

I also visited Radha Gopinnatha temple. The priest there was always most cordial to us. I really felt the need to give some donation to that temple, because 100 rs means a lot to them, but it's just pocket money for us. Especially because many don't know about that temple so it doesn't receive as much foreign money as some other places do. I especially like the fact that they don't ask anything, which was quite disturbing at some other temples; they just want to give what they have from the heart. The priest invited us to lunch once, it was a really nice experience.

I also took lunch at Radha Raman temple; the most delicious sweet rice I ever had!

When you are in Vrindavan, you MUST visit Vrinda kund. It's near Nanda gram, some 30 minutes drive from the town of Vrindavan. There is a beautiful small temple, made of white marble, with a
small lake surrounding it. Simpy idyllic. Very very peaceful.

I forgot to mention that at the Radha Gopinath temple guest house you are not charged a certain amount, but you are invited to give a donation, in the end. If you give around 50 Rupees per day, it would be about appropriate, but you can also give more or less.

When I was there last, they would charge for a meal though. They need to know in advance when you wish a meal, so that they cook enough. Even though it is one of the larger temples in the area, they have very limited funds, and can only buy supplies for one day at a time.

Is there any way of getting in touch with radha Gopinath Mandir guest house. I really want to stay there between March 9-13.

Is it possible to book in advance at the radha Gopinath Mandir guest house?

I'm planning on going for Holi, but everything in the entire place is booked. I'm running out of options. Any help?

I have an old phone number of their place in New Delhi, it probably changed a number of times by adding a few digits, as phone numbers change so often in India. The number is 011-4601637. The name is Mr Brij Mohan Goswami, or Smt. Krishna Goswami.

Did you check thru these other guest-house options (scroll down)? Not in the same part of town though.
http://www.iskconvrindavan.com/for-visitors/

Thanks Atala will ring this no. when i get to Delhi..

Hi tsultrim

Did you by any chance stay at Radha Gopinaath temple?
If you did do you by any chance have the current number of the guesthouse?

Or if you did not do you know of a good place to stay in Vrindavan? Thanks

I visited vrindavan a couple of years back and stayed at thakurjee ashram..it is about a km ahead of iskcon and was a really clean,nice and cheap place..both ac and non ac available..great food also available for rs.40/person...if i remember correctly...hope you enjoy your trip..would love to hear from you after your trip!!!

Searched the phone number of Thakurjee ashram- (o565)3298844/2442935

Personally I think if you stay near to KB mandir, you're missing out on a lot of the "nectar" of old Vrindavan. Not to mention getting back and forth is a complete pain in the butt - LITERALLY! The Vrindavan rikshaws are renown for their uncomfort. It can also be very costly going back and forth as KB is so far outside Vrindavan and the rikshaws are gonna give you hell over the cost.

Also I should mention there are very heavy contsructions going on along that road - a new road is being built - much wider - a lot of temples and stores are losing their walls as I type. It's very noisy and can be almost impossible to get thru at times.

I just came back from Vrindavan 2 weeks ago and had to make trips to KB a number of times and I was SO thankful I stayed somewhere else (i stayed @ Vamsi Kunja)


My tips:

Not close to Isckon - actually FURTHEST temple from - but right near Yamunaji and in the heart of OLD Vrindavan - you can stay at Vrinda Kunja. It's right next to Gopeshwara Mahadeva Mandir.
Beautiful private courtyards and I guarantee the CLEANEST complex in Vrindavan!!!

You can also stay at Yamuna Kunja, or - if you are female there is a nice Mataji Ashrama at Vamsi Kunja (on the other side of Gopeswara Mahadeva Mandir).

All are run by Vrinda Mission (Srila Prabhupada lineage.) Whether you are a Hare Krishna Devotee or not - you are welcome to stay. MAny yoga students and new agers coming thru.
If you are interested in getting a Hands-on experience in Vrindavan they can hook you up with some interesting Volunteer projects going on.

Some friends who are yoga students dropped in for 3 days recently and did One day volunteering with a Free medical clinic helping poor people and animals (with full vet service), going out to villages with medicine etc ... next day the helped at Sandipani Muni School - a free school for the poorest kids of the area and third day taking a tour to some important sites.

You may not want to do any volunteer work - but thought I'd add it in for the SEARCH feature users in future ;-)



Contact details:

Vrinda Kunja Math
Address: Bhut Galli 169, near Gopeshwara Mahadeva., Vrindavan, District Mathura UP - PIN 281121
In Charge: Pranesvara Das
Phone: 0091/(0)565 - 2443623 / 2442172

Vamsi Kunja Mandir
Address: Gopesvara Road 154, near Vamshi-Vat, Vrindavan District Mathura UP - PIN 281121
In Charge: Gopa Kumar Devi Dasi
Phone: 0091/(0)565 - 2443932

Yamuna kunja Mandir:
Andher Galli, Seva-kunja 297, on Parikrama next to Imlitala Temple, Vrindavan, District Mathura UP - PIN 281121
In Charge:Gaura Keshava Das
Phone: 0091/(0)565 - 2443664/ ) 0091/(0)565-44-36-64 0091/(0) 565-2443664


Anything else you would like to know about Vrindavan?
I would be only to glad to help - just ask.
and if you decide to swing by Mayapur on the way home to OZ that's where I live. (BTW I'm also an Aussie)

Where is the KB Mandir you mention? I'm interested in the Radha gopinath that Atala writes of and am trying to get a grasp of the areas. I want to be in the nitty gritty of the town as i'm doing some research for a book. I'm looking for any resources you could recommend in Vrindavan: lodging (cheap but safe), food/water(also cheap but safe), possibly translator at least for a day or two, how to tell where i can take pictures, how conversational and accessible are the people, transportation between there and Delhi and Varanasi? thanks!