Govardhan

Govardhan is a key pilgrimage centre in India and a municipal town; a nagar panchayat; seat of a MLA Member of Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh; a Tehsil, in Mathura district in the India in state of Uttar Pradesh. About 23 kilometres from Mathura, the town is on the road link between Mathura and Deeg.[3]

This article is about the Indian town. For other uses, see Govardhan (disambiguation).

Govardhan
Town
Govardhan
Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 27.5°N 77.47°E / 27.5; 77.47
Country India
StateUttar Pradesh
DistrictMathura
Elevation
179 m (587 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total22,576
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
 • NativeBraj Bhasha dialect
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
281502[2]
Vehicle registrationUP-85

Geography

Govardhana is located at 27.5°N 77.47°E / 27.5; 77.47.[4] It has an average elevation of 179 metres (587 feet). Govardhana has been made Tehsil in Mathura District by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Demographics

In the 2011 Indian Census, Govardhana had a population of 22,576. Males constituted 55% of the population and females 45%. Govardhana has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 52%. In Govardhana, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.[1]

Govardhan Hill
Govardhan hill, Govardhan.
Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill

Pilgrimage

Each year Hindus and other people make a pilgrimage to Govardhan, and its sacred Govardhan Hill, from other places in India and other places in the world to offer their obeisance to Krishna and Radha, key figures in Indian epics. One of these, celebrated at the Govardhan Puja, is of the lifting of Govardhan Hill (Giriraj Parvat) to protect the villagers from the flood caused by the Lord of thunder and rain, Indra.[5][3] One of the most important day in Goverdhan is Guru Poornima (also called "Mudia Poono"). Following the festival of lights, or Diwali, the previous day, devotees come to Govardhan for parikrama.[5]

Historic religious sites

Sites on the hill include Kusum Sarovar, Haridev Temple,[3] and other temples like Daan-Ghati Temple and Mukharbind Temple. The town is also famous for its 21 kilometers long Parikrama of the famous Govardhan Hill.

Shri Govardhan Giriraj Ji Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Shri Govardhan Giriraj Ji Temple, Govardhan Hill, Mathura

Mansi Ganga sacred lake
Mansi Ganga

The town also houses Mansi Ganga, a close-ended lake.[3] On the banks of this lake, there are quite a few temples, prominent among them the Mukharbind temple.

Kusum sarovar and Samadhi of Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal

Suraj Mal's Cenotaph at Govardhan, a photo by William Henry Baker, c.1860.

On the Govardhan Parikrama path on the western bank of 130 sqm sacred artificial lake Kusum Sarovar (Kusum kund) there are three Chhatris housing the samadhis of Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal (r. 1755 – 25 December 1763) and 2 his wives, all of these memorials were built by his son and successor Maharaja Jawahar Singh.[6][7] The architecture and carving is in the pierced stone style and the ceiling of cenotaphs are adorned with the beautiful painting of life of lord Krishna and Maharajs Suraj Mal's court.[6][7] Most imposing chattri is of Mahara Suraj Mal, flanked on either side by two smaller chattris of his two wives, "Maharani Hansiya" and "Maharani Kishori".[7] Maharaj Suraj Mal is well known for capturing Red Fort in 1754 CE after defetaing the forces of Mughal king Ahmad Shah Bahadur.[8][9]

Transportation

Govardhan is located about 150 kilometres (93 mi) from Delhi, where the airport is located. A railway station is located at Mathura, where taxis can be hired to reach the town,[5] which is about 23 kilometres (14 mi) away. There are also tourist buses[3] and a single line electric train for the journey from Mathura.[10]

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See also

References
  1. "Govardhana (Mathura in Uttar Pradesh)". City Population. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  2. "Goverdhana, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh". pincode.net.in. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  3. "Travel to Goverdhan". Maps of India. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  4. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Govardhana
  5. Amit Sengupta (16 June 2015). "Spiritual Soujourn (sic) in Govardhan". Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  6. Madan Prasad Bezbaruah, Dr. Krishna Gopal, Phal S. Girota, 2003, Fairs and Festivals of India: Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, p. 480-494.
  7. D. Anand, 1992, Krishna: The Living God of Braj, Page 56.
  8. Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
  9. "Haryana Revenue Gazeteer of Gurgaon 1910, Section B - History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  10. "Departures from Goverdhan (GDO)". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 7 April 2017.

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