Gokul Dhaba (near Chaurasi Khamba)
Makhan-mishri, as claimed in one article
गोकुल नंद भवन
Gokul: Nand Bhawan and Gokulnath ji
Krishna's infancy: the cradle, Putana, Trinavarta, and the little boy tied to the mortar.
TempleGokul, Mahavan and BaldeoGokulnath ji (Pushtimarg), Nand Bhawan and Krishna's cradle
The story: Vasudeva leaves the baby at Nanda's door
On the night of Krishna's birth, Vasudeva carried the baby across the Yamuna to Gokul and left him with Yashoda, taking her newborn daughter back to the prison (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.47 to 10.3.53). At sunrise Nanda Maharaj found a baby in his house and the whole village rejoiced. The gifts, music and the 'Nanda ke Anand Bhayo' songs that you hear in every Braj temple come from that morning.
Gokul is the scene of the baby's early lilas: the witch Putana, who came with poisoned milk and was freed by Krishna's sucking (10.6); the whirlwind demon Trinavarta (10.7); the cart he kicked over (10.7); and Damodar Lila, in which Yashoda tied him to a mortar with a rope and he pulled it between the two arjuna trees, freeing the sons of Kubera (10.9 and 10.10).
Pushtimarg regards Gokul as one of its main seats. Vitthalnath, Vallabhacharya's son, settled here in the 16th century, and the Gokulnath ji haveli remains a centre of the tradition.
Where this is told
- Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3 to 10.10: birth, Putana, Trinavarta, Damodar Lila
- Garga Samhita, Goloka Khanda and Vrindavana Khanda, on Gokul's lilas
- Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Krishna Janma Khanda
History
- Gokul's present sacred geography stems from the 16th century, when Vitthalnath and the Pushtimarg Goswamis settled here.
- The Gokulnath ji temple is a Pushtimarg haveli of the 16th to 19th centuries. The exact build date: check locally.
- Gokul was a significant town of the Maratha and Jat period too.
What to see
- Nand Bhawan and the Krishna cradle (Palna)
- Gokulnath ji haveli
- Thakurani Ghat on the Yamuna
- Yashoda's mortar spot (Okhal)
Key festivals
- Aug to Sep: Nandotsav the day after Janmashtami (largest festival)
- Feb to Mar: Holi (Chhadi-mar Holi)
Timings and rules
| Summer darshan | About 6:00 am to 12:00 pm, and 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Winter darshan | About 6:30 am to 12:00 pm, and 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm |
| Closed | Afternoon |
| Dress code | Modest. |
| Photos and phones | Not inside the haveli. Check locally. |
Indicative. Check locally.
Parking and getting there
Parking
Gokul is crowded. Large vehicles stop at the entry; cars park in a lot near the main chowk.
Charge: About Rs 30 to 50. Check locally.
Restrictions
- Narrow lanes in old Gokul; walk the last stretch
- Nandotsav day closes the approach to private cars
Cab drop and walk
Drop: Drop at the main chowk.
Walk: 5 to 10 minutes.
Town-wide parking and transport rules: Gokul, Mahavan and Baldeo guide.
Distances and nearby places
| From Mathura Junction | About 12 km, 30 to 40 minutes |
|---|---|
| From Banke Bihari, Vrindavan | About 20 km |
| From Delhi Airport (IGI) | About 175 km |
Distances and drive times are approximate and vary with traffic and diversions.
Practical tips
Timing and crowds
Best time: Morning.
Crowds: Light on weekdays.
Monkeys: Yes.
Comfort
Footwear: Stands at the gate.
Toilets: Limited.
Accessibility: Lanes and steps.
Scams to avoid
- Guides who say the temple is closed
- Cow-feed sellers who overcharge
Where to eat nearby
Prasad stalls around the Gokulnath temple
Makhan-mishri, panjiri and khichdi prasad. Unnamed
Anandvan and Pandit Ji Food Corner (Gokul)
Listed for veg thali. Names only
Kheermohan of Mahavan
Named as a Mahavan sweet in one Hindi source. Single mention
This list comes from desk research in published guides and listings. We have not visited these places for this guide. Walk and drive times are rough, and opening hours, prices and onion/garlic policy can change, so check locally before you go.
Common questions
Is Gokul the same as Mahavan?
They are neighbouring places, a short drive apart, and are often visited together.
Check locally
- Timings
- Parking charge
- Photo rule
- Temple build date
Last checked: 2026-10-23. Sources for timings, parking and rules:
Radhe Radhe. Walk with love, we will take care of the road.
Book a cab for Gokul: Nand Bhawan and Gokulnath ji