Radha Bihari Misthan Bhandar (Banke Bihari temple market)
Mathura peda and khoya sweets. The shop's own claim is a sweet shop here since 1965
राधा दामोदर मंदिर
Radha Damodar Temple
A small, quiet temple with a Govardhan stone that devotees circle four times to earn a Govardhan parikrama.
TempleVrindavanSri Radha Damodar and the Giriraj Shila
The story: The Giriraj stone and the mother's rope
Damodar is the name given to Krishna when his mother Yashoda tied him to a wooden mortar with a rope (dam) around his belly (udara) for stealing butter. The child pulled the mortar between two arjuna trees and freed the two cursed sons of Kubera (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9 and 10.10). The month of Kartik, which is now (October to November), is dedicated to Damodar: lamps are lit daily and the Damodarashtakam is sung.
In this temple Jiva Goswami installed the deity carved by Rupa Goswami's hand, according to tradition. Beside it sits a Govardhan stone (Giriraj Shila) that Sanatana Goswami carried; it bears the print of Krishna's foot, they say. In old age Sanatana Goswami could no longer walk around Govardhan, and Krishna gave him that stone and told him that circling it would be as good.
Many devotees circle the temple's shrine four times instead of walking the 21 km. Prabhupada lived here in the 1960s and wrote the first volumes of the Bhagavatam in these rooms.
Where this is told
- Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9 and 10.10: Damodar Lila
- Padma Purana (Uttara Khanda), Kartik Mahatmya: the merit of Damodar month
- Chaitanya Charitamrita (Antya Lila 13) on Sanatana Goswami and the Giriraj shila (the foot-print is local tradition)
History
- Founded by Jiva Goswami in 1542 (traditional date).
- The temple has the samadhis of Rupa Goswami and Jiva Goswami and a bhajan kutir.
- Srila Prabhupada lived in a small room here from 1965 and started writing his Bhagavatam translation.
What to see
- Radha Damodar deity and the Giriraj shila
- Rupa Goswami's samadhi and bhajan kutir
- Prabhupada's rooms (open to visitors)
- Four circumambulations of the Giriraj stone as a parikrama
Key festivals
- Oct to Nov: Damodar/Kartik month: daily lamp offerings (current period)
- Jul to Aug: Jhulan
- Aug to Sep: Janmashtami and Radhashtami
Timings and rules
| Summer darshan | About 5:00 am to 12:00 pm, and 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Winter darshan | About 5:30 am to 12:00 pm, and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm |
| Aarti | Morning and evening aarti |
| Closed | Afternoon rest |
| Dress code | Modest dress. Remove footwear. |
| Photos and phones | No photos of the deity. Check locally for other parts. |
| Also | Quiet bhajan environment; keep conversation soft |
Indicative. Check locally.
Parking and getting there
Parking
Near Seva Kunj in the old town. Park at a town lot and walk.
Charge: About Rs 50 to 100. Check locally.
Restrictions
- No cars in the lanes during festivals
Cab drop and walk
Drop: Drop near Seva Kunj crossing.
Walk: 5 to 10 minutes.
Town-wide parking and transport rules: Vrindavan guide.
Distances and nearby places
| From Mathura Junction | About 13 km |
|---|---|
| From Banke Bihari, Vrindavan | About 0.7 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, and any day in Kartik month for the lamp offering.
Crowds: Light. Heavy only in Kartik.
Monkeys: Possible along the lane.
Comfort
Footwear: Shoe stand at the gate.
Toilets: Limited.
Accessibility: Steps; not step-free.
Scams to avoid
- Touts who sell 'special' lamp sets at high prices
Where to eat nearby
Lakshman Prasad Kachori Wale (Banke Bihari area)
Khasta bedai and kachori with aloo sabzi, from a generations-old stall
Agarwal Mithai Wale (near the police chowki at Banke Bihari)
Urad-dal kachori in desi ghee, potato-pumpkin sabzi, fresh curd
Purohit Ji's kachori (Banke Bihari gali)
Kachori; one source gives Rs 25 each, which may be stale
Stalls on the lanes to Banke Bihari (Loi Bazaar)
Hot jalebi, peda, chaat, rabri, kulfi. Liveliest in winter evenings
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
What is the Giriraj shila?
A stone from Govardhan hill that Sanatana Goswami carried. Devotees circle it four times as a substitute for the Govardhan parikrama.
Check locally
- Timings
- Parking charge
- Photo rule
Last checked: 2026-10-23. Sources for timings, parking and rules:
Radhe Radhe. Walk with love, we will take care of the road.
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