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 वल्लभ मंदिर
Radha Vallabh Temple
The only temple in Vrindavan where the deity is Krishna, with Radha shown as a crown: a place of samaj gayan and sweet singing.
TempleVrindavanShri Radha Vallabh Lal ji
The story: Hit Harivansh and the deity from Deoband
Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu (born c. 1502) founded the Radha Vallabh sampradaya. The story says he was given a deity by a Brahmin, Atmadev of Deoband, who had received him in a dream from Lord Shiva. He carried the deity to Vrindavan and worshipped him in a small shrine in the grove, where the first sevā started in 1534 by tradition.
Radha is given the first place in this tradition. Krishna is Radha Vallabh: the beloved of Radha. The worship is built around the poetry of Hit Chaurasi, 84 verses by Hit Harivansh that sing of the nitya (eternal) Vihar of the Divine Couple. The kind of love celebrated here is Rasa, the love of the Rasa Lila (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.29 to 10.33), but sung in Braj bhasha by the temple's singers (samaj gayan).
Visitors usually sit in the hall and listen. There is nothing to 'do' except open your ears and your heart.
Where this is told
- Hit Chaurasi (verses of Hit Harivansh): the foundation text of the sampradaya
- Srimad Bhagavatam 10.29 to 10.33: Rasa Lila
- The Deoband story is local tradition
History
- Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu established the worship in the early 16th century.
- A grand red sandstone temple (the 'Lal Mandir') was built in 1585 by Sundar Das Bhatnagar, a Mughal official under Akbar by common accounts. It was damaged later; the ruined walls stand.
- The deity was moved to Kaman during the Mughal-era unrest and brought back to the present 19th-century temple in the old town.
What to see
- Radha Vallabh Lal ji with the crown representing Radha
- Samaj gayan, the sung worship in Braj bhasha
- The ruined red sandstone 'Lal Mandir' nearby
Key festivals
- Aug to Sep: Radhashtami (the most important day here)
- Feb to Mar: Holi
- Sep to Oct: Hit Utsav, the birth day of Hit Harivansh (Ekadashi)
Timings and rules
| Summer darshan | About 5:30 am to 12:00 pm, and 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Winter darshan | About 6:00 am to 12:00 pm, and 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm |
| Aarti | Mangala aarti early morning; Shayan aarti at night |
| Closed | Midday break |
| Dress code | Modest dress. Remove footwear. |
| Photos and phones | Photography inside the sanctum is not allowed. Check locally for the hall. |
| Also | Sit quietly during the sung worship |
Indicative only. Check locally.
Parking and getting there
Parking
Old town lanes near Seva Kunj. Park at the main town lot and walk or take an e-rickshaw.
Charge: About Rs 50 to 100 at a lot. Check locally.
Restrictions
- No cars in the temple lane. E-rickshaw or walking only
Cab drop and walk
Drop: Drop at the Banke Bihari approach or at the Nidhivan crossing.
Walk: 10 to 15 minutes through the old lanes.
Town-wide parking and transport rules: Vrindavan guide.
Distances and nearby places
| From Mathura Junction | About 13 km |
|---|---|
| From Banke Bihari, Vrindavan | About 0.5 km on foot |
| 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 or evening aarti. Weekdays are quietest.
Crowds: Light to moderate. Big on Radhashtami.
Monkeys: Yes, along the lane.
Comfort
Footwear: Shoe stand at the gate.
Toilets: Limited. Use before entering the lanes.
Accessibility: Step entry; not step-free.
Scams to avoid
- Touts offering to 'organise darshan' for money
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 makes Radha Vallabh special?
Radha is given the central place, represented by a crown beside Krishna, and the worship is sung in Braj bhasha.
Check locally
- Darshan hours
- Photo rule
- Parking charge
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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