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
वंशीवट
Vamshi Vat (Vanshivat)
The banyan where Krishna played his flute and the gopis left their homes to come to him.
GroveVrindavanKrishna the flute-player
The story: The flute under the banyan
On the autumn full-moon night Krishna looked at the moon, the blossoming forest and the cool breeze, and played his flute softly. The gopis heard it, left their work, their husbands and their children, and ran toward him (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.29.1 to 10.29.4). Local tradition says he stood under a banyan, the Vamshi Vat, while playing.
A banyan is shown at the spot in Vrindavan, with a small temple. It is the starting point of the Rasa Lila stories, so many pilgrims stop here before Nidhivan and Seva Kunj. The identification of the tree is Gaudiya and local tradition.
Where this is told
- Srimad Bhagavatam 10.29.1 to 10.29.4: the flute and the gopis' arrival
- Srimad Bhagavatam 10.21: the Venu Gita
- The tree identification is local tradition
History
- The Gopinath deity is said to have been found near the tree (see Radha Gopinath). The banyan and temple are modern in form. Check locally.
What to see
- The banyan
- Small Krishna flute shrine
Key festivals
- Oct to Nov: Sharad Purnima, the Rasa night
Timings and rules
| Summer darshan | Daylight hours. Check locally |
|---|---|
| Winter darshan | Daylight hours. Check locally |
| Closed | Check locally |
| Dress code | Modest clothing; shoulders and knees covered. |
| Photos and phones | Not inside any sanctum. Check locally for the rest. |
No reliable published timings were found. Check locally.
Parking and getting there
Parking
Old town and Yamuna side. Use the town lot and walk. Check locally.
Charge: Small. Check locally.
Restrictions
- No special rule found. Festival days bring diversions. Check locally
Cab drop and walk
Drop: Nearest road.
Walk: 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 1.5 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: Evening, especially Sharad Purnima.
Crowds: Usually light. Heavier on festival days.
Monkeys: Possible. Keep spectacles, phones and food out of sight.
Comfort
Footwear: Leave shoes at the gate or with your driver.
Toilets: Limited. Use facilities before you arrive.
Accessibility: Uneven ground and steps are likely. Check locally.
Scams to avoid
- Touts who offer a 'special' puja or darshan for a fee
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
Is it open all day?
It is an open shrine. Check locally.
Check locally
- Exact location
- Timings
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 Vamshi Vat (Vanshivat)