A fantastic window into Hindu India’s deep-rooted connection with Lord Krishna is the annual celebration of Janmashtami—the Divine Being’s birthday. The streets of Mathura and Vrindavan come alive with streams of devotees dancing in sheer abandon for their love of the ‘God of Love,’ who walked amongst men.

Lord Krishna is one of the most revered divinities of the Hindu pantheon. An avatar of Vishnu, the Preserver of the Hindu Trinity also known as the god of light and enlightenment, Lord Krishna has cast his timeless spell on millions of devotees scattered across the earth's four corners. Testament to the universal appeal of the beloved deity is the string of ISKCON Temples that have sprung up all over the globe in his name.

Yet nowhere is his presence more vital and vibrant than in the towns of Mathura and Vrindavan and their surroundings by the holy Yamuna River, where he spent his childhood and teenage years. The soul-stirring pilgrimage to these twin towns recaptures those myths and stories, momentous anecdotes, and spiritual teachings that are intrinsic to the devotional Krishna saga.

The blossoming of the timeless love between Radha and Krishna amongst its forested glades still resonates in what is known as the Braj region in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Intrinsic to the worship of the god is the inspirational Rasleelas, the dance dramas that are rich in pageantry, celebrating this divine union.

The lineage of Lord Krishna’s Braj Bhumi is at the very heart of this soul-stirring experience as you travel between Kotban, near Hodel, to the historic Mughal bastion of Agra. Skirting the eastern expanses of the Trans-Yamuna landscape are the villages of Gokul, Mahavan, Baldeo, Mat, and Bajna. Across the river stand Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana, and Nandgaon—each of them richly immersed in the Krishna legend, from the time of his secret birth in a cell to his mischievous days as a teenager.

Krishna bhaktas (devotees) travel from all over the world to pay obeisance to their beloved god all year round—and it’s no surprise why this movement is so stirring. There is so much here to enrich you spiritually and culturally. With over 1,000 festivals a year, 5,000 temples to visit, hundreds of villages, and the pastoral setting of forest glades, fruit orchards, cultivated fields, and water bodies that recapture the exploits of Krishna and his friends, as well as Radha and her sakhis (friends), the gopis (milkmaids) in those halcyon days—Braj offers an unparalleled experience of immersive worship. The ritual parikramas and pujas, the folk songs and dances, the Raas Leelas and kathas, the Vedic gurukuls (schools), and the kirtans—all serve as non-stop, joyous nourishment for the soul, seamlessly woven into the tapestry of everyday life.

The Braj circuit holds a very important position in Hindu devotional culture. While the celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth in August/September is a sumptuous affair, the holy period of Kartika (October/November) sees streams of pilgrims participating in the ritual parikrama of the sacred sites, including the bathing ghats along the flanks of the Yamuna River, which itself is the site of many important events in Krishna’s life.

In Mathura, the core center of Shri Krishna Janmasthan Bhoomi, the Keshav Deo Temple holds paramount importance. Located in the Shri Krishna Janmasthan temple complex, the shrine marks the blessed spot where baby Krishna was born to his imprisoned parents, Vasudeva and Devaki, who had been incarcerated by Kansa, his wicked maternal uncle. The Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura is the site of the most exotic celebrations of Janmashtami, Diwali, and Holi. They pull out all the stops with illuminations, decorations, pujas, and rituals—along with thrilling events highlighting Krishna’s life here. Unmissable at the temple are the glorious carvings and murals.

Vishram Ghat marks the spot where Krishna came to seek solitude and solace after killing his tyrannical uncle. This is one of the holiest places by the Yamuna River and is lined with 25 sacred bathing ghats and many temples. The parikrama ritual in Kartik ends at this hallowed spot.

Vrindavan is home to the beautiful Banke Bihari Temple and Madan Mohan Temple. The Banke Bihari Temple extols the wonderment of Krishna as a child. No noisy temple bells ring to startle the waking child, which is quite a unique and sensitive practice. Chir Ghat is one of the holiest ghats; it is the place associated with a naughty Krishna stealing the clothes of the gopis while they were bathing.

Kesi Ghat is the spot where Krishna was compelled to slay his uncle, a tyrannical raja who used to terrorize his subjects in Braj. After the deed, Krishna came to purify himself by bathing in the holy waters of the Yamuna. The evening aarti here is very moving. The Sri Radha Raman Temple is one of the oldest temples in Vrindavan. The ISKCON Temple in Vrindavan is a focal point for devotees. The Sri Krishna Balarama Temple serves as ISKCON’s international headquarters. You can also visit the Sri Radha Damodar Temple, the erstwhile residence of Sri Prabhupada, who set off on his journey to spread the ISKCON network in the West.

Before you leave, you should definitely arrange to witness a Raas Leela or ‘Dance of Divine Love,’ one of the highlights of your explorations of Krishna’s Braj Bhoomi. These magical performances, which re-enact the love play between Radha and Krishna, are beautifully choreographed with gorgeous costumes, stellar dancing, and songs and musical instruments tuned to provide the most evocative scenes of this timeless story. They offer a deep dive for the soul to connect with a deeper, more profound meaning of life and love, spirituality, and the divine.