Govardhan - A Pilgrimage Town

Distance :48km from Bharatpur, 15km east of Deeg

¤ A Pilgrimage Town

This quiet little spot with narrow winding lanes is closely linked with Lord Krishna, the most loved deity in Hindu mythology. This mischievous god is said to have lived in these areas, and as such worship and devotion have a very tangible feel here. Govardhan is an important place of pilgrimage too. According to legend, Krishna once protected the people of Govardhan from the wrath of Indra, the God of Rain (also the great Warrior God). It so happened that Indra hurled a terrible thunderbolt at these poor people (for reasons quite unknown to us). So Krishna lifted a whole mountain, the nearby Mount Giriraj, and held it on his little finger for seven days and nights as an umbrella against the terrible rain and cyclone. Such were the miracles Krishna is supposed to have performed.Later Indra had to fall at Krishna's feet and ask for forgiveness, of course.


¤ Famous Temples

There are lots of temples in Govardhan. The most interesting one is the 16th century Harideva Temple. Near this is a complex of chhatris (cenotaphs) of the Jat maharajas of Bharatpur which have some really nice frescoes. Their curved cornices and multiple domes and pavilions make them somewhat similar to the Rajput architectural pieces. There is another chhatri dedicated to the most illustrious Jat ruler, Suraj Mal, about 3km north of here. The ceiling has frescoes showing episodes from the life of the maharaja.