Imbued with elegance and grandeur, the Prem Mandir is a massive temple that was shaped by Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj in the year 2001. Known as “Temple of God’s love”, this grand religious place is dedicated to Radha Krishna as well as Sita Ram. Located in Vrindavan, the holy city in the district of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, the temple is enveloped with piousness and serenity. This newly constructed temple is the most beautiful in the entire Brij area and is crowded with devotees during the time of the Aarti.
Made out of white marble and adorned with very intricate carvings, this temple is also famous for its architectural beauty. Statues of Shri Krishna and his admirers, portraying essential occasions surrounding the Lord’s life, cover the main temple. Various scenes from Krishna’s life, like raising the Govardhan Mountain, have been depicted on the periphery of the Prem Mandir. The lighting of the temple further glorifies its spectacular look, especially during the night. The colored water twists and twirls to the tunes of the kirtans of Radha Krishna being played nearby and are an audio-visual delight.
History of Prem Mandir
Architecture of Prem Mandir
Built in the Rajasthani Somnath Gujarati architectural style, the Prem Mandir is situated on a 54-acre site on the outskirts of Vrindavan. The entire structure has been constructed using Italian marble of the highest quality and represents ‘a renaissance in ancient Indian art and architecture’. The entire structure is 125 feet tall, 122 feet long and 115 feet wide.
The doors and windows of the temple are beautifully carved, and the walls and floor are adorned with colourful semi-precious stones that depict floral vines blooming with buds and flowers. The engravings on the main sanctum and the ceiling are also exquisite and manage to enthral the onlooker. The pillars are intricately engraved with beautiful statues that depict the Kinkari Sakhis and Manjari Sakhis serving Shri Radha Krishna in a variety of ways.
The entire temple is beautifully lit up with the soft light of the beautiful chandeliers and is indeed a sight to behold. The lighting of Prem Mandir changes colour every five minutes and is very strategically used. The temple also houses a circumambulation route, which consists of 48 panels in all that depict the pastimes of Shri Radha Krishna. 84 panels have also been set up on the exterior of the temple and display the loving pastimes of Shri Krishna. Other than this, numerous portraits of Krishna Leela, or the miracles of Lord Krishna, can also be found inside the temple. The first floor of the temple has spectacular idols of Lord Krishna and Radha, while the second floor is dedicated to Lord Rama and Sita.
Prem Mandir Timings and Aarti Schedule
1. Mornings:
5:30 AM – Aarti and Parikrama
6:30 AM – Bhog and Bhog Door Closes
8:30 AM – Darshan and Aarti
11:30 AM – Bhog
12:00 PM – Shayan Aarti and doors close
2. Evenings:
4:30 PM – Aarti and Darshan
5:30 PM – Bhog
8:00 PM – Shayan Aarti
8:15 PM – Shayan Darshan
8:30 PM – Door Closes
Festivals Celebrated at Prem Mandir
Best Time To Visit Prem Mandir
Tips For Visiting Prem Mandir
2. Wheelchair service for the elderly and physically challenged people is available at the temple premises.
3. Peda sweets are available at the temple to take back as prasad for INR 100 per packet.
Musical Fountain at Prem Mandir
How to reach Prem Mandir
- Air: The nearest airport to Vrindavan is Agra which is 80 kilometers away from the temple. A taxi can be hired from the airport to reach the Prem Mandir.
- Rail: Mathura is the nearest rail junction from where the temple is 8 kilometers away. A taxi, bus or auto-rickshaw can be hired from outside the station.