A Foggy December Journey to Vrindavan & Barsana – A Trip That Touched My Soul

Lord Krishna birthplace

Some trips are planned for fun, some for a break from routine… and then there are trips that quietly change something inside you. Our Vrindavan–Barsana journey was exactly that. It was short, barely one and a half days, but emotionally it felt much longer — deeper, fuller, unforgettable.

This is the story of three friends, a foggy December night, crowded temples, tired legs, overflowing hearts, and an unexpected spiritual connection that left us speechless.

Planning the Trip – Three Friends, One Calling

The plan started very casually — three friends talking, laughing, and suddenly realising how long it had been since we had done something just for ourselves. Someone mentioned Vrindavan. No big discussion, no overthinking. It felt like a calling more than a plan.

Tickets were booked, bags packed lightly, hearts already heavy with expectations we couldn’t explain. We didn’t know what awaited us — only that Krishna’s land was calling.

Day 1 – Reaching Vrindavan Through Foggy Roads

We reached Vrindavan late at night in December. The roads were wrapped in thick fog — the kind where visibility is barely a few feet ahead. Streetlights looked like dim halos floating in the air. Our cab moved slowly, carefully, almost respectfully, as if even the road demanded silence.

There was an unusual calm in that fog. No fear, no restlessness — just quiet anticipation. It felt symbolic, like life itself sometimes — unclear paths, low visibility, but faith keeps you moving forward.

We checked into our stay, tired but strangely peaceful. The cold air, the distant temple bells, and the thought that we were finally in Vrindavan made sleep come easily.

Day 2 – A Day That Felt Like a Lifetime

Early Morning Banke Bihari Ji Darshan
We woke up early, excitement pushing away sleep. After getting ready, we headed straight to Banke Bihari Mandir. The lanes were already alive — devotees, chants, flower sellers, cows walking fearlessly through crowds.

Morning & Banke Bihari Ji Darshan

We woke up early, excitement pushing away sleep. After getting ready, we headed straight to Banke Bihari Mandir. The lanes were already alive — devotees, chants, flower sellers, cows walking fearlessly through crowds.

The darshan was intense, crowded, chaotic… yet magical. The curtains opening and closing, the glimpse of Banke Bihari Ji’s eyes — playful, powerful, alive. In that moment, the pushing, the noise, everything disappeared. There were only tears and gratitude.

Simple Breakfast, Unforgettable Taste

After darshan, hunger reminded us we were human. We enjoyed kachori, sabzi, jalebi, and local chai — simple food, but somehow it tasted special in Vrindavan. Maybe it was the devotion in the air, or maybe hunger after walking — but it felt like prasad more than breakfast.

Radha Vallabh Mandir – Quiet Devotion

Next was Radha Vallabh Mandir, calmer and deeply devotional. The focus here is Radha Rani — not an idol, but her presence symbolised by a crown beside Krishna. That silence, that humility, touched something very soft inside the heart.

Parikrama of Nidhivan – Goosebumps & Faith

Walking the parikrama of Nidhivan was a powerful experience. The stories, the beliefs, the energy — it makes you walk slower, talk less, feel more. Whether you believe everything or not, your heart senses that this place is different.

Prem Mandir – Devotion in White Marble

By evening, we reached Prem Mandir. White marble glowing, sculptures telling Krishna’s leelas, lights slowly turning the temple into a dream. We stood quietly, absorbing the beauty, feeling small and blessed at the same time.

ISKCON Temple Aarti – Becoming Gopis for a Moment

The highlight of the day was the ISKCON Temple evening aarti. The chants, the clapping, the singing — it wasn’t just an aarti, it was an emotion.

In that moment, it felt like we weren’t tourists or devotees — we were gopis, completely lost in Krishna’s love. Eyes closed, hands folded, tears flowing freely without any reason. It was a rare kind of emotional connection — pure, childlike, unconditional.

One day. Just one day. And yet, it felt spiritually complete.

Day 3 – Barsana: Crowd Like Samundar Ka Sailaab

Time was limited, but our hearts wanted more. We decided on a quick visit to Barsana – Radha Rani Mandir.

It was a weekend — and the crowd was exactly what you’d imagine. A samundar ka sailaab of devotees. Pushing, waiting, climbing, patience being tested at every step.

At moments, it felt impossible. But faith has its own way. Somehow, step by step, breath by breath, we made it.

And then — darshan.

That one vibrant, powerful glimpse of Radha Rani made everything worth it. The exhaustion vanished. The crowd disappeared. There was only joy, strength, and a deep sense of surrender.

Because we were short of time and the mandir was about to close, we decided to take bikes to reach the temple instead of climbing all the stairs. At that moment, it felt like the only practical choice.

But while coming back, we chose a different path.

We walked down using the stairs — slowly, quietly. And honestly, that turned out to be one of the most beautiful experiences of the entire trip. With every step, it felt like something inside us was settling, connecting deeper, falling more and more in love with Radha–Krishna. The tiredness didn’t matter. The crowd didn’t matter. Only the feeling did.

Leaving Vrindavan – Teary Eyes, Silent Hearts

Soon it was time to leave. We got back into the cab to Delhi, quieter than before. No loud conversations. Just soft smiles, tired bodies, and heavy hearts.

As the city faded behind us, all three of us had moist eyes. No one said it out loud, but we all felt the same — we were leaving something precious behind.

We promised each other — and ourselves — that we would return. Because Vrindavan doesn’t feel like a place you visit once. It feels like a place that calls you back.

Final Thoughts – A Journey Beyond Time

This was not a long trip. Not a luxurious one. Not a perfectly planned one.

But it was real.

Foggy roads, crowded temples, tired legs, simple food, endless faith — and a spiritual connection that cannot be explained, only felt.

Vrindavan and Barsana didn’t just give us memories. They gave us peace, tears, strength, and a reminder that sometimes, the shortest journeys leave the deepest impact.

A Few Things We Couldn’t Do — And What We Learnt

Even though this was just a one and a half day trip, it truly changed something inside all three of us. It felt like Vrindavan gently slowed us down, softened us, and reminded us of faith beyond routine life.

We really wanted to meet Premanand Ji Maharaj. Unfortunately, during our visit he was not well and his daily parikrama and darshan for devotees was not happening. It was disappointing for a moment, but then we realised — maybe it was just another lesson in surrender. Not everything happens when we want it to.

We also planned to visit Keli Kunj and Radha Raman Mandir. But time slipped away quickly in Vrindavan. Distances feel different here — not in kilometres, but in emotions. With very limited time on our hands, we simply couldn’t cover everything.

And that was okay.

We left some places unseen, some prayers unfinished — and maybe that is exactly why Vrindavan calls you back again and again. We promised ourselves that we would return soon, with more time, more patience, and the same open heart.

A Small Advice From the Heart

If you are planning a trip to Vrindavan, here are a few honest learnings from our experience:

• Avoid holidays and weekends if possible. Vrindavan gets extremely crowded — darshan can become physically exhausting.
• Stand patiently inside the temple. From our experience, standing calmly towards the back or middle often gives a clearer and more peaceful view of Radha–Krishna than pushing yourself to the front. Pushing only creates stress; patience brings better darshan.
• Wear thick socks. You will walk a lot, and temples do not allow shoes inside.
• For convenience, wear slippers with a thick base and good socks — easy to remove and comfortable for long walks.
• Carry as light as possible. Heavy bags only slow you down.
• Most importantly — don’t try to control the trip too much.

Just be one of them. Walk slowly. Listen to the chants. Let yourself flow.

You don’t need to do anything special to feel connected in Vrindavan. You don’t need to search for Krishna.

Once you are there — the connection happens on its own.

It’s in the air.

Radhe Radhe.