Gokul

Gokul is a historic temple town on the Yamuna River in Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh, about 10 km southeast of Mathura. Revered as the childhood home of Lord Krishna where he was raised by Nanda and Yashoda, it forms part of the Braj pilgrimage circuit. The town is known for ancient temples such as Gokulnath Temple, Raman Reti, Brahmand Ghat and Chaurasi Khamba, attracting pilgrims and tourists year-round.

Visitors can expect a small pilgrimage town with narrow lanes, traditional temples, ashrams and ghats along the Yamuna River. Key areas to explore include Gokulnath Temple, Raman Reti sand grounds, Brahmand Ghat, Chaurasi Khamba and Nand Bhavan. The setting is religious and rural, with temple courtyards, riverfront steps, shops selling prasad and souvenirs, and regular aarti and bhajan gatherings.

Gokul is traditionally identified as the village where Krishna was secretly taken after his birth in Mathura and raised by his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda to protect him from King Kansa. The town's temples and sites such as Nand Bhavan and Chaurasi Khamba are associated with this early childhood period and have been a center of Vaishnava tradition for centuries.

Gokul is a major center of Braj culture and Vaishnavism, particularly the Pushtimarg and Gaudiya traditions. It is part of the sacred Braj pilgrimage circuit and is especially significant during Janmashtami, Annakut and other Krishna-related festivals when devotees gather for prayers, kirtans and parikrama.