Radha Rani Temple

Radha Rani Temple, also known as Shriji Temple, is a prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Radha located atop Bhanugarh Hill in Barsana, Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh. Revered as the birthplace and childhood home of Radha, it is the principal center of Radha worship in the Braj region. The temple features Rajasthani-style architecture with red sandstone, intricate carvings and offers panoramic views of Barsana town.

Visitors can expect a hilltop temple reached by climbing approximately 200 stone steps from the base of Barsana town. The complex includes a paved courtyard, ornate red sandstone temple structure with domes and arches, and the main sanctum housing idols of Radha and Krishna. The hilltop offers wide views of the surrounding Braj landscape. The area includes shops for prasad and souvenirs at the foothill, shoe stands, and crowded conditions during festivals.

Tradition associates the site with the palace of Vrishabhanu, father of Radha. The original shrine is believed to have been established by Vajranabha, great-grandson of Lord Krishna. The present temple structure is attributed to Raja Bir Singh Deo in 1675 with later development by Narayan Bhatt in the 16th century, built in red sandstone in Rajasthani style.

The temple is the most revered shrine dedicated to Radha Rani and the center of Radha worship in Braj. It holds major religious importance during Radhashtami, believed to be Radha's birth anniversary, and during Lathmar Holi, a distinctive local Holi tradition of Barsana and Nandgaon that attracts large numbers of pilgrims.