History of Prem Mandir
The foundation stone of the Prem Mandir was laid by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on 14 January 2001 in the presence of thousands of devotees. The Prem Mandir was dedicated to Shri Vrindavan Dham and was built under the sponsorship of Jagadguru Kripalu Prishat (JKP), which is an international, non-profit, spiritual, educational, social and charitable organisation. The organisation was founded by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj himself.
It took about eleven to twelve years to complete the temple, and after the inauguration ceremony from 15 February to 17 February 2012, the temple was finally opened to the public on 17 February in the same year.
Architecture of Prem Mandir
A Thousand artisans worked day and night to complete the structure of this magnificent temple, and the makers shelled out a whopping INR 150 crores. The architecture of the Prem Mandir is then bound to be breathtaking and mesmerising, to do justice to the enormous amounts of money and time spent on the site.
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.
Musical Fountain at Prem Mandir
A striking feature at the temple is the musical fountain show which takes place every evening from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Devotees love to enjoy the spectacular sights of the water streaming out of the jet and then twisting and dancing to the kirtans that are sung in praise of the Almighty.
Festivals Celebrated at Prem Mandir
The important and major festivals celebrated at the Prem Mandir are Janmashtami and Radhastami. Both these festivals are celebrated in a very grand manner with great zeal and enthusiasm, and people from all parts of the country visit the temple during this time to partake in the holy celebrations.
Prem Mandir Timings and Aarti Schedule
The temple is open on all days from 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM. The schedule for the Aarti at the Prem Mandir is as follows:
1. Mornings:
5:30 AM - Aarti and Parikrama6:30 AM - Bhog and Bhog Door Closes8:30 AM - Darshan and Aarti11:30 AM - Bhog12:00 PM - Shayan Aarti and doors close
2. Evenings:
4:30 PM - Aarti and Darshan5:30 PM - Bhog8:00 PM - Shayan Aarti8:15 PM - Shayan Darshan8:30 PM - Door Closes
Best time to visit Prem Mandir
The best time to visit Prem Mandir is between November and March when it is winter time. Prem Mandir is also famous for its Holi celebrations that take place during February/March.
How to Reach Prem Mandir
The Prem Mandir is located on the Raman Reti Road.
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.
Top Tourist Places in Vrindavan
Prem Mandir
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Gopishvar Mahadev Temple
All Tourist Places in Vrindavan
Tips
1. Liquor and photography are prohibited inside the temple premises.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.
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