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{{About|the Indian town}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Govardhan
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[Town]]
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Uttar Pradesh
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|27.5|N|77.47|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Mathura district|Mathura]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 179
| population_total = 22,576
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census" />
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
|demographics1_title3=Native
|demographics1_info3=[[Braj Bhasha|Braj Bhasha dialect]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 281502<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pincode.net.in/UTTAR_PRADESH/MATHURA/G/GOVERDHAN |title=Goverdhana, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh |website=pincode.net.in |access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref>
| registration_plate = UP-85
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Govardhan''' also called Giriraj, is a key pilgrimage centre in India and a municipal town; a [[nagar panchayat]]; seat of a MLA [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]] of [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Uttar Pradesh]]; a [[Tehsil]], in [[Mathura district]] in the [[India]] in [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. About 23 kilometres from Mathura, the town is on the road link between [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]] and [[Deeg]].<ref name="Maps of India" />

==Geography==
Govardhana is located at {{Coord|27.5|N|77.47|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Govardhan.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Govardhana]</ref> It has an average elevation of 179 metres (587 feet). Govardhana has been made Tehsil in [[Mathura District]] by the [[Uttar Pradesh]] government.

==Demographics==
In the [[2011 Indian Census]], Govardhana had a population of 22,576. Males constituted 55% of the population and females 45%. Govardhana has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 52%. In Govardhana, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.<ref name="Census">{{cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/india-uttarpradesh.php?cityid=0941410000|title=Govardhana (Mathura in Uttar Pradesh)|website=City Population|access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref>

==Govardhan Hill==
[[File:Govardhan hill, Govardhan.jpg|thumb|Govardhan hill, Govardhan.]]

[[File:Shahadin 001.jpg|thumb|[[Krishna]] lifting the [[Govardhan Hill]]]]

===Pilgrimage===
Each year [[Hinduism|Hindus]] and other people make pilgrimage to Govardhan, and its sacred [[Govardhan Hill]], from different places in India and other parts of the world. They circumambulate Govardhan and offer their obeisances to [[Krishna]] and [[Radha]], key deities in [[Hinduism]]. One of the main festivals celebrated at Govardhan is [[Govardhan Puja]], that commemorates the lifting of Govardhan Hill (Giriraj Parvat) to protect the villagers of [[Braj]] from the flood caused by the Lord of thunder and rain, [[Indra]].<ref name="Spiritual sojourn">{{cite news|url=http://www.moneylife.in/article/spiritual-soujourn-in-govardhan/42258.html |title=Spiritual Soujourn (sic) in Govardhan | author=Amit Sengupta
|date=16 June 2015 |access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="Maps of India" /> One of the most important day celebrated at Govardhan is [[Guru Poornima]] (also called "Mudia Poono").{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} Following the festival of lights, or [[Diwali]], the previous day, devotees come to Govardhan for parikrama.<ref name="Spiritual sojourn" />

===Historic religious sites===
Sites on the hill include [[Kusum Sarovar]], Haridev Temple,<ref name="Maps of India" /> and other temples like [[Daan-Ghati]] Temple and Mukharbind Temple. The town is also famous for its 21 kilometers long [[Parikrama (Sanskrit)|Parikrama]] of the famous Govardhan Hill.

[[File:आशीष™ गोवर्धन.jpg|thumb|Shri Govardhan Giriraj Ji Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna.]]

[[File:आशीष™ गोवर्धन 0119.jpg|thumb|Shri Govardhan Giriraj Ji Temple, [[Govardhan Hill]], [[Mathura]]]]

===Mansi Ganga sacred lake===
[[File:Mansi Ganga near shri Girraj Mandir ,Mathura - panoramio.jpg|right|thumb|Mansi Ganga]]
The town also houses Mansi Ganga, a close-ended lake.<ref name="Maps of India" /> On the banks of this [[sacred lake]], there are quite a few temples, prominent among them the Mukharbind temple.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

===Kusum sarovar and Samadhi of Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal===
{{anchor | Chhatri of Suraj Mal | Samadhi of Surajmal }}

On the Govardhan [[Parikrama]] path on the western bank of 130 sqm sacred artificial lake [[Kusum Sarovar]] (Kusum kund) there are three [[Chhatri]]s housing the [[samadhi]]s of [[Jat people|Jat]] ruler [[Suraj Mal|Maharaja Suraj Mal]] (r. 1755 – 25 December 1763) and 2 his wives, all of these memorials were built by his son and successor [[Jawahar Singh|Maharaja Jawahar Singh]].<ref name=cent1/><ref name=cent2/> The architecture and carving is in the [[Jali|pierced stone style]] and the ceiling of cenotaphs are adorned with the beautiful painting of life of lord Krishna and Maharajs Suraj Mal's court.<ref name=cent1>Madan Prasad Bezbaruah, Dr. Krishna Gopal, Phal S. Girota, 2003, [https://books.google.com/books?id=GAfgAAAAMAAJ&q=surajmal+smadhi+govardhan Fairs and Festivals of India: Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh], p. 480-494.</ref><ref name=cent2/> Most imposing chattri is of Mahara Suraj Mal, flanked on either side by two smaller chattris of his two wives, ''"Maharani Hansiya"'' and ''"Maharani Kishori"''.<ref name=cent2>D. Anand, 1992, [https://books.google.com/books?id=EsvSwdUgQYcC&dq=surajmal+smadhi+govardhan&pg=PA56 Krishna: The Living God of Braj], Page 56.</ref> Maharaj Suraj Mal is well known for capturing [[Red Fort]] in 1754 CE [[Ahmad Shah Bahadur#Imad-ul-Mulk|after defetaing]] the forces of [[Mughal Empire|Mughal king]] [[Ahmad Shah Bahadur]].<ref name=Jat1>[http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaJats.htm Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur]</ref><ref name=Har-rev-2>{{Cite web |url=http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/gurgaon_1910/History.pdf |title=Haryana Revenue Gazeteer of Gurgaon 1910, Section B - History |access-date=30 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009000200/http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/gurgaon_1910/History.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Transportation==
Govardhan is located about {{convert|150|km|mile}} from [[Delhi]], where the airport is located. A railway station is located at [[Mathura]], where taxis can be hired to reach the town,<ref name="Spiritual sojourn" /> which is about {{convert|23|km|mi}} away. There are also tourist buses<ref name="Maps of India">{{cite web|url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/mathura/travel-guide/goverdhan.html |title=Travel to Goverdhan |website=Maps of India |access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref> and a single line electric train for the journey from Mathura.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiarailinfo.com/departures/5380l |title=Departures from Goverdhan (GDO) |website=indiarailinfo.com |access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Temple_of_Kishn_Soraba,_Gobardun_-View_across_the_Kusum_Sarovar_Tank_towards_Suraj_Mal%27s_Cenotaph,_Gobardhan-;_a_photo_by_William_Henry_Baker,_1860%27s.jpg|Suraj Mal's Cenotaph at Govardhan, a photo by William Henry Baker, c.1860.
File:Palace Goverdhun dli A136 cor.jpg|Samuel Bourne, "[https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1cl1g8d/alma991734193504896 Upper Portion of the Palace, Goverdhun, 1312]," 1863-1869, photograph mounted on cardboard sheet, [https://www.nga.gov/research/library/imagecollections.html Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, D] C
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Govardhana sila]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [http://www.radhavallabh.com/places.html Goverdhan Parikrama highlights]

{{Mathura district}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Mathura district]]
[[Category:Hindu holy cities]]

Govardhan - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 00:40, 22 July 2023