श्री बांके बिहारी जी मंदिर, वृन्दावन

Shri Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan

An independent guide to the temple of Thakur Banke Bihari Ji, where a curtain is drawn across the sanctum at short intervals throughout darshan. Find the temple's published schedule, its rules and festivals, and how to plan your visit, with sources for important facts.

Independent Banke Bihari Temple guide. Not the official temple website.

Plan your visit See the timetable

Address: Bihari Pura, Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh 281121, India. Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Official website: bihariji.org (opens in a new tab), for official announcements and notices

Today's regular schedule

Summer schedule, 5 March to 10 November 2026

Morning 7:45 AM to 12:00 noon
Evening 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Based on the temple's published regular schedule. Special festival, eclipse or administrative arrangements may differ. Last verified 2 October 2026. View source (opens in a new tab).

Who is Banke Bihari?

Banke Bihari is a form of Krishna worshipped in Vrindavan, in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. Banke means "bent", describing the tribhanga posture of the image, bent at the neck, waist and knee. Bihari means "the one who enjoys".

Temple tradition According to the temple's account, the deity appeared at Nidhivan in answer to the devotion of Swami Haridas, when Krishna and his consort "turned itself into one single black charming idol". Devotees therefore regard Banke Bihari as the united form of Radha and Krishna. Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab)

Historical record The temple's official history says the deity was first installed in a temple close to Nidhivan, and that the Goswamis built it. The temple's official website dates the present temple to 1862 AD, while some other sources give 1864; this guide follows the temple's account. Seva is performed by descendants of Goswami Jagannath, whom the temple describes as Swami Haridas's younger brother and principal disciple. Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab); Wikipedia: Banke Bihari Temple (opens in a new tab) (tertiary) Read the history of the temple.

Customs visitors notice first

Knowing these before you arrive helps the darshan make sense.

The curtain, drawn again and again

The temple's own history notes that darshan "is never continuous but is broken by the curtain drawn on him regularly". Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab) Devotees explain the custom with stories about the power of the Lord's gaze.

The custom and its stories

Mangla Aarti on one day only

The temple's calendar states that Mangla Aarti is performed only on Janmashtami. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab)

Charan Darshan on Akshaya Tritiya

The temple lists Charan Darshan in the morning and Sarvang Darshan in the evening on Akshaya Tritiya. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab)

No VIP darshan system

The temple states that it does not have a VIP darshan system. Be wary of anyone selling quick entry. Source: Official temple FAQ (opens in a new tab)

Leave your phone behind

The temple's rules ask visitors not to carry mobile phones, electronic gadgets, umbrellas or leather items. Source: Official temple do's and don'ts (opens in a new tab)

Your darshan, in four steps

A short version of our full visit plan.

Pick a quieter day
The temple says Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya, weekends and festivals are its busiest days, and advises elderly devotees and families with small children to avoid festivals. Source: Official temple website: visit the temple (opens in a new tab) Crowd levels vary, so we do not guarantee a particular quiet hour.
Reach Vrindavan
The temple gives Mathura Junction as about 14 km away, with taxis, rickshaws and buses available from the station. Source: Official temple website: visit the temple (opens in a new tab)
Walk the last stretch
Vehicles cannot reach the temple directly. Park in one of Vrindavan's car parks and continue on foot or by e-rickshaw. Source: Official temple website: visit the temple (opens in a new tab)
Follow the queue
The temple asks visitors to follow the queue system and to deposit offerings in the hundi or at the branch office inside. Source: Official temple do's and don'ts (opens in a new tab)

The published schedule

The temple publishes a summer schedule for 5 March to 10 November 2026. It has not yet published the winter 2026 to 2027 table; winter hours shown elsewhere on this site come from secondary sources and are marked as unconfirmed.

Full timetable, sources and caveats

Summer morning: 7:45 AM to 12:00 noon
Summer evening: 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Winter morning unconfirmed: 8:45 AM to 1:00 PM
Winter evening unconfirmed: 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM

A year at Banke Bihari

Festival dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar. Dates below are from the temple's published festival calendar. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab)

Phalgun Shukla Ekadashi
Holi season (from Aamla / Rangbhari Ekadashi)
The temple's calendar marks Aamla Ekadashi as the day "colourful Holi celebrations start".
18 March 2027
Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya
Charan Darshan (morning) and Sarvang Darshan (evening), according to the temple's calendar.
20 April 2026
From Kamada Ekadashi to Hariyali Amavasya
Phool Bangla season
The temple's calendar marks Kamada Ekadashi as the first day and Hariyali Amavasya as the last day of Phool Bangla.
Date set by the lunar calendar
Shravan Shukla Tritiya
Hariyali Teej
Listed by the temple as the "Jhoola festival".
15 August 2026
Bhadrapad Krishna Ashtami
Krishna Janmashtami
The temple states that Mangla Aarti is performed only on this day.
4 September 2026
Bhadrapad Shukla Ashtami
Radha Ashtami
Listed by the temple as the birthday of Radha and of Swami Haridas.
19 September 2026
Ashwin Shukla Purnima
Sharad Purnima
Listed by the temple as the "Day of Maha Raas".
26 October 2026
Margashirsha Shukla Panchami
Bihar Panchami
Listed by the temple as the "Day of Appearance of Bihariji".
14 December 2026

Quick facts

Deity: Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Ji, a form of Krishna. According to the temple's account, the united form of Radha and Krishna. Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab)
Revealed by: Swami Haridas, at Nidhivan, Vrindavan, according to temple tradition. Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab)
Present temple built: 1862 AD according to the temple's official history; some other sources give 1864. Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab)
Seva: Performed by descendants of Goswami Jagannath. Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab)
Location: Bihari Pura, Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh 281121, India. Approximate coordinates 27.57976, 77.69051. Source: Wikipedia: Banke Bihari Temple (opens in a new tab) (tertiary)
Registration: Not required for darshan, according to the temple. Source: Official temple FAQ (opens in a new tab)
Nearest railway station: Mathura Junction railway station (MTJ), about 14 km. Source: Official temple website: visit the temple (opens in a new tab)
Airports: Agra, about 70 km; Delhi, about 150 km. Source: Official temple website: visit the temple (opens in a new tab)
Phones and gadgets: The temple asks visitors not to carry them. Source: Official temple do's and don'ts (opens in a new tab)

In this guide

From the blog

All articles

Frequently asked questions

Is Banke Bihari Temple open every day?

The temple publishes a daily schedule with a morning and an evening session. It says timings change for eclipses and certain festivals, and that changes are announced on its home page and FAQ. Source: Official temple website: darshan timings (opens in a new tab); Official temple website: darshan (opens in a new tab)

What are the regular darshan timings?

The temple's published summer schedule (5 March to 10 November 2026) is 7:45 AM to 12:00 noon and 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Source: Official temple website: darshan timings (opens in a new tab) For winter hours and the reported 2025 extension of darshan hours, see our timings page.

Is this website affiliated with the temple?

No. This is an independent guide. It is not operated by or affiliated with the temple administration, and it does not take donations or bookings. The official temple website is bihariji.org (opens in a new tab).

Where is Banke Bihari Temple?

In the Bihari Pura area of Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. The temple gives Mathura Junction as about 14 km away. Source: Official temple website: visit the temple (opens in a new tab) Open in Google Maps.

Can visitors take photographs or carry phones?