Prem Mandir is located in Vrindavan near Mathura district. This temple is also called Radha Krishna Temple. The beauty of Prem Mandir presents an extremely mesmerizing view. When we reach Prem Mandir, we see a beautiful white-colored temple established, which we know by the name Prem Mandir. This temple was established by Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj in the form of Lord Shri Krishna and Mother Radha Rani. It is said that it took about 11 years to build this temple. It is also told that this temple was built with an amount of around ₹100 crore. This temple, in its grand form, is built with Italian marble. In building this temple, lakhs of artisans from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh worked, which today displays grandeur and beauty. The greenery around the temple, the design of the garden, the depiction of Raas Leela performed by Shri Krishna in his time—all these are shown in sculpture form, which gives this complex a very beautiful appearance.
History of Prem Mandir
Prem Mandir is a modern example of the revival of ancient Indian sculpture art, which displays Hindu architectural style in full. Spread over 54 acres, this temple is 124 feet high, 122 feet long, and 114 feet wide in a grand form, situated in the Vrindavan area of Mathura district. The charming tableaux of Radha-Krishna in the middle of the garden of the temple enhance its beauty even more. The form of the temple and the display of the tableaux express the deep love for Indian temple architecture. The carvings on the stones in Prem Mandir are in the Nagara style. Generally, carvings in most temples are seen from the top, but in Prem Mandir, the carvings are made from the bottom and are shown in a very beautiful form.
Prem Mandir is built right on the main road. Just a little distance away is the highway, which is known as Agra-Mathura-Delhi Highway. This temple is open in all four directions for people of all castes, classes, countries, and foreigners. About 94 pillars have been established in Prem Mandir, on which beautiful forms of Gopis have been engraved, which feel as if displaying the awakened and lively character of life. Inside and outside the temple, beautiful carvings are shown in ancient Indian architectural style. The Radha-Govind Geet has been inscribed on the marble. In the temple complex, all the Raas Leelas performed by Lord Krishna have been shown through living tableaux in the form of statues, which give a grand appearance to this temple.
Opening Time and Entry Fee of Prem Mandir
Prem Mandir opens three times during the day. The temple opens at 5:30 AM in the morning, and after offering Bhog at 6:30 AM, the doors are closed. After this, at 8:30 AM, Aarti is performed in the temple, and Bhog is offered at 10:30 AM. At 12:00 noon, the doors are closed again. Then at 4:30 PM in the evening, Aarti and Darshan take place, and Bhog is offered at 5:30 PM. Then at 8:10 PM, evening Aarti is held and by 8:30 PM the doors are closed. Different types of Aarti are performed inside the temple. During Aarti time, people from India and abroad come in large numbers to be part of the Aarti of Lord Shri Krishna and Mother Radha.
There is no fee to enter the temple; entry is free for people of all castes and classes. If you want to explore the whole temple properly, then at least 2 hours are needed to fully enjoy Prem Mandir and absorb its beauty with your own eyes.
Prem Mandir Complex
For nighttime, a laser light arrangement has been made in the area, which changes color every 30 seconds. This makes the color of Prem Mandir appear in different forms. At night, Prem Mandir looks even more enchanting. A canteen has also been built in one part of the Prem Mandir complex, where you can rest and eat. Cleanliness is given proper attention in the canteen. Within the Prem Mandir complex, the personal hospital of Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj’s trust has also been built, where, under certain rules, free medical treatment is prioritized for saints, widows, and the poor.
The hospital’s OPD timings are from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM and from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. These services were started on 20 June 2021. Dental department services are available only on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. There is a very good system in this hospital where you can get free treatment.
Inside the temple complex, there are small shops for devotional material called Prem Sadhana Samagri, where audio-video materials, a library, and other stalls have been set up. Devotees can buy some items as memories to take home. Taking cameras inside the sanctum sanctorum is prohibited, but after the sanctum doors are closed, you can take some pictures.
