Kusum Sarovar Govardhan, Mathura

Situated at a distance of 28 km from Mathura, Kusum Sarovar is a huge water tank that lies on the auspicious parikrama path to Govardhan hill. Filled with emerald green water, Kusum Sarovar Govardhan is a never miss out on sightseeing spot on your trip to Mathura.

Located between Govardhan hill and Radha Kund, Kusum Sarovar is a stunning water reservoir belonged to the era of Lord Krishna. Surrounded by magnificent sandstone royal structures Kusum Sarovar is thronged by tourists across the globe for its historical significance and enduring beauty. Kusum Sarovar is bordered by a beautiful garden with a variety of blooming flowers namely chameli, juhi, champa, mallika etc. Surrounded by stairs from all the four sides, Kusum Sarovar is 450 ft long and 60 ft deep. You can find several Kadamb trees planted around the holy Sarovar.

Popular for: History, Tourism, Pilgrim, and Photography

Timing: 7 am to 6 pm

Entry fee: No

This beautiful pond is believed to be the place where Shri Radha along with her friends used to come to pick flowers which means Kusum in Hindi. As per legends, this water tank is named after a friend of Shri Radhika whose name was Kusum. It is also said that Lord Krishna used to come to this place to pick flowers and make garlands for his beloved Radha.

The old pond was constructed by Veer Singh, king of Madhya Pradesh in the 17th century. Later Maharaja Suraj Mal renovated it and built a garden around the pond for his queen, Kishori Rani. In the 18th century, Suraj Mal’s son, Jawahar Singh, the king of Bharatpur built the astonishing sandstone edifices surrounding the pond in memory of his parents. It is said that the main tomb erected at the centre is dedicated to Maharaj Suraj Mal while the other two smaller structures placed both sides of the main tomb represent the two queens of Suraj Mall - Kishori and Hansiya. The interiors of these three buildings are breath-taking. The ceiling of the main tomb is decorated with stunning paintings depicting the life of Shri Krishna and his pastimes with beloved Radha. It also boasts the lotus feet of Lord Krishna engraved on the floor. The walls and ceiling of the other two buildings are adorned with the paintings depicting the life of Jat kings and the life events of Lord Krishna. Constructed with a great blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, the historical structure surrounding Kusum Sarovar is truly awe-inspiring.

Things to do:

• Explore the place and soak in the serenity and stung beauty of this historical site.

• Spend a quiet evening at this place watching the stunning view of the sunset.

• Rest under a kadamb tree which is known to be the favourite tree of Lord Krishna and soak into the divine spirituality of this holy place.

• Enjoy the evening aarti ceremony at Kusuma Sarovar.

• You can also visit Radha Kund which takes around 35 minutes by foot from Kusum Sarovar.

How to reach?

Located just 28 km away from Mathura, Kusum Sarovar is on the right side of Govardhan parikrama route. It can be easily reached by local transports like taxi, auto-rickshaw from Mathura. Located 26 km from Kusum Sarovar, Mathura railway junction is the nearest railway station. Situated at a distance of 191 km, Indira Gandhi International Airpot, New Delhi is nearest one to this place.

Best time to visit

Kusum Sarovar remains open for tourists throughout the year even on public holidays. However, considering the weather in Mathura, October to March end is the best season to plan a trip to Govardhan and its nearby places. Owing to extreme temperature in summer (April-July), planning a vacation to this beautiful place is not recommended during this time.

Nearby attractions:

Blessed with serenity Kusum Sarovar, Govardhan is one of the most revered religious sites for Hindus in India. Owing to its rich religious and historical importance, Kusum Sarovar is a never miss out on a place on your Mathura Govardhan sightseeing tour. If visiting Kusum Sarovar, there are many other popular locations and shrines nearby which you can consider to include in your itinerary.

• Daan Ghati Mandir

• Govardhan parikrama

• Radha Kund

• Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple

• Birla Mandir

• Dwarkadhish temple

• Government museum

• Kans Quila

• Potra Kund

Holding great religious and mythological significance, Kusum Sarovar is visited by millions of devotes throughout the year. Plan a trip to this holy place and soak into the divine spirituality.