Uddhav Kund Govardhan: The Sacred Pond of Uddhava's Surrender to Braj

Key facts at a glance

Uddhav Kund Govardhan: an overview

Among the many sacred waters of Braj, few are as tender and instructive as Uddhav Kund. It lies just west of Kusum Sarovar, on the right of the parikrama path that encircles the Govardhan hill and the whole of this stretch is revered as the place of Uddhav Ji. By the cherished tradition of Braj, this is where Uddhava, the learned friend and messenger of Krishna, was humbled by the love of the gopis and longed to become a mere blade of grass in Braj. This guide gives the full story, what the tradition tells, what to see, the timings, how to reach and the sacred places nearby. For the road out to the hill, see our vrindavan to govardhan distance guide and for the beautiful tank beside it, our kusum sarovar govardhan guide; and if you are planning a mathura vrindavan tour package with Experience My India, Uddhav Kund is a stop the thoughtful pilgrim seeks out.

Why visit Uddhav Kund:

• To stand where the wise Uddhava surrendered his learning before the love of the gopis

• For one of the most moving lessons of Braj: that pure love surpasses all knowledge

• A quiet, reflective kund on the Govardhan parikrama, beside Kusum Sarovar

• To see the grass and shrubs revered as the very form of Uddhava, longing for the gopis' foot-dust

• Easily joined with Kusum Sarovar, Radha Kund and the Govardhan hill

From the ground (Gurudutt): Uddhav Kund is a place I bring thoughtful pilgrims to, because its lesson is the sweetest in all of Braj: even Uddhava, the wisest of Krishna's friends, laid his knowledge down before the love of the simple gopis. Most hurry past it on the way round the hill, but I ask my guests to pause here on the parikrama, look at the humble grass and shrubs and remember what Uddhava prayed for. It is a short walk from Kusum Sarovar, so see the two together. Go quietly, with a soft heart. We hold all of this as the cherished tradition of Braj, with reverence. See our Mathura Vrindavan tour Package  or message WhatsApp +91 7302265809. 

The story of Uddhav Kund: Uddhava's surrender

By the cherished tradition of Braj, drawn from the Shrimad Bhagavatam, the story of Uddhav Kund unfolds like this and is recounted here with reverence:

• Krishna, then in Mathura, sent his learned friend Uddhava to Braj to console the gopis in their separation and to teach them the path of knowledge.

• Uddhava came intending to enlighten the gopis and return within a day, carrying the pride of his great learning.

• But beholding the divine beauty of Braj, the boundless love in the gopis' hearts and the darshan of Shri Radharani, he was overwhelmed and his ocean of knowledge dissolved before their pure, selfless love.

• He realised that his own love for Krishna was as nothing beside the love of the gopis and he was humbled to his very soul.

• So moved was he that he stayed on in Braj not for a day but for six months, longing only to remain.

• He prayed to be born as a blade of grass, a creeper or a shrub of Braj, so that the gopis, walking by, might bless it with the dust of their lotus feet.

• At last Shri Radharani lovingly told him that his friend Krishna awaited him and that he too must go; blessed by her and though he did not wish to leave, Uddhava bowed and departed.

This is the divine and transcendent glory of the gopis' love and of Uddhava's humble surrender to it, never a worldly matter. We present it as the cherished belief and tradition of Braj, held with faith and recounted with reverence.

What the tradition tells

• Uddhava resides here still. By the tradition of Braj, Uddhava resides near this kund even now as the grass and shrubs, forever longing to be touched by the dust of the gopis' feet.

• Manifested by Vajranabha. Uddhav Kund was manifested by Maharaja Vajranabha, the great-grandson of Krishna, under the guidance of Sandilya Muni and other sages, who brought forth many of the lost tirthas of Braj.

• Sung in the Skanda Purana. The glory of this place is described in the Shrimad Bhagavatam Mahatmya of the Skanda Purana, which the saints of Braj cherish.

• The place of Uddhav Ji. The whole stretch around Kusum Sarovar is revered as the place of Uddhav Ji, with temples of Uddhava on its sides and the kund close by.

We recount these as the cherished tradition of Braj, held with faith and reverence.

Uddhav Kund at a glance

In one line: Uddhav Kund is the Govardhan pond, west of Kusum Sarovar, where the wise Uddhava surrendered before the love of the gopis and longed to become grass in Braj.

What to see at Uddhav Kund

• The kund itself. The sacred pond on the parikrama path, a quiet, reflective spot amid the Govardhan country, revered as the place of Uddhava's surrender.

• The grass and shrubs. The humble grass and creepers around the kund, revered as the very form in which Uddhava is said to reside, longing for the gopis' foot-dust.

• The Uddhav Ji temples. The temples of Uddhava near Kusum Sarovar, on either side of the tank, which pilgrims visit with the kund.

• Kusum Sarovar beside it. The beautiful red sandstone tank of Kusum Sarovar, with its chhatris and ghats, lies just to the east and the two are always seen together.

The other sacred waters of the Govardhan country are gathered in our braj kunds and sarovars guide. We recount these as the cherished tradition of Braj, with reverence.

Timings, entry and the best time to visit

Uddhav Kund, being an open kund on the parikrama path, may be visited freely through the day; there is no entry fee. The cool months of October to March are the most pleasant and the early morning or evening light is loveliest. The general hours of the region's temples are set out in our mathura vrindavan temple timings guide and the beautiful Kusum Sarovar beside it, with its own hours, in our govardhan temples guide.

How to reach Uddhav Kund

Uddhav Kund is at Govardhan, west of Kusum Sarovar on the parikrama path; the distances from the main starting points are given below.

In short, by each mode:

• On foot on the parikrama (best): Uddhav Kund sits on the Govardhan parikrama path just west of Kusum Sarovar, so it is naturally reached on foot as you walk the parikrama or by a short e-rickshaw ride from Kusum Sarovar.

• By road: from Mathura or Vrindavan take a car, taxi or bus to Govardhan or Kusum Sarovar, from where the kund is a short walk along the path.

• By train or air: Mathura Junction, about 28 km away, is the nearest railhead and Delhi, about 150 km, the nearest airport; from either, continue by road.

The full circuit of the hill is described in our govardhan hill guide and getting around Braj in our how to commute in vrindavan guide.

Places to visit near Uddhav Kund

Uddhav Kund is part of the sacred circle of Govardhan, so much is close by; the nearby places at a glance:

Around Uddhav Kund lie the govardhan temples and mukharvind of the sacred hill and the whole is walked as the 84 kos braj parikrama in its wider circuit. We hold these as the tradition of Braj, with reverence.

Tips for your visit and how to plan

• See Uddhav Kund together with Kusum Sarovar, just to the east and Radha Kund about 2 km on.

• Pause here on the Govardhan parikrama; it is a place to reflect, not to rush.

• Go in the cool of the early morning or the golden evening light.

• Darshan and entry are free; carry a little water and some cash for any free-will offering.

• Walk the parikrama barefoot only if you are able; otherwise wear comfortable shoes.

• Take a guide for the story of Uddhava, which is the whole meaning of the place.

Our mathura vrindavan tour itinerary helps you shape the Govardhan day around the parikrama and the temple hours.

We arrange guided Govardhan tours that take in Uddhav Kund, Kusum Sarovar, Radha Kund and the parikrama, with pick-up from Mathura or Vrindavan, a comfortable vehicle and a knowledgeable Braj-born guide to tell the story of Uddhava on the very spot. A shared day tour starts from around ₹1,499 per person, with darshan free at the temples; our govardhan barsana tour covers the western cluster in a day, our mathura vrindavan tour the twin cities, the braj 84 kos yatra the whole circuit and the agra mathura vrindavan tour package adds Agra and the Taj Mahal. Message me on WhatsApp at +91-7302265809 to plan your visit to Uddhav Kund.

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