Uncha Gaon, Barsana: The Village of Lalita Sakhi, Chief of the Ashtasakhis

Uncha Gaon, Barsana, at a glance

What is Uncha Gaon?

Uncha Gaon, also spelled Unchagaon or Ooncha Gaon, is a historic and sacred village of Braj, a short way west of Barsana, the town of Radha Rani, in Mathura district. It is revered above all as the birthplace and home of Shri Lalita Sakhi, the chief and dearest of the Ashtasakhis, the eight principal companions of Shrimati Radha Rani; and the village rises around a small hill crowned by her temple. By the tradition, the divine pastimes of Radha and Krishna, Priya and Priyatam, unfolded here in the company of Lalita and the sakhis. For Radha's own town nearby, see our radha rani temple barsana guide and to visit Uncha Gaon and the holy places of Barsana, a mathura vrindavan tour packages with Experience My India can plan it.

From the ground (Gurudutt): Uncha Gaon is one of my favourite quiet places to bring guests who truly want to feel Braj. Most visitors stay in Barsana, but a short way west is this peaceful village on its little hill, the home of Lalita Sakhi, the dearest friend of Radha Rani. We climb the steps to her temple, look out over the fields of Braj and go down to Deha Kund where the sweet pastime of the Tula Daan is remembered. In our tradition it is said that to enter the love of Radha and Krishna, one first needs the grace of the sakhis, of Lalita above all. We tell it as the cherished tradition of Braj. Radhe Radhe.

Lalita Sakhi, chief of the Ashtasakhis

To understand Uncha Gaon is to know Lalita Sakhi:

• The dearest friend of Radha. Shri Lalita Sakhi is revered as the foremost and dearest of the Ashtasakhis, the eight chief companions, the sakhis, of Shrimati Radha Rani; she is the leader of Radha's intimate circle, ever at her side, serving the love of Radha and Krishna with a devotion beyond compare.

• Her role in the pastimes. By the tradition, Lalita arranges and serves the meetings and the pastimes of the divine couple, guarding their love, soothing their moods and binding the whole circle of sakhis in the service of Radha; she is the very model of the loving service, the seva, of a companion and dear beyond words to both Radha and Krishna.

• The grace of the sakhis. In the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition it is cherished that one cannot enter the eternal pastimes of Radha and Krishna but by the grace of the sakhis and of Lalita foremost; and so Uncha Gaon, her village, is honoured as a place to pray for that grace. We present this as the cherished tradition of Braj.

The Lalita Sakhi temple on the hill

The heart of Uncha Gaon is the historic Shri Lalita Sakhi temple, which by the tradition marks the very place of Lalita's birth. The village rises around a small hill, known by the local account as the Sakhi-Giri Parvat or Ator Parvat; and at its summit, reached by a flight of steps, stands the temple, housing the beloved deities of Radha, Krishna and Lalita Devi together. From the hilltop the devotee looks out over the fields and villages of Braj and takes darshan at the shrine of Radha's dearest friend. It is a peaceful, deeply devotional place, away from the crowds of the larger towns. We present this as the cherished belief and tradition of Braj, held with faith and recounted with reverence.

Deha Kund and the Tula Daan

Near the foot of the hill, just below the Lalita Sakhi temple, lies Deha Kund, cherished for one of the sweetest pastimes of the divine couple:

• The poor brahmin. By the tradition, a poor brahmin came to Lord Krishna, asking for wealth to marry off his daughter; and Krishna, in his playful love, first offered the brahmin his own dearest treasure, Shrimati Radha herself, which the brahmin could not accept.

• The Tula Daan, the gift by weight. Krishna then performed the Tula Daan, the gift by weight: Radha was seated upon a balance and Krishna gave the brahmin gold equal to her weight as charity. It is from this weighing of the body, the deha, that the kund takes its name, Deha Kund; and the nearby temple of Krishna here is cherished as Deha Bihari Ji.

• The sweetness of the pastime. By the tradition, Radha was a little displeased to be weighed as though against gold and Krishna, recognising the sweetness of her pride, soothed her and their loving pastimes resumed; so the kund holds a tender, human sweetness. To offer a gift of gold at Deha Kund is held by the tradition to be especially auspicious. We present this as the cherished tradition of Braj.

The sacred landmarks of Uncha Gaon

Around the village, by the local account, are other dear landmarks of the pastimes and of the saints:

• The Phisalini Shila. By the local account, the Phisalini Shila is a natural stone slide upon the hill, where, by the tradition, Krishna and the Gopis played and slid in joy in the days of the pastimes, remembered with delight by the pilgrims who visit.

• The Vivah Shila and the footprints. By the local account, the village also holds a Vivah Shila, a marriage stone and sacred footprints upon the rock, cherished as impressions of the divine pastimes; pilgrims honour these among the holy marks of Uncha Gaon.

• The samadhi of Narayan Bhatt Goswami. By the tradition, Uncha Gaon holds the samadhi, the memorial shrine, of the revered bhakti saint Shri Narayan Bhatt Goswami, honoured in Braj for his great service in cherishing and reviving the holy places of the region; devotees take darshan of his samadhi here. We present these as the cherished traditions and local accounts of Braj, as they are told, with reverence.

Temple timings

The Shri Lalita Sakhi temple at Uncha Gaon generally keeps these hours, with a midday break as at most Braj temples:

Please note: these timings are typical and are given as a guide only; they shift with the season and may change on major festivals such as Radhashtami or Lathmar Holi. As a small village temple, its hours can vary, so please confirm locally before you travel or ask your guide. For the hours of the major temples of the region, see our mathura vrindavan temple timings guide.

What to see today and how to reach

Uncha Gaon today is a tranquil, holy village, a dear and quieter stop near Barsana:

• The temple, the kund and the landmarks. Climb the steps to the hilltop Shri Lalita Sakhi temple for darshan of Radha, Krishna and Lalita Devi and the view over Braj; go down to Deha Kund and the Deha Bihari Ji temple of the Tula Daan; and honour the Phisalini Shila and the other landmarks and the samadhi of Narayan Bhatt Goswami. It is a peaceful place, away from the crowds.

• Where it is. Uncha Gaon is a short way west of Barsana, about 3 to 4 km, in the north-western part of Braj in Mathura district; Barsana itself is about 9 km from Nandgaon and roughly 50 km from Mathura city. The village is a little off the main route, so it is best reached with a guide who knows Braj.

• How to reach and visiting. Most pilgrims come by car, auto-rickshaw or taxi from Barsana or from Mathura and Vrindavan, usually as part of a Barsana and Nandgaon day or a wider Braj yatra; Uncha Gaon is an essential stop on the traditional Braj Yatra. Come in the cool of the morning or evening, take the darshan quietly and keep the peace of this holy village.

See our barsana vs nandgaon guide to the towns of Radha and Krishna, the nandgaon up guide nearby and our how to commute in vrindavan guide for reaching this side of Braj.

We take guests to Uncha Gaon and the holy places of Barsana, the Ladli Ji temple, the kunds and leela sites and nearby Nandgaon, the town of Nanda Baba and the whole of Braj, in a comfortable vehicle with a Braj-born guide who knows the village and the old stories. A shared day tour starts from around ₹1,499 per person, with darshan free. The braj 84 kos yatra covers the whole of Braj, including Uncha Gaon and Barsana, our mathura vrindavan tour the twin cities and our vrindavan tour package Vrindavan in a day. You can also plan with our mathura vrindavan tour itinerary. Message me on WhatsApp at +91-7302265809 to plan your Barsana and Uncha Gaon darshan.

Related guides

• radha rani aarti lyrics

• seva kunj vrindavan

• braj yamuna ghats and leela sites

• agra mathura vrindavan tour package