‘Conducted Tour’ for Braj Darshan launched

• State Cabinet Minister Shri Lakshmi Narayan Chaudhary flagged off the buses

2023.08.17 (Vrindavan Today News): The UP Government led by Shri Yogi Adityanath is leaving no stone unturned to make Mathura as a tourist hotspot. The Development of Mathura is strategically important for the State Government as millions of people visit Mathura every year from around the world.

Mostly people visit Mathura and return home after having darshan of some prominent temples of Vrinadvan and Mathura. They usually don’t visit other pilgrimage destinations of Mathura District. So now the government has come up with a ‘conducted tour plan’ to facilitate the tourists to visit some pilgrimage destinations of Braj.

This conducted tour is designed to offer travellers a profound spiritual experience, enabling them to immerse themselves in the sacred sites associated with Lord Krishna’s divine play in the revered Braj region. Pilgrims, both domestic and international, can now embark on this unique journey of faith and devotion, all while minimizing their environmental footprint with the use of electric buses.

The Minister of Sugarcane Development and Sugar Mills of U.P. Chaudhary Lakshminarayan, launched the “Conducted Tour” plan and flagged off two Air conditioned electric buses on Friday.

Two buses from Vrindavan Bus Station and Mathura Railway Junction will take the devotees for the spiritual journey of Braj through Mathura, Vrindavan Govardhan and Gokul.

The first route of this tour starts in Vrindavan, making stops at Mathura, Govardhan, and Gokul before concluding in Vrindavan itself. The second route begins in Mathura, covering Govardhan and Gokul before returning to Mathura. Both buses are eco-friendly and have been meticulously planned to provide ample time for darshan, exploration and sightseeing.

This innovative initiative aligns with the vision of Smt. Ritu Maheshwari, the Divisional Commissioner of Agra, who directed the District Magistrate Pulkit Khare to prepare a plan for this tour. The plan has been prepared collaboratively by the State Road Transport Corporation and the Tourism Department. The operation of these e-buses will be handled by the U.P. Transport Corporation.

The “Conducted Tour” plan not only encourages spiritual exploration but also promotes sustainable and responsible tourism, contributing to the preservation of the natural beauty and sanctity of the Braj region. It signifies a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, allowing pilgrims to connect with their spirituality while being mindful of environmental conservation.

Routes, timings and fare

 Route from Mathura – The Bus will depart from Mathura Railway Station at 8.30 am. It will take the tourists to Gokul and remain there from 9.15 to 10.30 am and then leave for Govardhan. It will tour in Govardhan between 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm and then take a break for an hour for Lunch and rest. It will leave for Mathura where the tourists will be taken for darshan to Shri Krishna Janmabhumi between 4.00 pm and 5pm.

Route from Vrindavan – The Bus will depart from the Tourist Facilitation Centre (TFC) near the combined hospital in Vrindavan at 7.30 am. It will organise the darshan of Shri Krishna Janmasthan between 8.15 am to 9.15 am before leaving for Govardhan. It will take the tourists to the major temples and shrines of Govardhan between 10.30 am to 1.00 pm. It take a break for lunch between 1.00 pm to 2.00 p,m before leaving for Gokul.  It will stay in Gokul for an hour and reach Vrindavan at 5.30 pm.

Bus Fare – Each person will be charged Rs. 200 for the conducted tour. If someone wants to visit any particular place, and not interested visiting all the places; then each person will be charged Rs. 50 per destination.