Govardhan or Goverdhan | |
---|---|
city | |
Location in Uttar Pradesh, India | |
Coordinates: 27°30′N 77°28′E / 27.5°N 77.47°ECoordinates: 27°30′N 77°28′E / 27.5°N 77.47°E | |
Country | India |
State | Uttar Pradesh |
District | Mathura |
Elevation | 179 m (587 ft) |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 18,512 |
Languages | |
• Official | Hindi |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
Govardhan or Goverdhan is a key pilgrimage centre in India and a municipal town; a nagar panchayat ; seat of a MLA Member of legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh; a Tehsil, in Mathura district in the India in state of Uttar Pradesh.
Govardhan is located at 27°30′N 77°28′E / 27.5°N 77.47°E. It has an average elevation of 179 metres (587 feet).Recently Goverdhan has been made Tahseel in Mathura District by UP government.
As of 2001[update] India census, Govardhan had a population of 22,576. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Govardhan has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 52%. In Govardhan, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Govardhan is famous for the Holy Goverdhan Hill. There are many temples in this town namely Shri Haridev ji Temple, Daan-Ghati Temple and Mukharbind Temple . The town is also famous for its 21 kilometers long Parikrama of the famous Govardhan hill. The parikrama procession is held in very high religious belief. It's said that Lord Krishna held Govardhan Hill on his little finger to save the town from wrath of the god of rains Indra.
The town also houses Maanasi-Ganga, a close-ended lake. This is another place for the devotees visiting this town. On the banks of this lake, there are quite a few temples, prominent among them the Mukharbind temple. Being close ended, the lake had to cope with widespread pollution. After a cleaning effort by localites, the situation has vastly improved.