Govardhana

Govardhana Hill (Sanskrit: गोवर्धन), also called Mount Govardhana, Giri Raj and Royal Hill, is a sacred Hindu site in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India on a 8km long hill located in the area of Govardhan and Radha Kund, which is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Vrindavan.

Known as Govardhan or Giriraj it is the sacred center of Braj and is identified as a natural form of Krishna (Govardhana sila).

The name 'Govardhana' has two primary translations. In the literal meaning, 'Go' translates to 'cows', and 'vardhana' translates to 'nourishment'. Another meaning of 'Go' is 'the senses' and 'vardhana' can also mean 'to increase' - thus the name is also translated by devotees of Krishna as 'that which increases the senses' in their attraction to Krishna. In this connection, it is believed that the personality of Govardhan blesses the devotee by increasing his devotion (bhakti). Thus, by residing in the foothills of Govardhan Hill, all the senses and the respective duties of a soul attain divinity and are more inclined to perform service to Krishna.

Govardhan Hill, located from Radha Kund to south of Govardhan, is a long ridge that at its highest is only 100 feet (30 m) above the surrounding land, contrary to artistic depictions of it as a steep hill. At the southern end of the hill is the village of Punchari. At the crest are the villages of Aniyor and Jatipura.

Govardhan Hill is considered a sacred site because it is the site of the history and legends of Krishna, believed to be embodied in earth of the hill. Krishna and his brother Balaram are believed to have spent much time in the forest, ponds, caves, and the grassland where cows fed. An Eden-like sanctuary, the area's waterfalls, garden-grove (van), arbour (nikunj), water tank (kund), and flora are depicted in scenes of Krishna's adventures and sexual interactions with Radha.

The buildings and structures on the Hill have been built since the sixteenth century. As of 2013^[update], there is no known archaeological evidence prior to that century.

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