Kanak Vrindavan

Kanak Vrindavan is a Radha-Krishna temple and landscaped garden complex in the Nahargarh valley on the Amer Road, in Kanak Ghati north of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Sawai Jai Singh II is credited with building it, and the temple of Govind Dev, a form of Krishna, anchors the site. The complex sits in a green fold of the Aravalli hills below Nahargarh, with terraced lawns, shaded paths and small pavilions around the shrine, and it is a popular spot for evening strolls and family outings. Visitors enter on foot through the gate, walk through gardens and approach the temple for darshan, where devotees make small offerings and listen to devotional singing at certain times. The garden also has a few fountains and seating areas where families picnic. Entry is free. A visit generally takes about 45 minutes, a little longer if stopping to sit in the garden. Late afternoon on a weekday is the best time, when light is soft and crowds are thin; weekends and festivals such as Janmashtami draw large local crowds. Morning visits are also quiet, though the garden is at its most atmospheric in the golden hour before sunset. Photographers find good subjects in the temple facade, the garden pavilions and the hills behind. The site lies on the Amer Road beyond Jal Mahal, and any cab or auto-rickshaw heading to Amer passes the gate, so it is easy to add to an outing to Amber Fort. Modest dress is expected at the temple, and shoes are removed before entering the shrine. Snacks and drinks are available from vendors near the entrance.