Vrindavan (pronounced [ʋɾɪnˈdɑːʋən] ⓘ; IAST: Vṛndāvana), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban,[3] is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India.

It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance for Hindus who believe that Krishna, one of the main Gods in Hinduism, spent most of his childhood in this city.

In the year 1515, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavan, with the purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Krishna's life.

[12] In the last 250 years, the extensive forests of Vrindavan have been subjected to urbanisation, first by local Rajas and in recent decades by apartment developers.

The forest cover has been whittled away to only a few remaining spots, and the local wildlife, including peacocks, cows, monkeys and a variety of bird species has been virtually eliminated.

Situated on the west bank of the Yamuna River, about 15 kilometres north of Mathura[13] and 125 km from Delhi, Vrindavan has an average elevation of 170 metres (557 feet).

[19] The other prominent areas surrounding Vrindavan are Govardhana, Gokul, Nandgaon, Barsana, Mathura and Bhandirvan.

Millions of devotees of Radha Krishna visit Vrindavan and its nearby areas every year to participate in a number of festivals.

[37][38] Many live in extreme poverty and spend time singing bhajan hymns at bhajanashrams, as documented in historian William Dalrymple's The Age of Kali (1998).