Are you planning to celebrate the Holi festival in or near the cities of Mathura and Vrindavan? Are you having issues finding resources on how to go about it? This is exactly what happens to a lot of travelers when they want to plan a trip and really struggle to find a detailed online itinerary that they could follow. Hence, we decided to write this post so that it can be helpful to anyone planning a trip there. This post should work both for Indians as well as international tourists. However, if you are still in doubt after this post, feel free to write a question in the comments below or email us at – backpackingindia143@gmail.com – we will do our best to help you out 🙂
Now coming back to the festival itself… Holi is one of the biggest and funnest Indian festivals. The festival starts with prayers to the Gods. Then it continues to the streets where pigments are thrown at one another. There is one main Holi day, but the festivities actually start in mid-January at the time of Makar Sankranti; and continue beyond the Holi day itself. I highly recommended to those of you that are traveling from very far that you come early and stay longer to capture some big events before and after the main Holi day.
We are including the biggest events that make up this festival. There are a few more smaller Holi celebrations that we did not include in this list.
Event 1: Lathmar Holi at Barsana and Nandgaon
First is a rather peculiar style of Holi celebrations called Lathmar Holi. Women chase men and beat them up with Lathis (sticks). There are two towns which celebrate this festival with zest and these are Barsana and Nandgaon near the cities of Mathura and Vrindavan.
The tale of Lathmar Holi goes like this… Lord Krishna visited Barsana to meet Radha for Holi. He teased her and her friends a lot. The ladies got a little offended and decided to teach Krishna a lesson. They chased him away by beating him with sticks. So now men from Krishna’s village Nandgaon visit Barsana on this day and get beaten up and chased by the women here.
Its a huge event and attracts thousands of participants as well as tourists who come to enjoy the fun filled beatings.
Read more: Lathmar Holi at Barsana and Nandgaon.
When to go?
The event takes place about seven days before the actual Holi. Confirm the dates before planning a trip. It’s a different date every year like most Hindu festivals.
Where?
Barsana and Nandgaon
How to go?
If you are in Delhi, you can simply hire a cab – go to the event and come back home in the evening. Brasana is about 115 kilometers (72 miles) from Delhi. Similarly, if you are in Mathura you can hire a cab and go there. The distance between Mathura and Barsana is about 50 km (31 miles). you should try to reach as early as possible in the morning. The temple gets very crowded quickly. The top balcony is the only place possible to click a picture of the event, and it might get difficult to get there.
Event 2: Phoolon wali Holi, Vrindavan
On the Ekadashi before Holi, the Banke Bihari temple at Vridnavan celebrates a unique Holi which is not celebrated with conventional dry or wet colors, but with flowers; and hence the name Phoolon wali holi (Flower’s Holi). The event is not as popular as the other events, but is quickly getting it’s due.
The gates of the temple open around 4 pm. The Flower Holi starts right after that. However, unlike other Holi festivities, this is a short affair of just about 15-20 minutes during which flowers are thrown at the devotees by the temple priests. It’s very easy to miss if you are not on time. In case you planning to capture it with your camera, reach early and be at the gate just when it opens.
When to go?
Ekadashi before Holi.
Where?
Banke Bihari temple, Vrindavan
Event 3: Widows Holi, Vrindavan
Widows in India have always led a difficult life. They were often banished from their homes and forced to live in the ashrams of Varanasi and Vrindavan. They wore white clothes and never played with colors. A few years back the widows in Pagal Baba Widow Ashram, Vrindavan decided to break this convention and play with colors
Though it started just a few years back, it’s already a must-do event during the Holi celebrations. If you reach early and have time, do make a visit and meet them. We are not sure, but if possible, do play with them as well…always good to spread love on festivals :), For more details you can contact Madanji at Sulabh NGO
When to go?
The event takes place a few days before Holi.
Where?
Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan around noon.
Event 4: Holi at Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
Banke Bihari is the hub of Holi festivities in Vridavan – believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The event takes place just a day before the main Holi festival. The temple opens up its doors to all visitors to come play Holi with the lord himself. The priest throws colors and holy water as the crowd chants in unison. This event is an unbelievable experience to be a part of.
Unlike Lathmar Holi, this event has mainly males participating. Most local women avoid this festival, because the crowd gets rowdy. There is a festival inside as well as outside the temple premises. Its impossible to escape the colors 🙂
The doors of the temple open at 9 am and shut by 1:30 pm.
Read more: Holi at Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
When to go?
A day before Holi; 9 am to 1:30 pm
Where?
Vridnavan
How to go?
Vridnavan is about 160 km (100 miles) from Delhi. It is possible to travel in the morning and go back in the evening. However, my recommendation is to get a hotel room in Mathura and stay overnight. The main Holi festival in Mathura happens next day and is not an event to be missed.
Event 5: Holi procession in Mathura
The colorful Holi procession in Mathura begins after the festivities in Vrindavan .The Holi festivities in Vrindavan will be over around 2 pm. The procession starts at Vishram Ghat and ends at the Holi Gate. It is best to catch the event in the street connecting the two landmarks.
Vehicles decorated with flowers drive down the street. Children dressed as Radha-Krishna follow behind dancing. Be there at 3 pm to participate. Its futile to resist playing holi with these friendly strangers. make sure to get drenched a few times and get completely colored. there will be plenty of time to take photographs at the end of this celebration. In the evening celebrate Holika Dahan – burning of the effigy of Holika. The biggest effigy is burnt at the Holi Gate. You will find many cultural events there as well. We would suggest you skip the cultural events and go inside the lanes towards ghats. Each small cross-road will have a small intimate function where women come and pray. The prayers are quick and if you are not around right away you can easily miss it as well.
When to go?
A day before Holi; 2 pm to 6 pm
Where?
Mathura
How to go?
We recommend to only come to this event If you are in Vrindavan. You can take an auto-rickshaw from the town. It makes little sense to come from Delhi or any other town just to attend this event.
Event 6: Holi festivities in Mathura
The biggest Holi day festival takes place at the historical Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura. We recommend starting the day at 7 am. Head to Vishram ghat to watch the preists make bhang . If possible,try to drink 1 glass of bhang yourself.
The gates of the Dwarkadheesh temple open at 10 am. The crowd will already be lined up to enter before then. The crowd wont be waiting impatiently, but instead throwing colors at one another; and coloring anyone who dares cross the road. Most of the celebration is fun, but things can get very ugly quickly. Mostly local men and kids participate. Women are welcome to join in, but tend to be hesitant. However, there are many traveling women who do participate.
The atmosphere inside the temple is more calm. The Holi celebration here is smaller, and the place is much friendlier. Priests play Dhols and you can even join the dancing there. You will find more women playing Holi inside the temple
Food tip: It’s practically impossible to find any food after the festival is over. And you will be hungry by the time the festival is over. We suggest that you buy some food in advance and pack it safely in your day bag, or leave it back at the hotel room. In case you forget to buy food there is one dhaba open. It is opposite of the Holi gate. It serves some very oily food. There could be some street vendors who sell stale chole-kulche, and maybe a fruit-seller if you are lucky. Brijwasi sweets at Holi gate opens around 4pm and you can get something hygienic to eat there.
When?
Holi day; 10 am to 1:30 pm
Where?
Dwarkadheesh Temple, Mathura
How to go?
If you are in Mathura, just walk from you hotel. You can also come from Delhi in a cab and leave the same afternoon.
Event 7: Huranga at Dauji Temple
Dauji Temple in Huranga comes alive the day after Holi. It is located about 30 km (19miles) outside Mathura. At this temple women beat and strip the men of their clothes. 🙂
This tradition dates back to more than 500 years when the Krishna temple was established. Women from the family met in the temple courtyard. they stripped the men and beat them with their clothes. Today the family has about 3000 members, and they all come to the village from across the world for the festival.
This is the most fun filled Holi celebration. People just let go of all their inhibitions and play with colors. After the ceremony is over in the temple they move outside and play in the courtyard. Everyone is welcome to join in.
When?
Takes place the day after Holi; at 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Make sure to arrive early at this popular event. If you want to take good pictures reach by 9 am, and block your seat on the roof to get a good view.
Where?
Daoji Temple, Baldeo, 30 km (19 miles) from Mathura
How to go?
Take a cab or an auto-rickshaw to the village if you are in Mathura. You can also come from Delhi in a cab, and leave the same afternoon.
More Practical Information
What to eat?
The entire North India has great food. The street foods and Sweets in Mathura certainly do not disappoint. Everyone will love eating the food there all day.
So go crazy on things like pain poori, aalo tikki, kachori, jelabis, imartis, lal pedas, gulab jamuns, lassi and more! We recommend Brijwasi- the famous sweet shop If you think your stomach won’t be able to handle the Indian food. Brijwasi is right next to the Holi gate. Otherwise, the most popular chaat place is called ‘Shreeji Chat’.
Try out the Girdhar Murari Dharmashala for meals. The place serves excellent Gujarati food. You will need to make a payment and reserve your food in advance. There won’t be any food for you if you come late – so do keep an eye on the time.
We must also add that bhaang (a form of cannabis) is legal in the city, and is sold in the form of thandai – cold flavoured milk. We strongly recommend to try it out 🙂
Where to stay?
Mathura does’t have many amazing places to stay, but decent ones do exist. When picking a hotel, make sure you pick one which is close to the city center so that you can easily get around without the need for transportation. It’s lovely near the river. it would be quite nice in the evening if you can find a place somewhere near Vishram Ghat.
One of the most recommended places to stay is Hotel Brijwasi Royal. You can read more about them here:
Hotel Brijwasi Inn
Some of the other hotels are:
Hotel Jyoti ResidencyMMN ResortClarks Inn Mathura
Mathura beyond Holi
There is much more to Mathura than just temples and the Holi festival. Since you would have already seen most of the temples already, do use your time to see the town beyond the temples – there is local wrestling, food, old wooden doors and more 🙂
General tips
Holi can get pretty crazy at times, so be prepared to be splashed with colors, water and even other things- There is water and colors almost all the time around you. make sure your camera and other electronics have some sort of protection – have a waterproof plastic covers, if possible.
The clothes you wear for the day will not be usable after Holi, so wear something not so useful.
There is also a possibility that your clothes might just get torn off on the streets, so be prepared.
Women need to extremely careful during Holi here. We do not want to warn them against coming, but they are often targets for the young local guys and many may not like it. Molestation in the guise of Holi is not uncommon.
Wear a cap, this can potentially save your hair as people usually do not take off your head-gear
Carry a small dry-bag to keep the money, phone and other essentials – Wear a cap on your head to save your hair – most likely no one will take it off to color your hair
And finally, have at least a glass of Bhang, and don’t just be a spectator with your camera. Holi is best enjoyed by not just getting colored, but by coloring others as well.
Follow us at
Thanks for reading the article and stay tuned for more from us!
BACKPACKING INDIA
BACKPACKING INDIA🇮🇳🎒 
Great post 😁
LikeLike