Pilgrimages and Temples of Sri Krishna

(A) Vraja Bhoomi & Life related:

1. मथुरा (Mathura): Sri Krishna incarnated in Mathura in the prison of Kamsha. Vasudeva exchanged him with Yogamaya at Gokula. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 3)
→ Mathura (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

2. गोकुल (Gokula): Sri Krishna grew up in Gokula in the house of Nanda Maharaj. He displayed his charming Bala Leelas of stealing curd and performed other pranks with the Gopis during this period. Sri Krishna slayed demons Putana, Shakatasura and Trinavarta who were sent by Kamsha. He also liberated Nalakuvara and Manigriva from their curse. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 5 to 11)
→ Gokul (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

3. वृन्दावन (Vrindavana): Sri Krishna performed the divine Raasa Leela with the Gopis in the Vrindavana forest on the bank of river Yamuna. He slayed many demons here like Bakasura, Aghasura, Dhenukasura, Pralamba, Sankhachuda, Arishta, Keshi and Vyoma who were sent by Kamsha. Sri Krishna humbled Lord Brahma at Vrindavana and freed river Yamuna from the poisonous serpent Kaliya, dancing on his hood after subduing him. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 11 to 37)
→ Vrindavan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

4. गोवर्धन (Govardhana): Sri Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill and sheltered the people of Vraja when Indra unleashed heavy rains (when people of Vraja stopped worshipping him). Govardhana Hill is part of Vrindavana. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 24)
→ Govardhan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

5. मथुरा (Mathura): Sri Krishna came to Mathura from Vrindavana to slay Kamsha. He showed the vision of Lord Vishnu to Akrura, captivated the residents of Mathura, broke the sacrificial bow of Kamsha, killed elephant Kuvalayapida, killed the wrestlers of Kamsha like Canura and finally killed Kamsha and set free Devaki, Vasudeva and Ugrasena from the prison of Kamsha. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 38 to 45)
→ Mathura (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

6. अवन्ति (Avanti): Sri Krishna stayed in the gurukula of Sandipani Muni and learned the 64 arts in 64 days. As a gurudkashina, Sri Krishna restored the dead son of Sandipani Muni. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 45)
→ Ujjain (Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh)

7. मथुरा (Mathura): Sri Krishna returned to Mathura after his studies in the gurukula. He sent Uddhava to Vraja. He visited the houses of Trivakra and Akrura. He sent Akrura to the Pandavas at Hastinapura. Sri Krishna defeated Jarasandha seventeen times at Mathura during this time. Finally Sri Krishna established Dwaraka and transported the Yadavas there. He killed Kalayavana through Mucukunda. and pretended to flee from Mathura before Jarasandha. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 47 to 52)
→ Mathura (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

8. द्वारका (Dwaraka): Sri Krishna ruled his kingdom from Dwaraka. During this time he married Devi Rukmini, Satyabhama, Kalindi and others, and performed many Leelas of married life. Sri Krishna showed Narada his many forms doing simultaneous activities in different palaces of Dwaraka. Sri Krishna also slayed demons Mura, Narakasura and Paundraka (the false Vasudeva). He destroyed the pride of Banasura. Towards the end Sri Krishna became more and more engaged with the Pandavas and visited them several times. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 53 to 89)
→ Dwarka (Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

9. इन्द्रप्रस्थ (Indraprastha): While Sri Krishna was staying in Dwaraka he went to Indraprastha to attend the Rajasuya Yagna of king Yudhishthira. He slayed Jarasandha through Bhima. He slayed Sishupala during the Rajasuya yagna and liberated him. After returning from the Rajasuya Yagna, Sri Krishna slayed Salva who laid seige in Dwaraka while he was away. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 71 to 74)
→ New Delhi (New Delhi)

10. काम्यक वन (Kamyaka Vana): While Sri Krishna was fighting with Salva in a long drawn battle, the Pandavas lost the game of dice and went for the forest exile. After slaying Salva, Sri Krishna went to the Kamyaka Vana and met the Pandavas. There, he assured the Pandavas and narrated the battle with Salva to the Pandavas. (Mahabharata - Vana Parva)
→ Near Kurukshetra (Kurukshetra district, Haryana)

11. वृन्दावन (Vrindavana): While Sri Krishna was staying in Dwaraka he visited Vrindavana for two months. After returning from Vrindavana the meeting of Sri Krishna with friend Sudama takes place in Dwaraka. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 78 to 81)
→ Vrindavan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

12. कुरुक्षेत्र (Kurukshetra): While Sri Krishna was staying in Dwaraka he visited Kurukshetra during solar eclipse and met the inhabitants of Vrindavana. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 82). Long after, during the great battle of Mahabharata, Sri Krishna delivered the sermon of the Bhagavad Gita at Kurukshetra.
→ Kurukshetra (Kurukshetra district, Haryana)

13. प्रभास क्षेत्र (Prabhasa Kshetra): Sri Krishna gave up his mortal body at Prabhasa Kshetra.
→ Prabhasa Kshetra (Gir Somnath district, Gujarat)

(B) Divya Desams of Sri Krishna:

• Thirukavalampadi - Gopalakrishna Perumal (Thirunangur) (Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu): A Divya Desam [Thirukavalampadi Divya Desam] (DD-27).
• Thiruparthanpalli - Parthasarathy Perumal (Thirunangur) (Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu): A Divya Desam [Thiruparthanpalli Divya Desam] (DD-39).
• Thirupadagam - Pandavadoota Perumal (Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu): A Divya Desam [Thirupadagam Divya Desam] (DD-48).
- Sri Krishna gave darshan of his Pandavadoota form to sage Hareeta and king Janamejaya.
• Thiruvallikkeni - Parthasarathy Perumal (Chennai district, Tamil Nadu): A Divya Desam [Thiruvallikkeni Divya Desam] (DD-60).
- Sri Krishna gave darshan of his Parthasarathy form to king Sumathi.
• Mathura - Vrindavan - Govardhan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh): A Divya Desam [Thiruvadamathurai Divya Desam] (DD-71)
- Where Sri Krishna performed his Leelas.
• Gokul (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh): A Divya Desam [Thiruvaipadi Divya Desam] (DD-72)
- Where Sri Krishna grew up.
• Dwarka (Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat): A Divya Desam [Thiru Dwarakai Divya Desam] (DD-73)
- Capital of the kingdom of Sri Krishna.
• Aranmula - Parthasarathy Perumal (Pathanamthitta district, Kerala): A Divya Desam [Thiruvaranvilai Divya Desam] (DD-84).

(C) Other famous pilgrimages of Sri Krishna:

• Nathdwara - Shrinathji (Rajsamand district, Rajasthan): A famous temple Sri Krishna in infant form. Associated with Vallabha tradition.
• Kankroli Dwarka - Dwarkadheesh (Rajsamand district, Rajasthan): A famous temple of Sri Krishna.
• Pandharpur - Panduranga (Solapur district, Maharashtra): A famous pilgrimage of Sri Krishna as Panduranga or Vitthal.
• Puri - Jagannath (Puri district, Odisha): An ancient pilgrimage of Sri Jagannath known as [Purushottama Kshetra]. An All India Char Dham and a Shakti Peetha [Viraja Kshetra (Utkala) Shakti Peetha].
• Udupi - Krishna (Udupi district, Karnataka): A famous pilgrimage of Sri Krishna and a Mukti Sthala of Karnataka.
• Guruvayur - Guruvayurappan (Thrissur district, Kerala): A famous pilgrimage of Sri Krishna.
• Ambalapuzha - Krishna (Alappuzha district, Kerala): A famous temple of Sri Krishna.