Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
While God waits for his temple to be built of love, / men bring stones.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941), Indian writer and Nobel laureate
At night, the light illuminating the graceful symmetry of the Govind Devji Temple, dedicated to the eternal lover Lord Krishna (affectionately called Govind), lends an air of shimmering otherworldliness to the shrine. Ringed by the craggy Aravalli Mountains, the City Palace complex in which the temple and surrounding Jai Niwas Garden are situated was designed so the king could view the temple’s sanctum from his private residence.
It is easy to get to Govind Devji Temple using local buses, taxis, or rickshaws. While the exterior is enchanting, inside the temple the fragrance of incense, thrum of Hindi chants, and voices lifted in sacred song will draw you inward, deepening your love for the Divine.
Visit the temple at night, when the exterior facade is illuminated and awaiting devotees release a collective cry of exaltation as the doors open for evening worship. Open your heart to sacred love as you gaze upon the statue of Krishna when it is revealed for darshan (the beholding of a deity in image form) or during aarti (the ceremonial clockwise waving of sacred light, a ghee, or purified butter, lamp).
Located in the bustling metropolis of Jaipur—known as India’s “Pink City” with nine districts symbolizing the sacred divisions of the universe—the Govind Devji Temple and Jai Niwas Garden are popular destinations for tourists and the thousands of devotees of Krishna who visit each year.