​Why no one stays in this forest after sunset: Unraveling the mystery of Nidhi Van

As the sun sets and paints the sky in golden hues, there’s a mystery that unfolds every night as the divine presence of Lord Krishna and her divine consort Radha Rani. In the silence of the forest, it is believed that every evening Lord Krishna graces the groves for a sacred Raas Leela, which, according to the ancient texts, is a whirlwind dance of the divine love, which is hidden from mortal eyes. Nestled in the heart of Vrindavan, Nidhi Van stands as one of India's mysterious sacred sites, telling tales of divine romance that blur the line between myth and miracle. Read on…

For ages, people have challenged the idea and presence of divine in this grove by hiding and peeping from outside or sneaking inside the grove to find the reality. However, the consequences of this courage have made this grove a forbidden forest by leaving the people blind, deaf and crippled in some cases. According to the legends, the priests lock the gates tight before evening only to find Krishna’s proof in the dawn in the Rang Mahal: a rumpled bed, sipped water, and a bitten neem twig left by the Lord himself after his revels.

Nidhi Van is just like a normal grove in the afternoon and has short twisted trees with trunks that bend low across the grounds. People who visit here believe these are the Gopis, Lord Krishna's cowherd maidens, frozen in dance poses after the night ends.

Interestingly, as the sun sets, the cows, monkeys and birds move out of the place, leaving a strange silence and mystery behind. It is believed that an unusual silence grasps the groves. Locals say that this silence indicates that the gods are coming.

According to ancient texts and local beliefs, Nidhi Van was Lord Krishna's favorite place, where the melange of divine devotion and art existed in the form of Raas Leela. As per the locals, the gates are locked tight following a rule that has been there for centuries. However, those who try to hide and watch the Raas Leela—Krishna's dance with Radha and the Gopis—suffer bad consequences.

As per the local tales and beliefs, people who enter go mad or become blind or deaf or even disappear as if their senses are taken away by some mystical power. Priests are the ones who enter at dawn and find signs in the Rang Mahal shrine: a messy bed, a glass of water and a chewed neem twig. They say these signs prove Krishna rested there after his revel and his presence is still strong today, like in Vrindavan's old stories.

Swami Haridas, a saint from the century, made the mystery deeper during his meditation in the grove. While singing to Krishna he saw Radha and Krishna appear before him, and the Banke Bihari idol was created. The idol is now in Vrindavan's Banke Bihari Temple and is linked to the Nidhi Van.