Vrindavan Today | Bureau Report
11th may, 2026, Vrindavan: The historic Kaliya Dah Ghat of Vrindavan, associated with Shri Krishna’s famed Kaliya Mardan Lila, is slipping into neglect despite being renovated just a few years ago under the Government of India’s HRIDAY heritage scheme. Once restored to promote heritage tourism along the Yamuna, the ancient ghats had become popular among pilgrims and visitors, with many stopping during the Panchkosi Parikrama to rest and take photographs. Today, however, the site tells a different story. Garbage lies scattered across the area, stagnant polluted water has accumulated around the ghats, algae covers the walls, and the atmosphere has become unhygienic and unpleasant for devotees.
A similar fate can also be seen at Vihar Ghat and several other ghats restored under the HRIDAY scheme, where poor maintenance, sewage inflow, and growing neglect are gradually erasing the impact of the restoration work.
Locals also point out that many of Vrindavan’s ancient ghats have effectively been turned into “museum structures” after the construction of concrete roads and embankments between the natural Yamuna stream and the traditional ghats. Once directly connected to the sacred river, many historic ghats now stand physically separated from the flowing Yamuna, diminishing both their spiritual and historical character.
Residents and pilgrims say the condition of these ghats reflects administrative apathy toward Vrindavan’s ancient heritage. Ironically, while crores of rupees from the public exchequer are being proposed and spent on new riverfront development projects, the government appears unable to maintain the city’s already existing historic ghats and sacred sites.
The deteriorating condition of these restored heritage ghats has raised a troubling question: if authorities cannot preserve and maintain Vrindavan’s centuries-old spiritual landmarks after renovation, what will be the fate of massive new riverfront projects being planned along the Yamuna?
