Radha Rani's eight Sakhis
In Braj, Radha is never alone. Her eight closest companions, the Ashta Sakhi, serve her in the pastimes, and each has a village of her own around Barsana with her temple in it. A small Ashta Sakhi temple stands at the foot of the Shriji steps; the villages make a circle you can drive in a day.
The lotus is a way of seeing it, not a map. The villages lie around Barsana in all directions; Unchagaon is a mile west of the Shriji steps, Sunhera is across the Rajasthan line.
The eight, as Braj knows them
Each Sakhi has a character and a seva of her own in the texts the Braj tradition reads. Our guides tell the stories at the villages; this is the short version.
Lalita ललिता
The leader of the eight, sharp-tongued and quick to take Radha's side in any quarrel with Krishna. Her village, Unchagaon, sits on a hill a mile west of Barsana; her temple is at the top of its stairs. Narayan Bhatt, the saint who found Barsana's lost deities, chose Unchagaon for his samadhi.
Vishakha विशाखा
Closest to Radha in nature, her confidante and messenger, the one who carries letters between her and Krishna and dresses her for the day. Vishakha's village is Kamai, a short drive from Barsana.
Chitra चित्रा
Her name means picture. Chitra is the Sakhi of the arts: painting, cooking, the reading of signs. Chiksauli, her village, is close enough to Barsana that the Sakhi circuit reaches it first after Unchagaon.
Indulekha इंदुलेखा
The keeper of Radha's jewels and the reader of palms, trusted with messages and secrets. Her village is Anjanokh, and her temple stands in it.
Champakalata चम्पकलता
Named for the champa vine, she tends flowers and garlands and the sweets offered to the divine couple. Karhala, her village, is on the circuit after Chiksauli.
Rangadevi रंगदेवी
The maker of perfumes and colours, quick with an argument and a joke. Rangadevi's village is Rakauli, where the Maan Mandir trust began the restoration of Barsana's hills.
Tungavidya तुंगविद्या
The scholar and musician among the eight, who knows the scriptures and the veena. Her village is Dabhala.
Sudevi सुदेवी
Rangadevi's twin, who dresses Radha's hair and cares for the birds and the water of the groves. Sunhera, her village, lies just across the Rajasthan border; the circuit ends there and comes home by Prem Sarovar.
Eight villages in a day, with a guide who knows them
A car, a guide who knows the pujaris in each village, and the stories told where they belong. We start at Shriji's morning aarti, take Unchagaon and Lalita's temple first, and come back by Prem Sarovar for the evening.
- 7 AM
Shringar aarti at Shriji, then down the hill to Unchagaon and Narayan Bhatt's samadhi - 9 AM
Chiksauli, Karhala, Kamai - 12 PM
Lunch in a village home, if you want it, or back in Barsana - 3 PM
Anjanokh, Dabhala, Rakauli, Sunhera - 6 PM
Prem Sarovar at dusk, Sandhya aarti at Shriji at 7
Repeat visitors and sadhakas
People who have done Shriji and want the Barsana most pilgrims never see. October to March, when the fields are green and the afternoons are cool.
Operators list the Ashta Sakhi darshan at Rs 2,800 to 3,800 a head. Ours is priced per car, with the guide included, so a family pays what a couple pays.
Do the circle with someone who knows it
Say when you are coming and how many of you there are. You get two or three options with real distances to Shriji and a fixed price. No surge on festival days.
- Reply within a day, usually within hours
- Stays 10% below the walk-in rate when booked through us
- A local lead with every group on festival days
- No VIP darshan promises, because there is no such thing at Shriji