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The history of Braj Bhoomi dates back to as early as 600 B.C., ever since it has been associated with Lord Sri Krishna. Mythological literature specially, Shrimadbhagwat Mahapuran, Brahmavaivart Puran, Agni Puran and Garg Samhita contain elaborate descriptions of the extraordinary powers and activities of Lord Krishna at Braj, his birthplace. The Vedic literature of the Northern Era, like the Gopal Taapniya Upanishad, etc., also has descriptions of this holy land and its association with Sri Krishna. In fact, no other region of India has been described in such details since ancient times as Braj.

Traditionally, the Braj region was planned in twelve Vans and twelve Up-vans. The twelve Vans are:

Mahavan Kaamvan (Kaman) Kokilavan Taalvan

Kumudvan Bhaudirvan Chhatravan (Chhata) Khadirvan (Khaayara)

Lohavan Bhadravan Bahulaavan Velvan

The twelve Up-vans are:

Brahmavan Apsaravan Bilva van Kadambvan

Swarnvan (Sunehara) Surabhivan (Surir) Premvan (Gajipur) Mahurvan (Chiksauli)

Maanvan Sheshashaayivan Naradvan (Radhakund) Parmanandvan (Paramdaraa)

According to the Puranas the grandson of Lord Sri Krishna Vajranaabh, after becoming the ruler of Mathura, identified the land where Lord Sri Krishna played with gopis & gwalas. He preserved the land as the birthplace of Lord Krishna and carried out developmental work in the region.

Because of its God-gifted prosperity, the region was frequently attacked by foreign invaders. Therefore, for security reasons, many of the divine statues like Sri Nathji, Sri Dwarkadhishji, Sri Govinddevji, Sri Gopi Nathji etc., made of precious metals, were shifted to Nathdwara, Kankrauli and Jaipur.

Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya, founder of the credo of ‘Path of Fostering' (Pushti Marg), while on his visits in the year 1550, discovered many holy places like Goverdhan and Kaamyak Van (Kaman), where Lord Sri Krishna played and spent his childhood.

Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu and Shri Vallabhacharya have the credit of identifying and preserving many other such temple structures and religious places in the form that they are today. Being an important dwelling place of the followers of Lord Shri Krishna, the Braj area had been a place of worship for great saints like Raskhaan, Meera, Surdaas, Vilvamangal, Saint Haridaas, Nimbark, etc.