Govardhan Hill, Sacred hill in Mathura district, India.

Govardhan Hill is a long rocky ridge of rounded tan, ochre, grey and reddish-brown boulders lying over yellowish soil, running about 8 km from Radha Kund to south of Govardhan and rising some 30 m at its highest. Sparse dry grass and small shrubs grow between the stones, and the villages of Punchari, Aanyor and Jatipura sit at its foot and crest.

The buildings and structures on the hill date from the 16th century; as of 2013 there was no known archaeological evidence of older remains. In 2018 the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister declared Govardhan a pilgrimage centre alongside Mathura, Baldev, Nandgaon, Radha Kund and Gokul, and the state planned to replant the hill with Dvapara Yuga flora such as kadamb, karoli, tamal, pakkad and tilkan.

The name connects to stories about Krishna protecting followers from storms by lifting the hill. Today pilgrims walk a footpath through the gentle ridge landscape and stop at small shrines with oil lamps and fresh flowers.

From Mathura Junction buses and auto-rickshaws travel to the hill, the journey takes about one hour on regular country roads. The circuit path requires several hours on foot and suitable shoes for uneven terrain.

The hill is identified with the Govardhana Shila, a natural form of Krishna, and the Sanskrit name is explained as go (cows) plus vardhana (nourishment). The Garga Samhita relates that the sage Pulastya carried the hill on his right hand toward Kashi, but it grew heavy at Vrindavan and was set down; the sage then cursed it to shrink daily, which is why it is said to be wasting away.