Chhatikara (Shakatikara)
The current name of Shakatikara is Chhatikara. It is on the Delhi–Mathura highway, about four miles from Mathura and two miles from Vrindavan. Concerned by the violence of the demons in Gokul-Mahavan, Nand Baba came to Shakatikara with all the Brajavasis. They established a place to live here by arranging their hundreds of thousands of bullock-carts in the shape of a crescent moon. This place became known as Shakatikara because the Brajavasis used bullock-carts (shakata) to set up their residence. Shri Krishna and Shri Balram would go from here to sweet Vrindavan and other nearby places to graze the calves and cows. Krishna performed rasa-lila and other Braj pastimes while living here. At that time, Vrindavan, the place of Shri Krishna's playful pastimes, was not a prosperous city but a rural area ornamented with many varieties of groves, creepers and attractive forests.
Garud Govind
Krishna performed various pastimes at this place, which lies near Shakatikara. One day while grazing the cows, Shri Krishna was absorbed in playing here with the sakhas. In their play, Krishna made Shridham Sakha assume the role of Garud and then He climbed on his back, acting as if the husband of Lakshmi, Narayan Himself, had mounted Garud's back. Even today, one can take darshan of Govindji with Shridham in the role of Garud. This location is also connected with Lord Ram's pastimes. When the serpents released by Meghnad bound Shri Ramachandra in their coils, He became helpless. Hearing of this from Devarishi Narad,Garud came to the rescue. As soon as the serpents saw Garud, they released Shri Ramchandra and fled. This incident left Garud doubtful as to whether Shri Rama was in fact Bhagvan, the Supreme Lord, but by associating with Mahatma Kakabhusundi and by receiving darshan of Shri Krishna at the time of Krishna's pastimes, this delusion was removed. At that time, Shri Krishna climbed upon his back and assured him that He was indeed the Supreme Lord. Garud Govind is the place where Garud had darshan of Shri Govind, the maintainer of the cows and cowherd boys.
Gandheshwari
The present name of this village is Ganeshara Gaon. Shri Krishna and the cowherd boys would smear aromatic (gandha) substances on their bodies while grazing the cows. It is said that Shri Krishna became intoxicated by the fragrance emanating from the body of Radhika, who was hiding nearby with Her girlfriends.[1] Seeing Radhaji, the flute slipped from His hands, His peacock-feather crown fell at Her lotus feet, and He fainted. [2] This place is therefore called Gandheshwari Tirth. Radhika is also called Gandharv. To this day, Gandharv Kund continues to celebrate the triumphant, amorous pastimes of Shri Radha-Krishna. In modern times, the name Gandheshwari has changed to Ganeshara.
Khechari Gaon
Khechari Gaon is two miles west of Mathura, and one mile north-east of Shantanu Kund. Khechari refers to the Putana, a demoness who roamed the sky. Kansa knew about her power and adopted her as his sister. On his request, the impure Putana, who could transform herself into many forms and who used to drink the blood and eat the flesh of small children, came in the guise of a beautiful mother to the house of Nand Maharaja to kill Shri Krishna. Although her breasts were smeared with a deadly poison, Shri Krishna, the ocean of causeless mercy, sucked out her life along with the poison, and bestowed upon her a position equal to a nursemaid in the transcendental world. Khechari Gaon is the place of residence of the Putana.