Like all Hindu holy towns, the chaos and squalor of Vrindavan can get pretty intense.
If you take a guided tour, you can expect to be led to a temple where the priest will treat you to a simple ceremony and then start demanding donations of thousands of rupees to carve your name on a marble plaque that will supposedly go up on the wall. A few tens of rupees for dabs of kumkum on your forehead etc are reasonable, but there is absolutely no reason to pay more: simply walk out if you feel uncomfortable. The easiest way to avoid getting into this situation in the first place is to insist on going to temples of your choice, not the guide's.
Vrindavan is absolutely infested with monkeys, who are adept at stealing cameras, glasses yes! in certain areas some are trained to come up behind you and whip off your glasses, then there are boys who ask for money to get them back by offering food to them, food and anything you're not keeping a close eye on. Wear contacts or go without if you can.
