Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama was initiated some 470 year ago with Lord Nityananda taking Srila Jiva Gosvami on a parikrama of the holy dham.
Nityananda Prabhu said to Jiva, “Although in the eyes of common people, Visvambhara took sannyasa and left Navadvipa to go elsewhere, actually My Gauranga never gives up Mayapur or Navadvipa. The devotees can perceive His daily lila. You, Jiva, will also see Gauranga dancing.
Around Mayapur is beautiful Antardvipa, where Brahma received the darsana of Gauranga. O Jiva, if you want to see all this, please go on parikrama. It will be very beneficial for you”.
“Hearing the Lord’s words, Jiva, with tears in his eyes, fell flat like a stick at Nityananda Prabhu’s feet and requested, You will show real mercy on this unworthy wretch if You Yourself take me on parikrama.” – Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya, by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
In recent times, since its inception in 1918 by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, the Gaudiya Vaisnavas have been performing parikrama around Sri Navadvipa Mandala.
In 1972, Srila Prabhupada took some of his disciples on parikrama of Sri Navadvipa Dham, and since that time ISKCON Mayapur has been performing Navadvipa parikrama.