Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
Koṭvana is situated near the Delhi–Mathurā highway in between Kosī and Hoḍal. It is four miles north and a little east of Caraṇa-pahāḍī. It used to be called Koṭarvana. Śītala-kuṇḍa and Sūrya-kuṇḍa are places to visit here. Kṛṣṇa used to herd the cows and perform playful pastimes here.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
This forest which is also called Kotvana is one of the upavanas or sub-forests mentioned in the Puranas. Krishna used to come here while herding the cows and enjoyed many childhood pastimes with His friends in this forest. The word ‘kotara’ means the bird species known as a ‘woodpecker’ and the name Kotaravana suggests that it was a forest where there were many woodpeckers (kotaras). Nearby are Sitala-kunda and Surya-kunda. Kotaravana is one of the most northerly points on the Vraja Mandala Parikrama route and from here the parikrama turns eastward towards Seshashayi and then south to Paigrama. During the medieval period, Kotban was located in a strategically important place as it straddled the Agra to Delhi road which was a major artery and lifeline in this region. Kotban is famous for its medieval sandstone fortress built by the king of Bharatpur that is located in the center of the town and overlooks the Agra to Delhi road.
