Once Yadshoda Mata and Nandbaba expressed their desire to go on pilgrimage before their son Sri Krishna. To fulfill their beautiful desire Sri Krishna recalled all the sacred places to Vrindavan. Since then circumbulating these shrines is known as 'Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra' which releases us of all our sins, which ultimately helps to stop the cycle of birth and death(chaurasilakh yoni's) and in result help's one to attain salvation. An important incident in Srimad Bhagawat, during the Krishnaleela cantos of Lord Krishna leads to the origin of Braj Yatra. The countless pranks the Lord Krishna performed during his childhood, often used to confuse Lord Brahma. Lord Krishna often used to eat foods already half eaten by his sakhas (fellow cowherd boys).
In order to test the fact that Lord Krishna was actually the incarnation of God, Brahmaji cast a spell which made the cows and cowherd friends of Krishna disappear and took them to BrahmaLoka. Lord Krishna the lord of trinities, understood the doing of Lord Brahama and to teach him a lesson Sri Krishna himself took the forms of His Sakha's and cows. Krishna continued to be in such forms for a year. Brahmaji realized his mistake and asked for forgiveness thus Lord Krishna advised him that only to get rid of his sins was by performing Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra. Brahmaji became the first to perform Braj Yatra and as a result he got released of his sins. This holy leela explains the importance and inspires devotees to perform Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra.
The Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra (i.e. 84 Kos. = 252 km) pilgrimage comprises Vrindavan, with its 12 vanas (forests), 24 upvanas (groves), the sacred hill Govardhan, the divine River Yamuna and numerous holy places along its banks, is undertaken annually by lakhs of devotees from faraway places.