MATHURA TRAVEL TOURISM

Location : 119 km from Delhi, 100 km from Agra
Famous As : Lord Vishnu
Built By : 8th Century A.D.
Main Attractions : Dwarkadish Temple, Mathura Krishna Balrama Mandir

Lord Krishna
He is easily the most popular person here. Every square foot of Mathura-Vrindavan is wrapped in timeless devotion to Lord Krishna, the evergreen hero of Hinduism, the lover of Radha, the cowherd-prince and the re-incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Mathura without Lord Krishna is like Bethlehem without Christ. Welcome to Brajbhoomi or Krishna-land.

Temple in Mathura

Vrindavan - The City Of Temples Vrindavan, around 15 km from Mathura, is a major place of pilgrimage, on the banks of Yamuna. Attracting about 5 lakhs pilgrims every year, it is noted for its numerous temples- both old and modern. Vrindavan is synonymous with the innocent mirth and child like playfulness of Shri Krishna. Vrindavan, the dusty little town known for the temples, big and small, famous and remote strewn all over the place.

Braj Bhoomi Braj Bhoomi is the land where Shri Krishna was born and spent his youth. Today it has little towns and hamlets that are still alive with the Krishna legend and still redolent with the music of his flute. Mathura little town on the River Yamuna was transformed into a place of faith after Lord Krishna was born here. Vrindavan, a village - once noted for its fragrant groves, is where he spent an eventful youth. There are numerous other little spots in the area that still reverberate with the enchantment of Shri Krishna.

Mathura The city of Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, the nucleus of Brajbhoomi, is located at a distance of 145-km south-east of Delhi and 58-km north-west of Agra. Covering an area of about 3,800-sq-kms, today Brajbhoomi can be divided into two district units - the eastern part in the trans-Yamuna tract with places like Gokul, Mahavan, Baldeo, Mat and Bajna and the western side of the Yamuna covering the Mathura region that encompasses Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana and Nandgaon.

The land of Braj starts of from Kotban near Hodel about 95-kms from Delhi and ends at Runakuta, which is known specially for its association with the poet Surdas, an ardent Krishna devotee.

Places Of Interest Around Mathura

Govardhan Govardhan is situated 26-km from Mathura along the road to Deeg. It is named after the name of the "Goverdhan Hillock" which is said to have raised on the finger and was was put in the condition to save the people from the incessant rain which fell constantly for seven days to destroy the people of Braj. The hillock is 7 Miles in length. The temple of Har Deva Ji in Goverdhan town is 400-yrs-old. The Mansi Ganga which is an artificial lake, was constructed my Man Singh of Jaipur. The dense shady trees the hill ranges and tranquil flow of Mansi Ganga all unite together and make a charming view which the visitor can never forget.

Kusuma Sarovara Kusum Sarovara is a 460-feet-long lake with the platforms going out 60 feet into the water. A 25-minute walk from Radha Kunda, it is the best swimming spot in Braja. Legend has it that the Gopis would pick flowers from here for Krishna. After going to Radha Kunda one can spend a relaxing hour here. It is a peaceful place, which not many people visit. The Ghatas at this Kunda were built by Jawahir Singh around 1764.

Radha Kund 5-kms to the north of Goverdhan is Radha Kund, a village clustering around two small lake. It is said the Lord Krishna himself bathed here in self-purification. Between Goverdhan and Radhakund is seen the cenotaph of Raja Suraj Mal Bharatpur who was sacrificed in 1763. In front of the cenotaph is an artificial lake with an extensive garden behind.

Barsana 21-kms to the north of Goverdhan is Barsana the birth place of Radha a favourite devotee of Lord Krishna. It is a famous place for pilgrimage with a regular bus service from Mathura to Barsana via Kosi & Goverdhan. Barsana originally known as "Brahmasaran" lies on a slope of ridge. The four prominent peaks of the hill are regarded as amblematic of the four-faced divinity and are crowned by a group temple is honor of Lali Ji a local title of Radha meaning 'The Beloved'

Nandgaon At the foot of a hill 51-kms north-east of Mathura is situated the venerable village of Nandgaon. It is known as the home of Lord Krishna's foster father Nand, in whose memory a spacious temple stand on the brow of the hill. Probably built in the middle of the 12'th century by one Rup Singh, it consists of an open nave with choir and sacrarium beyond. Standing in the center of a paved courtyard, it is surrounded by a lofty wall which commands an extensive view of the Bharatpur hill and the level expanse of Mathura District as far as Goverdhan.

Gokul About 15-kms of the south-east of Mathura connected by a metalled road is Gokul, a suburb of the inland town of Mahavan on the bank of the river Yamuna. Gukul is a celebrated spot where Lord Krishna was reared in secrecy by his nurse. This place is very scared and is visited by thousand of pilgrims particularly during the birth anniversary of the Lord Krishna in July-August and the time of Annakut festival. Gokul is also associated with the famous saint Vallabhacharya who lived here for many years. The most important temple is that of Gokul Nath Ji. The principal meals are Janma in Bhadon and Annkut on the day after the new Moon of Kartik. The "Trinavat Mela" is also held on the fourth day of the dark half of kartik.

Mahaban Lying on the left bank of Yamuna, Mahaban is 4-kms from Gokul on the road to Sadabad. Lord Krishna is believed to have been craddled in this place. The largest and most sacred temple is that of Mathura Nath an edifice built of rock and plaster. Overhanging the Yamuna at Mahaban is an old building which is identified as the place of Nanda 9-kms from Mahaban on the same route is Baldeo which is another place of pilgrimage. These places can be visited by taxi or auto. There is a bus service to Baldeo.

Baldeo Baldeo is about 9-kms from Mahavan on the road leading to Sadabad. In the center of the town stand the famous temple of Baldeo or Dauji, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. Two annual fair are held at Baldeo. One on the Sixth day of the light half of 'Bhadon' called "Deo-Chhath" and other on the full moon of 'Aghan'. There is not a single day in the course of the year in which the temple court are not occupied with Pilgrims.

Shopping In Mathura

Mathura, the land of cows, is famed for its milk based sweets. A variety of mouth watering savouries are also well known specialties of the town. Like the famous "Mathura Pedas" are famous in whole of India. When one takes a stroll in the city he comes across some nice hand made embroidery design typically reflecting North Indian culture.

Last but not least Mathura being the birthplace of Lord Krishna, one comes across numerous sculptures, portraits, paintings, rings & Malas not only dedicated to Lord Krishna but almost of all deities. The rings, Malas, holy pendants come in all sorts of shapes & sizes from real smaller ones to real big ones and local markets are flooded with these articles.

How To Get There

1. Rail
Mathura is on the main lines of the Central and Western Railways and is connected with all the important cities of the state and country such as Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Jaipur, Gwalior, Kolkatta, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow. The city's principal railway station, Mathura Junction, is around 4-kms from Holi Gate and the old city. It's on the main Delhi-Agra line, 2hr 30min from Delhi on the fast Taj Express, and only 30 minutes short of Agra.

Mathura is also served by several Delhi-Mumbai trains such as the Punjab Mail via Agra and the super-fast August Kranti Rajdhani Express (daily except Wednesdays). Both Rajdhani and Pashchim Express stop at Sawai Madhopur (if you're heading for the Wildlife Park of Ranthambore) and Kota.
2. Air
Nearest airport from Mathura is Kheria (Agra), 62-km, as well as Delhi Airport which is 155-km away.
3. Road
Mathura is connected to all the major cities, either historical or religious, via the National Highways. It is linked by the regular state bus services of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. Getting around in the city is on private buses, tempos, rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, taxis. Tongas are also available.

Mathura has two bus stands; the Old Bus Stand, near Holi Gate, has hourly connections to Agra and serves Govardhan, 25-kms west, while the New Bus Stand, to the west is used by Delhi and Jaipur buses as well as from Agra.

Vrindavan is connected to Mathura and all other places of interest in Braj by rail and bus services and is on direct road link from Delhi & Agra. Getting to Vrindavan from Mathura is straightforward; frequent buses, shared tempos, and taxis ply the route and three local trains leave Mathura Junction each day for the station in the south of Vrindavan.