Temples in Mathura

Mathura: Blessed with Lord Krishna's blessings

The historic and mythological city of Mathura is located in Uttar Pradesh. Considered to be one of the prominent and holy city in India, Mathura is situated on the banks of river Yamuna. Hindu scriptures reveal that Mathura was the birth place of Lord Krishna.The Keshav temple which still stands today has been built on the very location of the legendary birthplace of Lord Krishna. It was also considered as the economic hub in the ancient age due to its strategic position on the trade routes.

It is also believed that Lord Buddha had visited Mathura and established monasteries here. These monasteries have been included in the travel writing of the Chinese travel writer Fa Hien. The city has also witnessed several invasions, especially from the Mahmud of Ghazni (1017), Sikandar Lodi  (1500) and also the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The Bhagavata Purana and the Mahabharata also reveal that Mathura is the capital of the Surasena Kingdom and it was also ruled by Kansa, the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna. Over the years, Mathura has become a significant part of Agra- Mathura-Vrindavan circuit.

Following are the main attractions of Mathura

Dwarkadheesh temple: It is also fondly called as Jagat Mandir. It is dedicated to Lord Krishna who is also worshipped by the name of Dwarkadheesh, ie, the 'King of Dwarka.' It is believed that the original temple was  initially built by Lord Krishna's grandson Vajranabha, while Seth Gokul Das Parik built it in 1814. It is also revered for being the 108th Divya Desam of Lord Vishnu and is considered at par with the Char Dhams in India.

Government Museum: This archaeological site is also known as Mathura Museum and was founded by Sir F. S. Growse, who was the collector of Mathura district in 1874. It preserves some of the rare paintings, coins, sculptures and artefacts pottery of Mathura along with the safeguarded remains of the Kushan and Gupta Empire. It is also lauded as being of the top notch museums in Uttar Pradesh.

Kusum Sarovar: This 50 metre water tank is 60 feet deep and is known for peaceful locales and serene ambience. Nestled by the Kadamb Trees, the Hindu mythology reveals the milkmaids used to pick flowers from Lord Krishna in Kusum Sarovar. The water of the sarovar is ideal for swimming endeavours.

Jama Masjid: Nabir Khan constructed the Jama Masjid in Mathura in 1661 AD. The four soaring minarets are few of the attractions of the mosque. Hundreds of devotees, especially for Uttar Pradesh come to Jama Masjid to offer their prayers. The vibrant and soothing colours of the plaster mosaic of the Jama Masjid adds to its aura.

Kans Quila: This old fort in Mathura is named after the legendary maternal uncle Kansa of Lord Krishna. Raja Mansingh of Jaipur had built this fort in 16th century, that is situated near to the Yamuna River. It is believed that Kans Quila used to protect the people from the sudden inundation of river Yamuna.

Excursions from Mathura
Tourists can also travel to the other near by cities from Mathura such as Vrindavan (12 km), Agra Bharatpur ( 39 km), (59 km), Firozabad (94 km), Faridabad(119 km) and  Meerut (195 km).

When to Reach
Pilgrims visit Mathura through out the year but the best time is from November to March. It is quite an experience to travel to Mathura during the month of august when festivals are arranged celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna and Radha.

How to Reach
Air: The nearest airport to Mathura is located in Kheria in Agra which is 62 km away from the city.
Rail: The Mathura Railway station is well connected to other cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Gwalior, Jaipur and others.
Road: Regular bus services connect Mathura to the cities such as Delhi, Jaipur, Deeg, Agra and Bharatpur.