this does not prove to be a deterrent to the thousands of visitors who come to this holiest of cities every year. In Mathura, you cannot escape the mystical and spiritual aura that this place weaves around you. In this popular pilgrimage destination amidst the hymns, chants and songs your spiritual self feels complete.
Historically Speaking
The earliest references of Mathura are some 2,500 years old. The Buddha is said to have visited the city and established monasteries here. Mathura became a powerful principality under the Kushan empire, whose greatest king was Kanishka (78 AD). The Chinese traveller Fa Hien, who visited Mathura
around 400 AD, refers to Buddhist monasteries flourishing here. Located on the trade route and being a prosperous state, Mathura fell to the sword of invading armies. Mahmud of Ghazni in 1017, Sikandar Lodi in 1500 and the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb plundered and looted the city. First Buddhist sites, and then Hindu temples and religious sites, were destroyed. Mathura went into oblivion until the resurgent Hindu movement of the Bhakti cult. Since then, Hindu rulers, chieftains and rich merchants built temples, riverfront ghats and other structures to revive the Krishna legend. Under British rule, the city also got a cantonment called the Civil Lines. Today, Mathura has grown into a crowded town with pilgrim and tourism services as well as small industries. 140 kms from Delhi, and just 58 kms from Agra, the town sees heavy tourist inflow as part of the Agra-Mathura-Vrindavan circuit.
Shopping
The main shopping areas are close to the Dwarkadheesh temple at Naya Bazaar and Tilak Dwar. Take home some famous Mathura Peda(sweet made of milk and sugar) and enquire from locals about places where you can find the best quality peda.Events
Holi in February – March every year is celebrated with gusto here. Other major festivals, like the birth of Krishna and the birth of Radha fall in the month of August. This is the auspicious time for undertaking the chaurasi kos parikrama (circumambulation) or Ban Yatra around the holy sites in
Braj Bhumi.
Night Out
Enjoy street food in the old city. For budgeted and hygienic food you can go to Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple close to the temple complex, there a canteen run by the temple trust serves food that''s good and you can rely on it being clean.Activities
Go boating along the ghats on the holy Yamuna River. Enjoy an evening of Yamuna ji ki Aarti at Vishram Ghat or go for the Bhagvat-Katha at Shri Kirshna Janmsthan. If you''re visiting Mathura between September and October try to go for the Ramleela, an inactment of the Ramayan. It does promise to
be a unique experience but go only if crowded places don''t bother you.
Sights
Being an important centre of pilgrimage, most of Mathura’s sights have a religious association, primarily related to the Krishna legend. The city is entered through the Holi Gate . The entire riverfront facing the Yamuna River is lined with temples and bathing ghats. The Kansa
Qila built by Raja Man Singh of Amber had an observatory added by Sawai Jai Singh. The fort is now in ruins and only the foundation is visible. Amongst the many ghats, the Vishram Ghat is the most important. It is believed that Krishna rested here after killing his evil uncle Kansa. Every day, during the aarti or worship with oil lamps, cows, monkeys and turtles are fed at the ghat. There are 25 such ghats along the river, and it is possible to view the riverfront by boat. From the ghats, narrow lanes lead into the bazaar or shopping area. The Dwarkadhish temple , built by the treasurer of the Gwalior State in 1815, is the most prominent landmark. A complex called the Shri Krishna Janamsthan , or Janambhoomi complex marks Krishna’s birthplace. The shrine is open every day from dawn till 12 noon and from 4 pm till dusk. Next to the main shrine is a decorated modern temple called the Gita Mandir . It has scenes from the life of Krishna and the entire Bhagwad Gita (a Hindu holy text) inscribed on its walls. Behind the Janambhoomi complex is the Katra Masjid . It was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, on the ruins of a Hindu temple. In recent times, the history of the mosque has been a cause for tension among religious groups. Due to threats of demolition by Hindu fundamentalists, there are security personnel stationed in the area, and all visitors are subjected to frisking. The Jama Masjid , built in 1661 by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s governor, is another impressive Islamic structure. Mathura was at one time famous for its ponds or kunds. There were 159 of them originally, of which only four are left. The Potara Kund , near the Janambhumi complex, was said to have been used to wash the child Krishna’s clothes. Mathura’s Archaeological Museum , in Dampier Park, was built in 1874 by the British. It houses a collection of rare Buddhist and Jain sculptures from the Kushana period. One of the most famous exhibits is a standing Buddha in the Abhaya mudra (fearless pose) from the 5th century AD. The Buddha is crowned by a halo and is dressed in flowing robes. Besides sculptures from the Mathura school, the museum also houses pottery, terracotta and bronze figures, and coins.
How to get there by AirThe nearest airport is Kheria in Agra (62 kms.) and is connected to Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi. From there, one can hire a taxi or take a bus to Mathura. |
How to get there by RailMathura has good railway connections with all major cities. Trains come from Agra, Delhi and Lucknow in the north, Jaipur, Gwalior and Mumbai in the west, Calcutta in the east and Hyderabad and Chennai down south. |
How to get there by BusThere are regular bus services to and from Agra, Delhi, Jaipur, Bharatpur and Deeg. One can drive to Mathura from any of these cities. |
Best time to VisitWeather conditions in Mathura are the best between November and March. However, major festivals, like the birth of Krishna and the birth of Radha fall in the month of August. This is the auspicious time for undertaking the chaurasi kos parikrama (circumambulation) or Ban Yatra around the holy sites in Braj Bhumi. |
Hotels in Uttar Pradesh
Though Mathura has a constant inflow of tourists, there are not very many upmarket hotels. Some of the hotels have a range of air-conditioned rooms, multi-cuisine restaurants and a foreign exchange counter. In the mid range Hotel Brijwasi Royal and Hotel Sheetal Regency are good options. In the
budget bracket, it is possible to get clean functional rooms. In this category check out Hotel Mukund Palace or Hotel Madhuvan.
What to Pack
Carry mosquito repellent with you. In summer, light cottons clothes are best. Winters are cold, so carry warm clothes.Nearby Places
Vrindavan , 10 kilometres from Mathura, is its twin city. It too is an important part of the Krishna legend and is the seat of ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. There are many important temples in Vrindavan and if you''ve come to Mathura, chances are that you will
be visiting Vrindavan too. Gokul is the town where Krishna is said to have grown up and it lies across the river from Mathura. The village is approached by a flight of steps from the river. According to legend, Krishna revealed his divinity to his foster mother Yashoda here. When she reprimanded him for eating mud and forced him to open his mouth, she saw the entire universe inside it. The headquarters of the Vallabhacharya sect of Hinduism are located in Gokul. Mahaban or ''the great forest'' is about 9 kms from Mathura. The most prominent structure here is the house of Krishna’s foster father, the Nanda Krishna palace. The original building was destroyed by Aurangzeb and rebuilt as a mosque. However, it was reclaimed by Hindus, and pilgrims congregate here for prayers during Janamashtami, the day that marks the birth of Krishna. The Govardhan hill lies 26 kms west of Mathura on the highway leading to Deeg. Krishna was said to have balanced this hill on his little finger for seven days and seven nights to give protection to the people of Braj from a deluge brought about by the fury of Indra, the lord of thunder. Pilgrims go around this hill on foot as a form of prayer. Govardhan sits next to the Mansi Ganga, a tank built in 1637 by Raja Bhagwan Das of Amber. Close to this are the temple of Haridev and the Kusum sarovar (lake). Next to it are carved chhatris or cenotaphs of the kings of Bharatpur. Particularly striking is the chhatri of Raja Surajmal. The ceilings have colourful frescoes illustrating the life of Surajmal, hunting scenes and royal processions. Nandgaon is 56 kms from Mathura, and is well known for being Lord Krishna’s village. And 50 kms from Mathura is Barsana , the village of Radha, his consort. Both the villages are at the base of hills with steps leading up to clusters of temples. They are believed to have been originally dedicated to Brahma and Shiva and at a later date to have been appropiated by the Krishna myth. The temples in Barsana include the Radha Rani temple or “Ladliji” temple, as Radha was lovingly called in her village. In the Mor-kutir, built some 300 years ago, women celebrate the birth of Radha by feeding sweets to peacocks (mor). In Nandgaon the main temple of Nand Rai was built in the 18th century. A little way further, there are ponds and Kadamb groves where Krishna is said to have played his bewitching flute while the cows grazed. There are tourist bungalows run by the state tourism department at Gokul, Radha Kund 5 kms from Govardhan, and at Barsana. They have restaurants, and though services are very basic, they are located in quieter surroundings than any hotel in Mathura.
