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Introduction

Mathura the brith place of Lord Krishna is an important place of pilgrimage and thousands of devotees throng the city throughout the year. It lies at the heart of the Brajbhoomi, a land that is imbued with sancity, for it was here that the young Krishna was nurtured. The little towns and hamlets in this area are still alive with the tales of his mischievous pranks, his extraordinary exploits and still seem to echo with the sound of his flute.

An ancient habitation, Mathura's strategic location ensured its position as a centre of trade and a meeting point of cultures. A major city during the time of the Buddha (5th century BC) it became the eastern capital of the Kushan Emperor Kanishka. Mathura continued to be a centre of power during the enlightened rule of Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BC) and upto the Gupra era (4th century AD). The arts flourished and at the Mathura Museum one can trace the evolution of the Mathura School from the time of the Kushan emperors to the Gupta period.

Today Mathura with its many temples and splendid ghats along the river Yamuna is a bustling pilgrimage town. Lying midway between Delhi and Agra, Mathura is easy to visit.
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What To See


Shri Krishna Janmasthan

This splendid temple Katra Kesha Dev is built over the little prison cell believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

Gita Mandir

A beautiful temple located on the Mathura - Vrindavan road, has a fine image of Lord Krishna. The Bhagwad Gita is inscribed on the walls.

Kans Qila

This ruined fort on the banks of the river Yamuna was built by Raja Man Singh of Jaipur. An observatory was built here at a later date by that keen astronomer Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh of Amer.

Sati Burj

The 17 m tall, 4 storeyed, red sandstone tower built in 1570 AD, commemorates the death of the widow off Raja Bihari Mal of Amer who committed sati.
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Dwarakadhish Temple

Seth Gokuldas Parikh, Treasurer of the State of Gwalior, built Mathura's most popular shrine in 1815.

The Government Museum

Housed in a fine octagonal building at Dampier Park, the museum is a repository of sculpture styles, terracotta and artefacts from the Kushan and Gupta periods. Among its most impressive figure of Emperor Kanishka dressed in Central Asian robes and boots and various Buddha images
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Vishram Ghat

A long line of picturesque ghats, steps leading to the water's edge, punctuated by arched gateways and temple spires, extend along the right bank of the river Yamuna. There are about 25 ghats of which the Vishram Ghat is the most important. It is here that Lord Krishna is supposed to have rested after killing his wicked uncle Kansa, the ruler of Mathura. The 'aarti' at this ghat is a splendid sight, for hundreds of little oil lamps float out on the river aft dusk as offering.
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Excursions


Vrindavan (15 km)

Closely linked to Lord Krishna's youth and to stories of his playful pranks, Vrindavan is as important a place of pilgrims as Mathura. Today it is a temple town with ghats along the river and numerous shrines.

The most important are :

The imposing Govind Deo Temple built at an enormous cost off one crore rupees by Raja Man Singh of Jaipur in 1590 AD. Constructed in red sandstone in the shape of a Greek cross, it was once a magnificent seven storeyed structure
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The Rangaji Temple built in the Dravidian style, the Madan Mohan Temple - the oldest in Vrindavan, the popular Banke Bihari Temple, the famous Radha Vallabh Temple and the ornate Shahji Temple built in 1876 by a wealthy jeweller Shah Kundan Lal of Lucknow, are some of its more interesting shrines.
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The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has also built an ornamental marble temple at Vrindavan. Adjoining the temple is the samadhi of Shri Prabhupada, the founder of this sect.
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Accommodation at Vrindavan includes budget hotels and smaller lodges.

Geet Govind Tourist Complex,
Nandanvan, Tel : 442517

International Rest House
Govardhan Reti,
Tel : 443478, 405888

Jaipuria Smriti Bhawan
Govardhan Darwaja, Tel : 442388

Manorama Goenka Guest House,
Tel : 442388

Banke Bihari Guest House
Ahirpada, Tel : 443529-30

Dhanuka Ashram
Raman Reti
Tel : 443018, 442929

Jagat Guru Dham
Raman Reti,
Tel : 442479
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Gokul (15 km)

At Gokul - a scenic village on the banks of the River Yamuna, the young Krishna was brought up in secrecy by his foster parents Nand and Yeshoda - to protect him from the evil designs of his uncle Kansa. Gokul has a number of interesting temples.

Accommodation

Tourist Bungalow, Gokul Gaon

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Mahavan (18 km)

Located 4 km from Gokul on the road to Sadabad, it can be visited by taxi or auto-rickshaw. The temple of Mathuranathji is worth visiting.

Baldeo (20 km)

Just 8.5 from Mahavan, on the left bank of the Yamuna, this small town is famous for the temple dedicated to Lord Krishna's elder brother Baldeo
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Barsana (50 km)

This town is noted for being the birthplace of Lord Krishna's beloved Radha. Temples built on the elevations of four hillocks are dedicated to the divine couple. These are the only temples in India where Radha is worshipped. The chief among them is the Radha Rani Temple more fondly known as the Ladliji Temple. It is a splendid structure in red sandstone and was built by Raja Bar Singh Ju Deo of Orchha in 1675.

Barsana is also noted for its 'Lathmar Holi'

Accommodation

Tourist Bungalow, Barsana
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Nandgaon (56 km)

Nandgaon was the home of Lord Krishna's foster father Nand. The specious temple to Nand Rai built by the Jat ruler Roop Singh is located on a hill.
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Govardhan (26 km)

The young Lord Krishna is said to have lifted the Giriraj hill at Govardhan and held it up on the tip of a finger, to protect the people from a deluge of rain sent down by Lord Indra.

Worth seeing here are the 400-year-old, sandstone Temple of Haridev and the Chhatri or cenotaph of Raja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur with its interiors embellished with paintings of court and hunting scenes.
Freeindia > Tourism > Agra - Mathura - Bharatpur > Mathura
Access

Mathura is linked to other cities around the country by air, rail and road.

Air

Nearest airport is Kheria (Agra), 62 km.

Rail

Mathura is on the main lines of the Central and Western Railways and is connected with most important centers around the country, such as Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Jaipur, Gwalior, Calcutta, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, etc.

Road

Located on NH2, Mathura is linked to major cities in the region, and is connected to them by regular bus services.

Local Transport

Private buses, tempos, rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and tongas are available.
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Accommodation


Mathura offers accommodation in different ranges to suit varying budgets.

Standard Hotels

Mukund Palace
Station Road,
Tel: 410316, 410326

Madhuban
Krishna Nagar
Tel: 420058, 420064

Radha Ashok
Tel: 405557, Fax: 409557

Mansarovar Palace
Tel: 408686, 409966, 406525
Fax: 401611

Agra
Tel: 403318

Sunjay Palace
Tel: 407867

Modern
Tel: 404747

Brij Bihar
Tel: 404207

Athethya Palace
Tel: 400933

Krishna Lodge
Station Road, Tel: 409787

UPSTDC Tourist Bungalow
Civil Lines, Tel: 407822

ITDC Hotel & Restaurant
Kosi Kalan (Mathura)
Tel: (05662) 32314
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Eating Out


Some of the better eating places at Mathura include:

Gokul Bar & Restaurant (UPSTDC), Delhi Bypass Road; Mayur Restaurant, Hotel Madhuban; Tulsi Chandan Restaurant, Hotel Radha Ashok; Brijbhoj Restaurant, Hotel Mansarovar; Quality Restaurant, near Old Bus Stand.

Mathura is also famed for its milk based sweets.

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Festivals

The most important festival of Mathura is Janmashtami when the birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great pomp and splendour during Aug/Sept.

Rang Gulal Mahotsav

Held in the month of March every year, it celebrates Holi in an exuberant way.

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Information Office

UP Tourist Office

Old Bus Station,
Tel: 405351
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Banks


State Bank of India
Station Road, Tel: 405601

Punjab National Bank
Station Road, Tel: 406254

Central Bank of India
Chhata Bazar, Tel: 405834

Canara Bank, Tel: 406547

Bank of India, Tel: 406539

Indian Overseas Bank

Tilak Dwar, Tel: 409129
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Hospitals


District Hospital
Near Tilak Dwar
Tel: 403006, 406315

Methodist Hospital
Vrindavan Road,
Tel: 406032, 404860

Brij Chikitsa Santhana,
Daressi Road,
Tel: 405954, 405951
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Police Station

Kotwali,
Tel: 405979

Krishna Nagar
Tel: 405982

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General Information
Area 37.80 Sq. Kms Altitude  187 Meters Population 4,55,251 (1991 Census) Temperature Max Min Summer 45 C 22 C Winter 32 C 4.2 C Rain Fall 66 Cms (June to Sept) Summer Cottons Winter Woolens STD Code 0565 Freeindia > Tourism > Agra - Mathura - Bharatpur > Mathura