Mathura Vrindavan

Mathura and Vrindavan- together they form Brajbhoomi- the sacred land, the cradle of Lord Krishna- which still throbs with the divine reminiscences of the Lord's cosmic leela.

Mathura
58 kms north-west of Agra and 145 kms southeast of Delhi, the city of Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, is the nucleus of Brajbhoomi. This is the place where Lord Krishna was born in a prison cellar. The city, today, is famous for its many temples dedicated to the Lord. Located at Katra, Keshav Deo, the temple is thronged by pilgrims from all over the world. The Dwarkadesh Temple, built by Seth Gokul Das of Gwalior in 1814, is situated in the heart of the city. It is adorned with some exquisite paintings depicting the entire life of Krishna. The Vishram Ghat on the bank of Yamuna is the place where Krishna rested after killing Kansa.

Tourists Magnets
Tourists are generally attracted to those places which trace the mystical incidents of Krishna's life. A celebrated structure is the Chaurasi Khambha (84 pillars) at Gokul, 16 km from Mathura- the place where Krishna grew up. It is also known as Nand Maharaja's house. Brahmand Ghat, Govardhan, is the same hill which Krishna is imputed to have held aloft. Barsana represents the four faces of Lord Brahma, the Creator. Each hilltop is associated with some incident from Krishna's life.

Vrindavan
Vrindavan, 15 kms from Mathura, is famous for its numerous temples - both old and modern. It is believed to have been the stage of Krishna's romantic trails.

Tourist Magnets
Vrindavan is home to about 4,000 temples- both big and small. The numerous bathing ghats here are used by the Hindus for ritual bathing. Perched on a high cliff near the Kalia Mardan Ghat is the Madan Mohan Temple. Another temple of importance is that of Radha Ballabh built by Sundar Das in 1626. The Govind Dev Temple stands among the most impressive temples of Vrindavan. Among the modern places of worship, the colossal temple of Pagal Baba and the impressive ISKCON Temple are names worthy of mention.

Divine vista : Janmashtami
Janmasthami is the birthday of Lord Krishna celebrated every year in July/August.And for Mathura, this is invariably the biggest festival. Here, the festival is celebrated on an grand and massive scale. A visit to this holy place around this time is sure to etch some fond memories on the mind of any tourist. Plays based on the life of Krishna are staged. Songs of devotion blare from loudspeakers. The fabulous Brajyatra commences a day after Janmashtami and lasts for 50 days.

Mathura/Vrindavan Information
Location : Uttar Pradesh

Distance from Agra : 58 kms

Accessibility : The nearest airport is at Kheria in Agra, 62 km from Mathura. A number of tourist coaches ply between Delhi and Mathura/Vrindavan everyday. The road distance from Delhi is 145 kms. Mathura is an important railway junction with direct trains to many places. Taxis and tourist cabs from Agra are good options.