One of Hinduism's seven sacred cities, Mathura is the birthplace of the very beloved Lord Krishna. Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Mathura and Vrindavan are often considered twin cities (located only 10km away from each other). Mathura is a small town dotted with temples from various ages and attracts a horde of pilgrims from all over the world.
One side of Mathura is stretched across the Yamuna River, lined with 25 ghats, which are best visited during dawn when you can witness locals and tourists taking a holy dip, and at dawn (just after the sunset) when hundreds of diyas are floated during the daily aarti. Mathura is flooded with tourists and pilgrims during the two main festivals - Janmashtami (Lord Krishna's birthday) in August/September, and Holi in February/March.
Shri Krishna Janmabhumi is the most famous tourist attraction in Mathura, as this place is believed to the be the exact place where Lord Krishna was born, and the prison where he was born is now on display for tourists to see. Mathura has many temples, both big and small, dotting the entire city, with many of these temples being dedicated to Lord Krishna. The two most important temples in town are the Dwarkadheesh Temple and the Gita Mandir.
If you are looking for more than just the standard tourist fare, then the best way to explore Mathura is by taking a walk around the streets of the city. Every nook and cranny of this religious town still retains an old-world charm that belies the urbanization the city has kept up with. There is a lot of history to Mathura that you can experience only by exploring the old-fashioned architecture, the crumbling ruins of old houses, and the genial amiability of the locals who are always willing to show you around.
It is not possible to think of a city as old as Mathura and imagine it not having a delicious history of street food! Don’t forget to try out local snacks like kachodis, aloo-puri and chaat, which are available at any and all eateries lining the streets. Jalebis and gulab-jamuns are also very popular local street food items that are available at all shops throughout the day.
One of the most colourful cities of Uttar Pradesh, Mathura is one of the heritage cities chosen for HRIDAY-Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana. Apart from the religious significance, the city is also famous for its industrial and commercial base. Mathura has a rich, exotic cultural aura adding to its aesthetics. It carries with it a taste of colloquial texture and vibrant lifestyle. The landscape is dotted with temples of significance. Mathura is also exclusively famous for its Braj culture and the Raslilas and Sanjhees.
Culture of Mathura
Mathura has a bright and vibrant feel to it. You can hear chants of “Radhe Radhey” on the streets or find people referring to themselves as “Brajwasis”. The city has dance dramas, folk songs, devotional dances etc. all in praises of Lord Krishna, as it is his birthplace. Mathura bursts with tourists and pilgrims all through the year who take an active part in the pooja rituals and customs. The Awadhi cuisine inspires the food, all of which is predominantly vegetarian. Krishna Janmashtami is the biggest and the most popular festival in the city for obvious reasons. Other festivals celebrated are Diwali, Holi, Radheashtmi, Basant Panchmi etc.
History of Mathura
The history of Mathura can be dated back to 2500 years ago. Also known as Brij Bhumi, Mathura is believed to be the land where Shri Krishna was born and spent his youth. Mathura is also mentioned in the Hindu epic Ramayan, and in the accounts of Alexandrian astronomer Ptolemy. He refers to it as "city of gods" aka Modoura.
Other than being a revered Hindu site, the city holds great importance for Buddhists and Jains as well. At around 400 AD, under the rule of Kushan dynasty, Chinese ambassador Fa Hien mentions the presence of a great number of Buddhist monasteries in the city. Soon after, the city fell under the Muslim ruler- Mahmud of Ghazni, during which most of the temples were demolished. To follow that, Aurangzeb also ransacked the sacred city. Soon after that, the city was seized by the British.
Later at the time when Hiuen Tsang visited Mathura, the number of monks plummeted from 2000 to 3000. Also, the resurgent Hindu movement of Bhakti cult bought back the city from ashes. The temples were resurrected and now it has a steady inflow of tourists and maintains the charm it first had.
Restaurants and Local Food in Mathura
The standout of the town's cuisine are its sweets and milk products. Pede, a form of sweet dish made from condensed milk, is a specialty here. Other than these one must try Kachori, Jalebi, Chaat, Panipuri, Samosa, Dhokla, Aloo tikki and Lassi. One can also find delicious typical North Indian platters. View Top Restaurants in Mathura
The top places near to Mathura are Agra which is 48 km from Mathura, Vrindavan which is located 10 km from Mathura, Bharatpur which is located 35 km from Mathura, Delhi which is located 138 km from Mathura, Deeg which is located 34 km from Mathura
What are the things to do in Mathura?
The top things to do in Mathura are Lathmar Holi, Govardhan Hill, Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple , Dwarkadheesh Temple, Mathura, Vishram Ghat, Birla Mandir Mathura. You can see all the places to visit in Mathura here
What is the best way to reach Mathura?
The nearest airport is at Agra (50km). Mathura is a main railway station and most trains halt here. It is also well connected by road with buses running through here. Read More
What is the local food in Mathura?
The standout of the town's cuisine are its sweets and milk products. Pede, a form of sweet dish made from condensed milk, is a specialty here. Other than these one must try Kachori, Jalebi, Chaat, Panipuri, Samosa, Dhokla, Aloo tikki and Lassi. One can also find delicious typical North Indian platters. Read More
What is the best time to visit Mathura?
October to March is the best time to visit Mathura as the weather is pleasant and cool for sightseeing. To experience the best of the city's culture and to soak in the vibes of Lord Krishna, visiting Mathura during Krishna Janmashthami (August/September) and Holi (March) is also recommended. However, keep in mind that the town sees a flood of tourists during these festivals, so be prepared for the pulsating crowd.
Characteristic of Uttar Pradesh, Mathura experiences extremely hot summers and wet monsoons, making those months inconvenient for travel and exploring new places. Read More
Who should visit Mathura?
Ideal for weekend getaways, spiritual rejuvenation, festival getaways, photographers, couples/families.
What is not so good about Mathura?
Heavily crowded during festivals and celebrations.
What is famous about Mathura?
A famous tourist hotspot of Northern India. Famous for its colours, desi-lifestyle and colloquial taste of the state.
Have a Question on Mathura?
Ask a question from the travellers who have experience.
Mathura is a laid back temple town that offers you a very peaceful experience. You can go during Ganga Dussehra, in May, or Buddha Purnima. Both times see some very beautiful activities at the Ghats (Read More)of Mathura. Visiting during February-March, for the Holi celebrations at Nandgaon, Barsana and Mathura, is a different experience altogether. Holika Dahan here is also a great attraction in Mathura.
Get to Katra from Srinagar first. You can then go to Vaishno Devi, and complete one part of your trip there. You can then come back to Mathura via a Srinagar-Delhi flight.
5 Star rating for the Gokul village and it's religious significance. But strong suggestion for pilgrims to be careful while making donation and be bold enough to say NO if you are not comfortable. I (Read More)don't think my God will coerce me to make donation and only then will he bless me. All plz brace yourself for barrage of one particular sentence coming your way, 'yehi sacha mandir hai ...yehi asli mandir hai'
Harsh Bhardwaj
6 years ago
Mathura the land of Shri Krishna an awesome place to visit with family and friends. One can get a whole new experience of traditional culture if can manage to visit the city at the time of Holi.
Alt (Read More)hough the citi is not so clean but it's a holy place, once you are there you will feel the spiritual invocation
Online Kirana Traders Pvt Ltd
6 years ago
If you want to tour Mathura, you should keep 7 to 15 days to Visit. Mathura, Goverdhan, Vrindavan and Barsana takes 2 days atleast. Other places like Baldev, Gokul, Nandgaon takes one day.
