Mathura

Mathura also acknowledged as Brajbhoomi is the land, which is widely known as the birth place of Lord Krishna, a deity in the Hindu religious pantheon. The city is an important religious place of the Hindus and also stands among the seven sacred cities of India. The chief religious center here in Mathura is the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple as it is believed that it was the place in the city where Lord Krishna took birth.

The city of Mathura is situated at a distance of 145 km from south eastern part of the capital, Delhi and is at a 58 km drive away from the architectural city of Agra and happened to be in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

As per the legends of Mahabharata, Mathura was the capital province of the Surasena Kingdom, which was under the reign of Kansa, the maternal uncle of Krishna. This historic town of Mathura has its headquarters in the district of Mathura itself and is a part of the division of Agra.
In the ancient times, the city was an important economic hub and has witnessed the reign of different rulers in different times.

The city is sprawled over an area of about 3,800 sq km, Brajbhoomi, which is at present divided into two distinct parts – the eastern part in the Trans-Yamuna tract covering the places such as Gokul, Mahavan, Baldeo, Mat and Bajna and the western side of the Yamuna incorporates the district of Mathura, which includes the cities such as Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana and Nandgaon. To put it briefly, the territory of Braj begins from Kotban near Hodel, which is at a distance of about 95 km from Delhi and ends at Runakuta, which is specially known for its connection with the poet Surdas, an ardent Krishna devotee.

This sacred town holds an array of holy shrines and sacred kunds, boasting various legends and myths, which have become deep-rooted beliefs in the hearts of the people. The city belongs to the Vaishnava cult and greets the visitors with the myriad of tales concerning the blue god, Lord Krishna, who is the most humane incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The tranquil banks of the river Yamuna and its holy Ghats accolade the holy vehemence of this sacred town.

The city of Mathura had been called as Muttara by the British and as Modoura by the Greeks gave it the name Modoura, which literally means the ‘city of gods’. The city of Mathura is associated with the fable and cult of the Hindu deity Krishna; along with which it also stands as the sacred place of the Jains and Buddhists. Mathura travel and tourism is a popular among the Indian and foreign tourists alike and for that the Mathura tour packages are a perfect way of exploring the splendor of the destination in North India.

General facts about Mathura
Location: North India
State: Uttar Pradesh
Area: 3,800 sq km
Language: Braj, Bhojpuri and Hindi
Climate: Hot, Arid and Humid
Major Attractions: Dwarikadheesh Temple, Juma Masjid
Ideal Time to Visit: October to March

Tourist sightseeing in Mathura
In view of the fact that Mathura is the abode of lord Krishna, the city has loads of attractions that attracts the tourists, visitors and the devotees making it a perfect pilgrim place. The city has array of attractions with its revered and historical shrines such as Dwarikadheesh Temple, Juma Masjid, Mathura Museum, Kans Kila, Vishram Ghat, Barsana, Vrindavan, RadhaKund, Gita Mandir and Krishna Janama Temple. Along with these rtenowned temples the city hosts several festivals, which are associated with the Blue God such as Janamashtami, Radhasshtami, Holi etc. the city is also popular for the Maduraits celebrations.

The other religious attractions in Mthura such as Govinda Dev Temple, Shahji Temple, Rang Ji Temple, Madan Mohan Temple, Krishna Balram Mandir (Iskcon Vrindavan ), Radha Ballabh Temple, Gopi Nath Temple, Glass Temple, Nidhi Van, Seva Kunj and Banke Bihari Temple.

Climate of Mathura
Mathura experiences quite an extreme type of climate along with severe cold winters. Here summers are experienced with the scorching heat of the sun, which gets a sigh of relief with the monsoon which arrive the city in the month of July and remains till September. The best season to visit Mathura is from October to March.

How to reach Mathura

Mathura by Air: The nearest airport to the city of Mathura is Agra. There are regular flights that connect the city with the rest of the country such as Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi and Khajuraho. The nearest international airport is at Delhi.

Mathura by Rail: Mathura railway station is located south of the new bus stand. Mathura is well connected by train with Agra.

Mathura by Road: The city has its own railhead that connects to the major cities of the country.