Mathura- is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and it is located 180 km from Delhi. Mathura is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh that is quaint and religiously significant to date. Lord Krishna was born in Mathura in a jail where his mother Devki and father Vasudev were imprisoned by his uncle King Kansa. Kansa imprisoned his sister Devki as he was aware that her 8th child of Devki would kill him.
Having lost their first 7 children, when the divine Vishnu avatar Krishna was born and the gates of the Mathira jail miraculously opened and all guards fell asleep. Then Vasudev carried his newborn child from Mathura to Gokul where the palace of King Nanda was located. Gokul is located 10 to 12 km far from Mathura and to reach Gokul he needs to cross the holy river Yamuna.
Mathura Vs Vrindavan
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Devotees throng here to experience the pious beginning of the Hindu God. The city has numerous big and small temples along with 25 ghats on the river Yamuna where people take a dip in the evenings would not be an unusual phenomenon. Mathura is one of the oldest cities known to mankind. The entire city is dotted with breathtaking temples which narrate the life, character, aesthetics of Lord Krishna and his eternal consort, Radha Rani.
The ambiance of Mathura is nothing short of magic with the musical chorus of the temple bells, the mellow chanting of the 108 names of Lord Krishna by his devotees, the peaceful atmosphere in the temple complexes and the aroma of a thousand incense sticks. The energy of the pious city is magnetic and you will fall in love with its art, culture, cuisine, people and architecture.
How to reach Mathura
Mathura is a city located in the heart of north India and this place is well connected to the major cities of Uttar Pradesh and the national capital by roadways, railways and airways.
- By road- Despite the good connectivity by rail, the road is the most preferred mode of transportation to Mathura by the people for the sheer convenience that it offers. From Delhi is a 3-hour journey that makes for a memorable road trip as the Yamuna Expressway is surprisingly picturesque. You can book a bus ticket from Delhi to Mathra and enjoy your journey.
- By rail- A number of interstate and intrastate trains ply from and to Mathura. The nearest railway station is located at a distance of 2 km from the city center and you can easily hire a cab or an auto from the station to reach your hotel.
- By air- The closest airport is Agra which is located 60 km from Mathura and Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Internationa airport is located at a distance of 170 km from Mathura. You can easily rent a comfortable cab from Agra airport to Mathira and reach your destination within 90 minutes.
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Mathura and Vrindavan Places to Visit
Mathura Places To Visit
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple Mathura
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple is one of the holiest places in Mathura and it is believed to have been built on the prison cell where Devki gave birth to Lord Krishna. The huge temple complex houses a number of temples, with the Garvha Griha shrine, Bhagavata Bhavan and Kehavdev Temple being the most significant ones.
The ceilings and walls of these temples are decks with stunning frescoes which depict events from the life of Lord Krishna. You should not miss the grand light and sound show which narrates the story of Lord Krishna’s birth that is hosted in the evening. Mathura’s Janmashtami is known to be the best in the whole world.
The celebration of Krishna Janamashtami begins at midnight with the chanting of the Bhagavad Gita against the sounds of temple bells. A number of devotees take turns to rock the cradle with Lord Krishna’s idol whilst others perform the mesmerizing Rass Leela. This temple is also popular for the unique Lathmar Holi celebration in March. Before visiting the temple you must know that cameras, mobile phones and any other leather items are not allowed inside the temple premises. So, you have to carry minimal to be deposited in a locker or leave them back in your hotel room.
Vishram Ghat Mathura
Vishram Ghat is the most prominent of the all ghats of Mathura, it is located on the banks of Yamuna and it is believed to be the resting spot of Lord Krishna after he killed his evil uncle Kansa.
The best time to visit the ghat is during the evening aarti, at that time you can witness thousands of little oil lamps floating in the river. The panoramic view of the holy river Yamuna against the backdrop of the setting sun is bewitching. You should not visit the boat ride on the Yamuna to catch a glimpse of the sacred city of Mathura. But you should be beware of your belongings as the place is swarming with monkeys that are famous for snatching anything which is not tightly held.
Kusum Sarovar Mathura
Kusum Sarovar is located on the Govardhan Hill parikrama marg and it is believed that it is the place where Radha spent her time with her friends gathering flowers and used to meet Lord Krishna.
Kusum Sarovar is a 450 feet long and 60 feet deep kund that offers you a serene atmosphere and beautiful views. You can easily spend hours at Kusum Sarovar, enjoying the beauty and solitude of the place. You must carry your camera to capture breathtaking scenes during sunrise and sunsets. The artworks on the pillars and ceiling are amazing.
Vrindavan Mathura Tour
Vrindavan is one of the oldest cities that are located on the banks of the Yamuna river. This place is considered as one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the devotees of Lord Krishna. The name of the city is derived from Vrinda meaning basil and van meaning grove which refer to the two small groves at Nidhivan and Seva Kunj.
The city of Vrindavan hosts a number of Lord Krishna and Radha temples scattered through and the most popular one is Banke Bihari Temple and the world-famous ISCKON temple. The vibrant surroundings of the city perfectly depict the benevolent and playful nature of Lord Krishna. Vrindavan is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the city allures tourists from around the world who are spiritual and seek contentment and peace.
How to reach Vrindavan
Vrindavan is easily accessible by road, air and rail for major cities of the country like Delhi.
- By road- Vrindavan has a vast network of well-paved roads and highways that connect Vrindavan to the neighboring cities of Uttar Pradesh. Stare run buses, as well as private buses, are available from nearby destinations such as Agra, Delhi, Gurgaon and Mathura, etc. You can also choose to travel through your vehicle from these destinations.
- By air- The nearest airport from Vrindavan is Kheria Airport which is located in Agra. Kheria is a military base airport that is connected with Delhi Airport through Air India flights. From the airport, Vrindavan is 72 km and the distance can easily be covered in 1 to 3 hours by a cab.
- By rail- The city has its own railway station that is connected with all the major cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Bhopal and Ahmedabad, etc. From the station, you can either take a taxi and the railway is the best way to reach Vrindavan.
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Mathura and Vrindavan Places to Visit
Places to visit in Vrindavan
Banke Bihari Mandir Vrindavan
Banke Bihari is a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Krishna in the holy city of Vrindavan in the Mathura district. The word “Banke ” means bent in the three laces and the word “Bihari” means supreme enjoyed. The idol in Banke Bihari Temple was originally worshipped under the name of Kunj- Bihari which means enjoyed of lakes.
The sewa of the Banke Bihari is unique in its way. It is performed in three parts every day that is Shringar, Rajbhog and Shayan. Shringar includes bathing, dressing and adornment with jewelry such as necklaces and crowns, Rajbhog is a feast that offers in the forenoon, Shayan Sewa means sleep that is offered in the evening. This is one of the holiest places when it comes to the worship of Lord Krishna and the Banke Bihari Temple is thronged by devotees throughout the year.
Radha Raman Temple
Radha Raman Temple has located about 2 km from the Vrindavan railway station and it is one of the most revered early modern Hindu temples in Vrindavan.
This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna who is also known as Radha Raman, meaning one who gives pleasure to Radha. This temple is famous to have the original Shaligram deity of Lord Krishna along with Radha Rani, which is the self-manifested deity from Shaligram Shila and has a magnificent smile on his face. Radha Raman Temple was established in 1542 but was renovated later in 1826 by Shah Behari Lallji.
Govind Devji Temple
Govind Tevji Temple is situated on the laps of the town where the Hindu God, Krishna is believed to have spent his childhood. The temple stands as an architectural marvel for more than 5 centuries. Govind Devji Temple is built of sandstone and is dedicated to Lord Krishna in his childhood home.
Vrindavan is a twin town to Mathura, where Lord Krishna was born and adjacent to Gokul, where Krishna is believed to have spent the initial years of his childhood. This temple is a shrine that is revered as one of the holiest in Vrindavan. However, the original idol of Krishna no longer exists in the temple but it is said that the idol of Shri Krishna in Govind Devji Temple resembles that face of the Krishna when he was born.
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Which is better Mathura or Vrindavan?
At present, Mathura, as well as Vrindavan, are major pilgrimage destinations with overwhelming and infinite spaces of worship. Some of the most prominent festivals of the country such as Holi, Diwali and Krishna Janmashtami are celebrated here majestically like nowhere else in the world. It is reasonable if you are facing the dilemma of choosing when you are ready to pack your bags. Mathura has several hotels and better public transit and even the pilgrim destinations are slightly more in Matura.
