Dotted with temples and beautiful religious structures, Mathura is one of the most popular and serene spiritual destinations in India as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. You can see the rich history of Mathura through a vast array of architecture and art.
Dotted with temples and beautiful religious structures, Mathura is one of the most popular and serene spiritual destinations in India as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
You can see the rich history of Mathura through a vast array of architecture and art. If you want to see the beauty of this city, then come here to visit during the festival, you will get a chance to visit one mesmerizing place here.
The best time to visit here is also between October to March. Apart from religious places, there are markets along the Yamuna river to visit here. If you want to visit some of the best places along with temples in Mathura, then this article is made for you.
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple – Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple is located in the holy city of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. It is built around the prison cell in which Lord Krishna’s parents, Mata Devaki and Vasudeva were imprisoned by his evil uncle Kansa.
The temple is of great importance to Hindus as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Apart from the jail cell, there are other temples dedicated to the deity within the Krishna Janmasthan temple complex
. This temple was demolished several times by the kings and was eventually built with the financial help of industrialists. This place becomes even more breathtaking during festivals like Janmashtami, Basant Panchami, Holi and Deepawali.
Dwarkadhish Temple in Mathura – Dwarkadhish Temple in Mathura
Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple is a must visit for the beauty and architecture. The entrance boasts of Rajasthani style of architecture with an open courtyard in the center along with beautifully carved pillars and a splendidly painted ceiling.
Built in 1814, the temple is relatively new but highly revered. Keep in mind that if you visit during the festive season of Janmashtami then you will be most mesmerized by the beauty of the temple.
Mathura Museum
Initially known as Curzon Museum of Archaeology, the Government Museum is located in Mathura Dampier Park. Built in the year 1874, the Mathura Museum boasts of a large collection of sculptures, pottery, paintings, artefacts, coins (in gold, silver and copper) and much more from Mathura and the surrounding areas.
The museum also displays the discoveries made by renowned archaeologists in and around Mathura. You can visit this museum with students and family.
Kansa Fort – Kansa Qila in Mathura
Situated on the banks of river Yamuna, Kansa Fort is an ancient fort in Mathura which is dedicated to Kansa, the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna. Situated near Krishna Ganga Ghat and Gau Ghat, the fort is a popular tourist destination and is built as a blend of Hindu-Muslim architecture.
The reason for not maintaining the fort of Kans is standing in a bad condition, but now tourists definitely come to see it. The fort, also known as the Purana Qila of Mathura, dates back to the time of Mahabharata and has strongly fortified walls.
Kansa Fort was rebuilt by Raja Man Singh of Amer in the 16th century and later an observatory was ordered by Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur.
Tilak Dwar in Mathura
There is a local market around Tilak Dwar Dwarkadish Temple and Vishram Ghat in Mathura. It is also known as the Holy Gate.
The market is known for trinkets like brass sculptures, garlands, handicrafts, paintings, sculptures and hand embroidered items at affordable prices. The famous Brijwasi Mithaiwala shop is also located at the Tilak gate.
This market also has a number of religious stores where you can find sculptures of various gods and goddesses as well as paintings by local artists.
Govardhan Hill
Situated close to Vrindavan, Govardhan Hill is a popular destination for devotees and tourists alike. Govardhan hill or Giri Raj is situated at a distance of 22 km from Vrindavan.
It is said in the holy Bhagavad Gita that according to Lord Krishna, Govardhan Parvat is associated with him. Therefore, all his worshipers worship the rocks of the hill as they worship his idol.
The hill is made of sandstone and is 80 feet high with a circumference of 38 km. There are some interesting places to visit in the hills including Mansi Ganga, Mukharvind and Dan Ghati.
This hill is considered extremely sacred and on Guru Purnima, Govardhan Puja devotees walk 23 km barefoot around the mountain. After Lord Krishna saved his village, he asked everyone to worship the hill, so Govardhan Puja takes place a day after Diwali.
Kusum Sarovar in Mathura
Kusum Sarovar situated near Radhakunj is one of the major places in Mathura. This lake is 450 feet long and about 60 feet deep. It is named Kusum Sarovar after Radha.
It is believed that Radha used to come to this lake to meet Krishna. The water of this lake is calm and clear, many people also swim in it. The main attraction here is the evening aarti which many tourists do not forget to capture in their cameras.
