Government Museum , Mathura : The museum in Mathura was conceived and established in 1874 by F S Growse, the then collector. Originally called the Curzon Museum of Archaeology, the name changed to Government Museum after it celebrated its centenary in 1974. Planned as a repository of local sculpture styles, the galleries trace the evolution of the Mathura school of art. It is believed that the first Buddha image emerged here. The sculptors were inspired by depictions of meditating Jain tirthankaras and the earlier more robust yakshas and yakshis to figuratively portray the Buddha. Vrindavan: just 15 km from Mathura , is another major place of pilgrimage. It is noted for its numerous temples – both old and modern. The name Vrindavan evokes the playfulness pm. Temple Vrindavan: Hospitals: and lovable characteristics of Shri Krishna. This is the wood where he frolicked with the gopis and tenderly wooed Radha. Kaliya Ghat: On the banks of Kaliya-Hrada Ghat, Lord Krishna jumped from a huge Kadamba Tree into the Yamuna river, in order to chastise the Kaliya serpent who was poisoning the waters of the river. The same Kadamba tree is said to be still there. Baldeo: Baldeo is 20 km south-east of Mathura and 8.5 km south-east of Mahavan on the road to Sadabad. It derives its name from the famous temple dedicated to Balram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. It was built by Shyam Das of Delhi 200 years ago. The main image in the sanctum is that of Baldeo or Balram with his spouse Revati, Near by is the brick lined tank, the Kshir Sagar or Balbhadra Kund, from where the original image housed in the temple was found. Govardhna : Govardhan is situated 26 km west of Mathura on the state highway to Deeg. A famous place of Hindu pilgrimage, Govardhan is located on a narrow sandstone hill known as Giriraj which is about 8 km in length. The young Lord Krishna is said to have held Giriraj up on the tip of a finger for 7 days and nights to shield the people of Braj from the deluge of rain sent down by Lord Indra. Govardhan is set along the edge of a large masonry tank known as the Mansi Ganga, which is believed to have been brought into existence by the operation of the divine will. Its enclosures were built by Raja Bhagwan Das of Amer in 1637 and embellished by Raja Man Singh, who built a long flight of steps leading up, from the end of the tank. Close by is the famous red sandstone temple of Haridev and the Kusum Sarovar with exquisitely carved Chhatris – the cenotaphs of the members of the royal family of Bharatpur, who perished whilst fighting against the British in 1825. Towards the south is the beautiful Chhatri of Raja Surajmal of Bharatpur. Gokul: The most celebrated of Shri Krishna’s abodes, Gokul lies to the west of Sadabad, 1.6 km from Mahavan and 15 km south-east of Mathura, on the Mathura – Etah metalled road. It was here that Lord Krishna was brought up in secrecy by Yeshoda, in the pastoral beauty of this village on the banks of the Yamuna. Gokul attained importance during the time of Vallabhacharya (1479-1531) when it became a major centre of the Bhakti cult. The three oldest temples in the place are those dedicated to Gokulnath, Madan Mohan and Vithalnath, said to have been built around 1511. The other temples include those of Dwarika Nath and Balkrishna and the shrines which were built in the honour of Lord Mahadeo in 1602 by Raja Vijai Singh of Jodhpur .
The celebration of Janmashtami in August is unparalleled for its gaiety and melas are a constant attraction here. Other such festivities celebrated with traditional fervour include the Janmotsav in Bhadaon, the Annakut Festival and the Trinavat Mela held on the fourth day of the dark half of Kartik. Important sites worth visiting in Gokul include the Gokulnath Temple , Raja Thakur Temple , Gopal Lalji Temple and the Morwala Temple . Nandgaon Nandgaon lies 8.5 km north of Barsana on the way to Mathura (56 km). According to tradition, it was the home of Shri Krishna’s foster father, Nand. On the top of the hill is the temple of Nand Rai , built by the Jat ruler Roop Singh. The other temples here are dedicated to Narsingha, Gopinath, Nritya Gopal, Girdhari, Nand Nandan, and Yasodha Nandan which is located half way up the hill. Barsana Barsana, 50 km to the north-west of Mathura and 19 km north-west of Govardhan, is situated at the foot of a hill that is named after Brahma. Barsana is said to be the home of Radha-Rani, Krishna ’s beloved and consort.
Temples dedicated to the divine couple ornament the four elevations of the hill. The chief among them is the Radha-Rani Temple , more fondly referred to as the Ladliji Temple . The most beautiful temple at Barsana, it was built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo of Orchha in 1675. The new marble temple adjoining it is a later addition. The other three shrines are the Man Mandir, Drgah and Mor-Kutir temples. The are between the hill housing the Radha-Rani Temple and the adjoining one, is known as the Sankari-Khor. This is the venue of the annual fair held in the month of Bhadon (July-August).