Mathura is the reputed birthplace of Krishna , Krishnajanmabhoomi. The Keshav Dev temple was built in ancient times on the site of Krishna ’s supposed birthplace (an underground prison). In the sixth century BCE Mathura became the capital of the Shursen republic. The city was later ruled by the Maurya empire (fourth to second centuries BCE) and the Shunga dynasty (second BCE). It was then ruled by the Indo-Greeks between 180 and 100 BCE. It briefly reverted to Indian rule, and was then occupied by the Indo-Scythians during the 1st century BCE. Archaeological evidence seems to indicate that, by 100 BCE, there was a group of Jainists living in Mathura style.

Mathura served as one of the Kushan Empire’s two capitals from the first to the third centuries. The Mathura Museum is the largest redstone museum in Asia , depicting many famous Buddha figurines.

The city was sacked and many of its temples destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018. The Keshav Dev temple was partially destroyed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who built the city’s Jami Masjid (Friday mosque) on the same site, re-using many of the temple’s stones. The main Krishna shrine is presently the Dwarkadeesh temple, built in 1815 by Seth Gokuldas Parikh, Treasurer of Gwalior. The city is mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes story ‘The Sign of Four.’

Mathura is home to a large, technologically advanced oil refinery owned by the Indian Oil Corporation. This is also the birth place of Lord Krishna.

Today, Mathura is a city of temples and shrines abustle with the thousands of devotees who come to visit the city of Lord Krishna . A splendid temple at the Katra Keshav Dev marks the spot that is believed to be the Shri Krishna Janmasthan – the birthplace of the Lord, by his devotees. Another beautiful shrine, the Gita Mandir, located on the Mathura – Vrindavan Road has a fine image of Shri Krishna in its sanctum. The whole of the Bhagwad Gita is inscribed on the walls of this temple.

The most popular shrine at Mathura is the Dwarikadhish Temple to the north of the town, dedicated to Shri Krishna. This was built in 1815 by a staunch and wealthy devotee, Seth Gokuldas Parikh, Treasurer of the State of Gwalior.

There are about 25 ghats in Mathura today, of which the most important is the Vishram Ghat. Where according to legend, Shri Krishna took his rest after killing Kansa.

It is at Vishram Ghat that the traditional parikrama (circumbulation of all the important religious and cultural places of the city) starts and ends. The 12 ghats to the north of Vishram Ghat include the Ganesh Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat with its Neelakantheshwar Temple , Saraswati Sangam Ghat, Chakratirtha Ghat, Krishnaganga Ghat, Somatirth or Swami Ghat, Ghantagharan Ghat, Dharapattan Ghat, Vaikuntha Ghat, Navtirtha or Varahkshetra Ghat, Asikunda ghat and Manikarnika Ghat. To the south, there are 11 ghats – the Guptatirth Ghat, Prayag Ghat marked by the Veni Madhav Temple, Shyam Ghat, Ram Ghat, Kankhal Ghat, the site of the Janmashtami and Jhula festivals, Dhruva ghat, Saptrishi Ghat, Mokshatirth Ghat, Surya Ghat, Ravan Koti Ghat and Buddha Ghat.

The Vishram Ghat is lined with elegant temples and some of Mathura ’s most important shrines are found here – the Mukut Temple , Radha-Damodar, Murli Manohar, Neelkantheshwar, Yamuna-Krishna, Langali Hanuman and Narasimha temples. The baithak of the great Vaishnava Saint, Shri Chaitanya, is also near by.

The aarti held at the Vishram Ghat each evening is not to be missed, for the little oil lamps that are floated on the river set the placid water as sparkle with a myriad flickering lights.

No pilgrimage to Mathura is complete without a visit to its kunds. Tradition has it that there were 159 ancient kunds in all. Of these only four survive and can be seen. There is the elegant shiv Tal, the more famous Potara Kund associated closely with Lord Krishna besides the Balbhadra and Saraswati kunds.

The town has a number of Shaivite temples as well. The chief among them being the Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple to the west of the town, the Gokarneshwar Temple in the north, the Rangeshwar. Mahadev Temple to the south and the Pipaleshwar Mahadev Temple to the east.

Area : 3,780 sq. km. (Mathura District)

Population (urban) : 20, 74, 516 (2001 census)

Altitude : 187 metres above sea level

The four temples that were built in honor of his visit are Madan Mohan, Govinda Deva, Gopinath, and Jugal Kishore.

Vrindavan is also the center for various Vaishava groups. In a centuries-old tradition Hindu widows have been coming to live out the rest of their lives in Vrindavan. They are expected to shed all physical adornments, including long hair, wear only white cotton saris and lead an austere lifestyle. In Vrindavan there are thousands of widows coming mostly from Bengal . They begin their day by bathing in the Yamuna and congregate at ashrams to sing bhajans (devotional songs). In return, they get a daily ration of rice and pulses and some cash. Subsisting on charitable donations made by wealthy traders, the widows pass their life in devotion to Krishna , the Supreme Lord.
State Uttar Pradesh
District Vrindavan

Area
4.40 Sq Km
Altitude 175mts
Language Hindi, Braj, English