Mathura City Travel
A long line of picturesque ghats - with their steps leading to the water's edge,
arched gateways and temple spires extending along the right bank of the River
Yamuna, emphasis the sacred character of the town of Mathura. The birth place
of Lord Krishna, "the best known, best loved and most complex of Lord Vishnu's
manifestations" - Mathura is today an important place of pilgrimage. The
city stretches along the right bank of the Yamuna and the continuous line of
ghats along the river makes a splendid spectacle when viewed from the opposite
bank.
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.
Places to See
Shri Krishna Janma Bhumi: The Birth Place of Lord Krishna.
Jama Masjid: Built by Abo-inNabir-Khan in 1661.A.D. the mosque has 4
lofty minarets, with bright colored plaster mosaic of which a few panels currently
exist.
Vishram Ghat: The sacred spot where Lord Krishna is believed to have
rested after slaying the tyrant Kansa.
Dwarkadheesh Temple: Built in 1814, it is the main temple in the town.
During the festive days of Holi, Janmashthami and Diwali, it is decorated on
a grandiose scale.
Gita Mandir: Situated on the city outskirts, the temple carving and painting
are a major attraction.
Govt. Museum: Located at Dampier Park, it has one of the finest collection
of archaeological interest. Rare items from the Gupta and Kushan period (400
B.C.-1200A.D.) are on display. Major attraction for tourists.
How to Reach Mathura
Air
Nearest airport is Kheria (Agra), 62 km
Rail
Mathura is on the main lines of the Central and Western Railways and is connected
with all the important cities of the state and country such as Delhi, Agra,
Mumbai, Jaipur, Gwalior, Calcutta, Hydrabad, Chennai, Lucknow etc.
Road
Mathura is connected to all the major cities, by National Highways. It is linked
by the regular state bus services of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
and Haryana.
