Mathura Tourism

3.8 / 5 Heritage, Religious,

Ideal Duration : 1-2 days Best Time : October to March
Visit 20 Places
"The hometown of Lord Krishna" Mathura Tourism India is a country of immense diversity in all fields of life, starting from religious to cultural to historical. Religion has been deeply ingrained into the Indian lifestyle for as far as one can remember, which is why India abounds in cities and towns all across the country which are devoted to fulfilling spiritual desires of people who come to visit these places from far and wide. Mathura is one such place which is considered one of the most sacred lands of India, and is filled to the brim at any point of the year with people looking to pursue spiritual enlightenment. Located around 150 kilometres from Delhi, Mathura is known as the birthplace of Lord Krishna and has many sites of both historical and religious significance. Shri Krishna Janmabhumi is the most famous tourist attraction in Mathura, as this place is believed to the be the exact place where Lord Krishna was born, and the prison where he was born is now on display for tourists to see. Apart from the prison, the Shri Krishna Janmabhumi also has a majestic temple with idols of Krishna and Radha, making this place one of the top places to visit in Mathura. Mathura has many temples, both big and small, dotting the entire city, with many of these temples being dedicated to Lord Krishna. The two most important temples in town are the Dwarkadheesh Temple and the Gita Mandir. The Dwarkadheesh Temple is an ancient temple that has been standing from the 1800s and boasts of some of the most stunning architecture in and around this region. If you happen to visit Mathura during the festivals of Janmashtami or Holi, the Dwarkadheesh Temple is the place to be in, as these festivals are celebrated on a grand scale in the premises of the temple. The Gita Mandir is a unique temple in India, and it gets its name from the fact that the walls of the temple are filled with inscriptions from the entire Bhagavad Gita. What's Great? A famous tourist hotspot of Northern India. Famous for its colours, desi-lifestyle and colloquial taste of the state. What's not so Great? Heavily crowded during festivals and celebrations. For Whom Ideal for weekend getaways, spiritual rejuvenation, festival getaways, photographers, couples/families.

The Colourful Canvas of Uttar Pradesh One of the most colourful cities of Uttar Pradesh, Mathura is famous as the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The city is dotted with temples and over 25 ghats on the banks of river Yamuna. Mathura is also one of the Sapta-Puri (Seven sacred cities) according to Hindu mythology. The city has also been chosen as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY-Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana. Apart from the religious significance, the city is also famous for its industrial and commercial base. Mathura has a rich, exotic cultural aura adding to its aesthetics. It carries with it a taste of colloquial texture and vibrant lifestyle. The landscape is dotted with temples of significance. Mathura is also exclusively famous for its Braj culture and the Raslilas and Sanjhees. History of Mathura The history of Mathura can be dated back to 2500 years ago. Also known as Brij Bhumi, Mathura is believed to be the land where Shri Krishna was born and spent his youth. Mathura is also mentioned in the Hindu epic Ramayan, and in the accounts of Alexandrian astronomer Ptolemy. He refers to it as "city of gods" aka Modoura. Other than being a revered Hindu site, the city holds great importance for Buddhists and Jains as well. At around 400 AD, under the rule of Kushan dynasty, Chinese ambassador Fa Hien mentions the presence of a great number of Buddhist monasteries in the city. Soon after, the city fell under the Muslim rule- Mahmud of Ghazni, during which most of the temples were demolished. To follow that, Aurangzeb also ransacked the sacred city. Soon after that, the city was seized by the British. Later at the time when Hiuen Tsang visited Mathura, the number of monks plummeted from 2000 to 3000. Also, the resurgent Hindu movement of Bhakti cult bought back the city from ashes. The temples were resurrected and now it has a steady inflow of tourists and maintains the charm it first had. Culture of Mathura The city has a bright and vibrant feel to it. You can hear chants of ?Radhe Radhey? on the streets or find people referring to themselves as ?Brajwasis?. The city has dance dramas, folk songs, devotional dances etc. all in praises of Lord Krishna, as it is his birthplace. Mathura bursts with tourists and pilgrims all through the year who take an active part in the pooja rituals and customs. The Awadhi cuisine inspires the food, all of which is predominantly vegetarian. Krishna Janmashtami is the biggest and the most popular festival of the city for obvious reasons. Other festivals celebrated are Diwali, Holi, Radheashtmi, Basant Panchmi etc.

Itinerary Day 1-Reach Mathura in the morning. Freshen up and have breakfast. Try out the local North Indian snacks for breakfast. Post breakfast, you can head towards the Keshav Dev Temple. You can walk around the numerous temples across the city. Head towards the Katra mosque and the Sati Burj. The latter is a huge tower in the memory of his mother by Behari Mal of Jaipur. Day 2-You can head towards any of the numerous temples for the early morning aarti. Later, you can visit the museum. It remains closed on Monday. You can also shop at the local bazaars for colourful handmade artefacts. You can spend your evening near the Yamuna ghats and experience the grandeur of the place. Note-If you plan your trip around Holi or Janmashtami, indulge and experience the rich local flavours of Braj culture. Mathura is alive throughout the day and night but is generally overcrowded with tourists during peak seasons.

Restaurants and Local Food in Mathura The standout of the town's cuisine are its sweets and milk products.Pede,a form of sweet dish made from condensed milk, is a specialty here. Other than these one must tryKachori, Jalebi, Chaat, Panipuri, Samosa, Dhokla, Aloo tikki and Lassi.One can also find delicious typical North Indian platters. View 5 Restaurants in Mathura >>

Oct-Maris the best time to visit Mathura October to March is the best time to visit Mathura as the weather is pleasant during these months. However, Holi is a brilliant time to visit Mathura to enjoy the special traditions and customs of Barsana, a village in Mathura. Janmashtmi, a day to celebrate Krishna's birthday is another important occasion which is very special to experience in Mathura. Weather in Mathura Loading... Mathura in Summer (April - June) The summer months of April - June do experience higher levels of mercury. However, Mathura is flocked with tourists throughout the year. Mathura in Monsoon (July - September) Monsoon months are another preferred months to visit Mathura, especially around the festival of Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna. Mathura in Winters (October - March) This is a preferred time to visit the colourful city of Mathura, especially during October-November and February-March. You can also plan your trip around Holi during the month of March. Monthly Weather in Mathura Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 9 21 February 11 26 March 16 31 April 24 39 May 27 40 June 28 39 July 27 34 August 27 33 September 26 35 October 21 34 November 13 29 December 10 24

Events in Mathura Lathmar Holi, Barsana 20th - 21st March Though Lathmar Holi is celebrated all across Mathura, the one at Barsana is the most famous. The men traditionally assume the role of gops while women adorn the dresses of gopis. Barsana has the distinction of having the only temple dedicated to Radha in India. Women use lathis to chase away the men who attempt to provoke them. Thandai and Holi go hand in hand, so don't miss out on it!

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