Mathura: Temples, Pilgrimage Routes and Culture
Accommodation in Mathura
Mathura and the surrounding Braj region offer a range of ways to experience the area: temples and historical collections, pilgrimage circuits with clearly stated distances, and experiences along the Yamuna. You can tailor your stay to whether you want to focus on religious sites, art history or routes through the region.
Temples and Art History
According to tradition, Shri Krishna Janambhoomi in Mathura is associated with Krishna’s appearance in Kansa’s prison. There is an important rule for visitors: photography is prohibited in the complex. Another temple story leads to Shri Dwarkadhish Temple in Mathura. Its present structure was built in 1814. The main shrine houses a black marble image called Dwarkanath, accompanied by a white marble image of Radharani.
Vrindavan is also home to several important shrines. Shri Bankey Bihari Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in Vrindavan, in Mathura district. Radha Raman Temple was built around 1542 CE at the request of Gopala Bhatta Goswami. It houses Krishna’s original Shaligram shrine together with Radharani. Sri Krishna Balrama Temple, meanwhile, was the first temple built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
The Prem Mandir complex is on the outskirts of Vrindavan. The grounds cover 54 acres and are dedicated to Radha Krishna and Sita Ram. In Barsana, the historic Radha Rani Temple is the main attraction and draws very many devotees. If you are interested in sculpture as well as temples, the Government Museum Mathura has collections from the Maurya, Sunga, Kushan and Gupta periods.
Pilgrimage Routes of Different Lengths
The parikramas vary in their stated lengths. The Govardhan Parikrama is listed as 21 km, or 7 kos. Kusum Sarovar, a historic pond in Govardhan, lies along its route. The Vrindavan Parikrama is listed as 15 km, or 5 kos, as is the Mathura Parikrama. The Gokul Parikrama is listed as 10 km. In Barsana, there is a large circuit of 7 km and a small one of 4 km.
The Brij Chaurasi Kos Parikrama is described as a longer pilgrimage through the Braj region: it covers 252 kilometres and takes seven days. These figures provide a concrete comparison of the distances and formats, without equating the circuits. If you are planning a trip with several interests, you could, for example, weigh temple visits and time at the museum against one or more pilgrimage routes, taking the different distances into account as you choose.
Gokul, the Yamuna and Mathura Peda
Gokul lies on the scenic banks of the Yamuna and is the starting point or setting for the Gokul Parikrama. In Raman Reti, Gokul, the grounds include a deer sanctuary, temples and a recreation area for ascetics, saints and pilgrims. At Vishram Ghat, visitors can choose to take a boat ride on the Yamuna River. The landscape and river experience can thus complement the temple and pilgrimage sites as possible themes for your trip.
A local speciality is Mathura Peda. It is made with condensed milk, cardamom powder and khoya, a milk product. For a family trip, these different interests can shape your choice: Would you mainly like to explore shrines and sculptures, consider one of the circuits with a stated distance, or set aside time for Gokul and the Yamuna? You can choose a holiday rental to suit the places that are a priority in your travel plans.
Choosing Transport and Accommodation
The nearest railway station to Mathura is Mathura Junction (MTJ). If you are travelling by train, you can keep this name in mind when planning. When searching for a holiday rental, it is also helpful to decide on your priorities first: Mathura’s temples and museum, pilgrimage routes in different places, or experiences around Gokul and the Yamuna.
For the wider travel overview: Uttar Pradesh.
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