Poised on the banks of the holy River Yamuna, the old city of Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most important religious destinations in India. A labyrinth of lanes lined by temples, ancient ghats and numerous stories of Lord Krishna, who is said to be born here, echoing throughout the streets, Mathura invite devotees from far and wide.
BY AIR: Kheira Airport in Agra, located at a distance of 50 km, is the nearest airport from Mathura. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is the nearest international airport and is located at a distance of 150 km.
BY ROAD: Mathura has extensive bus service which connects it to major cities like Agra, Delhi, Lucknow, and Varanasi.
RAIL: The nearest railway junction to Mathura is 1 km away from the city. Mathura is well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Lucknow, and Varanasi via trains.
October to March is the best time to visit Mathura & Vrindavan as the weather is pleasant and cool for sightseeing. To experience the best of the city's culture and to soak in the vibes of Lord Krishna, the ideal time to visit is during Krishna Janmashthami (August/September) and Holi Festival (March). However, keep in mind that the town sees a flood of tourists during these festivals, so be prepared for the pulsating crowd. These cities experiences extremely hot summers and wet monsoons, making those months inconvenient for travel and exploring new places.
The city is renowned for several temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is one of the most popular and loved incarnations of Lord Vishnu. They give a peek into the era of the divine, depicted in the phases of Lord Krishna's life. Considered as one of the seven sacred cities in the country, Mathura touches the soul with its rich cultural heritage. It is believed that the son of Mata Devaki and Vasudeva, Lord Krishna was born on this holy land around 5,000 years ago in a prison cell.
Mathura finds a mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata and became a part of the mighty Mauryan empire sometime during the 1st century BC. Under the rule, it flourished, transforming into a primary centre for arts. Stone carving and sculpture-making fall under what is now the Mathura School of Arts, which evolved between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. King Ashoka, the great Mauryan liege, is credited with building several Buddhist monuments in and around Mathura in the 3rd century BC. In fact, the sculptures and carvings created around this time followed a common theme of Buddhism, with a majority of the artworks inspired by and representing Lord Buddha in some form. As the rule of the Mauryans came to a grinding halt, the influence of Buddhism started to disappear, to be replaced by Hindu temples.