Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna

Stretched out along the Yamuna river lies Mathura. Like its neighbours Vrindavan, Govardhan and Barsana, it seems to be lulled by the sweet notes of Lord Krishna’s flute. After all, it is said to be the place where he was born.

Mathura’s history goes back to early times. It is mentioned in the Ramayana, India’s oldest epic. The name is said to derive from Madhuvan (“the forest of Madhu”) because it was abundantly wooded.

Mathura is a major place of pilgrimage and one of the Sapta Puri, India’s seven most holy places. It is said that Lord Krishna was born here. Read full Krishna’s story

The town is also famous for its Buddhist art, which contributed to the first golden age of Indian art in the 1st-3rd centuries CE under the Kushan dynasty. Its famous reddish sandstone sculptures were among the earliest representations of the Buddha as a human figure. This figurative revolution gave rise to a whole iconographic repertoire that is still evident in Buddhist art today.

Like Varanasi, this important pilgrim centre is to be experienced rather than visited as for the atmosphere of sacredness it exudes.

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Krishna Jayanti festival

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Mathura is certainly the best place to attend the Hindu festival of Krishna Jayanti or Krishna Janamashtami, which marks the birth of Lord Krishna….

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And now, let’s visit Mathura!

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Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir

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Krishna Janma Bhoomi is a place of prime importance for Hindu pilgrims to visit because this is where Lord Krishna is supposed to have been born in a prison cell 5000 years ago, when his parents were imprisoned by King Kamsa.

Krishna Janma Bhoomi is actually a complex of three temples: the Garbh Griha (the Sanctum Sanitorium, the prison cell), the Keshavadeva temple and the Bhagvata Bhavan.

The cell is reached through a long, dark tunnel. The atmosphere is particularly mysterious and silence is in order, though broken from time to time by devotees calling out “Hari Bol!” Then we reach a square, windowless room where Krishna is said to have been born on the bare stone.

Just by the Garbh Griha, after the mosque, is this temple dedicated to Keshav Dev, another form of Krishna. According to legend, the original deity was installed here by Krishna’s grandson Bajranabh.

The Bhagvata Bhavan comprises five temples, the main one being the Yugal Sarkar, which boasts fine statues of Radha and Krishna.

This complex also includes a mosque, the Jama Masjid, built in 1661 during the Mughal period. It backs onto the Garbh Griha.

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Potra Kund

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At the exit to Krishna Janma Bhoomi is a large tank or kund where Krishna’s baby clothes are supposed to have been washed. It is in fact one of India’s oldest kunds.

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Vishram Ghat

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Vishram is the most important of Mathura’s 25 ghats. It is also the starting point for the Parikrama (circumambulation) of Mathura’s temples and other spiritual places. Legend has it that Krishna rested here after killing King Kamsa.

An arati (flame offering) is performed here at sunset, when people put small oil lamps to float on the water.

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Dwarkadhish Temple

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This temple with its colourful, finely carved façade, a few yards from Vishram Ghat, is one of the most holy in the town.

Built in 1814 by Seth Gokul Das Parikh, a treasurer of the Gwalior kingdom, it houses statues of Krishna, Radha and other deities.

Dwarkadhish temple is now run by Vishnuite devotees of the Vallabhacharya community.

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Bazars

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The narrows streets where the Chowk, Dori, Naya and Chatta bazaars are clustered are a treasure chest.

Stylish houses with finely carved fronts in wood or stone, equally elegant inner courtyards and doors of every shape and colour will amaze you at each corner you turn.

Ambling leisurely through these streets is a feast for the eyes.

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Mathura archaeological Museum

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The museum houses artifacts pottery, sculptures, paintings, and coins primarily from in and around Mathura. The museum is famous for ancient sculptures of the Mathura school dating from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD., during Kushan Empire and Gupta Empire.

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Must-see places around Mathura

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Gokul (16km)

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Gokul is located 16 km from Mathura. It’s a very important city for Hindu pilgrims, as according to the legend, this is where Nanda secretly brought the newborn Krishna, and where Krishna lived as an infant while his parents were imprisoned by Kamsa.

The city itself is worth a look. Like Mathura, it is dotted with old houses with beautiful colorful storefronts.

Like all spiritual cities, there many temples, however the essential visit here is the “Nanda Yashoda Bhavan”, the house of Nanda and Yashoda, the adoptive parents of Krishna. For recent years, the visit of the house has been closely supervised with priests who encourage you to give a small contribution … Too bad, it spoils the atmosphere of the place.

Not far from Yashoda and Nanda’s house, we come across the Langoti Kund, a basin where Yashoda would have washed Krishna’s diapers. the word “langoti” comes from the Hindi word “langot” which is the traditional undergarment worn by Indian men. Some yogis, saddhus or wrestlers (pehelwans) still use it.

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Nandgaon (50km)

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Nandgaon is situated 50 Km on the north west of Mathura and it is also connected to the legend of Lord Krishna.

This place is named after Krishna’s foster father Nanda and mother Yashoda who had their permanent residence built at this place after moving from Gokul.

During his youth pastimes (from 7 to 10) Krishna lived in this village of Nandgaon along with his foster parents. It’s believed that after the disturbances created by the demons sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna, Nanda left Gokul and shifted to Nandgaon after staying for some time at Chhatikara, Deeg and Kamyavan.

There are small temples in the village but Nanda Rai is the main one built during the mid 12th century by the king Roop. It is said to have been built where Nanda had his house.

This is the only temple that has the deities of Nanda’s whole family – Yashoda Maiya, Nanda Maharaj, Krishna and Balaram and their friends.

On your way back down from the temple, stop to taste a homemade “Dahi”, a traditional yogurt. It is said that Krishna was fond of milk and butter.

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Vrindavan (16km)

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Vrindavan, on the Yamuna river, is an important pilgrimage centre. Over 500,000 Hindu worshippers come to Vrindavan each year. They come to bathe in the atmosphere of the place and dance to the rhythm of the dark-faced Lord Krishna. It is said he spent part of his childhood here…

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Govardhan (26km)

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Govardhan is a sacred hill 26km from Mathura. It is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus; to them, Lord Krishna and Govardhan hill are one…

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Barsana (46km)

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Barsana is the town of Radha, Krishna’s beloved. It is an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus. It seems still to resonate with the divine love between Radha and Lord Krishna. The “temple of the beloved”, built like a Rajput palace, stands majestically on Bhanugarh hill…

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