Famous Temples in Mathura and Vrindavan When it comes to Hindu religious belief, Mathura and Vrindavan are two prominent names. This is because the Hindu God Krishna is said to have been born in Mathura and raised in Vrindavan. Both cities are in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Mathura and Vrindavan are frequently mentioned as important pilgrimage destinations. Due to religious significance, there are many wonderful and majestic temples in these cities. If you’re planning to explore more about Hinduism at these sites, then we have a list of temples you should not miss visiting. So, here in this article, we bring to you the details of the popular temples in Mathura and temples in Vrindavan.
- Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
One of the sacred locations to visit in Mathura is the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, also known as the Krishna Janmabhoom or Krishna Janmasthan. Vajra, the Hindu god Krishna’s grandson, is claimed to have built the temple. Mathura is claimed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, according to Hindu belief, and locals believe the temple was built 5,000 years ago.
The mythical Yadava king is credited for its creation but was later destroyed by Aurangzeb, with the next temple only being built in 1965 after a long political dispute that is still ongoing. This is the fourth temple that you see today, but the historical centre of this place remains unchanged. You can still see the ancient prison cell where it is believed that Krishna was born, on a dark, stormy and rainy night, Famous Temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.
Timings: 5:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM; Monday to Sunday
- Dwarkadhish Temple
Dwarkadheesh Temple is one of the oldest and greatest temples in Mathura, and one of the top sacred destinations, located around 4 kilometres from Mathura Junction Railway Station. It is one of the most visited spots in Mathura, located near the banks of the Yamuna River and adjacent to Vishram Ghatand. Lord Dwarkadheesh, another avatar of Lord Krishna, is the temple’s main attraction. This temple is also famous by other names like Jagat Mandir or Nija Mandir, Famous Temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.
The temple was built by Seth Gokuldas Parikh, who was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and erected the shrine to commemorate the deity. It is known for its beautiful architecture, carvings, and paintings. The building has five storeys and is supported by seventy-two pillars. The main shrine has the images of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha and other Hindu gods. The idol of Lord Dwarkadheesh is made from shiny black stone and it has four hands carrying a mace, a Sudarshana Chakra, a conch and a lotus flower.
Timings: 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 9.30 PM; Monday to Sunday
- Gita Mandir
Gita Mandir, on the Mathura-Vrindavan route, is a magnificent work of art and one of the sacred locations to visit in Mathura. The Birla family built this temple, which is known as Birla Mandir in Mathura. It includes inscriptions from the Hindu holy text, the Gita. The ornate statue of Lord Krishna adorns the central hall. Other statues of Lord Rama and Devi Sita can be found. There are also the idols of Lord Narayan and Devi Laxmi. There are a number of government and private tour operators that are working on roping in as many tourists as possible.
The temple has a beautiful architecture accompanied by eye-catching paintings, and the walls are also decorated with splendid drawings all around. This temple is huge in size and looks wonderful in red sandstone. The temple area also boasts of marble stone figures of Lord Indra on his elephant, horses, tortoise and a chariot with Lord Krishna as its driver, and Arjuna as the passenger. The serene and lush green atmosphere of the temple provides ultimate peace to the devotees visiting the Famous Temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.
Timings: 5:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM; Monday to Sunday
- Jugal Kishore Temple
Another holy site in Mathura is the Jugal Kishore temple, which is located near Kesi Ghat. It is also known as the Kesighata temple because of its proximity to the ghat. The site where Lord Krishna slaughtered Kesi, the horse demon, is known as Kesi Ghat. Lord Vishnu, also known as Lord Sri Ranganatha or Rangji, is the temple’s presiding deity. The idol of Vishnu can be seen lying on the Seshnag. The architecture of this temple has a remarkable resemblance with those glorious South Indian temples. It was built by the wealthy Seth family of Mathura in 1851. Apart from the Rajput style entrance gate, the temple also boasts of 15-meter-high golden pillars, Famous Temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.
Timings: 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Monday to Sunday
- Kesava Deo Temple
If you are looking for the oldest sacred places in Mathura, check out the Kesava Rao Temple. It is believed to be thousands of years old and is said to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Hence, it is a must-visit temple in Mathura and Vrindavan. It is also believed that a trip to these holy towns is always deemed incomplete without visiting Kesava Deo Temple and paying respects to Lord Krishna. As the temple has been attacked several times by the Muslim rulers in the past, you cannot find its original building today. The major festivals celebrated here include Lathmar Holi and Krishna Janmashtami.
Timings: 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM; Monday to Sunday
- Banke Bihari Temple
This is another gorgeous beauty in the sacred town of Vrindavan, in the historical city of Mathura. Banke Bihari Temple was constructed during the late 18th century in the Rajasthan style of architecture and since then, it has been a prominent site of worship amongst Hindus. It is one of the seven significant Famous Temples in Mathura and Vrindavan in the town and hence, it is a must-visit pilgrimage destination for every follower of Lord Krishna. As it is frequented by millions of devotees, it is also one of the richest temples in Uttar Pradesh.
Timings: 7:45 AM to 12:00 PM and 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM; Monday to Sunday
- Bhuteshwar Temple
The temple is located in Bhuteshwar Tiraha in Mathura and is among the sacred places you should explore. The presiding deity of Lord Shiva is referred to as Bhuteshwar Mahadev. Mahadev ji’s ancient Mahadev Linga is also established here. After the defeat of Madhu demon, the temple of Shri Bhuteshwar Mahadev ji was established. There is also a shaktipeeth of Devi inside the temple campus where ringlet of Mata Sati fell, Famous Temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.
The temple is situated in a narrow street but just a few steps away from the main road, so you will find a parking space easily. In Shri Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, Mother Kali, Shri Patal Devi, Shri Giriraj Maharaj and other beautiful temples are situated. Pilgrims visit the shrine to offer prayers on auspicious occasions, such as Shivratri.
Timings: 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM; Monday to Sunday
- Chamunda Devi Temple
Located right opposite Maa Gayatri Tapobhumi, Chamunda Devi Temple in Mathura is one of the most important spiritual retreats to visit in India. This event is also mentioned in the sacred text of Shrimad Bhagwat. It is believed that in Satyug, Lord Krishna offered salvation to a python after which he went to seek blessings from Maa Chamunda here. The temple is also believed to be a meditation centre for Sage Shandilya and Sri Gorakhnath also attained knowledge here. The major attraction of this place is that the Chamunda Devi Temple does not have any idol inside.
Timings: 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Monday to Sunday