Dwarkadhish Temple Mathura

Dwarkadheesh Temple is one of the oldest and largest temples in Mathura. It is located near the banks of river Yamuna, close to Vishram Ghat and Gatashram Tila. It is one of the top places to visit in Mathura and also one of the most visited Mathura temples.

The main deity of the temple is Lord Dwarkadheesh, a form of Lord Krishna. This temple is also famous by other names like Jagat Mandir or Nija Mandir. It is believed that this temple was built by Lord Krishna's grandson Vajranabha. The present temple was built by Seth Gokuldas Parikh, the treasurer of Gwalior State in 1814. He was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and erected the shrine to commemorate the deity.

The temple is known for its beautiful architecture, carvings, and paintings. This five storied building is supported by seventy two pillars. The main shrine has the images of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. The idol of Lord Dwarkadheesh is made from shiny black stone and it is about 2.25 feet in height. This idol has four hands carrying a mace, a Sudarshana Chakra, a conch and a lotus flower. Apart from the image of Radha-Krishna, the shrine also has images of other Hindu gods. Presently, the temple is managed by the followers of Vallabhacharya sect. The temples of Krishna Varaha and Shwet Varaha are also nearby.
Festivals like Holi, Janmashtami and Diwali are celebrated with lot of pomp and grandeur in the temple. During these occasions thousands of tourists visit the temple.

Temple History
In the war at Mathura, Sri Krishna had slew Kansa, who was his maternal uncle but was a cruel king ruling the city. Afterwards, he declared Ugrasen, the Kansa’s father, the king of Mathura. This was not accepted by the Kansa’s father-in-law (king of Magadha) and therefore, attacked Mathura 17 times. To avoid harming the people and assure their safety, Shree Krishna and the Yadavas moved to Dwarka.As told by Shree Krishna, Vishwakarma, a celestial architect, built the city on the banks of the Gomati river by reclaiming a piece of from the sea. At that time, Dwarka was popular by Swarna Dwarika (meaning golden gate due to full wealth and prosperity), Dvaramati, Dvaravati, and Kushsthali. It consists of six well-developed sectors, plazas, wide roads, residential and commercial zones, palaces, and many public utilities.Public gatherings used to happen in a huge hall named ‘Sudharma Sabha’. The city was a good business centre due to the recognition of a good harbor. There were 700,000 palaces in the city comprising of gold, silver, and gems. In addition, the city encompassed attractive flora gardens and lakes.

Architecture
Dwarkadheesh Temple is one of the most visited shrines of Mathura. Built in 1814, Dwarkadhish Temple is said to have been constructed by Seth Gokul Das Parikh, who was the treasurer of the Gwalior Estate. He was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and erected the shrine to commemorate the deity. In the present day, Dwarikadhish Temple is administered by the followers of the Vallabhacharya sect.

How To Reach The Temple
By Road: The temple present in Mathura. We can reach the Temple easily by hiring auto, bus or taxi from anywhere in the Uttar Pradesh state or from neighboring state. The Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation (UPSTC), runs regulars bus service to the temple.
By Rail: The nearest Railway Station to the temple is Mathura Junction
By Air: The Temple can be reached through nearest Agra Airport(47 km) which is well connected with regular domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai.