Mathura Agra

Mathura Agra is a jumble of never-ending lanes teeming with folks, rickshaws and glittering shops. The city is dotted with magnificent temples, most of them dedicated to Lord Krishna, the city’s presiding deity and its first citizen. These temples depict various phases of Lord Krishna’s life, taking the devotees back to the divine era. Mathura is an important pilgrimage destination of the Hindus and is one of the seven sacred cities of India. Lord Krishna was born around 5000 years ago on this land as an 8th child to Mata Devaki and Vasudeva in the prison cell of the tyrant Kansa, Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle. The land is daubed with an enchanting culture, which is enough to capture your heart and touch your soul. Vrindavan is a holy town in Mathura and is the most significant pilgrimage site in Braj region, attracting around 500000 pilgrims every year. It is believed that Lord Krishna spent his childhood here. Even the dust of this holy place is said to be sacred and devotees are often seen smearing it on their forehead. It is believed that Vrindavan was lost over time, until the 16th century, when it was rediscovered by the saint from Nabadwip, Chaitanya, Mahaprabhu, who travelled to Vrindavan in 1515.

Road Back Into Time
Today, Mathura is one of the most important pilgrimage centres of the Hindus boasting innumerable temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. However, before the city gave way to Hinduism in the 8th century, it was a Buddhist centre with several monasteries housing more than 3000 monks. However, most of these centres were destroyed by the Afghan warlord by the name of Mahmud Ghazni. Much later, it was Aurangzeb, in the 16th century, who levelled down many of the famous temples including the Kesava Deo Temple and had a mosque built there in its place. Mathura continues to draw a flood of pilgrims all year round and especially during festivals, such as Holi and Janmashtmi (Lord Krishna’s birthday), which falls in August/September.

Tourist Places In And Around Mathura
Situated on the banks of river Yamuna, Mathura is seen as the cradle of Indian culture and civilisation. India is considered to be a spiritual destination and many of the visitors looking for peace and enlightenment head to the city to seek solace in its ashrams and temples. Mathura is considered sacred by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, or the birthplace of Lord Krishna, is one the most sacred temples located here. In fact, most attractions in Mathura have some connection with Krishna. Another case point is Vishram Ghat, where he is believed to have rested for some time before going on to slay his, mama, or maternal uncle, the tyrant Kansa. The Dwarkadheesh Temple is the main temple which is decorated on a grandiose scale during Hindu festivals, such as Holi and Janmashtami. Gita Mandir, on the outskirts of the town, showcases temple carvings and paintings. The Muslim population finds representation in the Jama Masjid which was built in 1661 AD. The Government Museum, located at Dampier Park, boasts of one of the finest collections of items of historical and archaeological interest including rare findings from the Gupta and Kushan period (400 BC to 1200 AD). Besides the above, other attractions worth a mention include Kans Qila, Potara Kund and the Ghats of Mathura. A visit to Mathura can be combined with a trip to the neighbouring pilgrimage town of Vrindavan.