About Mathura:
Located at a distance of about 180 km from Delhi, Mathura is one of the most famous Hindu pilgrimage sites in India. Tourist Places in Mathura include a number of ancient and modern temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. Mathura is the birthplace of the Lord and most of the temples are based on different events of his life.
The town is also the place of festivals where Holi and Janmashtami are celebrated with full enthusiasm. Apart from temples, Mathura also has a museum where the cultural treasure of Brajbhoomi is preserved. A mosque here showcase the history of conflict, but with the flow of time has become sightseeing in mathura. Vrindavan is a twin city of Mathura which is also a holy site dotted with many beautiful temples.
Govardhan is 21 km far away from mathura bus stand and Vrindavan is 14 km far away from the mathura bus stand.
The list of places to see in Mathura:
Vrindavan is quite elaborate. But here are a few of the hand-picked gems in mathura city.
Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple:
Janmasthan temple or Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple is the shrine that houses a number of temples. As the place is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, you can also see the prison cell where Sri Krishna was born. The temples here are destroyed and built by various kings from time to time and the present temple has been developed by the modern Indian industrialists.
Government Museum Mathura:
Located at Dampier Park in Mathura, Government Museum was built by Sir F. S. Growse in 1874. This is one of the best places to visit in Mathura where you can explore many ancient sculptures, relics, and coins that date back to the 3rd-century BC.
Dwarkadhish Temple:
Dwarkadhish temple is famous for its beautiful Rajasthani architectural designs. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is a must-visit Mathura tourist place. The beautiful paintings on the ceiling describe the various aspects of the life of the almighty.
Goverdhan Hill near Mathura:
People visiting Mathura never forget to worship the Govardhan Hill as they believe that this mountain is a part of Sri Krishna. Mythology says that the Lord has lifted this mountain to provide shelter to people of Nandgaon village during the disastrous rainand thunderstorm by Lord Indra Dev. This place is crowded in October/November when Govardhan Puja is celebrated here.
Rangaji Temple:
Rangaji Temple, situated in Vrindavan is one of the best places to visit near Mathura. This temple reflects a blend of South and North Indian architectural style. Here Lord Vishnu is worshiped as Lord Ranganatha.
Jama Masjid:
Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb destroyed a number of temples to build Jama Masjid here. The architectural beauty and the marvelous carvings of the structure will leave you spellbound. One must visit this site while in Mathura and admire the Mughal art.
Radha Kund Govardhan:
Radha Kund is a holy pond situated near the Govardhan Hill. This is famous as a symbol of sacred love between Sri Krishna and Sri Radha. Here pilgrims including many foreigners take a dip in the sacred water of the pond with the belief that it absolves all the sins.
Kusum Sarovar Govardhan:
Kusum Sarovar offers a lovely sight of a green emerald water pond surrounded by various flower plants. Located in between Govardhan Hill and Radha Kund, this site must be included in your Mathura Sightseeing tour. There is aflight of stairs that will allow you to descend to the pond.
Nandgaon and Barsana:
Nandgaon and Barsana are two significant places in Mathura where Holi is celebrated with full enthusiasm. Here the celebration starts 4-5 days prior to the actual date of the festival. Here, people celebrate Holi with color and sticks and also relish Thandai, a sweet drink.
Banke Bihari Temple Vrindavan:
Banke Bihari Temple is the holiest temple in Vrindavan built by Swami Haridas. The temple is famous for the celebration of the Jhulan Yatra in the month of August. On this fiesta, the temple is decorated with flowers and plants and thousands of pilgrims reach here from all over India.
These are just a few. Mathura has many other tourist attractions in store to awe its visitors. Read our Mathura Travel Guide to know more.
