Mathura
One of the spiritual and sacred places in India, lined with a number of temples along the roads is Mathura City, the birth land of Lord Krishna. It is situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh in North India and is one of the seven holy cities of India.
The city attracts a lot of worshippers and tourists on a daily basis and is filled to the brim with devotees seeking spiritual enlightenment. It is filled with many historical and religious significance sites. Lord Krishna was born in a prison, where their parents Mata Devaki and Vasudev were captured by his maternal uncle Kansa. The prison is now on display for the tourists and a temple, Kesava Deo temple was built at the site in the ancient times. Apart from this, many other temples were made. Some portray the different avatars of Lord Krishna and some show the idols Radha and Krishna. The two most important temples in the city are Dwarkadheesh temple and the Gita temple. These temples are an example of the wonderful architecture and design of the ancient India. Dwarkadheesh temple is the temple where the festivals of India like Holi and Janmashtami are celebrated every year on a grand scale. On the other hand, is the Gita temple which is popular for the inscriptions that are written all over its walls. The inscriptions are taken from the holy book Bhagvat Gita and hence the name.
The best way to explore Mathura is by taking a walk around the streets of the city. Every nook and cranny of the narrow lanes of this place still retains an old-world charm that belies the urbanization the city has kept up with. There is a lot of history to Mathura that you can experience only by exploring the old-fashioned architecture, the crumbling ruins of old houses, and the amiability of the locals who are always willing to show you around.
Other than the temples, Mathura is also famous for its foods and cuisines like aloo-puri, kachodis and sweets like pede and jalebis, which can be found at all the shops anytime of the day.
1. SHRI KRISHNA JANAMBHOOMI
Mathura is well-known as Lord Krishna’s abode, where he spent his childhood, adolescence, and parts of his adulthood. Mathura, also known as Brij Bhoomi, is one of the holiest locations in India, with a large number of Hindu temples. It is well-known for its history, archaeology, religious history, art, and sculpture. It stands on the banks of the Yamuna river.
Mathura is close to Agra, and the inhabitants are pretty kind and easygoing, and they are always willing to serve tourists in any way they can. Mathura’s primary languages are Brijbhasi and Hindi.
2. SHRI YAMUNA JI NAUKA BIHAR
A treasure full of history and mythology has continued to shape one of the oldest cities in the world – Mathura. It is among the most beautiful cities in India. It is a city with great sacred importance to Hinduism. It is popularly known as the heart of Brij Bhoomi, the land and birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Myriads of heritage sites in Mathura include the Gita Mandir, Banke Bihari temple, Iskcon temple, Govind dev temple, and the Naam Yog sadhana mandir, among others. The Kesava Deo Temple too was built on the site of Lord Krishna’s birthplace.
3. DWARKADEESH TEMPLE
Sri Dwarkadheesh Mandir is one of the oldest and largest temples of Mathura city in States of Indiaof India, India. This is a major and famous Hindu shrine, and its current structure was built up by Seth Gokul Das Parikh, the treasurer of then Gwalior State(Scindia) in 1814.[2] It was built for the famous Hindu deity Dwarkadheesh (meaning the God or king of Dwarka, where Lord Krishna has shifted from Mathura and settled till his life on earth). There the main deity is of Lord Dwarkadheesh, a form of Lord Krishna seen in a black Marble idol named Dwarkanath. With him is the White marble idol of his counterpart deity Sri Radharani.
4. SHRI VISHWARAMGHAT ARTI
Myriads of heritage sites in Mathura include the Gita Mandir, Banke Bihari temple, Iskcon temple, Govind dev temple, and the Naam Yog sadhana mandir, among others. The Kesava Deo Temple too was built on the site of Lord Krishna’s birthplace.
To add to the amazement, several ghats of the Yamuna river embrace this beautiful city. The most famous of these is the Vishram Ghat, where the traditional ritual of parikrama takes off and ends at the city locale.
5. RADHA JI BIRTH PALACE RAVAL
There is an ancient garden right in front of Radharani’s temple in Rawal village. It is said that Radha and Krishna are still present here in the form of trees. There are two trees together here. One is white and the other is dark in colour. It is worshipped daily. The temple priest Lalit Mohan says that Radha and Krishna still gaze at Yamuna ji from here in the form of trees.
Radha Rani found in a lotus flower
It is believed that Radha ji was born in Rawal village itself. The temple priest Lalit Mohan Kalla says that Yamuna used to flow here about five thousand years ago. According to the scriptures, Kriti ji used to wish for a son while bathing in Yamuna. One day, while worshipping, a lotus flower appeared from Yamuna. Light was coming out of that flower and it was shining like gold. When Kriti ji went closer and looked, the lotus flower had bloomed completely. There was a little girl in it, whose eyes were closed. It is said that that girl was none other than Radha-Rani. Now, at that place, there is the sanctum sanctorum of this temple.
6. SHRI KESAVDEV JI MANDIR
Katra Keshavdev Temple is a very ancient temple located near Krishna Janmabhoomi Residential Gate in Mallapura, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. It was built in 1600 AD. Its length and breadth is 75’X55′, it is a two-storey building made of Lakhori brick lime and red stone. Although all the festivals falling throughout the year are celebrated with joy in this temple, but the Chhappan Bhog on Basant Panchami gives a unique charm to this temple. On this day lakhs of devotees visit this temple. For foreign devotees, the procession of Thakur Keshav Dev starting from Gatashram Vishram Ghat on Rangbhari Ekadashi becomes the center of attraction, which ends after reaching Keshavdev Temple in Mallapura. On the day of Chhoti Diwali i.e. Narak Chaudas, Deepotsav is also organized in this temple.
7. ADI BARAH TEMPLE
Located near the renowned Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura, the Adi Varah Temple is a place where the devotees of Radhe-Krishan can fully immerse themselves in ancient spirituality. This temple, famous for its unique red-coloured deity, Lal Varaha, attracts devotees with its unique charm. Interestingly, the term ‘Lal’ not only signifies the colour red but also suggests ‘little’ or ‘small.’ Despite the small physical form of Lal Varaha, the reverence bestowed upon this deity is immense. The temple is one of the oldest temples in Mathura believed to be exist from 1500 years ago.
The temple also worships two other avatars of Lord Varaha Krishna Varaha and Shvet Varaha each with its mythological narrative. Krishna Varaha, emerging during Brahmakalpa, held the Earth on His tusk to maintain cosmic balance. On the other hand, Shvet Varaha, also known as Nar Varaha, incarnated to kill the demon Hiranyaksha. The Adi Varah Temple unfolds many tales and invites visitors into the rich mythological heritage of Mathura.
8. RANGESHWAR MAHADEV JI MANDIR
Sri Rangeshwar Mahadev is located as a protector of Braj in the south of Mathura. Kansa conspired to kill Shri Krishna and Baldev and built an arena in this place of pilgrimage. On the pretext of visiting the city, Shri Krishna and Balram with their cowherd friends entered this arena asking people about this place. A huge bow of Lord Shiva was placed in front.
Rangeshwar Mahadev’s form was also unique. On entering the arena, Shri Krishna spontaneously lifted the bow with his left hand. In the blink of an eye, he took the chord in front of everyone and pulled the chord in such a way that the bow broke with a thunder sound.
9. BHUTESHWAR MAHADEV JI MANDIR
Bhuteshwar Mahadev Mandir is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is also a Shaktipeeth where Mata Sati’s ringlet fell when she performed Sati.
The shrine is auspicious and one-of-a-kind since it is one of the city’s few temples not dedicated to Lord Krishna. The Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, one of the oldest temples, also houses the Patal Devi Cave, where King Kansa worshipped the deity.
#Trivia: The auspicious Sawan month attracts scores of devotees on Mondays and Shivratri.
Pilgrims worldwide travel to the temple to pay obeisance to the Shiva Lingam of Lord Shiva. A throng of pilgrims pay their respects to Bhuteshwar Mahadev Mandir, Mathura, during Shravan Maas, a Hindu month that falls in July-August.
10. BIRLA MANDIR
Birla mandir is one of the well-known temples of Mathura and is located on the Mathura-Vrindavan road. This divine and beautiful temple was built by the industrialist Jugal Kishore Birla from the Birla Industries in 1946. There is a chain of Birla temples across India and this Birla Mandir Mathura is just one gem of that chain. Birla mandir is also known as the Gita Mandir as it has a pillar with Sri Mad Bhagwad Geeta inscribed on it. As the divine place away from the hush-hush of the city, this temple is believed to be the best place to spend your leisure time with family.
11. Kans Quila, Mathura
Mathura is the sacred city for Hindus as it is the birth place of Lord Krishna. It was ruled by Kansa, the Maternal Uncle of Lord Krishna and the capital of the Surasena Kingdom. Surasena were also called as yadavas, the descendant of Yadu, a mythical king and belonged to the lineage of Yaduvamsha. Kans Qila in Mathura is said to be the palace of Kansa which has undergone several changes over the centuries.
