Overview

Mathura the birthplace of Lord Krishna is an important place of pilgrimage and thousands of devotees throng the city throughout the year. It lies at the heart of the Brajbhoomi, a land that is imbued with sanctity, for it was here that the young Krishna was nurtured. The little towns and hamlets in this area are still alive with the tales of his mischievous pranks, his extraordinary exploits still seem to echo with the sound of his flute .

Today Mathura with its many temple and splendid ghats along the river Yamuna is a bustling pilgrimage town. Lying midway between Delhi and Agra, Mathura is easy to visit.The Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi (birthplace of Lord Krishna) is the main attraction of Mathura and an important pilgrim place of the Hindus. A stone slab marks the original spot of the birth of Lord Krishna. The earlier Kesava Deo temple had the room where Lord Krishna was born. According to legend, Lord Krishna was born in a small prison room where the tyrant ruler Kansa held his parents captive.

Kusum Sarovar, near the historical Radha Kunj, is a famous tank in the Braj region. It is the same tank where milkmaids used to flirt around with Krishna by giving him flowers. Another important tourist spot in Mathura is the famous Government Museum. The museum houses some of the best statues of Kushana period. Most of them belong to the Mathura School of Architecture that was parallel to the then famous Gandhara School. Apart from that there are some very interesting excursions also such as Nandgaon, Barsana and Vrindavan. They all are in a way or other attached to the life and times of Lord Krishna.

Mathura offers the best 'Ghee' in the country. There are various sweetmeats too that one can taste. 'Peda' and 'Khurchan' are two of them. I

The Archeological Museum of Mathura is an important place to visit. It houses an excellent collection of sculptures belonging to the ancient Mathura school of art. The Vishram Ghat, on river Yamuna, is another place to visit in Mathura. It is said that Lord Krishna had killed the tyrant Kansa here.

The Sati Burj, Kans Qila, Jama Masjid and Dwarkadheesh temple are other places to see in Mathura.