Mathura is a city located 1 and a half hours northwest of Agra. The city is known as “the city of a thousand temples”. You will not lack places to see in Mathura, the city is beautiful and although it is possible to visit it on an excursion from Sgra, independently or organized, if you have time to add it to your itinerary, I recommend that you stay one night there so that you Give yourself time to visit it completely.
Next to Mathura are the cities Vrindavan and Govardhan. Two small towns which due to overgrowth of cities are attached to Mathura. In all three cities you will find some of the most beautiful temples in India.
In this post I tell you about the 10 Essential things to see in Mathura, Vrindavan and Govardhan, I add the best way to get there from Agra and some great accommodation options.
Mathura is located on the banks of the Yamuna River and is considered a sacred city for Hinduism. The deity Krishna, who was born about 5 thousand years ago, spent his youth in this city. In it we can find many temples, hence its nickname of the city of a thousand temples.
After centuries of neglect, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in his search for sacred places associated with Krishna, rediscovered it.
The city had to be rebuilt between the 16th and 17th centuries, during the rule of the Karauli dynasty, through an agreement between the Muslim and Hindu emperors.
As a curiosity, Mathura is one of the cities that has the most widows in all of India. In fact, it is estimated that there are around 20,000 widows, and taking into account that its population barely exceeds 60,000 inhabitants, we are talking about just over 30% of the population being widowed women. The majority, after losing their husbands, come to Mathura seeking peace in this sacred city. In addition, in the city, a support system for these women was created with the help of the government.
10 ESSENTIALS TO SEE IN MATHURA
1. Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir
Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir is one of the most important temples to see in Mathura. It is also known as the ISKCON Vrindavan temple. It is an impressive Hindu temple dedicated to the gods Krishna and Balarama. This temple was built in 1975 by the founder of ISKCON, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
The temple is beautiful, it has a mix of styles between Gothic and Hindu. The exterior façade is built with white marble, carved columns and several statues. Inside, we find the statues of Krishna and Balarama made of gold and silver.
There is also a museum on the temple grounds that displays the history and teachings of ISKCON. Admission is free to both places. Open from 4:10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
2. Chowk Bazaar
Chowk Bazar is a historic market. It is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Mathura. There you will find all kinds of stalls, but especially stalls selling jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, crafts, spices, sweets...
3. Mathura Vrindavan, a must see in Mathura
Mathura Vrindavan is one of the most beautiful and essential places to see in Mathura. It is a Hindu temple located right next to the Gaushala Gayatri Tapobhumi temple. It is a place of Hindu worship where many ceremonies are held throughout the year. It is a sacred place of worship that receives thousands of pilgrims every year.
4. The Mathura Archaeological Museum
The Mathura Archaeological Museum was founded in the year 1874 by an art collector, Sir F.S. Growse. In the museum there is an exhibition of objects dating from the Neolithic period to the Mughal period. You will be able to see many sculptures, ceramic objects such as figures and vessels, metal objects and sculptures, weapons... It is a very interesting place to learn and learn a little more about the history of Mathura and India.
5. Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
Prem Mandir is a beautiful temple located in Vrindavan, a few minutes north of Mathura. Both cities have grown so much that they seem like one.
This Hindu temple is dedicated to the gods Krishna and Radha. It was built between 1994 and 2001 in white marble with a large central dome and 4 towers. Inside are statues of gods Krishna and Radha made of silver and gold.
6. Shri Raman Bihari Ji Temple
Shri Raman Bihari Ji Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Krishna. It was built in the 18th century in sandstone with a copper dome. Inside you can see decorations with stone carvings and paintings with religious motifs.
7. Giriraj ji temple
Giriraj ji is another of the most important Hindu temples to see in Govardhan, a small town 30 kilometers from Mathura. The temple is built with sandstone, with a golden dome and painted in many colors, following the Hindu architectural style.
8. Govardhan Temple
Another of the most important pilgrimage temples is the Govardhan temple, also located in Govardhan. The temple was built in the 15th century on the top of Govardhan Hill, where it is believed that Krishna raised the mountain to protect the inhabitants of the city from the rain of stones thrown by Indra, the king of the gods.
The temple is less striking than the previous one, also built with sandstone, but without as many colors. Even so, it stands out for its copper dome, the carvings and paintings of great historical value that it houses inside.
9. Sati Burj, a must see in Mathura
Sati Burj is a historical monument to visit in Mathura. It is a 4-story tower built of sandstone. The tower measures 55 meters and is located near the Yamuna River.
The tower was built in the year 1570 by order of the son of King Behari Mal of Jaipur. It was built to commemorate the ritual suicide of her mother, who burned herself alive on her husband's funeral pyre.
10. Walk along the banks of the Yamusa River
The bank of the Yamusa River is one of the most beautiful places to see in Mathura. It is a place full of color, where there are always people walking and enjoying the views. One of the best things to do is get on one of the little boats to see the city from another perspective. On the banks of the river there are always little boats waiting to offer you a ride. They are quite cheap and you always have to haggle a little.
HOW TO GET TO MATHURA
You can get there from different points, but the most common way is to get to Mathura from Agra. If you want to get there on your own, here is the best transport meta search engine in India.
If you prefer to visit Mathura from Agra in just one day, you have the option of taking an excursion. This excursion includes a guide in Spanish, pickup and transfer to your hotel, and transportation. If your intention is not to stay in Mathura, this is the best alternative. With this excursion, you will also visit all the most interesting and important places in Mathura.
WHERE TO STAY IN MATHURA
If you decide to spend a night in Mathura, you have several options, although all of them are quite simple. It is not a city of hotels with great luxuries. My recommendation is that you stay in the city of Vrindavan, a few kilometers from the center of Mathura.
Some options where to stay in Mathura:
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