Mathura Travel Guide
Travel to Mathura - Picturesque Ghats and Temple Spires – The City Of Krishna
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A long line of picturesque ghats - with their steps leading to the water's edge, arched gateways and temple spires extending along the right bank of the River Yamuna, emphasise the sacred character of the town of Mathura, birthplace of Lord Krishna. Mathura and its neighbour Vrindavan, together known as the Braj Bhoomi, the ‘Land of Eternal Love’, make for an interesting visit.
After the wane of Buddhist Mathura in the 8th century and the revival of Hinduism the town became a pilgrimage centre. It was here that Krishna is believed by devout Hindus to have been born and the temples and shrines bustle once again with thousands of devotees.
Most of the temples date from after the city was razed to the ground by the Afghan warrior-king Mahmud of Ghazni and the excesses of the Moghul emperor, Aurangzeb.
The atmosphere is not dissimilar to Varanasi and indeed the riverside ghats have parallels there too. It makes a great place to visit if you don’t have the time to travel to the east of the state to Varanasi.
Attractions in Mathura
The most important spot in Mathura is within the Sri Krishna Janbhoomi where a rock is said to be the place where Krishna was borne some 3,500 years ago. There are some 25 ghats in Mathura today of which the most important is the Vishram Ghat. Here, according to legend, Krishna took his rest after killing the evil Kansa and it is here that the traditional parikrama, the circumambulation of all the important religious and cultural places of the city, starts and ends. Vishram Ghat is lined with elegant temples and some of Mathura's most important shrines are to found here - the Mukut Temple, Radha-Damodar, Murli Manohar, Neelkantheshwar, Yamuna-Krishna, Langali Hanuman and Narasimha temples. Visitors will enjoy the aarti ceremony held here each evening when little oil lamps that are floated on the river setting the calm waters sparkling with a myriad flickering lights.
The famous tale of Krishna stealing the clothes of the bathing gopis (cow-girls) took place at nearby Vrindavan. There are several temples to visit and it is the centre for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Activities in Mathura
Allow a full day to see Mathura and enjoy the aarti ceremony.
Relaxing
Take a boat ride on the Yamuna from Vishram Ghat for a different perspective of the city.
Getting Around
A day trip from Agra is easily arranged and possibly the best way of visiting, especially so if you have the services of a driver-guide. Even taking a train from Delhi, 120km away, for a day trip is not beyond the realms of possibility.
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