Mathura is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh and is located about 44 km from the state capital, Agra. Mathura widely known as birth place of Lord Krishna is located on the western bank of the River Yamuna. Mathura is thus also known as the Brijbhoomi or Krishna Janmabhoomi. According to the Hindu epic, Mahabharata, Mathura was the capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kansa the maternal uncle of Krishna about 5000 years ago.
Mathura is considered to be an ancient city. Mathura was ruled by a lot of dynasties like Maurya, Sunga, Kushans, and Shaka, and finally by the Mughals before British rule. A lot of travellers from Greece and China, like Megasthenes, Fa Xian, and Xuang Zang have mentioned about Mathura in their text as a Buddhist centre. Mathura was looted and many of its temples were destroyed by Ghazni, Lodhi and later Aurangzeb.
Mathura is one of the 'Sapta Puris' or the seven holy cities. The remaining six are Ayodhya, Dwarka, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kanchipuram and Ujjain.
The Krishna Dev Temple houses an underground room with a rock slab where Lord Krishna is supposed to have been born 5000 years ago where his parents, Vasudev and Devaki were imprisoned by King Kansa. Right next to the temple is the Katra Masjid built by Aurangzeb. The Temple and the Masjid are on a constant vigil by security forces to avoid any religious attacks.
Most of the other temples are found on the banks near the ghats of the River Yamuna. Some of the temples are Gita Temple, Dwarkadheesh Temple, Rangeshwar Mahadev Mandir, Bhooteshwar Mahadev Mandir, and Shri Gopal Mandir.
The most popular ghat is the Vishram Ghat where Krishna is supposed to have rested after killing Kansa.Mathura museum is famous for the ancient sculptures dating from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD.
Govardhan, 26 km from Mathura is named after hill which Lord Krishna raised on his little finger to save the people from the incessant rain. Vrindavan, 10 km from Mathura, is where Krishna spent his childhood days. Nandgaon, 51 km from Mathura, is known as the home of Krishna's foster father Nand. Gokul, about 15 km from Mathura is where Krishna was reared in secrecy by his nurse.
Mathura is well connected by road, rail and air. Mathura is well connected by trains to all the major cities in India through four railway stations, namely Mathura Junction, Mathura Cantonment, Bhooteshwar, and Krishna Janmabhoomi.
The main highways that pass through Mathura are NH2, NH-3, NH11 and NH-93. Private buses and state owned buses ply from Mathura to all the major cities in North India. The city does not have an airport. The nearest airport is in Agra.
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