Haridwar • Varanasi • Braj-Bhoomi • Mathura • Vrindavan

Mathura
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 he River Yamuna, emphasize the sacred character of the town of Mathura. The birthplace f Lord Krishna, "the best known, best loved and most complex of Lord Vishnu's manifestations" - Mathura is today an important place of pilgrimage.

An ancient city whose origins fade into the mists of history, Mathura's strategic location at the cross roads of various trade routes- that went westwards to West Asia and the Roman Empire; northwards, via Taxila, Pushkalavati and Purishapuir to Central Asia and the Silk Route and eastward to China- ensured its position as a center of trade and a meeting point for varied cultures.

By the fifth century BC, during the time of Buddha, it was a major metropolis and the capital of the Surasena Kingdom - one of the 16 Mahajanapadas of the period. Mathura saw its 'golden age' during the rule of the Kushanas and the able governance of rulers and economic wealth grew. It remained a center of power during the Mauyran period, through the enlightened rule of emperor Ashoka (3^rd century BC) to the Gupta era (4^th century AD.).

Today, it is a city of temples and shrines bustle with the thousands of devotees who come to visit the city of Lord Krishna. A splendid temple at the Katra Keshav Dev marks the spot that is believed to be the Shri Krishna Janmasthan - the birthplace of the Lord, by his devotees. Another beautiful shrine, the Gita Mandir, located on the Mathura - Vrindavan Road has a fine image of Shri Krishna in its sanctum. The whole of the Bhagwad Gita is inscribed on the walls of the temple.

The most popular shrine at Mathura is the Dwarikadhish Temple to the north of the town dedicated in 1815 by a staunch and wealthy devotee, Seth Gokuldas Prish, treasurer of the State of Gwalior.

There are a total of 25 ghats in Mathura today, of which the most important is the Vishram Ghat, where according to legend, Shri Krishna took his rest after killing Kansa.