Mathura India

The birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura is the best place to observe the religious heritage of India. The holy town positioned along the shores of River Yamuna is one of the few that are mentioned both in history and mythology. Mathura is naturally full of stories of Krishna as he not only took birth here but also spent a part of his life here. It is mentioned in the legendary Hindu epic of Mahabharata.

Later, it became a part of the Mauryan Empire and King Ashoka, built a number of Buddhist monuments in and around Mathura in the third century BC. Mathura earned its name as the center for arts between first century BC and first century AD. The main theme of the sculptures of the Mathura School of Art was inspired by the life of Lord Buddha. With the decline of Mauryan Empire, the influence of Buddhism also declined. In the 11th century AD, Mahmud Ghazni destroyed a large number of Buddhist and Hindu shrines and Sikandar Lodhi followed his example in the 15th century just like Aurangzeb who flattened the Kesava Deo temple and Ahmed Shah Abdali who torched the city in 1757. It came under British rule in 1804. Today, Mathura is a city of temples and shrines flocked by thousands of devotees who come to visit the city of Lord Krishna.

Shopping Attractions
Mathura, the holy city, is a land of cows. Its sweetmeats, especially milk-based sweets are very famous. 'Mathura Pedas' (a type of sweet-meat) are renowned all over India. Hand made embroideries are also famous in Mathura as are the numerous sculptures and images, paintings, rings and malas dedicated to Lord Krishna and other deities. The holy pendants and rosaries in all shapes and sizes and around temples there are lots of stalls selling flowers, incense sticks and 'prasad' along with prayer books to be offered to the deities of the temples.

Prime Attractions

Shri Krishna Janmbhoomi
A temple marks the birthplace of Lord Krishna today. A narrow passage leads one into a small room with a raised platform adorned with pictures of Krishna as a child to the left. The story of His birth is written and depicted on the walls. A narrow set of marble steps leads you to the terrace and a walled corridor creates the effect of a prison. The prison and the other buildings were razed to the ground in the 17th century but were restored in 1962 by industrialists like G.D. Birla.

Rangbhoomi
Rangbhoomi situated opposite to the post office in Mathura, is said to be the wrestling arena where Krishna killed Kansa in a duel. According to Hindu mythology, Kansa had put his father and parents of Lord Krishna in prison and usurped the throne. Krishna killed him and set his parents free reinstating his maternal grandfather Ugrasena on the throne.

Vishramghat
The most important bathing ghat of Mathura is the Vishram Ghat, which is believed to be the place where Krishna rested after killing Kansa.

Archeological Museum
Besides Hindu temples, Mathura is also known as a great center of Buddhism. The museum houses a powerful, impressive Bodhisttava from the Kushana period and even claims the honors of having produced the first images of Buddha. Buddhism and Jainism influenced the Mathura school of art, which flourished during Kushana's time. The coins found during archaeological excavations in Mathura point to Scythian influence.

Other Places
The Sati Burj, Kans Qila, Jama Masjid and Dwarkadheesh temple are other places worth visiting in Mathura.

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