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               MATHURA TRAVEL GUIDE

Mathura is reputed to be the birthplace of Krishna, Krishnajanmabhoomi. The
Keshav Dev temple was built in ancient times on the site of Krishna's legendary
birthplace (an underground prison). As per epic Mahabharata, Mathura was the
capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kansa the maternal uncle of Krishna.

Mathura is also famous as one of the first two centres of production for images of the
Buddha (the other being Gandhara in present-day Pakistan/Afghanistan). Human
images of the Buddha began to appear approximately at the same time (1st Century
AD) in both centers but can be distinguished from one another as the Gandharan
images are very clearly Greco-Roman in inspiration with the Buddha wearing wavy
locks tucked up into a chignon and heavier toga-like robes whereas the Buddha
figurines produced in Mathura more closely resemble some of the older male fertility
gods and have shorter, curlier hair and lighter, more translucent robes.

n the 6th century BC Mathura became the capital of the Shursen republic. The city
was later ruled by the Maurya empire (4th to 2nd centuries BC) and the Sunga
dynasty (2nd century BC). It may have come under control of the Indo-Greeks some
time between 180 BC and 100 BC. However, it would then have briefly reverted to
Indian rule before being occupied by the Indo-Scythians during the 1st century BC.
Archaeological evidence seems to indicate that, by 100 BC, there was a group of
Jains living in Mathura [Bowker].

Megasthenes, writing in the early 3rd century BC, mentions Mathura as a great city
under the name ?????a (Méthora).

Mathura served as one of the Kushan Empire's two capitals from the first to the third
centuries. The Mathura Museum has the largest collection of redstone sculptures in
Asia, depicting many famous Buddha figurines. In 634 Xuanzang had visited the
Mathura town. He went east to Jalandhar in eastern Punjab, before climbing up to
visit predominantly Theravada monasteries in the Kulu valley and turning southward
again to Bairat and then Mathura, on the Yamuna river.

The city was sacked and many of its temples destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in
1018. The Keshav Dev temple was partially destroyed by the Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb, who built the city's Jami Masjid (Friday mosque) on the same site, re-
using many of the temple's stones. The main Krishna shrine is presently the
Dwarkadeesh temple, built in 1815 by Seth Gokuldas Parikh, Treasurer of Gwalior.


PLACE TO VISIT


Krishnajanmabhoomi - which means 'the birth-place of Krishna', is a temple
built on the birthplace of Krishna (an avatar of God in his original form in Mathura,
India. It is believed that Lord Krishna was born here in a cell of a prison, which once
stood there. Krishna was son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Devaki was cousin(sister) of
the local King Kansa. Kansa was told that the eighth son of Vasudeva and Devaki
will kill him. Fearing this he imprisoned his sister and brother-in-law and eventually
killed first seven children of the couple.

Vishram Ghat - The sacred spot where Lord Krishna is believed to have rested
after slaying the tyrant Kansa.

Dwarkadheesh Temple - Built in 1814, it is the main temple in the town.
During the festive days of Holi, Janmashthami and Diwali, it is decorated on a
grandiose scale.

Gita Mandir - Situated on the city outskirts, the temple carving and painting are a
major attraction.

Nandgaon - is a religious place due to its attachment to the lord Krishna, as it is
believed that Krishna spent his childhood here and few traces of his childhood
which are mentioned in the granthas are found here.

Gokul - was the place where Lord Krishna was brought up under the care of
Nanda and Yashoda, the first family of the village. Since Kamsa, Krishna's uncle,
used to kill every baby born to Devaki, Nanda exchanged his own new born daughter
with Vasudeva in order to smuggle Krishna away without raising Kamsa's suspicion.
During his stay at Gokul, Krishna spent his time in fun and frolic, though he his life
did come under threat a few times. He was very naughty as a child, and was often
caught stealing butter and milk from pots.

Madan Mohan Temple - located near the Kali Ghat which was built by Kapur
Ram Das of Multan. This is the oldest existent temple in Vrindavan today. The temple
is closely associated with the saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The original image of
Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan for safe
keeping during Aurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica of the image is worshiped at the
temple.

Banke-Bihari Temple - built in 1862 is the most popular shrine at Vrindavan.
The image of Banke-Bihari was discovered in Nidhi Vana by Swami Haridas, the
great Krishna devotee, belonging to the Nimbarka sampradaya.

Goverdhan - is a religious-town near Mathura, India, famous for its temple
named Daan-Ghati. The temple god is another form of Lord Krishna.

The town is also famous for its 21 kilometer long Parikrama of the a very old hill
called Goverdhan. The parikrama procession is held in very high religious belief. Its
said that Lord Krishna held Goverdhan hill on his little finger to save the town from
wrath of the god of rains Indra.


HOW TO REACH

By train - Most trains between Delhi and Agra stop in Mathura. The journey from
Delhi takes two to hour hours depending on the train type, while from Agra the trip
takes about one hour. Most of the south bound and west bound trains stop at
Mathura. August Kranti Rajdhani Express(for Mumbai Mumbai) for Delhi stops at
Mathura. Other than that almost all major trains from Delhi and Agra stop at Mathura.

By car - Mathura is on National Highway 2, about 150 km south of Delhi and 50
km of Agra.