By exploreworld.co.in /28.06.2024
MATHURA
It is customary to acknowledge Mathura as the capital of Braj Bhoomi, the place where Lord Krishna was born. The holy Hindu text Bhagwad Gita has a thesis that Lord Krishna preached. However, Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, is also well-known for his cleverness and for his childish antics, including the practical jokes he would perform on his foster mother and fellow gopis.
15 km to the twin city of Vrindavan. Away is also essential to the Krishna narrative. Here, Lord Krishna entertained the gopis by playing the flute. Later, the village was immortalized in the poetry of Mirabai, a medieval Indian princess who developed a deep devotion to Krishna. This is among the most significant places of worship.
Krishna used to play teenage pranks in Vrindavan. Even though the river has veered away from the majority of Vrindavan’s bathing ghats, pilgrims continue to come in large numbers from all across India and, in the case of the Hare Krishna community, the entire globe.
How to reach there:
Air: Kheria, Agra, is the closest airport, located 62 kilometers away.
Rail: Mathura is located on the Western Railway’s major Delhi–Mumbai line. Major cities have excellent train connections with it.
Road: Delhi and the main cities of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana are connected to Mathura via the NH2.
Famous Places to visit
Goverdhan Hills:
Lord Krishna raised Govardhan Hill with his finger to shield the Mathura hamlet from rain and thunderstorms. Krishna followers travel there year-round because it is a serene and holy location. This act of divine protection is also the reason for Govardhan Puja, a Hindu holiday observed the day following Diwali and considered fortunate.
Giriraj Govardhan Colony is the location.
Time: Throughout the day
Shri Krishna Janma Bhoomi:
The temple in Mathura, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna, is the most sacred site. It features a marble monument of Lord Krishna and little temples honoring different Gods and Goddesses. For the finest view of the area, aim to visit during one of the big holidays, like Diwali or Holi. The celebrations start at midnight with the birth of Bhagwan.
Dwarkadhish Temple:
In 1814, Seth Gokul Das Parikh, the treasurer of the Gwalior State (Scindia), constructed the temple’s current edifice with funding and permission from Shrimant Daulatrao Scindia, the Maharajah of Gwalior. Shrimant Daulatrao Scindia granted both the funding and permission. Gokul Das Parikh, a follower of the Dwarkadhish temple at Kankroli, Rajasthan, which is the seat of the third Gaddi of the Pushtimarg, actively oversaw the construction.
Vishram Ghat:
This Ghat, located on the banks of the Yamuna River in Mathura, India, serves as a site of devotion and bathing. According to legend, Krishna rested here after killing Kamsa, giving the ghat its name “Vishram Ghat,” which translates to “ghat of rest.” The Varāha Purāṇa attributes the name to Vasudeva, who also rested at this location.
Over the years, aristocratic and royal patrons have actively constructed the buildings at Vishram Ghat.
Some of the other temples and locations of religious significance in the area include
Ashtbhuja Temple, Sita Kund, Kali Khoh, Buded Nath Temple, Narad Ghat, Gerua talab, Motiya talab, Lal Bhairav & Kal Bhairav Temple, Ekdant Ganesh, Sapata Sarovar, Sakshi Gopal Temple, Goraksha-kund, Matsyendra Kund, Tarkeshwar Nath Temple, and Bhairav Kund. These sites are worth visiting for their historical and cultural importance.
Vaishnav Vegetarian Cuisine:
Govinda’s, the international menu at Iskcon’s restaurant, offers meals, snacks, and drinks in the Vaishnav tradition, free from meat, onion, garlic, or alcohol. In Braj-Bhoomi cuisine, milk plays a central role and is served in various delightful forms in Vrindavan. A warm cup of milk infused with the fragrance of kesar, a precious flavoring from Kashmir, is renowned for promoting restful slumber. Other traditional beverages include chilled lassi, a sweet yogurt drink, mattha, a salted digestive drink, and chaach buttermilk, which evoke Krishna’s association with the Braj maids. Butter remains Krishna’s perennial favorite food.
Local market:
Krishna Nagar, situated around 2km from the Krishna Janmasthan Temple, stands as one of Mathura’s upscale marketplaces. It is renowned for hosting branded stores such as Nike, Tanishq, Manyavar, and Leiv’s, among other. And various small stores offer accessories, jewelry, shoes, leather items, dress materials, and souvenirs. Don’t miss trying the heeng tikki and cheela from the local street food vendors while visiting Krishna Nagar.
Braj Parikrama:
Vibrant melas are held throughout the rainy month of Bhodan, which coincides with Lord Krishna’s birth month. The well-known Braj Parikrama, a pilgrimage to every location in Braj associated with Shri Krishna. Every year, thousands of devotees from across the nation participate in the Chaursai kos (84 kos) pilgrimage to Braj Mandal, which includes 12 vanas (forests), 24 upvanas (groves), the revered Govardhan Hill, the sacred River Yamuna, and numerous holy sites along its banks. The yatra spans from Kotban to the north of Mathura, passing through Nandgaon, Barsana, and the Govardhan Hill to the city’s western and southwestern regions, and culminates at the Baldeo Temple on the eastern banks of the Yamuna River.
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