Mathura मथुरा

Mathura on the Yamuna is the traditional birthplace of Krishna, who is said to have been born in the prison of the tyrant Kamsa. It is among the seven sacred cities of Hindu tradition and the centre of the wider Braj region, whose villages and groves are the setting of Krishna's childhood stories. The city has also been an important centre for art, and its sculpture of the early centuries of the Common Era is well known to historians.

The Krishna Janmabhoomi complex marks the place regarded as Krishna's birth. Vishram Ghat is the riverbank where, according to tradition, Krishna rested after slaying Kamsa, and pilgrims often begin the Yamuna parikrama and evening aarti from there. The Dwarkadhish temple in Mathura is a large nineteenth century shrine famous for its Holi and Jhulan celebrations, and Gita Mandir is a modern temple with the Bhagavad Gita inscribed on its walls. Janmashtami is the central festival, observed with fasting, swings and night vigils, while Holi in Braj has a distinct character, with Lathmar Holi in nearby villages as a celebrated variant. Most shrines here do not permit phones in the sanctum, so leave them at the cloakroom. Monkeys are common near the ghats, so keep glasses and bags secure. Dress simply and expect footwear to stay at the door.