Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Mathura Vrindavan

Mathura Vrindavan

Brajbhoomi comprises the twin cities of Mathura and Vrindavan. It is not just the sacred land where Lord Krishna was born and performed his cosmic leela, but a place full of the divine reminiscences.

Mathura- Location
The city of Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, the nucleus of Brajbhoomi, is located at a distances of 145 km south- east of Delhi and 58 km north-west of Agra. Covering an area of about 3,800 sq. km.








Mathura
This is the place where Krishna was born in a prison cell. Krishna's parents are said to have been imprisoned here. Located at Katra Keshav Deo, the temple is thronged by pilgrims from all over the world. The Dwarkadesh Temple, built by Seth Gokul Das of Gwalior in 1814, is situated in the heart of the city. It has some very fine paintings all along the walls depicting the entire life of Krishna. The Vishram Ghat on the bank of Yamuna is where Krishna rested after killing Kansa.

Mathura
Mathura Holi Festival :


Mathura
Mathura Temple in Krishna's Birthplace:




MathuraTourists attractions:
There are other places that trace the mystical incidents of Krishna's life. These are Gokul, 16 km from Mathura, is the place where Krishna grew up. The most notable structure in Gokul is the Chaurasi Khamba (84 pillars). It is also known as Nand Maharaja's house. Brahmand Ghat, Govardhan, Krishna is credited to have held aloft this hill as a canopy. Barsana represents the four faces of Brahma the Creator. Each hilltop is associated with some incident from Krishna's life.

Vrindavan: location:
Just 15 km from Mathura, is another major place of pilgrimage. It is noted for its numerous temples - both old and modern. Vrindavan is believed to have been the stage on which Krishna performed his famous romantic and sportive roles.

Vrindavan- an Overview:
There are about 4,000 big and small temples in the city of Vrindavan, apart from the numerous bathing ghats used by Hindus for ritual bathing. The Madan Mohan Temple stands on a high cliff near the Kalia Mardan Ghat. Another important temple is that of Radha Ballabh built by Sundar Das in 1626. The Govind Dev Temple is one of the most impressive temples. The towering Rangaji Temple is a bizarre mixture of architectural styles. Apart from the above-mentioned temples, Vrindavan also has some modern temples. The towering temple of Pagal Baba, is worth a mention. One of the most impressive of temples is another new construction, the ISKCON Temple.

Schedule your visit:
A period of two days will suffice to visit the birthplace of Lord Krishna. While planning your trip, try and schedule it around Janmashtami in July or August to experience the festive frolic.

Spotlight- Janmashtami
Hinduism celebrates Krishna's birthday as Janmashtami in July/August. For Mathura, Janmashtami is the biggest festival held on a grand scale. Plays based on the life of Krishna are staged. Devotional songs blare from loudspeakers. Brajyatra, which commences a day after Janmashtami and lasts for 50 days, deserves special mention.

Climate:
The climate of Mathura is extreme and tropical. Summers are extremely hot and winters are cold and foggy. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains from July to September. The best time to visit Mathura is during winter, between the months of October and March.

Transportation:
» By Air- The nearest airport is at Kheria in Agra, 62 km from Mathura.

» By Rail- There are a number of tourist coaches from Delhi leaving for Mathura and Vrindavan everyday. Mathura is 57 km from Agra and 141 km from Delhi. It is an important railway junction with direct trains to many places. The Taj Express from Delhi is a good option.

» By Road- Mathura is well connected by road to Delhi and other cities of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.

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