Mathura

At a distance of 4 km from Mathura Junction Railway Station, Dwarkadheesh Temple is one of the oldest and largest temples in Mathura. It is located near the banks of river Yamuna, close to Vishram Ghat and Gatashram Tila. It is one of the top places to visit in Mathura and also one of the most visited Mathura temples.

The main deity of the temple is Lord Dwarkadheesh, a form of Lord Krishna. This temple is also famous by other names like Jagat Mandir or Nija Mandir. It is believed that this temple was built by Lord Krishna’s grandson Vajranabha. The present temple was built by Seth Gokuldas Parikh, the treasurer of Gwalior State in 1814. He was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and erected the shrine to commemorate the deity.

The temple is known for its beautiful architecture, carvings, and paintings. This five storied building is supported by seventy two pillars. The main shrine has the images of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. The idol of Lord Dwarkadheesh is made from shiny black stone and it is about 2.25 feet in height. This idol has four hands carrying a mace, a Sudarshana Chakra, a conch and a lotus flower. Apart from the image of Radha-Krishna, the shrine also has images of other Hindu gods. Presently, the temple is managed by the followers of Vallabhacharya sect. The temples of Krishna Varaha and Shwet Varaha are also nearby.

Festivals like Holi, Janmashtami and Diwali are celebrated with lot of pomp and grandeur in the temple. During these occasions thousands of tourists visit the temple.

Sri Krishna Janma Bhoomi also known as Katra Keshav Dev temple, is the actual birthplace of Lord Krishna. A bigger temple was constructed to replace the old temple during the reign of Emperor Chandragupta Vikramaditya (4th century CE). This temple used to one of the grandest temples in India until it was destroyed by Ghazni Mahmud in 11th century. In 1150 AD, Jajja during the rule of Vijay Pal Deva rebuilt the temple but the temple was destructed by other Muslim ruler Sikandar Lodi in 16th century. The fourth temple was built during the rule of Mughal emperor Jahangir by Veer Singh Bundela of Orchaa. But it was again destroyed by Aurangzeb in 1669 AD and a mosque named Jami Masjid was built in the place of the temple.

During British rule Madan Mohan Malviya took the land from Raja Krishna das of Banaras. Later on, inspired by him few leading personalities like Jugal Kishore Birla, Jaidayal Dalmia and many others formed a private trust to overtake the construction work on the site and finally the temple was completed in 1965. Presently the temple is headed by Mahant Nrityagopal Das.

According to the legend, King Vasudeva and his wife Devaki were imprisoned by Kansa, the king of Mathura at this place. He imprisoned them due to a prophecy which stated that the king will be killed by his sister’s child. The temple is constructed over the prison, which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

The temple here can be divided into three parts – Garbhagriha (actual site of birth), Keshavadeva and the Bhagvata Bhavan. Another temple, dedicated to the Ashthabhuja Ma Yogmaya stands near the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The prison cell was gradually turned into the present beautiful temple. The temple shares a common wall with the mosque and devotees have to undergo a security check.

Several artifacts along with utensils, old statues and a rock based slab have been excavated from this site. The artifacts are displayed in a museum near the main temple which is not to be missed. One can also find several shrines dedicated to other Hindu gods in the temple premises.

Lakhs of devotees throng to this temple during Janmashtami. The festivities and celebrations during the festival are famous all over India. Celebrations begin during mid-night with the birth of Bhagwan. Holi and Diwali are also celebrated here with great pomp and fervor.

The museum was founded by then collector of the Mathura district, Sir F. S. Growse in 1874. Initially it was known as Curzon Museum of Archaeology, then Archaeology Museum, and finally changed to the Government Museum, Mathura. Mathura Museum is considered one of the leading centers for research, study and the preservation of the heritage left by the Mathura School of Sculpture.

The building of the museum itself is worth visiting. This beautiful building is octagonal in shape and is made out of the red-sandstone. The museum is famous for ancient sculptures of the Mathura school dating from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD, all found from archaeological excavations around the region. These artifacts offer some brilliant insights into the Gupta and Kushan kingdoms, most prominent in this region.

The statues of headless figure of Kanishka, standing Buddha and mother goddess along with the memorials of Sunga period are worth watching. Furthermore, tourists visiting the museum can also see a collection of stone sculptures, terracotta, gold, silver and copper coins. The museum also houses ancient paintings, bronze sculptures, pottery and clay seals. The Government of India issued a postage stamp on October 9, 1974 on the centenary of the museum.

Entry Fee: Rs.5 for Adults, Rs.2 for children and Rs.25 per foreigners.

Timings: 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Closed on Mondays, Second Saturdays and on National Holidays.

The presiding deity of the shrine is Lord Lakshmi Narayan. Gita Mandir was built by Jugal Kishore Birla, the famous Birla group in memory of his parents and all the 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita are written on the pillars of this temple.

This temple has breathtaking architecture accompanied with beautiful carvings and paintings that add to the beauty of this temple. The temple is large and looks magnificent in red sandstone and it also stands as a proof of excellent craftsmanship. A magnificent idol of Lord Krishna is housed in this temple along with Lakshmi Narayan, Ram and Sita. The temple also houses Lord Krishna’s Chariot and Gita Stambh which has the entire carvings of Bhagavad Gita.

The temple also boasts of several exquisite paintings of gods and goddesses on marble walls. The temple is well maintained and presents a peaceful and serene ambience to the pilgrims. There is also a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman within the premises.

During the festivals like Janmashtami and Holi, the temple is beautifully decorated and illuminated. Special poojas are offered during these festivals and thousands of devotees visit the shrines on these festival days.