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.

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.

This is the place where Krishna was born in a prison cell. Krishnas 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.

There are other places that trace the mystical incidents of Krishnas 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 Maharajas 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 Krishnas life.

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.

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.

How to reach

The nearest airport is at Kheria in Agra, 62 km from Mathura.

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.

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