Mathura is famous for being Lord Krishna’s adobe where he lived in his childhood and adolescence. It is also termed Brij Bhoomi and is one of the spiritual destinations of India. There are numerous Hindu temples. Mathura is near the river Yamuna and is well-known for its epigraphy, archaeology, history, religion, numismatics, iconography, sculpture, and art. Mathura is also connected to Rani Laxmi Bai, the courageous queen. It has religious importance for Buddhists as well as Muslims.
Here are the most popular temples in Mathura:
1. Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
It is also known as Krishna Janmasthan or Krishna Janmabhoom, it is a holy destination in Mathura. It is believed to be constructed by Vajra who is Lord Krishna’s grandson over 5000 years ago.
Yadava king created this temple but was then destroyed by Aurangzeb. Later it was built in 1965. The prison cell where Krishna was born can still be seen to date. The temple is open for devotees from 5 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 9 pm.
2. Dwarkadhish Temple
It is located just at a distance of 4km from the railway station of Mathura. It is one of the largest temples in the city and is located near the Yamuna river and Vishram Ghat. The diety of the temple is Lord Dwarkadheesh the avatar of Lord Krishna. It is also known by names such as Nija Mandir or Jagat Mandir. Seth Gokuldas Parikh constructed this temple that has amazing architecture, paintings, and carvings.
The building is huge and contains five stories and 72 pillars. There is an image of Radha and Lord Krishna and other Hindu Gods as well. The shiny black stone is used to construct the idol of Lord Dwarkadheesh. The idol has four hands carrying a conch, mace, lotus flower, and a Sudarshana Chakra. It is open from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm and then reopens from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm daily.
3. Gita Mandir
Gita Mandir is the holy place in Mathura which is present on Vrindavan road and is considered a marvelous work of craftsmanship. This temple was built by the Birla group and is also famous as the Birla Mandir in Mathura. It is also having inscriptions from the Gita that is the holy book of Hindus.
There is the presence of Lord Krishna statue in the central chamber with other statues of Devi Sita and Lord Rama. There is also the presence of the idol of Devi Laxmi and Lord Narayan. This place is open daily from 5:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM from Monday to Saturday.
4. Jugal Kishore Temple
This temple is at Kesi Ghat which another religious place in Mathura is. It is also known as Kesi ghat temple, and it is the same place where Lord Krishna has killed the Kesi horse demon. Lord Vishnu is the presiding deity of this temple and is going by the name of Rangji.
You can see the Seshnag that is lying over there, and it is the idol of Vishnu. This temple has remarkable architecture, and it resembles the glorious south Indian temples. It is open Monday to Sunday from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
5. Kesava Deo Temple
This is considered the oldest spiritual destination in Mathura. It is an important temple of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan and Mathura which was constructed thousands of years ago.
Here Krishna Janmashtami and Lathmar Holi are celebrated with pomp. The temple has been attacked several times by Muslim rulers, so its original structure is not present today. The temple is open daily from 5:00 am till 9:30 pm.
6. Banke Bihari Temple
This is a beautifully constructed temple in Vrindavan and was built in the late 18th century. Its architecture is of Rajasthani style and is an important place of worship for the Hindus.
If you are a follower of Lord Krishna, then this is the destination that you must visit. It is amongst the richest temples in Uttar Pradesh. It operates from 7:45 am to 12:00 pm and again from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm daily.
7. Bhubaneshwar Temple
Bhubaneshwar temple is at Bhuteshwar Tiraha, this is one of the most sacred places in Mathura. This temple features the deity Lord Shiva who is also known by the name of Bhuteshwar Mahadev. Mahadev Linga statue is also present here.
This form of Lord Shiva is known to have defeated the Madhu demon. Shaktipeeth of Devi is also present inside the campus of the temple, and this is the place on which Mata Sati’s ringlet fell. There is special puja on Shivratri in this temple. It operates daily from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:30 am to 10:30 pm.
Apart from these temples, there are numerous less-known temples in Mathura. Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna are responsible for the religious flavor of the city. The city is dressed in simplicity and still has modern flavors to it. If you want to visit a city filled with spiritual enlightenment, then do visit Mathura.
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