The myriad of temples in Mathura stand as the guardians of faith and remind us of the rich cultural history of our country. Mathura is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna and thus attracts a large religious crowd throughout the year. Here, you will see the devotees enjoying prayers, singing in harmony, dancing together, and celebrating the spirit of life! With the rippling waters of the Yamuna River and the soothing smell of incense sticks in the air, the city of Mathura will transport you to a magical land of happiness and contentment.
While you are at this holy place, book your accommodation with Hotels in Mathura to stay within the heart of the city and reach the temples without the hassle of tedious commuting.
When you walk down the streets of Mathura, you will see that the place is so pure and pristine. Nature speaks to you and the locals are also equally welcoming. The divine temples in Mathura are the perfect display of world-class architecture. They are magnificent, awe-inspiring, and when you step inside, you can feel the palpable positive energy. Here I bring you the 10 best temples in Mathura that you must check out before heading back home.
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The 10 Majestic Temples in Mathura
1. Madan Mohan Temple
The Madan Mohan Temple is one of the most renowned temples in Mathura district and is visited by a lot of people. It is built in the Nagara style of architecture with Redstone in an oval shape. In the main sanctum sanctorum, you will find the idol of Lord Krishna who is in his Madan Mohan form along with his dear lover Radha and Lalita Gopi. The original idols of this temple were shifted to Rajasthan when Mughal ruler Aurangazed tried to attack the twin cities of Mathura and Vrindavan. Currently, their replicas stand in the Madan Mohan Temple which are equally beautiful. The temple stands at a height of 20 meters and rests on the peaceful Kaliya Ghat near River Yamuna.
- Location – VIP Rd, near Banke Bihari Temple, Goda Vihar, Vrindavan, Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh 281121
- Timings – In Winter – Morning 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM; Evening – 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM; In Summer – Morning 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM; Evening – 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM
2. Prem Mandir
Prem Mandir stands as proof of the eternal love of Lord Krishna and Radha. This temple’s foundation stone was laid down by Kripaluji Maharaj in 2001 and the entire construction took about 11 years. Expert craftsmen from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh were brought together to complete this masterpiece. The temple is built with Italian Carrara marble and the pristine white environment will soothe your soul. It has a total of 94 pillars that has illustrations of Radha-Krishna interactions, their fun, and pastimes. The interior is splendid with several statues of gopikas, fountains, and Hindu inscriptions. Near the entrance, you will find a pylon that has several peacocks carved on it. The beauty of this place is ethereal, making it one of the best temples in Mathura district.
- Location – Sri Kripalu Maharaj Ji Marg, Raman Reiti, Vrindavan, near Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh 281121
- Timings – 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM; 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM
3. Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple is one of the holiest temples in Mathura. People believe this to be the exact same spot where Lord Krishna was born. During Krishna Janmashtami, this place lights up with decorations, and you can hear devotees singing and dancing to the tunes of Krishna bhajans. You will also get the opportunity to taste the Chappan Bhog here during the festive season. Behind the main sanctum sanctorum, there is a small sacred room. It is said that Lord Krishna was born in that very same space! It is where King Kamsa locked up his mother Devaki and father Vasudev after hearing the prophecy that the couple’s eighth child will bring him death. It is a complex of three temples, namely, Keshavdeva Temple, Garbha Griha Temple, and Bhagavata Bhavan.
- Location – Janam Bhoomi Marg, Chowk Bazar, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh 281001
- Timings – In Winter – Morning 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM; Evening 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM; In Summer – Morning 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM; Evening 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM
4. Nidhivan Temple
Nidhivan is one of the most mysterious and interesting places in Vrindavan of Mathura district. The temple has the idols of Lord Krishna along with his consorts. But what makes this place special is that no priest or devotee is allowed inside the temple and the surrounding forest premises post the evening aarti. They lock the place and head back home. This is because it is believed that Lord Krishna comes here every night to perform ‘Rass Leela’ with his Gopikas. You will be surprised to know that animals and peacocks in the forest also flee from this space in the evenings. Here, the tulsi plants grow in pairs naturally. The priests arrange a bed, some fruits, a glass of milk, and paan in the forest premises before leaving. And every morning, the bed seems used and the food is consumed. People strongly believe it to be Lord Krishna himself.
- Location – Nidhivan Rd, Vrindavan, Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh 281121
- Timings – 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM
5. Dwarkadish Temple
The Dwarkadish temple in Mathura is one of the best examples of world-class Rajasthani architecture. A plight of stairs with intricate carvings leads to the central sanctum sanctorum where Lord Krishna appears in his Dwarkadeesh form along with his consort Radha, who is known as Radharani or Vrindavaneshwari here. Dwarkadeesh translates to ‘King of Dwarka’. This temple in Mathura celebrates a 13-day grand festival annually, known as the Hindola Festival. It happens in the Shravan month of July-August. A swing is decorated with ornaments, flowers, and natural leaves. The idols are placed here for darshan. This is one of the temples in Mathura where Janmashtami, Holi, and Diwali are also celebrated with grandeur.
- Location – Sri Rajendra Pathak, Pathak Gali, Vishram Ghat, Vishram Bazar, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh 281001
- Timings – Summers – Morning 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM; Evening – 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Winters – Morning 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM; 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
6. Banke Bihari Temple
Banke Bihari is one of the most visited temples in Mathura district. This is where you will find the idol of Lord Krishna and Radha standing together in the Tribhanga posture. They are joined together and almost appear like two souls with one body. The idol that you will find in this temple used to be inside the Nidhivan temple previously. This place is all about love, life, and devotion. It is where you let go of all inhibitions and embrace your existence as a gift. The open gardens are occupied by devotees who happily sing the bhajans of Lord Krishna and remember his eternal love with Radha. Karthika Purnima, Sharad Purnima, Krishna Janmashtami, and Radhastami are some of the festivals that are celebrated with fervour here.
- Location – Goda Vihar, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh 281121
- Timings – 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM
7. Gita Mandir
Gita Mandir is also popular as Birla Mandir in the twin cities of Mathura and Vrindavan. This is one of the most gorgeous temples in Mathura because of its beautiful architecture and serene surroundings. It was constructed by Jugal Kishore Birla. The entire temple is built in an Indo-western architectural style with Red Sandstone. The main gate or entrance has a gate that has several inscriptions from Bhagavad Gita. That is why this temple is named Gita Mandir. Here, you will also come across the Krishna chariot and Arjuna – a most celebrated instance from the history of Mahabharata.
- Location – HM9R+87G, Gaushala Nagar, Geeta Mandir Marg, Shree Dham- Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh 281121
- Timings – 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM; 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
8. Jugal Kishore Temple
The Jugal Kishore Temple is one of the most powerful temples in Mathura district. This is where you will see Lord Krishna in his Jugal Kishore form. Unlike some other places we have discussed here, the original deity remains unmoved and still stands in the main abode of the temple. This marvelous mandir spreads over a vast area on the Keshi Ghat and attracts a lot of devotees. It is entirely built out of Red Sandstone. According to the legend, Lord Krishna killed the demonic horse form of Keshi near the cascading waters of the Yamuna River. This exact spot is identified as Keshi ghat today and to celebrate God’s victory, the Jugal Kishore Temple is constructed on the land.
- Location – HMPW+4G2, Gotam Nagar, Vrindavan, near Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh 281121
- Timings – 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM; 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
9. Kesava Deo Temple
When you go to visit the Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple Complex, do not forget to seek blessings from Kesava Deo Temple which is very close to it. This is one of the temples in Mathura that saw multiple destructions, and after reconstruction, it stands strong as a holy place of worship in contemporary India. Kesava Deo or Keshava Dev is another name of Lord Krishna and he is worshipped as a serene and merciful deity here. The temple celebrates Krishna Janmashtami grandly and also has its own schedule of festivals that do not coincide with the other temples in Mathura.
- Location – Bindu Rd, Janam Bhumi, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh 281003
- Timings – Morning – 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM; Evening – 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
10. Yam Yamuna Temple
The Yam Yamuna is one of the oldest temples in Mathura and is only a short distance away from the Vishram Ghat. It is on the way that will lead you to the Dwarkadish Temple. So, plan on visiting both these holy shrines on the same day. This is also called the Yamuna-Dharmaraj Mandir. River Yamuna and the God of Death – Yamraj are siblings who have a lot of love for each other. You will see the idols of the brother-sister duo blessings the devotees with raised hands. After having a scrumptious meal that his sister Yamuna prepared for him, Lord Yama granted a wish to his sister. She can ask for anything she wants. Being a simple and minimalistic woman, Yamuna asked him to bless her Ghats and provide wealth and prosperity to the good-willed humans who come to seek her blessings. Moreover, it is believed that siblings who take a dip in the Vishram Ghat and seek blessing from the temple on Bhaiduj or Rakshabandhan will be freed from the harsh eye of Yama Dharmaraj on the final judgment day.
- Location – CPQ9+C2Q, Gokul Rd, Gokul, Mahaban Bangar, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh 281303
- Timings – The temple remains open 24 hours but Aarti takes place between 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM
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If you are planning to visit Mathura soon, coincide your trip with the festivals of Krishna Janmashtami or Holi. During Holi, the people splash organic colours on each other, sing the hymns of God and seek blessings from the Almighty to make their lives more spiritually prosperous. Seeing how Mathura is the birthplace of Krishna, Janmashtami is celebrated with grandeur and you will see a large crowd praying in union.
Mathura and Vrindavan are two places in India where you can feel happiness float in the air and directly pierce your heart. You can shrug off all your worries, say goodbye to stress, and completely immerse yourself in the Love of God. Do not miss out on this experience!
