Things to Do in Mathura: Temples, Ghats and Day Trips

Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism, set on the Yamuna River about 145 km south of Delhi. Most sights cluster around the old city and the riverside ghats, while the surrounding Braj region holds Vrindavan, Govardhan and Barsana. Plan two days for Mathura itself and one or two more for day trips. Temples are free to enter, but you will pay a small fee for the Government Museum and for a boat ride on the Yamuna. For a fuller itinerary, see the things to do in Mathura list below. Start with the full Mathura travel guide for an overview.

Things to Do in Mathura: Temples and Sacred Sites

Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple

This temple marks the spot where Krishna is believed to have been born, built over the prison cell (garbha griha) where the birth took place. Entry is free, but security is airport-style: phones, cameras, bags and belts must be left in lockers, and queues form on weekends and during Janmashtami. The complex is open daily from 5:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 21:30. The closest landmark is the Holi Gate, and you will walk through a security corridor from the car drop-off point. Allow an hour including the queue. Check the Mathura weather by month data before you pack.

Dwarkadhish Temple

Built in 1814 and dedicated to Krishna as the king of Dwarka, this is the most active working temple in the old city, with a black marble idol and constant aarti throughout the day. It sits on the main road between Holi Gate and Vishram Ghat. Doors open around 6:30 to 10:30 in the morning and 16:00 to 19:00 in the evening, and the morning shringar (decoration) ceremony is the best time to see the idol up close. Entry is free; leave your shoes at the gate. See our best time to visit Mathura guide for season-by-season advice.

Gita Mandir (Birla Mandir)

Built in 1946 by the industrialist Birla family, this red sandstone temple on the Mathura-Vrindavan Road has 18 verses of the Bhagavad Gita carved into its pillars and an idol of Krishna preaching to Arjuna. It is quieter and less crowded than the old-city temples, open roughly 5:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 20:00 daily, with free entry. The gardens around it make a calm break after the lanes of the old city. The Mathura events and festivals calendar lists exact dates.

Kans Qila (Kans Fort)

This ruined fort on the Yamuna bank is named for Kans, the tyrannical uncle Krishna is said to have killed. The current structure was built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh of Amber. Entry is free and the site is open during daylight hours; the rooftop terrace gives a clear view over the Yamuna and the ghats, and it is at its best around sunset. Bring your own water, as there are few vendors inside. See the Mathura neighborhoods guide to compare areas.

Things to Do in Mathura: Ghats, Museums and the Old City

Vishram Ghat and the Yamuna Aarti

Vishram Ghat is the main bathing ghat, the spot where Krishna is said to have rested after killing Kans, and the centre of Mathura’s riverside life. About 25 ghats line the Yamuna, but the evening aarti here is the highlight: priests swing multi-tiered oil lamps and chant as boats fill the river. The aarti starts around 19:00 in winter and slightly later in summer. A 30-minute boat ride costs Rs 50 to Rs 150 per person depending on the boat size. Arrive 20 minutes early for a spot near the water. Compare hotels in the where to stay in Mathura guide.

Mathura Government Museum

This museum holds the finest collection of Mathura school sculpture, spanning the Kushan and Gupta periods from the 5th century BCE to the 12th century CE. The star pieces are the standing Buddha images and yakshi figures carved in red Sikri sandstone, some of the earliest representations of the Buddha in human form. Entry is Rs 5 for Indians and Rs 25 for foreigners, open 10:30 to 16:30, closed on Mondays and public holidays. Photography is not allowed inside. Practical details are in the Mathura travel tips and FAQ guide.

Sati Burj

This 17 m sandstone tower near the ghats was built in the 16th century to commemorate a sati, and it is one of the few landmarks where you can climb above the old city. The narrow internal staircase leads to a small terrace with a view over the Yamuna and the temple spires. There is no entry fee. Combine it with a walk along the ghats between Vishram Ghat and the fort.

Holi Gate and Chowk Bazaar

The market district around Holi Gate is where Mathura’s famous milk sweet, the peda, is made and sold. Brijwasi Sweets and several smaller shops sell a 250 g box of pedas for roughly Rs 150 to Rs 250, and the lanes are lined with brassware, printed cloth and temple paraphernalia. The bazaar is pedestrian and cycle-rickshaw only, and it is busiest in the late afternoon. Try the local lassi and kachori from the stalls near the gate.

Things to Do in Mathura: Day Trips to the Braj Region

Vrindavan (11 km north)

Vrindavan is where Krishna spent his childhood, and it packs more than 5,000 temples into a town of 60,000 people. The highlights are the Banke Bihari Temple (built 1864, a black idol of Krishna), the white-marble Prem Mandir (opened 2012, free entry, illuminated at night), and the ISKCON Krishna Balaram Mandir. An auto-rickshaw from Mathura costs Rs 100 to Rs 150 one way and takes about 30 minutes. Dedicate a full day.

Govardhan Hill (26 km west)

Govardhan is the hill Krishna is said to have lifted on his finger to shelter villagers from a storm, and devout Hindus walk a 21 km circumambulation (parikrama) around its base barefoot. The walk takes five to seven hours and is best started before dawn from Govardhan town to beat the heat. If you are short on time, visit the Mansi Ganga lake and the nearby temples instead. Buses and shared autos run from Mathura bus stand.

Barsana (43 km northwest)

Barsana is the birthplace of Radha and the home of the Radha Rani Temple on a hilltop, reached by a flight of steps. It is most famous for Lathmar Holi, when women playfully beat men with sticks a week before the main Holi festival. Outside Holi, the temple is peaceful and gives a wide view over the Braj countryside. The drive takes about an hour and a quarter by taxi; combine it with a stop at Gokul.

Gokul (16 km southeast)

Gokul is the village where Krishna was raised by his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda after being smuggled out of Mathura. The main sights are Nanda Bhavan, the house of his foster family, and the Gokulnath Temple. It is quieter than Vrindavan and gives a sense of rural Braj. Shared autos leave from near the Mathura bus stand and cost about Rs 50 per person.