| Braj
Bhoomi | | |
| | | Excursion
| Accessbilty | Accomodation
| Festivals & Fairs |
Brajbhoomi - the land where
Lord Krishna was born and spent his youth, has today little towns and hamlets
that are still alive with the Krishna- legend and still redolent with the music
of his flute. Mathura,
a quiet town on the River Yamuna was transformed into a place of faith after Lord
Krishna was born here. Vrindavan, a village - once noted for its fragrant
groves, is where he spent an eventful youth. There are numerous other little spots
in the area that still reverberate with the enchantment of Lord Krishna.
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. today, Brajbhoomi can be divided into two distinct
units - the eastern part in the trans-Yamuna tract with places like Gokul, Mahavan,
Baldeo, Mat and Bajna and the western side of the Yamuna covering the Mathura
region that encompasses Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana and Nandgaon.
The land of Braj starts from Kotban near Hodel about 95 km from Delhi and
ends at Runakta which is known specially for its association with the great poet
Surdas, an ardent Krishna devotee.
Mathura
A long line of picturesque ghats - with their steps leading to the water's edge,
arched gateways and temple spires extending along the right bank of the River
Yamuna, emphasis the sacred character of the town of Mathura. The birth place
of Lord Krishna, "the best known, best loved and most complex of Lord Vishnu's
manifestations" - Mathura is today an important place of pilgrimage. The city
stretches along the right bank of the Yamuna and the continuous line of ghats
along the river makes a splendid spectacle when viewed from the opposite bank.
Today, Mathura is a city of temples and shrines abustle with the thousands
of devotees who come to visit the city of Lord Krishna. A splendid temple at the
Katra Keshav Dev marks the spot that is believed to be the Shri Krishna Janmasthan
- the birthplace of the Lord, by his devotees. Another beautiful shrine, the Gita
Mandir, located on the Mathura -Vrindavan Road has a fine image of Shri Krishna
in its sanctum. The whole of the Bhagwad Gita is inscribed on the walls of this
temple.
The most popular shrine at Mathura is the Dwarikadhish Temple
to the north of the town, dedicated to Shri Krishna. This was built in 1815 by
a staunch and wealthy devotee, Seth Gokuldas Parikh, Treasurer of the State of
Gwalior.
There are about 25 ghats in Mathura today, of which the most
important is the Vishram Ghat. Where according to legend, Shri Krishna took his
rest after killing Kansa.
It is at Vishram Ghat that the traditional
parikrama (circumbulation of all the important religious and cultural places of
the city) starts and ends. The 12 ghats to the north of Vishram Ghat include the
Ganesh Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat with its Neelakantheshwar Temple, Saraswati Sangam
Ghat, Chakratirtha Ghat, Krishnaganga Ghat, Somatirth or Swami Ghat, Ghantagharan
Ghat, Dharapattan Ghat, Vaikuntha Ghat, Navtirtha or Varahkshetra Ghat, Asikunda
ghat and Manikarnika Ghat. To the south, there are 11 ghats - the Guptatirth Ghat,
Prayag Ghat marked by the Veni Madhav Temple, Shyam Ghat, Ram Ghat, Kankhal Ghat,
the site of the Janmashtami and Jhula festivals, Dhruva ghat, Saptrishi Ghat,
Mokshatirth Ghat, Surya Ghat, Ravan Koti Ghat and Buddha Ghat.
The Vishram
Ghat is lined with elegant temples and some of Mathura's most important shrines
are found here - the Mukut Temple, Radha-Damodar, Murli Manohar,
Neelkantheshwar, Yamuna-Krishna, Langali Hanuman and
Narasimha temples. The baithak of the great Vaishnava Saint, Shri Chaitanya,
is also near by.
The aarti held at the Vishram Ghat each evening is not
to be missed, for the little oil lamps that are floated on the river set the placid
water as sparkle with a myriad flickering lights.
No pilgrimage to Mathura
is complete without a visit to its kunds. Tradition has it that there were 159
ancient kunds in all. Of these only four survive and can be seen. There is the
elegant shiv Tal, the more famous Potara Kund associated closely with Lord Krishna
besides the Balbhadra and Saraswati kunds.
The town has a number of Shaivite
temples as well. The chief among them being the Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple to the
west of the town, the Gokarneshwar Temple in the north, the Rangeshwar. Mahadev
Temple to the south and the Pipaleshwar Mahadev Temple to the east. |
| Area |
3,780 sq. km | | Population |
4,55,251 (1991 census) | | Altitude |
187 metres | | Season | Summer4500C
220C Winter 320 C 140 C | | Clothing | Summer
- Cottons
Winter - Light woollens | | Language |
Hindi, Brajbhasha and English | | Rainfall |
65 cms (June to September) | |
| Accessbilty
| Air
Nearest airport is Kheria (Agra), 62 km
Rail
Mathura is on the main lines of the Central and Western Railways and is connected
with all the important cities of the state and country such as Delhi, Agra, Mumbai,
Jaipur, Gwalior, Calcutta, Hydrabad, Chennai, Lucknow etc.
Road
Mathura is connected to all the major cities, by National Highways. It is linked
by the regular state bus services of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
and Haryana
Local Transport:
Private buses, Tempos, Rickshaws, Cycle Rickshaws and Tongas are also available.
| |
Accommodation |
| International
Rest House, Shri Krishna-Balram Temple, Raman Reti, Ph : (0565)442478
Jaipuria Smriti Bhavan, Govardhan Darwaza, Ph : 442388
Yatrika,
Near Municipal Committee
Jeevan Vallabh Yatri Niwas, Biharipura
More Bhavan, Govardhan Darwaza
Manorama Goyanka Guest House,
Ph : (0565)442493
Geet Govind Tourist Complex, Nandanvan, Ph
: (0565)442517
Sri Ram Vishanti Grah, Ph : (0565)442833
Govind Mohan Guest House, Ph : (0565)442456
Meera Mohan Guest
House, Ph ; (0565)442233 | |
Excursion
| | Agra
Once the capital of the Mughals and the city of the Taj Mahal, Agra is just 50
km from Matura. The Taj Mahal, a symphony in white marble, a tribute to eternal
love, was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Other splendid examples of Mughal architecture in Agra include the Agra Fort with
its exquisite Pearl Mosque, palaces and darbar halls; the imposing mausoleum of
Emperor Akbar at Sikandra, built in an amalgam of Hindu and Muslim architectural
styles and Itmad-ud-Daula's tomb, embellished with coloured stone inlay and filigree
marble screens.
Fatehpur Sikri
(60 km from Mathura) The wonderful city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Emperor
Akbar. The marvellously preserved fort, palaces and the tomb of Salim Chishti
with its delicate lacy marble screens are worth seeing |
| Fesivals
and Fairs | | The
little town comes alive with colourful festivals throughout the year. The Rang
Gulal Mahotsav, held annually, celebrates Holi in an exuberant fashion. During
the festival of colour which heralds the onset of spring. Several classical and
folk artistes render enthralling performances.
Janmashtami, the birthday
of Shri Krishna is celebrated with great pomp and splendour throughout Braj. The
Raaslila is enacted recreating the many legends of Shri Krishna's life - his exploits
and his amorous dalliances with the gopies. Ceremonies in the temples at midnight
include the bathing of the image of infant Krishna which is then placed in a silver
cradle. Songs of devotion are sung and toys offered for the amusement of the divine
child. Thousands gather to offer their prayers and Mathura is astir with their
devotion and celebrations.
The important fairs
and festivals of the town include
Rath-ka-Mela Vrindavan March
Guru Purnima
(Muria Puno) Govardhan
July
Hariyali Teej Braj Mandal July
Janmashtami Braj Mandal
August/September
Radha Ashtami Barsana, Gokul August
Annakut
Goverdhan, Mathura Sept./Oct.
Yam Dwitiya Vishram Ghat Sept./Oct.
Kansa Vadh Sept.
Holi Braj Mandal Feb./Mar.
Latthmar Holi
Nandgaon Feb./Mar. (Phalguna Shukla 9 & 10) | |
