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Lord KrishnaHe is easily the most popular person here. Every
square foot of Mathura-Vrindavan is wrapped in timeless devotion to Lord
Krishna, the evergreen hero of Hinduism, the lover of Radha, the
cowherd-prince and the re-incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Mathura without Lord
Krishna is like Bethlehem without Christ. Welcome to Brajbhoomi or
Krishna-land.
- Brajbhoomi The city of
Mathura in Uttar Pradesh , the nucleus of Brajbhoomi, is located at a
distance 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. In a nutshell, the land of
Braj starts from Kotban near Hodel about 95 km from Delhi and ends at
Runakuta which is known specially for its association with the poet Surdas,
an ardent Krishna devotee.
- An Ancient CityAn
ancient city, Mathura's strategic location at the cross roads of various
trade routes - that went westwards to West Asia and the Roman Empire;
northwards, via Taxila, Pushkalavati and Purushapur to Central Asia and the
Silk Route and eastwards to China - ensured its position as a centre of
trade and a meeting point for varied cultures.
By the 5th
century BC, during the time of Buddha, it was a major metropolis and the
capital of the Surasena Kingdom. Mathura saw its `golden age'
during the rule of the Kushanas and the able governance of rulers Kanishka,
Huvishka, and Vasishka, when the arts flourished and economic wealth grew.
It remained a centre of power during the Mauryan period, through the
enlightened rule of Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BC) to the Gupta era (4th
century AD).
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Holy LandIt has often been said that it is easier to count the
number of dust particles on the surface of the earth than to count the
number of holy places in Mathura. Each of the Ghats, for instance, has its
own Krishna myth. Here He rested after killing his evil and tyrannical
uncle, King Kansa; This is where His mother tied him after he stole butter;
This is the sacred grove where Krishna and Radha spent lazy, love-filled
times - the list is endless. In Mathura-Vrindavan, it is difficult to know
the dividing line between reality and myth.
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Major Attractions of Mathura |
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Christ Church & St. Michael's Cathedral :
Built in 1846-1857, Christ Church is the second oldest church of
Northern India. The Church overlooks the ridge and is one of the landmarks
of Shimla. The clocks on Christ Church were added later but none of them are
functional now. The Church's exquisite beauty comes with the stained glasses
that are fitted on its windows. The town's other important churches are St.
Michael's Cathedral and Roman Catholic Cathedral, which is just off the
Mall.
Viceregal Lodge & Botanical Gardens :
On the Observatory Hills is located Viceregal Lodge, which is also known
as "Rashtrapati Niwas". This magnificent building was the
residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin. This lodge was completed in
1888 and it is said that every brick for the building was carried by mules.
This is a six-storey building and is surrounded by well-maintained gardens
and lawns. The lodge has now been converted into Institute of Advanced Study
and is further 2-km from State Museum.
The Mall :
This is the main shopping centre of Shimla with restaurants. The Gaiety
Theatre, which is a reproduction of an old British theatre is a center of
cultural activities. A passenger lift of HPTDC can be taken from the Cart
Road and the Mall. Lakkar Bazaar adjacent to the Ridge is popular for its
wood-crafts and souvenirs.
The Ridge : The
large open space in the heart of town presents excellent view of the
mountain ranges. Shimla's landmarks - the Neo-Gothic structure of Christ
Church and the new - Tudor Library building is worth seeing.
Jakhu
Temple : Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, this temple is at an altitude of
2,455m near the highest point of Shimla ridge. It offers a fine view over
the surrounding valleys, out to the snowcapped peaks, and over the town
itself. The temple is a 45-minute walk from the Mall. Jakhu is a vantage
point for witnessing the changing skyline as the sun rises or sets.
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How to Get there |
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Rail : The Railways have a station at
Haridwar. This major pilgrimage center has been well connected by trains to
all the major towns of India. In fact trains bring the major load of
pilgrims and tourist inflow to Haridwar.
Road :
Mathura is connected by road with Delhi (3½ hours) and Agra (1½
hour). Mathura is well connected by train with Agra (1 hour), Bharatpur,
Sawai Madhopur and Kota. The Taj Express runs daily between Matura to Delhi
(2½ hours).