Mathura, an ancient city and the birthplace of Lord Krishna is well known for an array of religious Hindu temples. The city is mentioned in the Holy Scriptures and the Bhagvad Gita, as well as in the legends of Ramayana. The city has been inhabited from the 6th Century by various kingdoms and people, and has a huge history backing it up. The temples are an amalgamation of architecture that is influenced from different eras and kingdoms and portray the city’s deep history to anyone who is visiting. Other than temples, tourists can also visit a museum and an elephant conservation center. Not sure where to go first? Let’s have a look at some of the tourist places to visit in Mathura.

Gita Mandir, also known as the Birla Temple is one of the most popular temples to visit in Mathura. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Lakshmi and Narayan and is visited by many devotees throughout the year. The unique thing about this temple is that all 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita are etched on the pillars of the temple, making the temple very pious. The temple is made with red sandstone and beautiful architecture along with amazing carvings and paintings etched on the walls of the mandir. The Gita Mandir is quite well maintained, giving pilgrims a feeling of peace and serenity. The temples is decorated during Janmashthami and Holi and is absolutely worth visiting.

One of the oldest and the largest temples in Mathura, the Dwarkadish Temple is located close to the Yamuna River. The temple houses Lord Dwarkadish, who is the king of Dwarka, a form of Lord Krishna; the temple is also known as Nija Mandir or Jagat Mandir. When you reach the main shrine, you can see images of Krishna and Radha and the idol of Dwarkadish is made up of a shiny black stone that has a height of 2.25 feet. During various festivals, the temple is decorated well and attracts thousands of visitors.

Located close to the railway station, the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple is one of the most famous temples in the vicinity. Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi is the actual birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna; this place is also known as the Katra Keshav Dev Temple. The temple was constructed in order to commemorate the birth and existence of Lord Krishna, giving devotees a place to pray and attain blessings. It is believed that King Vasudeva and his wife Devaki were imprisoned at this very spot and later on Lord Krishna was born here; the prison was converted into a temple in the later years and is quite significant among devotees of Lord Krishna. This is a popular place to visit during Janmashthami.

The Mathura Museum, also formerly known as the Curzon Museum of Archeology was built in 1874. The museum exhibits many important archeological findings from the bygone eras that reveal the lifestyle and the culture of the people during that time. The museum also houses a huge collection of paintings, pottery, artifacts, gold and silver coins and a lot more. The structure is built out of red sandstone and has architecture which is noteworthy. Due to the museum’s importance, the image of the structure has appeared on postage stamps that have been issued by the government of India. This is a great place to visit if you want to know the history of the region.

The Elephant Conservation and Care Centeris a conservation center in Mathura that has been established to house rescued elephants. This is a great place to visit if you adore animals, especially elephants. A Visit to this conservation center will give you an opportunity to interact with rescued elephants and gain more knowledge about the world’s largest mammal.  You can go on a guided tour and feed the elephants, see them play with each other in the water, walk around with these humble giants and have a good time in their environment. On your way out you can also visit the gift shop to bring back souvenirs.

The Chamunda Devi Temple in Mathura is unique as it is believed that a strand of hair from the scalp of Goddess Gayatri fell on this very spot and is even mentioned in the Bhagvad Gita. The temple is quaint with trees growing inside its premises and is believed to be the place where Sage Shandilya meditated. If you visit this temple during Navratri, you can see that the temple is beautifully decorated and a sea of pilgrims come all the way from different cities to offer their prayers to the almighty. The unique thing about this temple is that there is no idol of any god inside the temple, but it is revered as a significant sight for Hindus.

One of the most beautiful temples in Mathura, the Baba Jaigurudev Mandir is a structure which is white in colour and has beautiful domes on top. Many tourists have said that the structure resembles the Taj Mahal, due to its colour and grandeur. This temple is most visited during the month of August when the Bhandara festival takes place. The temple is filled with pilgrims coming together to enjoy the festivities and offer their prayers to the saint Jaigurudev. This temple is also known as Naam Yog Saadhna Mandir and heavenly white structure is what attracts the crowds.

Located close to the Krishna Janmabhoobi Temple, another pilgrimage site is the Kesava Deo Temple. This temple houses an idol of Lord Krishna and is dedicted to him and other Gods and Goddesses. A unique thing about this temple is that it has its own calendar of festivities and all the celebrations are done in the premises itself. A special festival is held in this Mandir known as Lathmar Holi; thousands of devotees come to visit the temple during the time of these festivities, especially during Krishna Janmashthami.