Mathura is regarded as the birthplace of Lord Krishna. By Hindu mythology, Mathura was the capital of the Surasena, ruled by Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle Kamsa. In Hinduism, Mathura is one of Sapta Puri, the seven cities deemed sacred. Mathura is the heart of Brij Bhoomi, the land of Lord Krishna. In this article we would be covering the famous places of the spiritual cities of love. Also, including Vrindavan to Mathura distance.
Mathura and Vrindavan are considered to be twin cities. Also located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Hindus believe that at Vrindavan, Lord Krishna spent most of the years of his youth. The city has around 5,500 temples devoted to Lord Krishna and Radha.
The birthday of Lord Krishna, called Krishna Janmashtami, is annually celebrated at Mathura. Every year, about 3 to 3.5 million pilgrims come to Mathura to glorify Janmashtami, most visiting the Keshav Deva and Dwarkadheesh temples. Mathura-Vrindavan welcomes all its visitors and pilgrims with sacred songs, dance performances, bhog, and aartis.
The Pilgrimage: Mathura-Gokul-Vrindavan
Going by the Purana, Lord Krishna and his brother Balarama spent their childhood playing in Gokul. The streets of Gokul do justice by instilling the memories of Krishna’s childhood all over them.
All three places located in the Mathura district, namely, Mathura, Gokul, and Vrindavan, are of great historical and religious importance to Hindus. Each of them is a significant pilgrimage to the devotees.
Mathura to Vrindavan Travel Information
The Vrindavan to Mathura distance is around 15 kilometres, about 25 minutes by road. With the overpouring pilgrims all year round, transportation is crucial in ensuring the visitors have a smooth journey. There are several means of transport which only operate locally. There are also multiple buses, taxis, and cabs which will take you out of the city for sightseeing and also available to travel to other tourist places.
Mathura to Vrindavan via auto
You can take a shared auto or hire one from Mathura Railway Station to Mathura. Shared auto will cost you Rs. 30 to Rs. 50 and drop you at Banke Bihari More, Vrindavan. You can get down to Attala Chungi by paying Rs. 20. After getting down at Atalla Chungi, you can hire an e-rickshaw to your hotel or wherever you want to visit.
Dedicated small auto for Vrindavan to Mathura distance will cost you about Rs. 150 to Rs. 200. You need to know the current rates to hire shared autos and rickshaws. You can do a bit of bargaining over there.
Mathura to Vrindavan via bus
If you plan to take a bus to cover the Vrindavan to Mathura distance, it will take you about half an hour to make the journey. You can choose among ordinary buses, non-AC deluxe buses, AC deluxe buses, and Volvo buses, according to your preference. Both government and private buses are available. The bus ticket price ranges from Rs. 200 to Rs. 2500.
Mathura to Vrindavan via taxi
You can also travel by hiring a taxi. The Mathura to Vrindavan distance taxi fare for a oneway trip starts from Rs. 800 and a round trip from Rs. 1500. You can cover the Vrindavan to Mathura distance by taxi within 30 minutes.
The distance between Mathura and Gokul is 10.2 kilometres. It takes about 15 minutes by road. You can hire an auto that will charge you about Rs. 150. If you choose a cab, it will cost you about Rs. 300.
Your travel between Vrindavan and Gokul covers a distance of about 25 kilometres. By road, it should take 30 minutes to reach. You can take a cab for this journey, starting from Rs. 1500, and it also depends on the size and type of car you choose. You can also take an auto which will cost you about Rs. 500 depending on the local charges and your bargaining skills.
Sometimes tourists and pilgrims make a full Mathura-Gokul-Vrindavan tour. There are tour packages available from tour and travel companies. You can also design your tour, giving it the number of days you want and have.
Best time to visit Mathura-Vrindavan
The months between October to March are the ideal time to visit Mathura-Vrindavan. The moderate and soothing weather makes it a perfect time for your visit.
Festivals of Mathura-Vrindavan
India is said to be a land of festivals, and the celebrations in Mathura-Vrindavan add more flavour to that. Visitors and pilgrims travel all across the nation and the world to witness and celebrate these festivals.
Holi
Holi tops the list of such festivals. Although Holi is celebrated all over India, the festival of colours is known as the Latthmar Holi in Mathura. The festival begins on Phalgun Amavasi and lasts for many days. Devotional songs and dramas, including the unique drama of Holika Dahan, are enacted traditionally by experts.
In Vrindavan, Holi is celebrated as ‘Raas.’ On Holi, young boys and girls come together and dance the ‘Raas’ all day long, portraying the stories from the life of the young Lord Krishna.
Janmashtami
As Hindu Mythology suggests, Mathura is considered Lord Krishna’s birthplace, making Janmashtami a significant festival celebrated there. As Gokul and Vrindavan are also notable locations where the celebrations of Janmashtami are grand. The district prepares for this day year-round to ensure the celebrations are more elegant than in past years.
Other major festivals celebrated are Deepavali in Mathura, Radhashtami in Mathura, Yamuna Aarti in Mathura, Braj Yatra in Mathura, Dahi Handi in Vrindavan, Raksha Bandhan in Vrindavan, and Guru Poornima in Vrindavan among others.
Conclusion
A trip to Mathura-Vrindavan is an experience and not just a religious one. It is a spiritual and historical experience. You can witness how these cities keep the rich scripted history alive and protect it with their love and devotion. Mathura-Vrindavan welcomes you with smiles, guides you through the lanes engraved with culture, fills your tummy with tasty prasad, and gives you the experience of a lifetime.
