10 famous temples in Mathura and Vrindavan NgTraveller

A country for having a great collection of different holy shrines, holy destinations, and many pilgrimage sites, India is the place where one can find spiritual self, inner peace and enlightenment. Perhaps this is the only reason why the country receives so many pilgrims every year. And although there are many places that have been honored with the establishment of holy shrines, Vrindavan and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh ensure an important place for them when it comes to spiritual destinations in India.

These holy cities in Uttar Pradesh glorify Lord Krishna's birthplace and are dotted with various temples. Spending time in your Hindu temples can bring comfort to your soul and an opportunity to receive blessings. And if you want to know more about the famous temples, below I have mentioned the top 10 temples you can visit in Mathura and Vrindavan.

• Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
• Dwarkadhish Temple
• Gita Temple
• Baba Jaigurudev Temple
• Banke Bihari Temple
• Prem Mandir
• Shri Krishna Balaram Mandir
• Madan Mohan Temple
• Govind Devji Temple
• Jugal Kishor Temple

Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, Mathura

Located amidst the busy streets of Mathura, Janmabhoomi Temple is one of the most treasured and beloved shrines. This shrine is known as the holiest place in Mathura and is an important pilgrimage for Hindus as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Shree Krishna.

Before the temple was commissioned by Lord Krishna's grandson, Raja Vir Singh Bundila (according to the locals), the temple was a stone-walled dungeon for Lord Krishna's uncle, King Kans.

Also, an attraction not to be missed is the rear of the temple's main shrine, a small room that represents a prison where Lord Krishna was born.

As you explore the interior of the holy temple, you will also notice a marble statue of Lord Krishna. The best time to visit is during the festive celebration of Janmashtami, Chhappan Bhog, and Holi festivals are also held on the temple premises.

Dwarkadhish Temple, Mathura

The oldest and one of the famous temples in Mathura, Dwarkadesh is a holy temple dedicated to His Holiness Dwarkadhish (Lord Krishna). The temple is so named because Lord Krishna has moved to Dwarka to settle there until his last breath. In Mathura, the Dwarkadhish temple is located near Gatashrama and Vishram Ghat in the eastern part of the city and houses the Radha-Krishna idol in the main shrine.

You may notice a black marble idol of Lord Dwarkadesh (a form of Lord Krishna) in the temple along with a white marble idol of his beloved Radha. One must visit here every year, especially during the Janmashtami festive season, when one is bound to witness and possibly be a part of the whirlwind of pilgrims gathering from all over the world.

The entrance to the Dwarkadheesh temple is decorated in Rajasthani architectural style with an open courtyard in the center along with beautifully carved pillars and painted ceiling. And perhaps the best attraction within the temple complex is Lord Dwarkadesh's golden colored swing.

Gita Mandir, Mathura

Among the many Hindu temples in Mathura, Gita Mandir, also known as Birla Mandir, is one of the must-see temples, located just a few kilometers from the city center towards Vrindavan. Perhaps what is surprising about this shrine is that it contains carvings of Lord Krishna's preaching to his disciple, Prince Pandava, Arjuna, during the Kurukshetra war period.

In fact, right at the entrance of the temple, you can see 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita carved on the pillars. Constructed of red sandstone, Gita Mandir displays a mix of Hindu and Western architecture, where the sacred idols of Lord Krishna, Narayana, Rama, and Goddess Lakshmi and Sita are placed.

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Inside the Gita Mandir, a large Sri Krishna chariot is also painted along with many paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses on the marble walls.

Baba Jaigurudev Mandir, Mathura

If we compare other shrines in the city, then Baba Jaigurudev Mandir is not a very famous temple in Mathura. However, the beauty of this temple is the heavenly white structure of the building and the domes, if so, most of the visitors who come to visit it refer to this temple as the Taj Mahal.

However, Baba Jaigurudev Mandir, also known as Naam Yog Sadhna Mandir, is somewhat famous for the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, which takes place during the month of August. Also, the unique thing about this temple is that donations from non-vegetarian people are not accepted.

Banke Bihari Mandir, Vrindavan

This is one of the famous Krishna temples in Vrindavan, where Sri Krishna is known as Banki Bihari because he is considered a 'superior devotee'. Banki means' a girl in three places', while Bihari means' enjoyed 'as you can see from the law where the idols' hands are bent to hold the flute with the bent standing position.

Banke Bihari Mandir is one of the seven Thakur temples of Vrindavan, located near the Shri RadhaVallabh temple. In the middle of the narrow lanes where devotees rush to ask for blessings in the divine realm, you can witness love and devotion to Sri Krishna. Here the main entrance to the temple is decorated in dark yellow brown with intricate traditional design and is probably the main attraction in Vrindavan. Inside, you can see a jet black statue of Lord Krishna known as Thakur Ji.

Prem Mandir, Vrindavan

Prem Mandir, which means love, is a divine temple and is among the main tourist attractions in the Vrindavan. This spiritual complex dedicated to Sri Krishna and Sita Ram is beautifully built in white marble displaying astonishing architectural wonders as well as the history of Sanatana Dharma.

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Spend a day in this 54-acre sacred space and explore the beautiful statues of Sri Krishna and his followers located in the main temple. Surrounded by intricate carvings around the temple complex displaying elaborate inlaid work, yet this attractive divine structure in Uttar Pradesh, Prem Mandir is a must-see during your tour of Uttar Pradesh.

Inside the temple, you can also see many images of Krishna Leela, Govardhan Parwat Leela, Krishna Kaliya Naag Leela and if you visit this temple of love, you will surely experience calm and bliss.

Shri Krishna Balaram Mandir (ISKCON), Vrindavan

Among the many temples in Vrindavan, Shri Krishna Balaram Mandir puts on a show of sighing and hanging, and is considered one of the most important ISKCON temples in India. As you enter the beautiful structure built in white marble, you will cross a lane along with winding peacock stairs on either side.

In fact, this Mandir has a very special meaning for the international Krishna Consciousness community. Established by the founder of the religious community, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the temple shows the momentous stages of Sri Krishna.

Here, you can find three altars, on the first altar you can find the idol of Sri Sri Gora Nitai, the incarnation of Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu; Second are the goddesses Sri Krishna and Balram, the divine brothers. And on the third altar are the idols of Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, gopis, Vishakha and Lalita.

Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan

Located near Kali Ghat in Vrindavan, the Madan Mohan temple dedicated to Sri Krishna is believed to be the oldest existing temple in Vrindavan with a height of 18,288 meters. Built in 1580, this sanctuary is within fortified walls on a hill.

Although in ruins, this temple offers a certain sense of magic that every pilgrim would like to visit here. Madan Mohan Temple is an elliptical-carved red stone temple in Aditya Tella.

Govind Devji Temple, Vrindavan

Although Jaipur possessed the original god Govind Devji, who had to be removed from Vrindavan during the reign of Aurangzeb, you can still visit this temple and attend in the midst of holiness. This magnificent Krishna temple is a red sandstone structure that has architectural beauty that can be seen clearly carved into its intricate design.

Tourists mainly visit Govind Dev Ji Temple to take pictures of the shrine that looks like an abandoned palace. And it so happened that after Aurangzeb's army destroyed the shrine, only three of the seven floors remained. However, Lord Govinda Temple is still an imposing landmark in Vrindavan and one can definitely feel happy while exploring the ruins of this holy place.

Jugal Kishore Temple, Vrindavan

During your pilgrimage trip to Vrindavan, one of the most important pilgrimage centers that you can visit is the Gujal Kishore Temple located on the banks of the holy Yamuna River. This shrine has a beautiful structure built of red sandstone and perhaps the main attraction of this temple is Kesi Ghat, one of the favorite holy dip / bath places in Vrindavan.

Jugal Kishore Temple offers a bright atmosphere, especially at night, when illuminated lamps illuminate the dark streets and holy songs lift your soul. For quite a magical sight, this temple is best visited during the aarti period, when it is a visual treat that is sure to impress any visitor.

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