Excursions
Agra
Delhi Jaipur
Mathura
Krishna Janmasthan (The site of Krishna’s appearance).
 The
main temple here is called the Keshava Deo Temple. The Deities in the temple are
Radha-Krishna. Lord Keshava, one of the four presiding Deities of Vrindavana,
was installed by Vrajanabha, but the original Deity is now in Rajdhani, Kanpur.
There have been
several major temples built on this site. The first temple was constructed 5000
years ago by Vrajanabha, the great-grandson of Lord Krishna. The next big temple
was constructed during the time of the Gupta Emperor, Chandragupta Vikramaditya
around 400 AD.
This temple was so
grand that it was said that neither a painting nor words could properly describe
it. This temple was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni.
Another
temple was built in 1150. Lord Chaitanya visited this temple in 1515. This temple
was destroyed in the sixteenth century during the reign of Sikandar Lodi.
Raja
Veer Singh Deva Bundela of Orchla built another temple about 250 feet high at
the cost of Rs 3.3 million. In 1669 Aurangzeb had this temple destroyed and had
a mosque, which is still there, built with the materials of the temple.
Construction
started on the present temple in 1951, and the Deities were installed in 1958.
The temple cost Rs 15 million to construct.
Next
to the temple is a small room that looks like a prison cell, where it is said
that Lord Krishna appeared. Others say that Krishna’s appearance place is
about 250 yards away, at a small temple near Potra Kunda.
Visrama Ghata
 This
is the most famous bathing ghat in
Mathura. This is where Krishna rested
after killing King Kamsa. It is said that Lord Varaha also rested here
after killing Hiranyaksa. There are 5000 year old deities of Yamuna devi and her
brother Yamaraja here. Every evening a sunset arati
is offered to the Yamuna River here. The ghat was reconstructed in 1814.
There
are 25 holy tirthas (bathing places or
ghats) in Mathura. Visrama Ghata is in
the middle and there are 12 ghatas to
the north and 12 ghatas to the south.
The ghatas to the north go up to
Dasavamedha Ghata and the ghatas to
the south extend to Moksha Ghata. Some pilgrims bathe in all 25 tirthas
before beginning their parikrama of Braja Mandala.
Other Places
Many pastimes from the Srimad
Bhagavatam and other Puranas took
place in Mathura.
Ambarish Maharaja waited at Ambarish-tila
for Durvasa Muni to return from being chased by Lord Vishnu’s disk. At Bali-tila, Bali Maharaja performed his great yajna to take over the
universe. Lord Vamanadeva begged
three steps of land from Bali Maharaja at this place.
Narada
Muni instructed Dhruva Maharaja in
Mathura. Ravana performed austerities
here to acquire his mystic powers. The Dwarakadish
Temple, built in 1814, is a popular temple in the center of town.
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