This museum, renovated in 2016, houses a superb collection of religious sculptures by the Mathura school, which flourished from the 3rd century BC to the…

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Mathura
Famed for being the birthplace of the much-loved Hindu god Krishna, Mathura is one of Hinduism’s seven sacred cities and attracts floods of pilgrims, particularly during Janmastami (Krishna’s birthday) in August/September and Holi in February/March. The town is dotted with temples from various ages and the stretch of the sacred Yamuna River that flows past here is lined with 25 ghats.
Mathura was once a Kushan capital and a major Buddhist centre with 20 monasteries that housed 3000 monks, but after the rise of Hinduism, and later sackings by Afghan and Mughal rulers, all that’s left of the oldest sights are the beautiful sculptures recovered from ruins, now on display in the excellent Archaeological Museum.
Explore Mathura
- AArchaeological Museum
This museum, renovated in 2016, houses a superb collection of religious sculptures by the Mathura school, which flourished from the 3rd century BC to the…
- KKatra Masjid
This fine sandstone mosque was built by the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in 1661. To clear the site, he ordered the destruction of the then-standing incarnation…
- VVishram Ghat
A string of ghats and temples lines the Yamuna River north of the main road bridge. The most central and most popular is Vishram Ghat, where Krishna is…
- KKesava Deo Temple
In the most important temple complex in Mathura, the small, fortresslike room known as Shri Krishna Janambhoomi marks the spot where Krishna is said to…
- SSati Burj
This four-storey (17m) tower was built by the son of Behari Mal of Jaipur in 1570 to commemorate his mother’s sati (self-immolation on her husband’s…
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Mathura.
- See
Archaeological Museum
This museum, renovated in 2016, houses a superb collection of religious sculptures by the Mathura school, which flourished from the 3rd century BC to the…
- See
Katra Masjid
This fine sandstone mosque was built by the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in 1661. To clear the site, he ordered the destruction of the then-standing incarnation…
- See
Vishram Ghat
A string of ghats and temples lines the Yamuna River north of the main road bridge. The most central and most popular is Vishram Ghat, where Krishna is…
- See
Kesava Deo Temple
In the most important temple complex in Mathura, the small, fortresslike room known as Shri Krishna Janambhoomi marks the spot where Krishna is said to…
- See
Sati Burj
This four-storey (17m) tower was built by the son of Behari Mal of Jaipur in 1570 to commemorate his mother’s sati (self-immolation on her husband’s…
Guidebooks
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