Mathura
District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 3332.0 Km2
Population in Mathura (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 2,541,894
Male : 1,368,445
Female : 1,173,449
Under 6 population
Total : 396,853
Male : 212,111
Female : 184,742
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 49682
In seeing : 28241
In speech : 2482
In hearing : 1671
In movement : 13912
Mental : 3376
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 355
Sex Ratio Rank : 24
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
( HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 -2006)
Disability : 155 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 347 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Occurrence of High Arsenic in Ground Water, Flouride in
Groundwater above permissible limits
Brief About Mathura District
TOURIST PLACE AT DISTRICT MATHURA
MATHURA
Mathura widely known as birth place of lord Krishna is located
on the western bank of river Yamuna at latitude 27degree 41 Minute
N and 77Degree and 41 Minuet E. It is 145 Km south-east of Delhi
and 58 Km north west of Agra in the State of Uttar Pradesh. For
about 3000 Year it was the hub of culture and civilization . Held
in sanctity by the Buddhists, Jain and Brahmanical faith alike,
it has a long and chequered history. One of the Sapta Mahapuris,
it was ruled in turns by the kings of Solar and Lunar dynasties
and became a center of three Cultures India Indo-Scythian and Hellenstic.
For are creation Mathura is the Athens of India. The great school
of sculpture known as Mathura school of Art flourished here for
1200 Years. Such proliflic creativety and gushing devotion to novel
Art Forms and experi-ment in sculptures and clay figurines as found
in this school are rare in the annals of indian Art History. A survey
of this glorious School of Art can be made in the Government Museum,
Mathura. The present day Mathura abounds in Place of Religious and
Historic Interest, All round the year A large number of Festival
and fairs are held in Matura and adjoining areas of Vrindavan Gokul,
Brazen and Goverdhan The rascal of Brij is thematically the basis
of many performing Arts.
What to See
SHRI KRISHNA JANMA BHUMI : The
Birth Place of Lord Krishna
JAMA MASJID : Built by Abo-inNabir-Khan
in 1661.A.D. the mosque has 4 lofty minarets, with bright colored
plaster mosaic of which a few panels currently exist.
VISHRAM GHAT : The sacred spot
where Lord Krishna is believed to have rested after slaying the
tyrant Kansa.
DWARKADHEESH TEMPLE : Built in
1814, it is the main temple in the town. During the festive days
of Holi, Janmashthami and Diwali, it is decorated on a grandiose
scale.
GITA MANDIR : Situated on the
city outskirts, the temple carving and painting are a major attraction.
GOVT. MESEUM : Located at Dampier
Park, it has one of the finest collection of archaeological interest.
Rare items from the Gupta and Kushan period (400 B.C.-1200A.D.)
are on display. Major attraction for tourists.
Vrindavan
15 Km. north of Mathura on the same bank of Yamuna,
lies the celebrated town of Vrindavan, almost as closely associated
with Krishna as Mathura itself. Indeed one hardly speak of Vrindavan
alone to; the devout Hindu. Mathura-Vrindavan can not a unified
image of untold beauty and religious sanctify. What is comparatively
a matter of detail is that Vrindavan is believed to have been the
stage on which Krishna performed his famous romantic and sportive
roles. Unlike busy Mathura. Vrindavan seems perpetually to be dreaming
and imaginatively, re-living its romantic past. There are hundred
of shrines in the town, as also numerous ghats and several sacred
tanks, of which one called Brahama kund and another named Govinda
kund are the most highly venerated. The most famous as well as the
finest temple in Vrindavan is that of Govinda Deva, dating from
1590. It is a huge, Cruciform, Vaulted building of red sandstone
with a nave 30Mt.(100Ft.) in height and breadth the wall is 3 Mt.(10Ft.)
thick on an average and is built in two stage. The upper being a
regular triforium.
WHAT TO SEE
GOVINDA DEV TEMPLE : Built by
Raja Man singh of Jaipur in 1590, The temple is a testimony of the
architectural splendour of medieval India. The temple walls average
10 ft. thickness. The upper state is regular triforium. Originally
seven stories high, it's upper four stories were destroyed during
the reign of Aurangzeb. The Krishna idol was then removed to Jaipur
.
SHAHJI TEMPLE : It was constructed
in the year 1860. It is a prominent temple of northern India. It
is famous for it's explendid art architecture , sculpture and twelve
single piece spiral colemns made up of marble approx 15'high. The
world famous BASANTI KAMRA is situated in the eastern wing of this
temple. This room has spectacular ancient chandelies and rare paintings
are available .
RANG JI TEMPLE : Vrindavan 's
longest temple, it was constructed in 1851 by Seth Govind Das ji
& Seth Laxmi Chand Ji. All were desciples of Acharyavarya Rangdeshie
Swami where as the main gate is in Rajput style , The temple follows
South Indian architectural pattern . The outer wall measure 773
Ft. and encompass a water tank , a garden and the actual temple
. The "Dhweja Stambha " , 50 ft. tall , is believed to
be gold plated .
MADAN MOHAN TEMPLE : Situated
near Kali ghat , it is believed to have been built by Kapur Ram
Das of Multan. The original Image of Madan Mohan was removed to
Karauli during the regin of Aurangzeb .
KRISHNA BALRAM MANDIR (ISKCON VRINDAVAN
) : This is a International spiritual organisation having
400 centers around the world . This was founded by srila A.C. Bhakti
Vedanta Swami Prabhupada . thousands of pilgrims and International
tourists visited Vrindavan centre which is having beautiful temple
of Lord Krishna .
RADHA BALLABH TEMPLE : Built in
1626 this temple is of special architectural interest as remnant
of ancient hindu architecture . The Shrine was demolished in the
17th century and the huge structure only the plinth remains.
GOPI NATH TEMPLE : closely resembling
the Madan Mohan mandir in style and dimension, it was built by Rai
Shilji, a Sekhavat Rajput of Jaipur .
GLASS TEMPLE : Its marvelous art
of glass work dazzles the pilgrim's eyes.
NIDHI VAN : Radhika's Kridasthali,
the playground of Krishna's consort, it is a place of Hindu veneration.
The image of Bihariji was discovered by Swami Haridas Ji.
SEVA KUNJ : Krishna's Vihar Bhoomi,
it was sanctified for centuries ago by Radha Ballabhiya Samaradayachery
Shri Goswami Hit Hari Vanshji.
BANKE BIHARI : One of the oldest
temple, it was rebuilt in 1921 discpieles of Haridas Swami who got
the idol of Bankey Bihari from Nidhi Van.]
GOVERDHAN : 26 Km from Mathura
along the road to Deeg. It is named after the name of the Goverdhan
Hillock" which is said to have raised on the finger and was
was put in the condition to save the people from the incessant rain
which fell constantly for seven days to destroy the people of Brij.
The hillock is 7 Miles in length. The temple of Har Deva Ji in Goverdhan
town is 400 Yrs old. The Mansi Ganga which is an artificial lake,
was constructed my Man Singh of Jaipur. The dense shady trees the
hill ranges and tranquil flow of Mansi Ganga all unite together
and make a charming view which the visitor can never forget.
KUSM SAROVAR : About two miles from the town, is the boarder of
Radha Kund which have significant architectural group erected by
T. Sing in honor of his father, Suraj Mal, the cenotaph of Suraj
Mal which stand on Kusum Sarovar, present in a fine view.
JATIPURA : On the opposite side
of Mansi Ganga are two stately cenotaphs built to the memory of
the Randhir Singh and Baldeo Singh, Rajas of Bharatpur State. The
cenotaphs consist of a lofty and substantial square masonry terrace
with corner and lateral alcoves.
5 Kms. to the north of Goverdhan is Radha Kund, A village clustering
around two small lake. It is said the Lord Krishna himself bathed
here in self-purification. Between Goverdhan and Radhakund is seen
the cenotaph of Raja Suraj Mal Bharatpur who was sacrificed in 1763.
in front of the cenotaph is an artificial lake with an extensive
garden behind.
BARSANA
21 Kms. to the north of Goverdhan is Barsana the
birth place of Radha a favourite devotee of Lord Krishna. It is
a famous place for pilgrimage with a regular bus service from Mathura
to Barsana Via Kosi & Goverdhan.
Barsana originally known as Brahmasaran lies on a slope of ridge.
The four prominent peaks of the hill are regarded as amblematic
of the four-faced divinity and are crowned by a group temple is
honor of Lali Ji a local title of Radha meaning 'the beloved'
There is second hill in Barsana and the path between
these two is known as Sankhi Khue. A fair is held in the month of
Bhadon (August-September)
NANDGAON
AT the foot of a hill 51 Kms. north-east of Mathura
is situated the venerable village of Nandgaon. It is known as the
home of Lord Krishna's foster father Nand, in whose memory a spacious
temple stand on the brow of the hill. Probably built in the middle
of the 12'th century by one Rup Singh, It consist of an open nave
with choir and sacrarium beyond. Standing in the center of a paved
courtyard, it is surrounded by a lofty wall which commands an extensive
view of the Bharatpur hill and the level expanse of Mathura District
as far as Goverdhan.
GOKUL
About 15 Kms. of the south-east of Mathura connected
by a metalled road is Gokul, a suburb of the inland town of Mahavan
on the bank of the river Yamuna. Gukul is a celebrated spot where
Lord Krishna was reared in secrecy by his nurse. This place is very
scared and is visited by thousand of pilgrims particularly during
the birth anniversary of the Lord Krishna in july-august and the
time of Annakut festival. Gokul is also associated with the famous
saint Vallabhacharya who lived here for many years. The most important
temple is that of Gokul Nath Ji. The principal meals are Janma in
Bhadon and Annkut on the day after the new Moon of kartik. The "Trinavat
Mela" is also held on the fourth day of the dark half of kartik.
MAHABAN
Lying on the left bank of Yamuna. Mahavan is 4
Kms. from Gokul on the road to Sadabad. Lord Krishna is believed
to have been craddled in this place. The largest and most sacred
temple is that of Mathura Nath an edifice built of rock and plaster.
Overhanging the Yamuna at Mahavan is an old building which is identified
as the place of Nanda 9 Kms from Mahavan on the same route is Baldeo
which is another place of pilgrimage. These places can be visited
by taxi or auto. There is a bus service to Baldeo.
BALDEO
Baldeo is about 9 Kms. from Mahavan on the road
leading to Sadabad. In the center of the town stand the famous temple
of Baldeo(Dauji). The elder brother of Lord Krishna. Two annual
fair are held at Baldeo. One on the Sixth day of the light half
of Bhadon called Deo-Chhath other on the full moon of Aghan. There
is not a ingle day in the course of the year in which the temple
court are not occupied with Pilgrims.
Festival Of District Mathura
HOLI
Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of
Phalguna (Feb-March). Holi in Braja is celebrated for several days,
at different places around Braja, before the actual day of Holi.
People throw colored powdered dye and colored water
on each other. This is joyfully celebrated in Braja, especially
at Varsana, Nandagram and Dauji. In Varsana the festival includes
colorful processions with music, song, dance, and some boisterous
scenes around the temples. If you go to these festivals you should
expect to be totally covered in dye and never to be able to use
the clothes that you are wearing again, at least until next year's
festival. This is celebrated at the same time as Gaura Purnima.
Places Holi Is celebrated
Varsana Groups of visitors go
around in small and large groups here. In the afternoon gopas (men)
from Nandagram come to Varsana and play Holi with the local gopis
(women) of Varsana. The women hit the men hard with 2 ½m
(7ft) long bamboo staffs. The men have shields which they protect
themselves with. During this time local songs are sung. This festival
is celebrated on the ninth day of the month of Phalguna (Feb-March).
Nandagram The day after the Holi
festival at Varsana, Holi is celebrated in Nandagram. The gopas
(men) from Varsana come to Nandagram to play Holi with the gopis
(women) there. The flag of the Larily Lal Temple in Varsana is carried
in an elaborate procession to Nandagram. At this time the residents
of Nandagram attempt to capture the flag, but their attempts are
foiled. After this, women play Holi with bamboo staffs. This festival
is celebrated on the tenth day (dasami) of the month of Phalguna
(Feb-March).
Phalen On the full moon night
in Feb/March a huge bon-fire is burned. One of the local priests
walks through the fire unscathed. One story about Holi is that Prahlada
Maharaja refused to worship his father and wanted to worship his
father's enemy, Lord Vishnu instead. His father's sister Holika,
who was immune to being burned, sat with the boy in a big fire.
Prahlada's devotion was so great that Holika was burnt to death
and Prahlada was unharmed. The Holi festival at Phalen re-enacts
this event.
Dauji (Baldeo) The festival here
is a pretty wild event. Women pore buckets of colored water on the
men. The men are also thrashed with whips made of cloth, which has
been torn apart from men's clothing. The men can not touch the bodies
of the women or unveil their faces. >From the roof of the temple;
basketfuls of colored powder are emptied on participants and onlookers,
creating a thick haze of colors.
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