Braj Bhoomi-Mathura

Gokul : It is located 15 km south-east of Mathura. It was popularised by Vallabhacharya as a religious site during the 16th century, and became an important centre of the Bhakti culture. Krishna spent his time in Gokul in playful activities. He used to play the flute, and was very popular with the village girls (known as gopikas). It is at Gokul that Krishna met Radha, his life long love whom he never married. The three oldest temples in the place are those dedicated to Gokulnath, Madan Mohan and Vithalnath, said to have been built around 1511AD. The other temples include those of Dwarika Nath and Balkrishna and the shrines which were built in the honour of Lord Mahadeo in 1602AD. by Raja Vijai Singh of Jodhpur. The celebration of Janmashtami in August is unparalleled for its gaiety and melas are a constant attraction here. Other such festivities celebrated with traditional fervor include the Janmotsav in Bhadaon, the Annakut Festival and the Trinavat Mela held on the fourth day of the

Goverdhan : Goverdhan is a religious-town near Mathura, Govardhan is situated 26 km west of Mathura on the state highway to Deeg. A famous place of Hindu pilgrimage, Govardhan is located on a narrow sandstone hill known as Giriraj which is about 8 km in length. The young Lord Krishna is said to have held Giriraj up on the tip of a finger for 7 days and nights to shield the people of Braj from the deluge of rain sent down by Lord Indra. It is famous for its temple named Daan-Ghati. The town is also famous for its 23 kilometer long Parikrama of the a very old hill called Goverdhan. The parikrama procession is held in very high religious belief, and can take five to six hours to complete if one walks at a brisk pace. People from all over India visit Goverdhan in order to perform Govardhana Parikrama. On auspicious occasions like Guru Purnima, Purusottamamasa or Govardhana-puja, over half a million people go around the sacred hill. The town also houses Manasi-Ganga, a close ended lake. Thi

Vrindavan : Vrindavan just 15 km from Mathura, The town includes many hundreds of temples dedicated to the worship of Radha and Krishna and is considered sacred by a number of religious traditions. It is noted for its numerous temples - both old and modern. The name Vrindavan evokes the playfulness and lovable characteristics of Shri Krishna. This is the wood where he frolicked with the gopis and tenderly wooed Radha. Vrindavan today, is noted for its numerous temples. Many millions of bhaktas or devotees of Radha Krishna visit these paces of pilgrimage every year and participate in a number of festivals that relate to the scenes from Krishna's life on Earth. The most important place.

Mathura: The City of Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, The land where Shri Krishna was born and spent his youth, the nucleus of Brajbhoomi, is located at a distance of 145 km south-east of Delhi and 58 km north-west of Agra. A little town on the River Yamuna was transformed into a place of faith after Lord Krishna was born here. Shri Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was born in the Dwapara Yuga as the eighth son of the Yadava prince Vasudev and his wife Devaki. To save him from the murderous intentions of his maternal uncle Kansa, the ruler of Mathura, the infant Krishna was spirited away soon after birth to Gokul, the village of the gopas (cowherds) in Braj (their pastureland). It was here that he grew to manhood, in the tender care of his foster parents Nand and Yashoda in the happy company of the cowherds. There are numerous other little spots in the area that still reverberate with the enchantment of Shri Krishna. Mathura, the brith place of Lord Krishna, ancient name was madura, a