Mathura

Mathura
City
Clockwise from top: Vishram Ghat on banks of river Yamuna, Keshavdeva Temple, Mathura Museum, Kans Quila and Holi celebrations in Mathura
Nickname(s): 
Krishnanagri; The City of Lord Krishna
Mathura
Mathura
Mathura
Mathura
Mathura
Mathura
Coordinates: 27°29′33″N 77°40′25″E / 27.49250°N 77.67361°E / 27.49250; 77.67361
Country India
StateUttar Pradesh
DistrictMathura
DivisionAgra
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • BodyMathura-Vrindavan Municipal Corporation
 • MayorVinod Agarwal[1] (BJP)
 • Member of Legislative AssemblyShrikant Sharma (BJP)
 • Member of ParliamentHema Malini (BJP)
Area
 • Total
39 km2 (15 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
441,894
 • Density11,000/km2 (29,000/sq mi)
Language
 • OfficialHindi[3]
 • Additional officialUrdu[3]
 • RegionalBraj Bhasha[4]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
281001
Telephone code0565
Vehicle registrationUP-85
Websitemathura.nic.in

Mathura (Hindi pronunciation: [mɐ.t̪ʰʊ.ɾäː],) is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located 57.6 kilometres (35.8 mi) north of Agra, and 146 kilometres (91 mi) south-east of Delhi; about 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) from the town of Vrindavan, and 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Govardhan. In ancient times, Mathura was an economic hub, located at the junction of important caravan routes. The 2011 Census of India estimated the population of Mathura at 441,894.

In Hinduism, the birthplace of Krishna, one of the main deities in that religion, is believed to be located in Mathura at the Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex.[5] It is one of the Sapta Puri, the seven cities considered holy by Hindus, also is called Mokshyadayni Tirth. The Kesava Deo Temple was built in ancient times on the site of Krishna's birthplace (an underground prison). Mathura was the capital of the kingdom of Surasena, ruled by Kamsa, the maternal uncle of Krishna. Mathura is part of the Krishna circuit (Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Govardhan, Kurukshetra, Dwarka and Bhalka). Krishna Janmashtami is grandly celebrated in Mathura every year.

Mathura has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of Government of India.[6]

  1. ^ "BJP's mayoral candidate from Mathura Vinod Agarwal wins". ET Now News. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Mathura City" (PDF). mohua.gov.in. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference LuciaMichelutti1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Prasad, Dev (2015). Krishna: A Journey through the Lands & Legends of Krishna. Jaico Publishing House. p. 22. ISBN 978-81-8495-170-7.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference holycity was invoked but never defined (see the help page).