Mathura: places, parking and rules
Krishna's birthplace on the Yamuna. A city of ghats, bazaars and the prison cell where it all began.
Mathura is where Krishna was born, where he ended Kansa's rule and where kings and sculptors have worshipped for 2,500 years. The sacred core (Janmabhoomi, Dwarkadhish, Vishram Ghat, Kans Qila) is packed into old lanes, and the Government Museum shows the ancient art of the city. Start here: Krishna's story begins in Mathura.
From Mathura Junction: You are here. Janmabhoomi is about 3.5 km from the junction. Best time: October to March. Visit the Janmabhoomi early morning on a weekday. How long: Half a day: Janmabhoomi, Potra Kund, Dwarkadhish, Vishram Ghat. Add the museum if you like art.
Parking and vehicle rules in Mathura
- Official parking exists near Krishna Janmabhoomi and public lots near Holi Gate. The bazaar around Vishram Ghat and Dwarkadhish is too narrow for cars
- On Janmashtami the administration bars private vehicles, e-rickshaws and heavy vehicles on the roads to the Janmabhoomi (the 2026 plan ran from 8 am on 3 September to 9 am on 5 September), with parking at designated lots outside the city. In 2025 entry to the temple was only through the north gate with exit by the main gate
- Phones, cameras, bags and electronics are not allowed inside Krishna Janmabhoomi. Use the cloakroom or leave them in the cab
- Typical car parking is Rs 50 to 100. Check locally
Getting around
- E-rickshaws and walking are the way inside the old city (Holi Gate, Chowk Bazaar, Vishram Ghat)
- Mathura Junction is about 3 to 4 km from the main temples
- The Government Museum is a few km out, and can be driven to
Local food of Mathura
Mathura is the home of the peda: khoya cooked slowly until it browns, then shaped with cardamom and powdered sugar. Folk belief ties it to offerings to Krishna in his birthplace, but that is folklore, not documented history. The Mathura peda has a Geographical Indication application still under examination, so do not call it GI-tagged. Mornings belong to kachori with aloo sabzi, bedhai and jalebi, and the sweet-and-salted lassi comes in a kulhad. Holi Gate is the sweet and kachori hub, Vishram Bazar sits by the ghat, and the Janmasthan area has its own cluster. Two shops share the Brijwasi name, one at Holi Gate and Main Brijwasi Pede Wale near the Janmasthan, so check which you want. In August 2026 the food department destroyed about 4,000 kg of peda stored in unhygienic conditions in Vrindavan, so buy fresh peda from a shop with a visible preparation counter.
Named eateries are listed on each place page with sources.
Places in Mathura
Bhuteshwar Mahadev
Mathura's guardian Shiva (Kshetrapal), traditionally visited before Krishna's Janmabhoomi.
Dwarkadhish Temple
Mathura's grandest haveli temple, with a Pushtimarg service of eight darshans a day and richly decorated swings in the monsoon.
Kans Qila
The old fort on the Yamuna said to stand on the site of Kansa's palace.
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi (Keshav Dev)
The prison cell where, at midnight, Krishna was born. The heart of Mathura and the first stop of any Braj yatra.
Government Museum, Mathura
Where Mathura's ancient art lives: Kushan and Gupta sculptures, early Krishna images, and the famous Mathura school of Buddha figures.
Pagal Baba Temple
A ten-storey modern temple on the Mathura-Vrindavan road, built by the followers of a saint known as Pagal Baba.
Potra Kund
The stepped tank beside the Janmabhoomi where the baby Krishna's swaddling clothes were washed.
Vishram Ghat
The 'resting' ghat on the Yamuna, where Krishna rested after Kansa's end and where every Mathura parikrama begins.
Check locally
- Parking lot names and charges
- No-entry hours in the bazaar
- Cloakroom rates at the Janmabhoomi
Sources (last checked 2026-10-23):