Brijwasi Mithai Wala (next to Tilak Dwar, Holi Gate)
Mathura peda, malpua, rabri, jalebi, badam milk, chaat and thali. Named in six independent blogs. Separate from Main Brijwasi Pede Wale near the Janmasthan
राजकीय संग्रहालय मथुरा
Government Museum, Mathura
Where Mathura's ancient art lives: Kushan and Gupta sculptures, early Krishna images, and the famous Mathura school of Buddha figures.
MuseumMathuraNone (museum)
The story: Mathura before the temples: the art of the Mathura school
Mathura was an artistic capital long before most of today's temples. Between about the 1st century BCE and the 5th century CE, Mathura's sculptors made some of India's finest images in red sandstone, for Jains, Buddhists and Vaishnavas alike. The Government Museum holds the greatest collection of this work, including early images of Krishna, Balarama, Naga figures and the Kushan king portraits.
For a devotee the museum offers a different kind of darshan: the earliest known sculptures of Krishna with the Govardhan hill, of Krishna and Kaliya, and of Vishnu forms carved some 1,500 to 2,000 years ago. These show that the stories of the Bhagavatam (for example Srimad Bhagavatam 10.16 to 10.17, Kaliya) were already being carved in stone in this very city.
Where this is told
- Srimad Bhagavatam 10.16 and 10.17: Kaliya Lila (as carved in the Gupta-period relief held here)
- Museum catalogues (Mathura Museum)
History
- Started in 1874 by Frederick Salmon Growse, the then District Magistrate, as a local collection.
- The museum building in its present form opened in 1930s as the Curzon Museum of Archaeology; it now operates as the Government Museum, Mathura, under the state's Culture Department.
What to see
- Kushan-period sculptures including Yakshi figures
- Gupta-period Krishna and Kaliya relief
- Standing Buddha figures
- Varaha and Naga sculptures
Key festivals
- 18 May: International Museum Day events (check locally)
Timings and rules
| Summer darshan | About 10:30 am to 4:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Winter darshan | About 10:30 am to 4:30 pm |
| Closed | Usually closed on Mondays and public holidays. Check locally. |
| Dress code | Normal. |
| Photos and phones | Photography rules (including a camera fee) apply. Check locally. |
Typical state museum pattern. Not verified.
Parking and getting there
Parking
Museum compound, in Dampier Nagar, with some open space inside the gate.
Charge: Small. Check locally.
Restrictions
- No special restrictions known
Cab drop and walk
Drop: The cab can enter or drop at the gate.
Walk: 2 minutes.
Town-wide parking and transport rules: Mathura guide.
Distances and nearby places
| From Mathura Junction | About 2 km |
|---|---|
| From Banke Bihari, Vrindavan | About 11 km |
| From Delhi Airport (IGI) | About 165 km |
Distances and drive times are approximate and vary with traffic and diversions.
Practical tips
Timing and crowds
Best time: Late morning or early afternoon.
Crowds: Quiet.
Comfort
Footwear: Not needed.
Toilets: Yes.
Accessibility: Mostly ground-floor; some steps. Check locally.
Scams to avoid
- Few
Where to eat nearby
Shankar Mithai Wala (Holi Gate)
Poori-sabzi in desi ghee, sweet and salted cumin lassi in kulhad, khurchan
Shriji Chat Bhandar (Chhatta Bazaar)
Aloo tikki chaat, sev puri, golgappa. One writer found it good, not outstanding
This list comes from desk research in published guides and listings. We have not visited these places for this guide. Walk and drive times are rough, and opening hours, prices and onion/garlic policy can change, so check locally before you go.
Common questions
Is the museum worth it for pilgrims?
Yes if you are curious about early Krishna iconography. Allow an hour.
Check locally
- Opening days and hours
- Entry ticket
- Photography fee
Last checked: 2026-10-23. Sources for timings, parking and rules:
Radhe Radhe. Walk with love, we will take care of the road.
Book a cab for Government Museum, Mathura