Agra

Thirty-one kilometres from Mathura lies Bhandirvan where, it is believed, Radha and Krishna were married under a banyan tree (Bhandirvat) while Brahma presided as an officiating priest. The ceremony was supposed to have been attended by other gods also.

39 kms from Agra stands Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone city of yesteryears. The city was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in AD 1564 in honour of the Muslim saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. Fatehpur Sikri was intended to be the capital city but the shortage of water and unrest in the north-west made Akbar abandon it. One of the major attractions of this city is the marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisthi. Other places of interest include Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai’s Palace and Birbal Bhavan.

For those interested in glass products, a visit to Ferozabad becomes necessary. Situated about 44 km away from Agra, this industrial city is famous for its glassware. You can buy products such as glass bangles and chandeliers in abundance here.

It is in Gokul that Lord Krishna was supposed to be secretly raised. The town is about 16 km south of Mathura. One of the most notable structures here is the Chaurasi Khamba (84 pillars), also known as Nand Maharaja’s house. Most of the the temples and structures here are built around the legends. The mud temples on the side of the hill mark the places where Krishna is supposed to have killed the demons Putana, Trinavarta, and Shakatasura. A little distance away is Utkhal where Yashoda is believed to have tied Krishna to a grinding mortar as a punishment for breaking her pitcher and stealing butter. At Brahmand Ghat, she is supposed to have witnessed the entire universe in Krishna’s mouth while chastising him for having eaten mud.

Legend has it that Krishna lifted this hill in order to protect the villagers from the torrential downpour caused by the wrath of God Indra. It is believed that for seven days, he held the hill on his little finger while his disc generated enough heat to evaporate the excess rainwater. Govardhan is situated 25 km west of Mathura on the road to Deeg.

Also known as Sur Sarovar, the Keetham Lake is situated at about 23 kilometres from Agra within the Surdas Reserved Forest. One can witness a wide variety of fish and water birds in the lake. The tranquil surroundings present an ideal relaxing place.

Located about 47 km from Agra, Mathura is famous as the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Besides being an important pilgrim place of the Hindus, it is one of the seven most sacred cities in India. Mathura is also an important crafts centre. Visiting Mathura gives one a chance to trace the early years of the life of Lord Krishna. Among the foundations of the Kesava Deo Temple, one comes across a small room designed as a prison cell. In the cell is a stone slab on which, it is believed, Lord Krishna was born some 3,500 years ago. Adjacent to the temple stands the mosque built by Aurangzeb. The place, referred to as Sri Krishna Janambhoomi, has been a subject of dispute between the Hindus and Muslims.

10 kms from Mathura lies the town of Vrindavan. The place is associated with the childhood exploits of Lord Krishna. Vrindavan has scores of temples, shrines, and memorial stones and hermitages of the saints and Krishna’s followers. One of the most impressive buildings that greets the visitor in Vrindavan is the Govind Dev Temple. This red sandstone structure is supposed to be architecturally one of the most advanced Hindu temples in northern India. One can also have a look at the 150-year-old Ranganathan Temple, popularly known as the Rangaji Temple, which is located in a beautiful complex. Around 4000 other temples are said to exist in Virndavan. The town is also the seat of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) which has built a magnificent temple here.