Mathura & Vrindavan Travel Guide

Mathura and Vrindavan sit a short drive apart in Uttar Pradesh's Braj region, between Delhi and Agra, and together mark the geography of Krishna's life: Mathura as his traditional birthplace, Vrindavan as the town where he is said to have grown up. Both are living pilgrimage towns rather than museum sites, with hundreds of temples, and both come alive most intensely at Holi and Janmashtami, when the whole region is given over to colour, devotion and crowds.

October to March is the comfortable season generally, but Mathura and Vrindavan are exceptional at Holi, when the region's version of the festival, with flowers and colour thrown at several temples over more than a single day, is one of the most celebrated in India. It is also one of the most crowded times to visit, so book well ahead if that is the draw.

A day trip from Agra or Delhi covers the main temples, but an overnight lets you see Banke Bihari at both the morning and evening aarti, which many pilgrims consider the better experience. The towns sit on the Delhi-Agra road and rail line, so they slot easily onto a Golden Triangle trip as a detour, or as their own short pilgrimage add-on.