Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple, Mathura

Mathura is regarded in Hindu tradition as one of the seven moksha-granting cities, it is believed that the tyrannical King Kansa imprisoned his own sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva here, after a divine prophecy foretold that Devaki's eighth child would slay him. In the Dvapara Yuga, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Krishna in that very prison cell. Immediately after his birth, Vasudeva carried the infant Krishna across the Yamuna to Gokul, where he was raised in the home of Nanda Baba and Mother Yashoda.

The temple complex's history is marked by repeated destruction and rebuilding, the original temple is believed to have been built by Krishna's great-grandson Vajranabha, and was rebuilt in the 4th century during the reign of Emperor Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya). It was later demolished by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1017-18 and again under Aurangzeb in 1670. After independence, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya founded the 'Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust' in 1951, under which the Keshavdev Temple was completed in 1957-58 and the Bhagwat Bhavan in 1982.

The temple complex has three main sections, the Keshavdev Temple, the Garbh Griha (sanctum, believed to be Krishna's actual birthplace), and the Bhagwat Bhavan dedicated to Radha-Krishna. For security reasons, mobile phones, cameras, and other electronic devices aren't allowed inside the complex, so it's best to leave them in your vehicle.

Pilgrims often combine a Mathura visit with nearby Vrindavan (Banke Bihari Temple, Prem Mandir) and Gokul in a single trip, since all of these sites belong to the Braj region associated with Krishna's life. A grand celebration is held here on Krishna Janmashtami.