Mathura is a city located in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on the west of the river Yamuna. This place is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, located at the center of Braj or Brajbhoomi, called Shri Krishna’s Janmabhoomi. The twin city to Mathura is Vrindavan.
Mathura is tagged as one of the heritage cities under the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Scheme of the Government of India. Mathura has been a holy pilgrimage site for Hindus for centuries. There are many places of historic and religious importance in Mathura and its neighboring towns, such as the ISKCON temple, Geeta Mandir, Bhuteshwar temple, Mathura museum, Birla Mandir, Prem Mandir, and Gopinath Maharaj Mandir, etc.
- Must Read: Must Visit Mathura Temples
Geography
Mathura is located approximately 50 kilometers north from Agra, 145 kilometers southeast from Delhi; 11 kilometers from the town of Vrindavan, and 22 kilometers from Govardhan. The city lies at 27°17′N 77°25′E and at an average elevation of 174 meters (570 feet) above sea level. The total area covered by the city is 3,709 square kilometers. Mathura is one of the seven holiest Hindu cities of India and is well-connected to all neighboring and other major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Lucknow, and more.
This city is directly connected to different national locations by road and railways. National Highways connecting Mathura to other cities are: NH 3 connecting towards Mumbai, NH 11 connecting towards Ajmer, NH 93 connecting towards Moradabad and the city of Agra.
Weather is typically around 33°C or 91°F and is mostly hot and dry in summer. Winters are cooler, with a pleasant climate. The city’s proximity to the Yamuna River also affects its microclimate, keeping it relatively humid during certain times of the year.
Demographics
The sex ratio of Mathura indicates that there are 858 females per 1,000 males, which has increased from 840 in 2001, while the national sex ratio is 940. The population density of this place until 2011 has increased from 621 persons per square kilometer in 2001 to 761 persons per square kilometer.
Mathura has an average literacy rate of 72.65%. Male and female literacy rates are about 84.39% and 58.93% respectively. The large population of this city mainly consists of Jats and Yadavs found in rural areas, while Brahmins and Baniyas are more common in urban areas.
