Dwarkadhish Temple Mathura
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh · Lord Krishna (Dwarkadhish) · Krishna Temple
Mathura’s Dwarkadhish temple — distinct from Dwarka in Gujarat — a major Krishna shrine in the city.
Mathura’s Dwarkadhish Temple honours Krishna as Dwarkadhish — lord of Dwarka — and is a major city shrine distinct from the Char Dham temple at Dwarka in Gujarat. It sits within Mathura’s dense Krishna geography near the Yamuna ghats and is visited alongside Janmabhoomi and Vishram Ghat on local circuits.
History
The temple reflects Mathura’s long Vaishnava tradition of worshipping Krishna in forms associated with his later kingship at Dwarka as well as his childhood in Braj. City pilgrims treat it as a principal urban stop rather than a distant Gujarat pilgrimage.
Together with Keshav Dev / Krishna Janmabhoomi, Vishram Ghat and Bhuteshwar, it forms part of the Mathura city pilgrimage layer described on the district tourism page and on Brij day itineraries.
Stories
A treasurer's temple of 1814
The present Dwarkadhish temple in Mathura was built in 1814 by Seth Gokul Das Parikh, treasurer of the Gwalior state, with the approval and a donation from Maharaja Daulatrao Scindia. Gokul Das was a devotee of the third seat of the Pushtimarg tradition, whose seat is the Dwarkadhish temple at Kankroli in Rajasthan. The Mathura temple belongs to the same tradition.
Hindola, the thirteen-day swing festival
The temple's main festival is Hindola, held every year in the month of Shravana, usually July to August, and lasting 13 days. The temple is decorated in themed colours. The images of Dwarkadhish and Radharani are brought out of the sanctum and seated on a swing adorned with gold and silver for special darshan. Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Holi and Diwali are also celebrated here.
Good to know
Major Krishna (Dwarkadhish) shrine inside Mathura city
Distinct from Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka (Gujarat)
Often combined with Janmabhoomi and Vishram Ghat
Getting there
Within Mathura city by auto or taxi. Nearest railhead: Mathura Junction. Air: Agra or Delhi, then road or rail to Mathura.
Best time to visit: Oct – Mar