Major city · India
Mathuraमथुरा
Give Mathura one night, or a half-day on the Delhi–Agra run: temples and ghats by 10:00, then Vrindavan or the train onward.Give Mathura one night, or a half-day on the Delhi–Agra run: temples and ghats by 10:00 AM, then Vrindavan or the train onward.
Mathura is a Krishna pilgrimage city on the Yamuna, 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km north of Agra, and most trains between the two stop here. The temple core around Holi Gate and Vishram Ghat is walkable and busy; the sights that matter take half a day, and Vrindavan is 10 km further on. Come for the temples, the ghat aarti and the milk sweets, not for a long stay.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- avoid Apr–Jun (40 °C (104 °F)+), Jul–Sep (monsoon, Yamuna floods)avoid Apr–Jun (104 °F (40 °C)+), Jul–Sep (monsoon, Yamuna floods)
- Airports
- AGR · DEL
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Mathura112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mathura, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyMathura is a busy pilgrimage town, not a dangerous one.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) · 1363 Tourist helpline (Incredible India, 24 h) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckAGR Agra Airport (About 50 km (31 mi); very few scheduled flights — check before relying on it.).AGR Agra Airport (About 31 mi (50 km); very few scheduled flights — check before relying on it.).
- Getting aroundThe temple core is a walking zone: Holi Gate to Vishram Ghat is about 15 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealKachori and jalebi breakfast₹40–80 (≈ under US$1)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)
- Museum or sight ticketThali at the Janmabhoomi temple canteen₹100–200 (≈ US$2–3)
- Budget bedHostel or guest-house bed, a night, per person₹500 (≈ US$6)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per room₹2,500 (≈ US$30)
- High-end bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per room₹6,000 (≈ US$70)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,800 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₹4,000 (≈ US$50) · High ₹9,000 (≈ US$110)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- AGR Agra Airport (About 50 km (31 mi); very few scheduled flights — check before relying on it.) · DEL Indira Gandhi International, Delhi (About 150 km (93 mi); the practical arrival for most trips, then train or car.)AGR Agra Airport (About 31 mi (50 km); very few scheduled flights — check before relying on it.) · DEL Indira Gandhi International, Delhi (About 93 mi (150 km); the practical arrival for most trips, then train or car.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Feb
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Mar
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Apr
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
May
Avoid
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
Jun
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Jul
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Dec
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Best: Oct–Mar. Avoid: Apr–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest May (40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)), coolest Jan (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low), wettest Aug (16 rain days), driest Apr (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Mathura: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2 rd
Mar
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Apr
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
May
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
2 rd
Jun
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
5 rd
Jul
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
Nov
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
1 rd
Dec
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The temple core is a walking zone: Holi Gate to Vishram Ghat is about 15 minutes on foot. Autos and e-rickshaws cover short hops for ₹30–100 (2026 estimate); agree the fare first. Mathura Junction is 2–3 km from Holi Gate — auto, not walk, with bags. Vrindavan is 10 km northeast, 20–30 min by auto or bus.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Vrindavan
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min each way
Auto or local bus from Holi Gate, about 10 km (6.2 mi) northeastAuto or local bus from Holi Gate, about 6.2 mi (10 km) northeast
Banke Bihari and Prem Mandir; pair with Mathura in one day, not two separate trips.
Gokul
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Auto or bus east along the river, about 10 km (6.2 mi)Auto or bus east along the river, about 6.2 mi (10 km)
Half-day at most; combine with a return through the ghats.
Govardhan
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Bus or auto west, about 20 km (12 mi)Bus or auto west, about 12 mi (20 km)
The parikrama is a long walk; go only if you plan the full circuit or a short section.
Door to door: 1.5–2 h
Train from Mathura Junction, about 1 h, or car on NH-44
The natural next stop; Taj Mahal at sunrise needs an early start.
Keetham Bird Sanctuary
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Car or taxi south on NH-2, about 35 km (22 mi)Car or taxi south on NH-2, about 22 mi (35 km)
Seasonal and quiet; check it is open before committing a half-day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Holi Gate and Chowk Bazaar
Inside the old city, walking distance to Dwarkadheesh and Vishram Ghat; narrow lanes, noise, no car access.
Janmabhoomi area
Next to the main temple complex and its canteen; convenient for early darshan, still congested.
NH-2 / Highway Plaza
Highway hotels and cafés with parking, 5–10 min by auto from the centre; best with a car or driver.
Vrindavan Road and Parikrama Marg
Quieter resorts and guest houses between the two towns; needs an auto for every temple visit.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,500–3,000 (≈ US$18–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹3,000–6,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
- High
- ₹6,000 (≈ US$70)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid hotel1 × 1 night × ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹4,000 | ₹8,000 |
| Auto, Mathura Junction to Holi Gate, one way2 × ₹100 | ₹200 |
| Auto, Mathura to Vrindavan, one way2 × ₹250 | ₹500 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹700 | ₹1,400 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹1,260 |
| Trip total≈ ₹6,930 per person per day, bed included | ₹13,860≈ US$160 |
2026 estimate in rupees; travel to Mathura excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Peda (milk sweet), per piece | ₹15–40 (≈ under US$1) |
| Kachori and jalebi breakfast | ₹40–80 (≈ under US$1) |
| Thali at the Janmabhoomi temple canteen | ₹100–200 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Lassi or thandai in a clay glass | ₹30–60 (≈ under US$1) |
| Auto, 3 km in townAgree the fare before boarding. | ₹50–100 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Government Museum entry | ₹5 (≈ under US$1) Indians / ₹25 (≈ under US$1) foreigners, camera ₹20 (≈ under US$1) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Temple lanes are crowded and slick in the monsoon; keep bags in front and expect pushing at festival times.
- Photography is restricted inside Krishna Janmabhoomi and some temples — follow posted rules and staff instructions.
- Touts at the station and Holi Gate offer 'guides' and temple tours; fix your own auto fare or use a hotel-arranged car.
- Holi and Janmashtami fill the town and raise room rates; book weeks ahead or avoid those dates.
- Summer heat and monsoon flooding on the Yamuna ghats are real seasonal limits — check conditions before a ghat visit in Jul–Sep.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
- Tourist helpline (Incredible India, 24 h)
- 1363
Pocket card
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Mathuraमथुरा
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
इस पते पर ले चलिएTo this address, please
Emergency
- All services112
- Tourist helpline (24 h)1363
Embassy
No embassies in Mathura; most are in New Delhi. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all have missions in Delhi — check the address before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Mathura Junction → Holi Gate, auto: ₹80–150 (≈ US$1–2), about 10 min
- Mathura → Vrindavan, auto: ₹200–350 (≈ US$3–4), about 30 min
- Train Mathura Junction → Agra: about ₹100–400 (≈ US$2–5) depending on class, about 1 h
Say or show
- नमस्ते — Hello / Namaste (namaste)
- धन्यवाद — Thank you (dhanyavaad)
- कितने का है? — How much is it? (kitne ka hai)
- कृपया मुझे इस पते पर ले चलिए — Please take me to this address (kripya mujhe is pate par le chaliye)
- शौचालय कहाँ है? — Where is the toilet? (shauchalay kahan hai)
- नहीं, धन्यवाद — No, thank you (nahin, dhanyavaad)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mathura. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Mar · avoid Apr–Jun (40 °C+), Jul–Sep (monsoon, Yamuna floods) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Station-to-bed contract for Mathura Junction: auto fare bands, Holi Gate drop point, late-arrival fallback.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Holi Gate and Chowk Bazaar, Janmabhoomi, Vishram Ghat, Government Museum.
- Place pages with verified hours (Government Museum, Dwarkadheesh, Janmabhoomi) and eat pages with last orders.
- Festival fixtures for Holi and Janmashtami so crowd and price warnings go green.