Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi
The sacred birthplace of Lord Krishna, where the prison cell of Kamsa once stood. The Keshav Deo temple complex glows beside the Yamuna.
- Presiding deity
- Keshav Deo (infant Krishna)
- Established
- Ancient; present complex 20th century
- Darshan timings
- 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM
- Best time to visit
- October – March
History & significance
Tradition holds that Krishna was born at midnight inside Kamsa's prison in Mathura. The very cell, the Garbha Griha, is preserved beneath the temple complex and is the holiest point of the site.
The first grand shrine here is credited to Vajranabha, Krishna's great-grandson. It was rebuilt many times over the centuries — under the Guptas, again in 1150 CE, and once more in the 17th century — and destroyed as often.
The present complex, funded largely by industrialist devotees, was built through the mid-20th century and today draws millions of pilgrims every Janmashtami.
Don't miss
- • The underground prison cell marking the exact birth spot
- • Keshav Deo temple and the Bhagavat Bhavan halls
- • Midnight Janmashtami abhishek with conch and drums
Main festivals
How to reach
Mathura Junction is on the Delhi–Agra main line, about 3 hours from Delhi by train or the Yamuna Expressway. The temple is 4 km from the station by auto-rickshaw.
Nearby places
- Dwarkadhish Temple, Mathura
- Vishram Ghat
- Vrindavan (12 km)
- Gokul (15 km)