Mathura district is an administrative district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Mathura, located on the right bank of the river Yamuna. The district forms part of the Braj region and is a major centre of Hindu pilgrimage, being traditionally identified as the birthplace of Krishna.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Agra |
| Headquarters | Mathura |
| Region | Braj |
| Major river | Yamuna |
| Languages | Hindi, Braj Bhasha |
Mathura district lies in the western part of Uttar Pradesh, on the alluvial plains of the Yamuna. It is bounded by the districts of Aligarh and Hathras to the east and north-east, Agra to the south, and shares borders with the states of Rajasthan (Bharatpur district) to the west and Haryana to the north-west. The terrain is generally flat, with the Yamuna being the principal watercourse and providing the basis for irrigation and agriculture in the district.
The district is part of the Agra division. It is divided into administrative tehsils including Mathura, Mahavan (Mahaban), Chhata, Sadabad and Govardhan. Major towns include Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kosi Kalan, Chhata, Barsana and Mahavan. The district is administered by a District Magistrate, while law and order is overseen by a Senior Superintendent of Police.
Mathura has a long recorded history extending into ancient India. It was a prominent city in the Surasena mahajanapada and later flourished as a major political and cultural centre under the Kushan Empire, when it became a renowned hub of art — the Mathura school of art produced some of the earliest anthropomorphic images of the Buddha and Jain Tirthankaras. The region was subsequently ruled by the Guptas, regional powers of medieval India, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Mughals, before passing to the Marathas and eventually to the British East India Company in the early 19th century. After independence, the district became part of the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Mathura is one of the seven traditional sacred cities (Sapta Puri) of Hinduism. Together with Vrindavan, Govardhan, Barsana, Nandgaon and Gokul — all within the district — it forms the core of the Braj pilgrimage circuit associated with the life of Krishna. Important sites include the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple complex in Mathura, the Banke Bihari and ISKCON temples in Vrindavan, the Govardhan hill, and the Radha Rani temple at Barsana. The district is also notable for its observance of festivals such as Holi (the Lathmar Holi at Barsana is particularly well known), Janmashtami and Govardhan Puja.
Agriculture remains an important sector, with crops such as wheat, bajra, mustard and pulses cultivated on the Yamuna plains. Dairy farming is significant, and the Braj region is historically associated with cattle rearing. Mathura is also home to a refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation, which is one of the major industrial installations in the district. Tourism, driven by religious pilgrimage to Mathura–Vrindavan, contributes substantially to the local economy.
Mathura is a major railway junction on the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Chennai lines and is served by the North Central Railway. The National Highway 19 (the historic Delhi–Kolkata corridor, formerly NH 2) and the Yamuna Expressway connect the district with Delhi, Agra and other major centres.
Hindi is the principal official language, while Braj Bhasha is widely spoken and has a rich literary tradition associated with the bhakti poetry of Surdas and other Braj saints. The population is predominantly Hindu, with significant Muslim, Jain and Sikh communities.