Mathura
Mathura is a city in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located approximately 50 km north of Agra, and 145 km south-east of Delhi; about 11 kilometers from the town of Vrindavan. Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna at the centre of Braj or Brij-bhoomi, called Shri Krishna Janma-Bhoomi, literally: 'Lord Krishna's birth place'. The Keshav Dev temple was built in ancient times on the site of Krishna's legendary birthplace (an underground prison). According to the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana epics, Mathura was the capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kansa the maternal uncle of Krishna.
Yamuna in Mathura: Yamunotri, which is north of Haridwar in the Himalayas Mountains, is where the holy Yamuna River begins. It is about 234 km north of Haridwar. Technically the source of the Yamuna is Saptarishi Kund, a glacial lake. To get there you have to climb from Yamunotri 12 km right up the mountain., From Yamunotri the Yamuna flows south until it reaches Delhi. It then flows to Braja Mandala through Vrindavana and Mathura. From there it goes through Agra and eventually merges with the Ganges and the underground Saraswati at Prayag (Allahabad). The main reason it is so sacred is because it flows through Vrindavana and Mathura, and was thus intimately connected to Lord Krishna's pastimes.
Sveta Varaha and Adi Varaha Temples at Mathura. After lifting the earth, Lord Varaha rested at Visrama Ghata. (This is the place where Lord Varahadeva rested after killing the demon Hiranyaksa and Lord Krsna rested here after killing Kamsa.). The Beautiful Vigraha of Sweta Varaha is in a house, into which non Hindus are not normally allowed.
Down the same street that this temple is located on, there is the Adi Varaha temple. (This is the most ancient Deity in the whole city of Mathura.) Kapila Muni made this Vigraha of Varaha by his mind. Kapila gave this Vigraha to Indra in Satya-yuga. Indra worshiped this Vigraha in his kingdom. When Ravana took over Indra’s kingdom, Ravana took this Adi Varaha Vigraha to his capital, in Lanka. When Sri Rama killed Ravana, Ravana’s brother, Vibhisana became the king of Lanka. Vibhisana offered everything to Rama. Rama said he did not want anything, except the Varaha Vigraha that was taken from Amaravati. Rama carried the Adi Varaha Vigraha back to Ayodhya and worshipped it there for 110 years. When Satrughna, Sri Rama’s brother, went to Mathura, to kill some Lavanasura, he brought this Adi Varaha Vigraha with him and it has been here every since.”
Dwarkadheesh Temple is located near the eastern banks of river Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. The temple was constructed in 1814 and is located at a central place in the city of Mathura. It can be visited between 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM all throughout the year. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Krishna. The Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura is considered to be one of most visited temples in the city. The architecture of the temple is very interesting with beautiful carvings and paintings. Festivals like Holi, Janmashtami and Diwali are celebrated with lot of pomp and grandeur in the temple. During these occasions loads of tourists visit the temple to receive the blessings of the Lord. Presently the management and administration of the temple is looked after by the followers of the Vallabhacharya sect.
Durvasa Muni ashrama: Durvasa Muni performed austerities opposite Visrama Ghata, on the other side of the Yamuna, at Visanaganja. Durvasa Muni being pleased by services rendered to him by Srimati Radharani gave her the benediction that whatever she cooked would be sweeter than nectar.
“Durvasa Muni was a powerful mystic brahmana determined to observe the principles of religion with great vows and under strict austerities. His name is associated with many historical events, and it appears that the great mystic could be easily satisfied and easily annoyed, like Lord Siva.
When he was satisfied, he could do tremendous good to the servitor, but if he was dissatisfied he could bring about the greatest calamity. It is understood that he was a plenary incarnation of Lord Siva, and thus he could be either easily satisfied or annoyed. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva. He could travel a great distance through space, even up to the Vaikuntha planets beyond material space. He traveled all these long distances within one year, during his quarrel with King Ambarish, the great devotee and emperor of the world.”