Mathura and Vrindavan event weekends: what to do between sessions

Krishna's birthplace in the Braj region, where Holi celebrations run for a week, an hour from Agra.

Events we cover in Mathura and Vrindavan

Arriving

Delhi (DEL) is 3 hours by road; Agra (AGR) is 1 hour. Fast trains run from Delhi to Mathura Junction in under 2 hours.

Where to stay

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Hotel Brijwasi Royal
• Mid-range: The Radha Ashok
• Splurge: The Oberoi Amarvilas Agra

Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Tours

Where to eat

• Mathura peda sweet shops Milk sweets
• Brijwasi Sweets and thali

With kids

• ISKCON temple.

Rainy-day backups

• Government Museum Mathura.

Free things to do

• Vishram Ghat aarti on the Yamuna.

Getting around

• Autos and hired cars; crowds during Holi are huge. Wear old clothes and protect phones.