Introducing Mathura
Mathura Junction (station code MTJ) is the main railway station of Mathura, revered as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, and the rail gateway to the Braj region, including Vrindavan, about 11 km away. It is also a major junction: just south of Delhi, the New Delhi–Mumbai and New Delhi–Chennai main lines divide here. It is run by the North Central Railway zone, within the Agra division and is among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.
Platforms at Mathura
With 14 platforms on 21 tracks, Mathura has more platforms than many state-capital stations, a reflection of its role as a junction and of the huge pilgrim crowds at festivals. It is some 178 metres up.
How Mathura began
Mathura's railway grew in layers, as lines from several directions arrived:
- 1875: the Hathras Road–Mathura Cantt line opens.
- 7 November 1881: the Mathura–Achhnera–Bharatpur line opens.
- 26 August 1889: the branch line to Vrindavan opens.
- 1904: Mathura Junction on the broad-gauge Agra–Delhi route dates from this year.
- 1952: part of the metre-gauge network around Mathura is transferred to the North Eastern Railway.
- 1982–85: the Faridabad–Mathura–Agra section is electrified; Mathura–Bharatpur–Gangapur City follows in 1985–86.
- 1995: the Mathura–Alwar line is completed.
- 2009: the Mathura–Kasganj line is converted to broad gauge.
Lines
- New Delhi–Palwal–Mathura section, northwards to Delhi
- New Delhi–Mumbai main line, south-west via Kota
- New Delhi–Chennai main line, south via Agra and Jhansi
- Mathura–Agra section
- Mathura–Alwar line
Mathura also has one of India's largest oil refineries, run by Indian Oil, so the area carries significant freight traffic.
Who calls at Mathura
Mathura is a stop for many trains between Delhi and Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, along with local and pilgrim services. Trains calling at Mathura on the Mumbai and Chennai routes are in our train timetable.
Festival travel
Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday, and Holi, celebrated in Braj with famous events in Barsana, Nandgaon and Vrindavan, bring enormous crowds. Book well ahead and expect very busy platforms.
Travel tips
- Krishna Janmabhoomi is in the city; Vrindavan's temples are about 11 km away by road.
- Agra and the Taj Mahal are a short train ride to the south.