Mathura

Mathura, on the banks of the Yamuna river 145 km south-east of Delhi and 60 km north-west of Agra, is one of the seven sacred Hindu Sapta Puri pilgrimage cities and the revered birthplace of Lord Krishna.

• Together with neighbouring Vrindavan, the region forms Braj Bhoomi — the land where Krishna spent his childhood and youth — and the entire area is governed by a strict pure-vegetarian ethos backed by municipal regulation.
• Meat, fish, and alcohol are banned within the holy zone.
• The central site is Krishna Janmabhoomi, the mandir complex marking Krishna's traditional birth location, ringed by the broader Dwarkadhish Temple, Vishram Ghat (where Krishna is said to have rested after defeating Kamsa), and the 25 Ghats along the Yamuna where the evening aarti unfolds against the river's curve.
• For the vegetarian traveller, Mathura is one of India's great street-food destinations — the city's signature Mathura ke Pede (milk-mawa fudge, slightly browned and intensely sweet) is sold by century-old shops like Brijwasi and Shankar Mithai Wala; the morning Hing Kachori (asafoetida-spiced flaky kachori with aloo subzi) at Brijwasi and Geeta Bhawan is a daily ritual; and thick chilled Lassi served in earthen kulhads in the lanes near the temple is the perfect afternoon antidote to the Braj heat.
• Easily combined with Vrindavan (12 km), Agra (60 km, day-trip), or as part of a Delhi–Agra circuit add-on.
• October to March is the comfortable window; avoid April-June heat above 42°C and the August Janmashtami crush unless you specifically want festival immersion.