Mathura Junction (MTJ) Station — Pilgrimage Gateway

Mathura Junction — station code MTJ — is the rail gateway to one of Hinduism's most sacred cities. Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, and the station sees millions of pilgrims annually, especially during Janmashtami, Holi (Mathura's Holi celebrations are legendary), and the Braj Parikrama season.

Beyond its pilgrimage significance, MTJ is also a crucial railway junction. It sits on the Delhi-Mumbai trunk route (via Kota) and the Delhi-Agra route, making it a busy passing-through point for long-distance traffic.

Station Layout

Mathura Junction has 10 platforms — larger than you'd expect for a city of its size, reflecting its junction importance.

Platforms	Services
1–3	Delhi-Agra-Mumbai route (Rajdhani, Shatabdi passing through)
4–6	Delhi-Mumbai via Kota route
7–8	Branch lines to Alwar, Kasganj
9–10	Passenger and regional trains

Main entrance faces the city area, close to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple.

Getting To and From MTJ

By Auto

Prepaid auto stand outside. Mathura is a small city — most places are reachable within ₹30–80.

• MTJ to Krishna Janmabhoomi: ₹20–30
• MTJ to Vrindavan: ₹80–120 (12 km)
• MTJ to Agra (Agra Cantt): ₹400–500 (60 km, by taxi)
• MTJ to Govardhan: ₹150–200

By Bus

UP roadways buses from Mathura bus stand (1 km). Frequent buses to Vrindavan, Agra, and Delhi.

E-Rickshaws

Shared e-rickshaws run from the station to major points in the city for ₹10–20.

Facilities

Waiting Rooms

AC waiting room on the first floor. Confirmed ticket required. General waiting area. Both get extremely crowded during Janmashtami and Holi.

Food

• Platform stalls: Puri-sabzi, samosa, chai, kachori — ₹20–40
• Food court: Veg thali ₹60–80 (Mathura is predominantly vegetarian)
• Mathura pedas: The famous Mathura peda (milk sweet) is sold on the platform — ₹20–30 for a small packet. Brijwasi is the most famous brand.
• Outside: Brijwasi Mithai Wala near the station, Shankar Misthan Bhandar for more pedas and sweets.

Note: Mathura is a holy city — most food options are purely vegetarian. Non-veg food is not readily available in the station or the city.

WiFi

RailWire WiFi available.

ATMs

SBI and PNB ATMs inside the station.

Navigation Tips

Tip 1: Holi in Mathura/Vrindavan (February-March) is spectacular but chaotic. The station is overwhelmed with visitors. If you're planning to attend, book trains weeks in advance and arrive a day early. Tip 2: Vrindavan is 12 km from Mathura station. Shared autos and tempos run regularly. The ISKCON temple, Banke Bihari Temple, and Prem Mandir are all in Vrindavan. Tip 3: Mathura is also convenient for Agra. If you can't get a direct train to Agra, come to Mathura and take a bus or taxi (60 km, 1.5 hours). This is a common workaround during peak tourist season. Tip 4: The Braj Parikrama circuit (Mathura-Vrindavan-Govardhan-Barsana-Nandgaon) can be done from MTJ as a base. Hire a day-taxi from the station.

Live train updates on IndianRail.app — useful since MTJ sees passing trains from multiple directions.

Nearby Landmarks

• Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple: 1 km — birthplace of Lord Krishna
• Dwarkadhish Temple: 1.5 km — ornate Vaishnavite temple
• Vrindavan: 12 km — Banke Bihari, ISKCON, Prem Mandir
• Govardhan: 25 km — sacred hill, parikrama route
• Agra / Taj Mahal: 60 km

Quick Reference

Info	Details
Station Code	MTJ
Platforms	10
Zone	North Central Railway
WiFi	RailWire (free)
Nearest Pilgrimage	Krishna Janmabhoomi (1 km)
Vrindavan Distance	12 km

Mathura Junction is where rail travel meets deep spiritual significance. The station itself is functional and getting better, but the real draw is what lies beyond — ancient temples, the Yamuna ghats, and the living Krishna tradition that permeates every lane of this city.