Situated 26 km west of Mathura on the state highway to Deeg is this famous Hindu pilgrimage, Govardhan located on a narrow sandstone hill called Giriraj stretching 8 km in length. It is said that Lord Krishna held Giriraj up on the tip of a finger for 7 days and nights to shield the people of Braj from deluge of rain sent down by Lord Indra. He was very young then.

        The famous red sandstone temple of Haridev and the Kusum Sarovar with exquisitely carved chhatris are among other attractions of the place. Towards the south is the beautiful chhatri of Raja Surajmal of Bharatpur. Fine frescoes - illuminating the life of Surajmal, vividly depict darbar and hunting scenes, royal processions and wars.

Accommodation is available with a Tourist Bungalow at Radha Kund.

A word about the city of Mathura
The city of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh is the birth place of Lord Krishna and is an important pilgrimage centre. Mathura is the nucleus of Brajbhoomi. The city stretches along the right bank of the river Yamuna and abounds in temples and shrines. The area of Mathura district is 3,780 sqkm. It is situated at an altitude of 187 m. Mathura's population size is 2,33,000.

Season and Clothing
Summer temperatures vary between 22 and 45 degrees celcius, while during winters temperatures rise to as high as 32 degrees and minimum can dip to 14 degrees celcius. It receives an annual rainfall of 65 cms from June to September.
Cottons in summer and light woolens in winters. Among the main languages used in the city are Hindi, English and Brajbhasha.

Tourist Information is available at :

• UP TOURISM, Directorate of Tourism, Chitrahar Building, 3 Nawal Kishore Raod, Lucknow-226001.
  Tel : (0522)-228349, 2251675
• Additional Director Tourism (Hills), Industrial Estate, 3/3 Patel Nagar, Saharanpur Road, Dehradun- 248001.
  Tel : (0135)-623585, 624147.
• Uttar Pradesh Tourism, UP Govt, Chandralok Bldg, 36 Janpath,
  New Delhi.
  Tel : (011)-3322251.