Vishram Ghat

Vishram Ghat is a revered and sacred bathing ghat located about 4.5 kilometers from Mathura Junction on the banks of River Yamuna. It is the main ghat of Mathura and is central to 25 other ghats. Pilgrims from all over the country visit Vishram Ghat to bathe in its holy waters and perform the traditional parikrama that starts and ends here.

Vishram means rest and it is named so because Lord Krishna rested at this place after killing Kansa, the evil demon king. This is the reason why a pilgrimage to Mathura is incomplete without a visit to Vishram Ghat and the temples dotting it. There are 12 ghats to the north of Vishram Ghat and 12 ghats to the south of it positioning it in the center. The parikrama is the circumambulation of all the chief religious places of Mathura.
Vishram Ghat displays a beautiful spectacle during evenings at the time of evening prayers and aarti. Devotees float oil lamps and diyas on paan leaves into the adjoining Yamuna River. Devotees perform other rituals such as pind pradaan and other Pooja on this ghat too, along with taking the holy dip. The ghat witnesses a heavy crowd on the occasion of Bhaidooj, popularly known as Yam Dwitiya, which falls on the second day after Diwali. One of the top activities to do on Vishram Ghat is to indulge in the boat ride, which helps you soak in the serenity of the soul-soothing Yamuna River.

History of Vishram Ghat

According to the great epics of India, Lord Krishna sat under the shade of Giriraj Ji after his battle with Kansa. There are a plethora of stories related to Vishram Sthali, one of them is depicted as a story between Shri Yamuna Maharani (the river goddess) and Dharamaraj.

During the rule of the Mughal emperor in the 15th Century, this place suffered from extreme injustice and discrimination. This was because of the various decrees issued by Sikandar Lodi. However, when Hindus were under great distress due to the opposition of Sikandar Lodi, Acharya Keshav Bhatt Kashmiri of the Nimbark sect and Vallabhacharya Ji Maharaj had the restrictions at Vishram Ghat removed by the power of their commitment and devotion to the divine.

Architecture of Vishram Ghat

The Vishram Ghat's architecture shows marble stonework, including a massive stone arch. One side of the Vishram Ghat consists of 12 Ghats, while the other side has 11 more!

The Vishram ghat is lined with many temples and some of the most significant shrines, such as Yamuna-Krishan, Murli Manohar, etc.