Mathura is home to a number of temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, which is only natural since it’s the place of his birth. Among the many temples in Mathura dedicated to him, Keshavdev Temple occupies a special position. Located behind the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, it stands on the site which was once believed to be the prison of Lord Krishna. Devotees throng this place throughout the year, and especially during the festival of Janmashtami.
According to the devotees visiting the temple, getting a Darshan of the long haired Krishna brings about the fulfilment of a wish. As you approach the temple, you cannot but help feel a divine connection, as if the entire place was blessed by the presence of Lord Krishna himself. You are overcome by an array of emotions, and seeing devotees with tears in their eyes is not an unusual sight here.
The temple was constructed several times in history, which only goes to show the special place it occupies in the hearts of Krishna’s devotees. Keshavdev Temple, as it stands today, was inaugurated by Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar, an Indian freedom fighter, philanthropist and litterateur on September 1958. The sight of Lord Krishna’s statue, clothed in bright costumes and reflecting glow and radiance, is a fulfilling sight.