Looking for more places to explore on your next trip? Mathura and Vrindavan are popular destinations for travelers interested in spirituality, history, temples, and local culture.

Explore different Mathura Vrindavan Tour Packages to learn about available travel options and plan your journey according to your preferences.

Travelers departing from the capital can explore the Mathura Vrindavan Tour Package From Delhi for information about travel arrangements and sightseeing opportunities.

For those traveling from South India, the Mathura Vrindavan Tour Package From Bangalore and Mathura Vrindavan Tour Package From Hyderabad provide additional information about planning a visit to these destinations.

For more information about temple visits, local attractions, and travel planning, explore Vrindavan Mathura Guide and discover more about Vrindavan, its spiritual significance, and its popular places to visit.

Mathura to Varanasi is about 663 km by NH 19, or 715 km by the Agra Lucknow Expressway, which is longer but faster. By road it takes 10 to 13 hours. Direct trains from Mathura Junction take 8 to 15 hours. Neither Mathura nor Varanasi has an airport.

If you searched for a travel distance video, this written guide gives you the same figures in a form you can check before you book. I have set out the distances, drive times and train options between Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan and Varanasi the way I would explain them to a visitor arriving for the first time. Where my sources do not give a figure, I say so rather than guess.

Travel distance video essentials: how far the main legs are

The longest leg is Mathura to Varanasi. By road you have two choices: NH 19 at about 663 km, or the Agra Lucknow Expressway at about 715 km. The expressway is the longer route on paper, but it is the faster one, so the extra distance buys you time. Either way, the drive takes 10 to 13 hours. That is a full day in a car, not a short break, so plan your start time carefully.

Vrindavan is not on the direct line, but it is close enough to be a sensible stop. Routing through Vrindavan adds 12 km to the Mathura to Varanasi journey. Ayodhya also sits naturally on this route, so if you want to break the drive there, the road already passes that way. Note that the figures differ by context. The 12 km is the detour added to the Varanasi route, while Mathura to Vrindavan on its own is about 15 km in our planning sources. For the Mathura to Vrindavan leg by itself, read our Mathura to Vrindavan distance, route and real fares guide.

Road or rail: the options compared

The table below puts the main options side by side. Times are for the whole Mathura to Varanasi trip. Where a source gives no cost, the table says so.

The cost figure is the 3AC range our source gives, and it applies to the direct trains as a group. I have not added sleeper or other class fares because my sources do not state them. Check the timetable and fare on the day you book, since both change.

The road figures are a single 10 to 13 hour range for both routes, so I would not promise a time difference between NH 19 and the expressway. The expressway is faster, but the fair way to plan is to allow a full day either way and to start early.

Short hops around Braj

Govardhan to Vrindavan is 22.6 km via Mathura Govardhan Road. Under normal traffic, a car or taxi takes about 45 minutes. This is where a driver earns their keep. You can stop at Govardhan, linger at the shrines, and leave when you are ready rather than when a bus says so. Gokul is another day trip from the same base, and our Mathura to Gokul distance and route guide covers that leg step by step.

Govardhan Parikrama is 21 km and takes 6 to 8 hours on foot. It is a long walk, so start early, carry water and set your pace to the devotees around you rather than the clock. Do not try to fit it into the same half day as a long drive. If you want to visit temples in Vrindavan afterwards, allow time for the 45 minute journey back.

Reaching Vrindavan from Delhi

Routes from Delhi are covered in separate posts, so I have not given figures for them here. I would rather point you to a source you can check than repeat numbers I have not verified against a current timetable. Start with our Mathura Vrindavan to Delhi route and distance guide for the overall picture of the road and rail options.

If your main question is simply how to get into Vrindavan from the capital, our Travel to Vrindavan from Delhi, routes compared post sets the options out in order. Before you set out, confirm the route and timing with a current local source, especially if you are arriving late or with luggage.

Which option suits a first time international visitor

For the short Braj hops, a driver or taxi gives you the most flexibility. The 45 minute Govardhan to Vrindavan drive is a useful guide point for working out how many places you can fit into a morning, and it leaves you free to change your plans on the spot.

For the long Varanasi leg, a booked train from Mathura Junction gives you a fixed timetable and no driving. The road takes 10 to 13 hours, and a car asks for a full day on the highway. The trade off is clear. A train means keeping to station times and dealing with the crowds at Mathura Junction. A car lets you stop when you like, but the driver's fatigue becomes your problem too.

For most first time international visitors, I would suggest a car for the Braj hops and a train for the Varanasi leg, unless you have a driver who knows the expressway well. Once you are in Vrindavan, our Mathura to Prem Mandir route and timing guide is the next stop for temple visits.

Respectful travel on the road

Plan your parikrama and temple visits around the drive times above. Allow extra time in Gokul and Govardhan, where the pace is slower and the shrines ask for patience. Respect temple timings, dress modestly and ask before taking photographs inside shrines. Local customs are part of the journey, and a little patience goes a long way on crowded lanes.

Check current guidance before you travel. Road conditions, train timings and fares change, and the figures in this guide are the ones in our sources, not a live timetable. If you want a planned itinerary with transport arranged, the Vrindavan Mathura Tour Package is a resource you can compare against your own plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a direct train to Vrindavan?

No. There is no direct train to Vrindavan. Vrindavan adds 12 km to the Mathura to Varanasi route, so the detour is short, but you will reach it by road from Mathura rather than by a direct rail service.

Can I fly into Mathura or Varanasi for this trip?

No. Neither Mathura nor Varanasi has an airport on this route, according to our source, so flying is not an option for this leg. Trains and road are the realistic choices.

How long does it take to drive from Mathura to Varanasi?

By road it takes 10 to 13 hours, covering 663 km via NH 19 or 715 km via the Agra Lucknow Expressway. Plan a rest stop along the way, drive in daylight where you can, and start early so that you are not arriving in the dark.