Getting there

Delhi to Mathura

~1 h 40 – 2 h

Mathura lies 145 km south-east of Delhi on the Delhi–Mumbai main line, and dozens of trains a day stop at Mathura Junction. That is why the train is the natural choice: a fast express takes about 1 h 40 min to 2 h, and a morning departure from Delhi leaves the whole day for the temples. A car or bus on the Yamuna Expressway takes longer but suits a tour of the wider Braj region.

← Mathura

Trainbest option

Taj Express from New Delhi or another express on the Delhi–Mumbai line

⏱ ~1 h 40 – 2 h · from ~₹90 in seating, more in the AC classes

By car

Sedan or SUV with a driver, toll about ₹155

⏱ ~2.5–3 h · ~₹2,900–3,500 for a sedan, ~₹4,000–5,200 for an SUV

Bus

Ordinary and AC coaches, no booking needed

⏱ ~3–4 h · from ~₹210–250, AC dearer

Transport and routes in the app

Getting there, getting around and ready-made routes in India GO.

Open in India GO

Route in the app Open

Which Delhi station and which train

A convenient fast option is the Taj Express from New Delhi station (NDLS). Many other expresses on the Delhi–Mumbai line stop at Mathura too, and some of them start from Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM), the station the Agra trains leave from, so read the station on the ticket. Not every fast train stops at Mathura: the Gatimaan Express to Agra, for one, runs straight through.

Mathura has two stations: the main Mathura Junction (MTJ) and the smaller Mathura Cantt (MRT), both listed by the district administration. Most travellers want MTJ.

Seats open 60 days ahead, and the Taj Express sells out quickly in season; IRCTC, the Indian Railways booking site, shows them first and without a markup. Live timetables and today's trains are on IRCTC and the official enquiry site, since they change more often than any guide.

✅ Reading the fare: which class to book

The cheapest fares on this route, from about ₹90 (approx., August 2026), are for seating classes; the AC classes cost more. The codes on the booking page:

2S — A reserved second-class seat: cheap, no AC, and fine for a two-hour ride.
CC / EC — Air-conditioned chair car and executive chair car on the seated day trains.
SL and the AC sleeper classes — Berth classes on long-distance trains passing through; you can ride them for the short hop too, with a reserved berth.
UR (unreserved) — General class without a seat number. Best avoided: it is a standing-room lottery.

✅ From Mathura Junction to the temples

The station is a few kilometres from the temples: too far to walk with a bag, and no city bus covers it.

Take an e-rickshaw — About 15–20 minutes and ₹100–150 for the whole vehicle (approx., August 2026).
Name the district, not the temple — Drivers at the station quote newcomers two or three times the fare, and the word "temple" alone tells them you have not been here before.
Vrindavan is 11 km on — Shared rickshaws leave the Vrindavan stand all day: 20–30 minutes, ₹20–30 a seat. No need to book a car between the two towns. See Delhi to Vrindavan.

By car or bus

The Yamuna Expressway, an access-controlled road from Greater Noida to Agra opened in 2012, is the road into Braj: fast and predictable, with one toll of about ₹155 (approx., August 2026). The point of a car is that it stays with you for Vrindavan and Govardhan, which the train does not reach.

The bus is the cheapest way in: UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh state transport) and private coaches leave Sarai Kale Khan and Kashmiri Gate all day, ordinary and AC, with no booking needed. It is also the slowest option while Delhi traffic lets you out. More on getting around Mathura.

Janmashtami: everyone walks the last stretch

On Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday (next on 25 August 2027), vehicles are stopped well short of Krishna Janmabhoomi and everyone walks the last stretch, taxis included. The 60-day booking window fills fastest around the festival, and Holi (22–23 March 2027) is the other peak. More on Janmashtami in Mathura and Holi in Mathura.

❓ FAQ

What is the best way to travel from Delhi to Mathura?

By train: a fast express such as the Taj Express takes about 1 h 40 min to 2 h, from about ₹90 in seating (approx., August 2026). A car on the Yamuna Expressway takes 2.5–3 hours.

Which trains run from New Delhi to Mathura today?

Dozens of trains a day stop at Mathura Junction, but timetables change: check today's list on IRCTC or the Indian Railways enquiry site. From New Delhi the Taj Express is a convenient fast option.

How far is Mathura from Delhi?

About 145 km south-east of Delhi, according to the district administration.

How much time does it take to reach Vrindavan from Delhi by train?

About 1 h 40 min to 2 h to Mathura Junction, then 20–30 minutes by shared rickshaw for the last 11 km. No trains run to Vrindavan itself.

Does the Gatimaan Express stop at Mathura?

No. It stops only at Agra Cantt and further south; book a train that lists Mathura Junction (MTJ) as a stop.

Sources (5)