State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 04 Apr 2025

Mathura Heritage Corridor Project

Why in News? 

After Ayodhya and Kashi, the Uttar Pradesh government has now decided to build  a heritage corridor in Mathura . 

Key Points 

• About the Corridor:   
  • Its main objective is to promote tourism and improve regional connectivity. 
  • A 6 km long mini link expressway will be built to connect Banke Bihari temple with Yamuna Expressway , which will make travelling in Mathura and its surrounding areas more convenient and accessible. 
  • Important constructions like convention centre, art institute, yoga and naturopathy centre , hospital, resort and electric bus depot will be there in the corridor.  
  • This will help in making Mathura not only a spiritual destination but also a major centre for cultural and health tourism. 

 Mathura  

• Introduction: 
  • Mathura district, located in Agra division, is situated on the banks of river Yamuna. 
  • This district borders Aligarh in the north-east, Hathras in the south-east, Agra in the south, Rajasthan in the west and Haryana in the north-west. 
  • Mathura is a major Hindu pilgrimage site and is believed to be the birthplace and hometown of Lord Krishna. 
• History :  
  • The oldest mention of Mathura is in the Indian epic Ramayana. In this, Mathura is called Madhupur or the city of Madhudanav and it is said to be the capital of Lavanasur. 
  • Mathura became the capital of the Surasena Empire in the 6th century BCE . 
  • Megasthenes mentioned Mathura by the name " Methora " in the 3rd century BCE . 
  • The Kushans made Mathura their capital. Art and culture flourished in Mathura under the Kushan Empire . 
• Mathura Refinery: 
  • It is the sixth refinery of IndianOil, commissioned in 1982 with a capacity of 6.0 MMTPA to meet the growing demand for petroleum products in the north-western region of the country. 
  • National Research Institute on Goat: Located at Makhdoom, Mathura. 
  • One District One Product: Sanitary Fittings 
  • Scenic Spots 
    • Mathura Museum 
    • Krishna's birthplace 
    • Dwarkadhish Temple 
    • Bankebihari Temple 
    • Govardhan