Brij-Vani

The Old Fort of Mathura - Kans Quila Picture#1: Old Fort of Mathura (archive picture) City view in 1882: City of Mathura was stretched for about 2.5 Km on right side of river Yamuna. From left side of Yamuna Minarets of Jama Masjid at Chowk bazar and campanile of English church were seen. Northern side Kans Killa was prominent object.  “The city stretched for about a mile and a half along the right bank of the Yamuna and from the opposite side has a very striking and picturesque appearance, which was owing not a little to the broken character of the ground on which it is built. Were it not for this peculiarity of site, the almost total absence of towers and sires would be felt as a great drawback, for all the large modern temples had no Shikharas, as are usually seen similar edifices, but were simple cloistered quadrangles of uniform height. The only exceptions were the lofty minarets of the Jama Masjid on the one side, and the campanile of the Engli...

शिव-ताल एवम् अचलेश्वर महादेव मंदिर ब्रज क्षेत्र में बहुत से वन समाहित है! यह बात अलग है की अब यह कृष्ण कालीन वन अपना अस्तित्व एवम् महत्व खोते जा रहे हैं! इस वनों एवम् मंदिरो से जुड़े कुंड एवम् सरोवरों का भी अपना ही महत्व है! किसी समय, प्रत्येक मंदिर एवम् वन में कम -से-कम एक कुंड या सरोवर तो था ही! प्रत्येक धार्मिक स्थान का अपना एक कुंड अवश्य होता था! (दक्षिण के मंदिरों में अभी भी अपना एक कुंड अवश्य होता है, जिसे कल्याणी पुकारते हैं! ) शिव-ताल इन्ही बचे हुए कुंडों मे से एक है! चौकोर, हमेशा पानी से भरा रहने वाला, एवम् बहुत गहरा यह कुंड बहुत ही खूबसूरत है! यह संरक्षित कुंड मथुरा शहर में स्थित है! शिव-ताल एवम् कंकाली टीला आस-पास ही स्थित है! शिव-ताल प्रांगण में अचलेश्वर महादेव का मंदिर भी स्थित है! शिव-ताल के टीन तरफ उँची चारदीवारी एवम् निकास द्वार हैं! चौथी तरफ गायों के लिए गौ-घाट है! यहीं पर दो शिलालेख स्थापित हैं, एक संस्कृत में, दूसरा फ़ारसी में! इन शिलालेखों के द्वारा यह पता चलता है कि, बनारस के राजा श्री पाटनीमल ने सन १८०७ में इस कुंड का जीर्णोद्धार कराया था! राजा श्...

Holi Gate - Hardinge Arch Holi Gate is one of the main entrance to old city and one of the architectural monuments of Mathura. This gate originally named as ‘HardingeArch’. Original name:    HardingeArch In Memory of:     Mr. Bradford Hardinge When:               1875 Total Cost:         13731 Rs. City of Mathura has four principal entrances called Vrindavan Gate, Deeg Gate, Bharatpur Gate and Holi Gate. Holie gate was constructed as Agra Gate of the city. Holi darwaja is lofty and elaborately sculptured stone arch has been erected over road. It has in accordance with elegant design in local style. The design was supplied by Yusuf, that time municipal architect. Yusuf had very exceptional taste and ability. Mr. Bradford Hardinge has served many years as collector of Mathura district. He has taken most of steps to improve city amenities. Holi gate construction work was commenced in honor of ...