Government Museum, Mathura
राजकीय संग्रहालय, मथुरा
An important museum housing Mathura School sculptures from the Kushan to Gupta periods. Its red sandstone Buddha images and Jain sculptures are especially precious.
The Government Museum in Mathura was founded in 1874 and is an important institution for studying early Indian sculpture. From the 1st to the 6th centuries CE, Mathura was the southern capital of the Kushan dynasty and a center for Buddhist, Jain and Hindu sculpture. The mottled red sandstone carvings of the “Mathura School” rank alongside those of Gandhara. The collection includes the famous headless statue of King Kanishka, standing Buddha images from the Gupta period, and many yakshi figures. Entry is inexpensive. The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and photography is prohibited in some areas. It is located on a road in the south of the city, about 2 km from Krishna Janmasthan Temple.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:30–16:30, closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Dwarkadhish Temple, Mathura
- Krishna Janmasthan Temple, Mathura
- Vishram Ghat
- Jai Gurudev Naam Yog Sadhna Mandir
- Gokul
- ISKCON Krishna Balaram Mandir
- Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
- Banke Bihari Temple