Bareilly to Mathura Distance: Routes, Driving Time, Trains and the Best Way to Travel

Bareilly, the historic city of western Uttar Pradesh and Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna, sit about 218 km apart, a comfortable half-day drive across the plains. For Bareilly's many devotees of Krishna, the journey to his land is an easy one. Here, from one born in Braj, is the complete guide to the Bareilly to Mathura distance, the routes both ways and the best way to travel. Plan your visit with our Mathura Vrindavan tour packages.

Key takeaways

• Bareilly to Mathura is about 218 to 279 km, roughly 5.5 hours by road.

• The fastest route runs via NH 21 and NH 530B, about 219 km in around 5 hours 20 minutes.

• Avoid the longer NH 509 route (about 279 km), which adds nearly an hour.

• A car is the most flexible and the train is a comfortable alternative.

• It is a comfortable half-day drive across the plains of western UP.

• Vrindavan lies only 14 km beyond Mathura, an easy pairing.

I am Gurudutt, born in Gokul in the Mathura district, guiding pilgrims through Braj since 2018, more than 50,000 of them. Many who come to us travel from Bareilly and the wider Rohilkhand region. Here is everything you need, told by someone who receives these travellers: the exact distances and routes both ways, the train and other options, the best way to travel and the darshan at the end.

Bareilly to Mathura distance and driving routes

By road, the distance from Bareilly to Mathura is about 218 to 279 km and the drive takes roughly 5.5 hours, across the plains of western Uttar Pradesh. There are three main ways.

Bareilly to Mathura road routes. Approximate; NH 21 with NH 530B is the shortest and quickest.

The NH 21 and NH 530B route is much the best, both shortest and quickest at about 219 km; the NH 509 route is far longer at 279 km and best avoided. On the day, live traffic decides the smoothest line and a car that knows the roads picks it; our Mathura Vrindavan taxi service can carry you the whole way and on to Vrindavan.

Mathura to Bareilly distance (the return journey)

The road back, from Mathura to Bareilly, is much the same, about 218 to 244 km and 5 to 5.5 hours. If you are planning the reverse leg, these are the main routes.

Mathura to Bareilly road routes. Approximate; NH 530B with NH 21 is the shortest and quickest.

Bareilly to Mathura by train

The train is a comfortable option, as Bareilly is a junction on the main line. There is no major station in Vrindavan, so you travel to Mathura Junction, the railhead for Braj, in about 4 to 5 hours and drive the last 14 km to Vrindavan. From Mathura, we can meet you.

• Where to board: trains run from Bareilly Junction towards Mathura Junction.

• How long it takes: roughly 4 to 5 hours by train.

• The last leg: from Mathura Junction, Vrindavan is about 14 km, around 30 minutes.

• Book ahead: reserve your Bareilly to Mathura ticket in advance in the tourist season.

Bareilly to Mathura by air

For this distance, flying makes little sense. Bareilly has a small airport with limited flights; the nearest major airport to Braj is Delhi, about 150 km on the far side. A car or the train between Bareilly and Braj is far simpler than any flight.

• Bareilly has a small airport with limited connectivity.

• Nearest major airport to Braj: Delhi, about 150 km away.

• Coming soon: the new Noida International Airport at Jewar will serve the region.

• For the Bareilly to Mathura journey itself, a car or the train is the answer.

Bareilly to Mathura by bus

Buses run from Bareilly towards Aligarh, Mathura and the Delhi side, taking around 6 to 7 hours and are the budget option. But they are slower and less comfortable over this distance, so a car or the train is far easier for most travellers.

The best way to travel

The right choice depends on your time and budget. A private car is the most flexible, taking you door to door and on to Vrindavan; the train to Mathura is comfortable and good value; and the bus is the cheapest but slowest. The table sets them side by side.

A quick comparison. For Bareilly to Braj, a car or the train is easiest.

Breaking the journey and what to see on the way

This is a comfortable half-day drive across the plains, with clean roadside stops for chai and fuel, so a short break is all you need. Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna, is the goal and Vrindavan lies just 14 km beyond, so you may take the Krishna Janmabhoomi and drive on to the temple town. The two towns are always visited together.

What to see when you arrive

Once in Braj, the darshans begin. In Mathura, see the Krishna Janmabhoomi and the grand Dwarkadhish temple, with the evening Yamuna aarti at Vishram Ghat. Just 14 km in Vrindavan lie the beloved Banke Bihari, the marble Prem Mandir and the kirtan of ISKCON. For an overnight stay to see both unhurried, see our Mathura Vrindavan hotels.

The best time to visit

The cool months of October to March are much the best for the journey and for Braj, pleasant on the road and at the temples, while the summer is hot. Note that December and January can bring dense fog on the western UP roads, which slows the drive. Braj is gloriously alive, though very crowded, during Janmashtami, Holi and Diwali. See our best time to visit Mathura Vrindavan guide and the Mathura Vrindavan festivals calendar.

Tips for the journey

• Take the NH 21 and NH 530B route; it is much the shortest and quickest.

• Avoid the NH 509 route (about 279 km), which adds nearly an hour.

• The train from Bareilly to Mathura (4 to 5 hours) is a comfortable alternative.

• See both towns; Vrindavan is only 14 km beyond Mathura.

• Avoid the December-January fog on the western UP roads if you can or allow extra time.

• Come October to March for the most pleasant weather.

The honest bit

Honest words on the Bareilly to Mathura journey, from one born in Braj. This is a comfortable half-day drive of about 219 km and an easy trip to Krishna's land. The one clear tip: take the NH 21 and NH 530B route and avoid the NH 509 line, which is far longer at 279 km for nearly an hour more, as the times above show. The train from Bareilly is comfortable too. Vrindavan is only 14 km beyond Mathura, so see both. Beware the winter fog on the western UP roads. Distances and times are approximate. Planned well, Bareilly to Braj is an easy and rewarding journey.

Why Experience My India is the right choice

I was born in Gokul in the Mathura district and I welcome travellers from Bareilly and Rohilkhand every week. Guiding since 2018, more than 50,000 pilgrims, 4.5 stars on Google, WhatsApp first, 8 AM to 9 PM daily. Whether you drive or train in, we meet you at Mathura Junction or your doorstep, carry you around the temples of Mathura and Vrindavan in the right order, walk you into the old-town temples cars cannot reach and arrange any seva, with no touts. One clear fare and never a charge for free darshan.

Tip from Gurudutt: set out from Bareilly early and you will reach Mathura by late morning, in good time for the darshan. Take the Krishna Janmabhoomi and the Dwarkadhish temple, drive the short 14 km on to Vrindavan for the afternoon and evening temples and end at the Yamuna aarti before driving home or staying the night. A half-day's drive brings you to the whole heart of Krishna's land, easily done in a day or two from Bareilly.

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Plan your trip

Tell me your dates and where in Bareilly you are starting and I will plan the journey and your days in Braj, meeting you and taking you around with a car and a guide born on this soil, for one clear price. Our Mathura tour packages and our Mathura Vrindavan tour packages from Delhi and the NCR cover the heart of Braj. WhatsApp +91 7302265809, any day 8 AM to 9 PM. Packages from ₹1,999 per person, 4.5 stars on Google. Born in Gokul, Mathura.