Delhi to Mathura Vrindavan Trains: Timings, Fares and the Best Ones to Book (2026)

The train is one of the easiest and best-value ways to reach Braj from Delhi. Dozens run every day to Mathura Junction, the main railhead, from where Vrindavan is only a short drive on. But the choices, from a ninety-rupee general seat to a fifteen-hundred-rupee executive chair, can be bewildering. Here, from a Braj-born guide who meets these trains every week, is the clear picture: the fares by class, the daily and weekly trains with their numbers, which Delhi station to board and how to reach Vrindavan at the end. Plan your visit with our Mathura Vrindavan tour packages.

Key takeaways

• Delhi to Mathura is about 140 to 150 km by rail; the fastest trains take under two hours.

• Dozens of trains run daily to Mathura Junction, the railhead for Braj.

• Fares range from about ₹45 (general) to ₹1,550 (executive chair), by class and train.

• There is no big station in Vrindavan; travel to Mathura Junction, then drive 14 km, about 30 minutes.

• The Shatabdi, Kota Jan Shatabdi and Taj Express are the quickest and most comfortable.

• Book ahead on IRCTC, especially in festival season; note that dynamic pricing and fees are extra.

I am Gurudutt, born in Gokul in the Mathura district, guiding pilgrims through Braj since 2018, more than 50,000 of them and I meet trains at Mathura Junction every week. I know which services are quick and comfortable, which are cheap and slow and how to make the last leg into Vrindavan effortless. Here is everything you need to travel from Delhi to Mathura and Vrindavan by train.

Delhi to Mathura by train: distance and time

Mathura Junction sits about 140 to 150 km south of Delhi on the busy Delhi to Mumbai and Delhi to Chennai trunk routes, so it is exceptionally well served. The fastest trains cover the run in well under two hours, while ordinary expresses take about two and a half to three and a half hours depending on stops. It is a short, comfortable journey and for many pilgrims the train is the nicest way to arrive, rested and ready for darshan.

Delhi to Mathura train fares by class

Indian Railways offers many travel classes, from a basic general seat to a full executive chair and the fare depends on the class and the train. These are the approximate one-way fares from Delhi to Mathura by class.

Approximate class-wise fares, Delhi to Mathura. Fares do not include dynamic pricing, reservation charges or IRCTC processing fees.

Daily trains: Delhi to Mathura, every day

These trains run every single day, Sunday to Saturday, so they are the reliable backbone of the route. The table gives each train's number, its departure and arrival times and its coaches with approximate fares. Note the origin station, NDLS for New Delhi and NZM for Hazrat Nizamuddin, as they are different stations in Delhi.

Daily Delhi to Mathura trains with departure and arrival times and approximate fares. Timings are indicative and can change; confirm live on IRCTC before booking.

Weekly and bi-weekly trains

These premium express and budget options run only on certain days of the week, so check the running day and time before you plan around them. Most of these depart from Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM).

Weekly and bi-weekly Delhi to Mathura trains. Running days and times can change; always confirm on IRCTC before booking.

The best trains to pick

With so many options, here is how I would choose. For speed and comfort, take a chair-car train: the Shatabdi Express is the quickest and most premium, while the Kota Jan Shatabdi and the Taj Express are excellent value in second sitting or chair car and reach Mathura in about two hours. For an overnight or budget trip, the many sleeper and 3AC expresses like the Golden Temple Mail, Mewar and Malwa are comfortable and cheap. Choose by your budget and the time of day you wish to travel.

• Fastest and most comfortable: Shatabdi Express (12002), New Delhi 06:00 to Mathura 07:19, chair car or executive.

• Best value chair car: Taj Express (12280), New Delhi 06:55 to Mathura 08:35 and Kota Jan Shatabdi (12060), Nizamuddin 12:45 to Mathura 14:20.

• Handy morning option: NDLS Sogaria Intercity (20452), New Delhi 07:10 to Mathura 08:55.

• Budget and evening or overnight: Kerala (20:10), Mewar (18:25), Malwa (20:30) and Dakshin (23:00) expressed in sleeper or 3AC.

• Cheapest AC: the Garib Rath services, a budget 3AC option.

Which Delhi station to board

Delhi has several major stations and Mathura trains leave from more than one, so check your departure point carefully when booking. Most services start from New Delhi (NDLS) or Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM); the Taj Express, for instance, runs from Nizamuddin, while the Shatabdi leaves from New Delhi. A few originate elsewhere. Reach your station in good time, as the platforms are busy and the trains punctual.

From Mathura Junction to Vrindavan

There is no railway station in Vrindavan large enough for most trains, so every rail journey ends at Mathura Junction and the last 14 km to Vrindavan is by road, about 30 minutes. Auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws and taxis wait outside the station, but after a journey it is far easier to be met. We can receive you at Mathura Junction and carry you straight to your hotel or the temples with our Mathura Vrindavan taxi service, in the right order for the darshan.

Train or cab: which to choose

Both are good; it depends on your group and your plans. The train is cheaper, restful and frequent and ideal for solo travellers and couples who do not mind reaching Mathura Junction and arranging the last leg. A cab is door to door, runs on your schedule and waits at the temples, which suits families, elders and groups with luggage. Many pilgrims take the train down and hire a car once here for the local darshan, the best of both.

What to see when you arrive

Once your train reaches Mathura, the darshans begin. In Mathura itself stands the Krishna Janmabhoomi, the birthplace of the Lord and the grand Dwarkadhish temple by the Yamuna. A short drive on lies Vrindavan, with the beloved Banke Bihari, the marble Prem Mandir and the kirtan of ISKCON. A driver who knows the temple hours makes the day flow from the moment you step off the train.

Booking tips for the train

• Book on IRCTC well ahead, especially for weekends and festivals, when trains fill fast.

• Remember that the listed fares exclude dynamic pricing, reservation charges and IRCTC fees.

• For a day trip, take a fast morning chair-car train down and a late one back.

• Double-check your Delhi departure station; not all Mathura trains leave from the same one.

• Keep your ID and ticket handy and note your coach position to board quickly.

• Arrange your Mathura Junction pickup in advance so no time is lost on arrival.

The honest bit

Honest words from one born in Braj. The train is genuinely the sweetest way to reach Mathura from Delhi, quick, cheap and restful, but two things trip people up. First, the fares here are approximate and exclude dynamic pricing, reservation and IRCTC fees, so the final amount is a little higher; always check the live fare when booking. Second, remember the journey does not end at the platform: Vrindavan is another 14 km on, so plan that last leg. If you would rather stay overnight, see our Mathura Vrindavan hotels; if you are timing a festival, check the Mathura Vrindavan festivals calendar, when every train is packed.

Why Experience My India is the right choice

I was born in Gokul in the Mathura district and I meet trains at Mathura Junction every week. Guiding since 2018, more than 50,000 pilgrims, 4.5 stars on Google, WhatsApp first, 8 AM to 9 PM daily. We receive you at the platform, carry you the last leg to your hotel or the temples, take you around in the right order and, if you wish, plan the darshan around the cool season; see our best time to visit Mathura Vrindavan guide. One clear fare, no touts and never a charge for free darshan.

Tip from Gurudutt: take a fast chair-car train that reaches Mathura by mid-morning and have a car waiting at the platform. You will be at Banke Bihari's lane before the biggest crowds, with the whole day for darshan ahead and you will never feel the tiredness of the road. The train down and a car here is the smoothest way of all.

Related guides

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• Mathura and Vrindavan places to see: the top sights

• Vishram Ghat, Mathura: Yamuna aarti and parikrama

• Vrindavan city map: temples and lanes at a glance

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Plan your trip to Vrindavan

Tell me your train and arrival time at Mathura Junction and I will have a car and a guide born on this soil waiting, to take you around the temples in the right order for one clear price. Our Mathura Vrindavan same-day tour by car pairs perfectly with a fast morning train from Delhi. 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.