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

Moradabad, the brass city of western Uttar Pradesh and Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna, sit within an easy five-hour drive and there is an interesting choice of routes: the shortest by distance is actually the slowest, while the longer expressway route is quicker. For Moradabad's many devotees of Krishna, the journey to his land is a comfortable one, if you pick the right road. Here, from one born in Braj, is the complete guide to the Moradabad to Mathura distance, the routes both ways and the best way to travel. Plan your visit with our Mathura Vrindavan tour packages.

Key takeaways

• Moradabad to Mathura is about 201 to 294 km, roughly 5 hours by road.

• The shortest route (NH 509, about 201 km) is actually the slowest, at around 5.5 hours.

• The quickest route (NH 9 and Yamuna Expressway, about 273 km) takes around 4 hours 49 minutes.

• So the longer expressway route is faster; pick it unless traffic says otherwise.

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

• 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 Moradabad and western UP. Here is everything you need, told by someone who receives these travellers and knows the roads: the exact distances and routes both ways, the train and other options, the best way to travel and the darshan at the end.

Moradabad to Mathura distance and driving routes

By road, the distance from Moradabad to Mathura is about 201 to 294 km and the drive takes roughly 5 hours. The interesting thing is that the shortest route is the slowest, so the route matters. There are three main ways.

Moradabad to Mathura road routes. Approximate; the Yamuna Expressway route is quickest, though not the shortest.

Here is the key point: the NH 509 route is the shortest at just 201 km, but it runs on slower roads and takes about 5.5 hours; the NH 9 and Yamuna Expressway route, though longer at 273 km, is quicker at under 5 hours on the fast expressway. So the longer route is the better choice, unless traffic on the day says otherwise. A car that knows the roads picks the best line; our Mathura Vrindavan taxi service can carry you the whole way and on to Vrindavan.

Mathura to Moradabad distance (the return journey)

The road back is much the same, about 207 to 276 km and 4.75 to 5.5 hours, with the same choice of routes. If you are planning the reverse leg, these are the main routes.

Mathura to Moradabad road routes. Approximate; the Yamuna Expressway routes are quickest.

Moradabad to Mathura by train

The train is a comfortable option, as Moradabad is a major 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 Moradabad 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 Moradabad to Mathura ticket in advance in the tourist season.

Moradabad to Mathura by air

For this distance, flying makes little sense. Moradabad has no major airport; the nearest to Braj is Delhi, about 150 km on the far side. A car or the train between Moradabad and Braj is far simpler than any flight.

• Moradabad has no major airport.

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

Moradabad to Mathura by bus

Buses run from Moradabad towards Delhi, Aligarh and Mathura, 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 and picking the quickest route; 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 Moradabad 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, with clean roadside stops for chai and fuel on the expressway. 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 and the expressway, 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 9 and Yamuna Expressway route; though longer, it is quicker than the short NH 509 line.

• Only take the NH 509 route if the expressway is heavy with traffic.

• The train from Moradabad 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 roads and expressway if you can or allow extra time.

• Come October to March for the most pleasant weather.

The honest bit

Honest words on the Moradabad to Mathura journey, from one born in Braj. This is a comfortable half-day drive, but the routes hold a genuine surprise, that the shortest by distance, the NH 509 at just 201 km, is actually the slowest at 5.5 hours, while the longer Yamuna Expressway route at 273 km is quicker at under 5 hours. A map may push you to the shorter road, but the expressway is the better choice; a local driver knows this. The train from Moradabad is comfortable too. Vrindavan is only 14 km beyond Mathura, so see both. Beware the winter fog. Distances and times are approximate. Planned well, Moradabad to Braj is an easy journey.

Why Experience My India is the right choice

I was born in Gokul in the Mathura district and I welcome travellers from Moradabad and western UP 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, pick the quickest route, 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: do not be fooled by the map into taking the shorter NH 509 road; the longer Yamuna Expressway route is faster and far smoother and worth the extra kilometres. Set out from Moradabad early, take the expressway and you will reach Mathura by late morning for the darshan, with time to drive the short 14 km on to Vrindavan for the afternoon and evening temples. A half-day's drive on the right road brings you to the whole heart of Krishna's land.

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Plan your trip

Tell me your dates and where in Moradabad 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.