One person on Quora said:
>Both Varanasi and Mathura-Vrindavan are significant pilgrimage destinations in India, known for their rich cultural and religious heritage, especially in Hinduism. However, they differ in terms of the number and types of temples.
>Varanasi:
>Number of Temples: Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is home to around 2,000 temples, including famous ones like Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, and Durga Temple.
>Significance: Varanasi is considered one of the oldest living cities in the world and is a major center for Hindu worship. The temples here often focus on Shiva, as the city is dedicated to him.
>Mathura-Vrindavan:
>Number of Temples: Mathura and Vrindavan together have a significantly higher number of temples, with estimates suggesting over 5,000 temples, including renowned ones like Krishna Janmabhoomi and Banke Bihari Temple.
>Significance: Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, while Vrindavan is associated with his early life and divine pastimes. The temples here celebrate various aspects of Lord Krishna's life and are particularly vibrant during festivals.
Atala (on
indiamike.com) said:
Vrindavan is a "small" temple town at the river Yamuna, hundreds of beautiful temples with lots of activity, colourful worship: it gives you a taste of the heart of "Hindu" devotion, an esthetic experience of sorts. A good, more intimate type of introduction to the emotional side of India.
>Varanasi is a big city at the Ganga, with its famous Ghat-views (ghat= steps down to the river), the funeral ghats, the commerce in the narrow alleys, colorful shops, a lot of dirt and congestion, sadhus of many kinds, a lot of show-off stuff (like an artificially staged evening-arti). They know what to do to impress the tourists.
>So which is better for you?
www.indiamike.com/india/uttar-pradesh-f60/varanasi-or-vrindavan-which-place-is-better-to-visit-t181565/#post14993064 million people in Varanasi, also 30 thousand in Vrindavan.
Also distance to Delhi: 12 hours for Varanasi, 50 miles Vrindavan.
Vignesh K on Quora wrote;
aho madhupurī dhanyā vaikuṇṭhāc ca garīyasī |
dinam ekaṁ nivāsena harau bhaktiḥ prajāyate ||
>Aho! The abode of Mathurā is supremely blessed and even more glorious than Vaikuṇṭha, for by residing there for only one day, a person attains Bhakti to Lord Hari.
ayodhyā mathurā māyā kāśī kāñcī avantikā |
purī dvārāvatī caiva saptaitā mokṣa-dāyikāḥ ||
>The seven holy cities of Ayodhya, Mathura, Mayapura, Varanasi, Kanci, Avantika, Jagannatha Puri, and Dvaraka grant liberation (Mukti/Moksha)
evaṁ sapta-purīṇān tu sarvotkṛṣṭan tu māthuram |
śrūyatāṁ mahimā devi! vaikuṇṭha-bhuvanottamaḥ ||
>Among them, Mathura is the best. O goddess, please hear of its glories. It is the most exalted part of the Vaikuntha world.
>Now, one may ask what is special about Mathura Dhama. For this, we have to understand that there are two transcendental potencies of the Lord-Taraka and Paraka. Now, Taraka is the seed potency of the Taraka Mantra (Rama Nama) that bestows liberation (Mukti), delivering the person chanting the Taraka Mantra from the host of material sufferings (thus awarding Mukti), and Paraka is the seed potency of the Paraka Mantra (Krishna Nama) that satisfies the thirst for the nectar of pure love of Krishna.
>In Kashi, only Taraka potency is manifest. Thus awarding Mukti to the person who dies hearing the Taraka Mantra. However, in Mathura, both Taraka and Paraka potencies are manifest together. This is considered the bestower of Krishna Prema (Mukti being concomitant). Since pure devotees of Krishna desire Prema Bhakti over Mukti, they consider Mathura more glorious than Kashi (Banaras).
www.quora.com/Which-is-better-Mathura-or-Vrindavan-or-Banaras-Varanasi-Why?top_ans=394464791Preference between Vrindavan/Mathura and or Varanasi would seem to come down to personal preference, and taste also the size of cities, and the locations.
