- Home
- Discover India
- North India
- Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh has the wealth of its monuments, mystical call of its mountains and lakes, and unique religious fervour. Uttar Pradesh is the most fascinating state of India.
Uttar Pradesh invited to witness the history and culture of India. The ancient most states of India, Uttar Pradesh is said to be the founder of India as a nation. The state has another distinction of being a favored destinations of tourists all over the world. The history of Uttar Pradesh dates back to pre historic times, when Ramayana and Mahabharata were written. U.P. is a cosmopolitan and the modern face of India comprising rich tradition, language and religion.
The Ganges which forms the backbone of the state, is considered sacred by Hindus, and has seven holy towns including Varansi, the holiest of the holies. Uttar Pradesh is also of importance to Buddhists, it was at Sarnath that Buddha first preached his message.
The highlights of Uttar Pradesh are the Taj Mahal, the Fatehpur Sikri, the ghats at Varanasi, the hill stations and the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Lucknow, the capital city, is a city rich in culture and history. Built by the Nawabs, it's a city that takes its manners seriously. Here, the Bara Imambara, the Chota Imambara, the Residency and the Rumi Darwaza are the primary draws.
Uttar Pradesh invited to witness the history and culture of India. The ancient most states of India, Uttar Pradesh is said to be the founder of India as a nation. The state has another distinction of being a favored destinations of tourists all over the world. The history of Uttar Pradesh dates back to pre historic times, when Ramayana and Mahabharata were written. U.P. is a cosmopolitan and the modern face of India comprising rich tradition, language and religion.
The Ganges which forms the backbone of the state, is considered sacred by Hindus, and has seven holy towns including Varansi, the holiest of the holies. Uttar Pradesh is also of importance to Buddhists, it was at Sarnath that Buddha first preached his message.
The highlights of Uttar Pradesh are the Taj Mahal, the Fatehpur Sikri, the ghats at Varanasi, the hill stations and the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Lucknow, the capital city, is a city rich in culture and history. Built by the Nawabs, it's a city that takes its manners seriously. Here, the Bara Imambara, the Chota Imambara, the Residency and the Rumi Darwaza are the primary draws.
| Capital | : | Lucknow |
| Location | : | Uttar Pradesh is situated in the North India, in South-East Asia |
| District Area | : | 2,43,286 Sq Km |
| Largest city | : | Kanpur |
| Literacy | : | 57.37% |
| Sex Ratio | : | 111.4 |
| Best time to visit | : | Octobers to March |
| Temperature | : | Summer: 45°C Max. to 28°C Min. Winter: 25°C Max. to 2°C Min. |
| Climate | : | Tropical monsoon |
| Rainfall | : | 1,025 mm Average rainfall |
| Clothing | : | Summer: Light cotton Winters: Heavy woolens |
| Local Languages | : | Hindi, Urdu, Awadhi, Braj, Bhojpuri and English |
Agra
The Taj at Agra is, of course, the best place to start with. This superb specimen of Mughal architecture is a veritable poetry in stone constructed by Shahjahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz. Located 40 km away is Fatehpur Sikri built by Akbar.
Read More..
Fatehpur Sikri
Situated at a distance of 40 km from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri has the mausoleum of the famous saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. The mausoleum is in the premises of a mosque and was built during the reign of Akbar.
Ayodhya
The main tourist attraction of Ayodhya was the Babri Masjid (Mosque), built by the Mughal king Babur. Unfortunately, the traveler can no longer see this monument as it was demolished in the riots that took place here in 1992. It is said that Ayodhya has 7000 temples, but there are some 100 temples of relative significance. Near the remains of the Babri Masjid, the traveler can see the Ram Janmabhumi (birthplace of Lord Ram) shrine. It is believed that Lord Ram spent much of his childhood here. Other places to visit in Ayodhya are Lakshman Ghat, Kala Ram temple and the Kanak Bhavan temple, which was built in the 19th century. There are several Jain shrines in Ayodhya. One kilometer east of the Ram Janmabhumi shrine is Hanumangadhi (Fortress of Hanuman, the revered monkey god and friend/devotee of Lord Ram). It is said that Lord Hanuman lived in a cave nearby to protect the Ram Janmabhumi.
Lucknow
Lucknow shot to fame during the period of the Nawabs of Awadh. Asaf-ud-daula built the Roomi Darwaza and the Bada Imambada. The Asafi Mosque, Daulat Khana, the Residency, Bibiapur Kothi, and Chowk Market were also built by Asaf-ud-daula. Ghazi-ud-din Haider built the Shahnajaf, Moti Mahal, Mubarak Manzil, and tombs of Saadat Ali and Khurshidzadi. The Hussainabad Imambada, Bari Jama Masjid, Hussainabad Baradari, and a few other buildings were built by Mohammad Ali Shah.
Mathura
Mathura it is one of the seven holy cities of Hinduism. It is regarded as the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Allahabad
Situated at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, Allahabad or Prayag, also known as Tirtharaj, is a famous pilgrim center of India.
Sarnath
Sarnath occupies a very important place among Buddhist shrines. After Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, the Buddha preached his first sermon here.
Varanasi
Varanasi is among the most ancient cities of India. It has many beautiful temples, including the famous Vishwanath temple.
Vrindavan
Vrindavan is situated at a distance of 10 km from Mathura. There are about 4,000 temples in Vrindavan.
The Taj at Agra is, of course, the best place to start with. This superb specimen of Mughal architecture is a veritable poetry in stone constructed by Shahjahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz. Located 40 km away is Fatehpur Sikri built by Akbar.
Read More..
Fatehpur Sikri
Situated at a distance of 40 km from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri has the mausoleum of the famous saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. The mausoleum is in the premises of a mosque and was built during the reign of Akbar.
Ayodhya
The main tourist attraction of Ayodhya was the Babri Masjid (Mosque), built by the Mughal king Babur. Unfortunately, the traveler can no longer see this monument as it was demolished in the riots that took place here in 1992. It is said that Ayodhya has 7000 temples, but there are some 100 temples of relative significance. Near the remains of the Babri Masjid, the traveler can see the Ram Janmabhumi (birthplace of Lord Ram) shrine. It is believed that Lord Ram spent much of his childhood here. Other places to visit in Ayodhya are Lakshman Ghat, Kala Ram temple and the Kanak Bhavan temple, which was built in the 19th century. There are several Jain shrines in Ayodhya. One kilometer east of the Ram Janmabhumi shrine is Hanumangadhi (Fortress of Hanuman, the revered monkey god and friend/devotee of Lord Ram). It is said that Lord Hanuman lived in a cave nearby to protect the Ram Janmabhumi.
Lucknow
Lucknow shot to fame during the period of the Nawabs of Awadh. Asaf-ud-daula built the Roomi Darwaza and the Bada Imambada. The Asafi Mosque, Daulat Khana, the Residency, Bibiapur Kothi, and Chowk Market were also built by Asaf-ud-daula. Ghazi-ud-din Haider built the Shahnajaf, Moti Mahal, Mubarak Manzil, and tombs of Saadat Ali and Khurshidzadi. The Hussainabad Imambada, Bari Jama Masjid, Hussainabad Baradari, and a few other buildings were built by Mohammad Ali Shah.
Mathura
Mathura it is one of the seven holy cities of Hinduism. It is regarded as the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Allahabad
Situated at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, Allahabad or Prayag, also known as Tirtharaj, is a famous pilgrim center of India.
Sarnath
Sarnath occupies a very important place among Buddhist shrines. After Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, the Buddha preached his first sermon here.
Varanasi
Varanasi is among the most ancient cities of India. It has many beautiful temples, including the famous Vishwanath temple.
Vrindavan
Vrindavan is situated at a distance of 10 km from Mathura. There are about 4,000 temples in Vrindavan.
FESTIVAL/FAIRS
Ganga Mahotsava, Varanasi
Ganges has always been the not only the lifeline of India but also the felicitator and nourishment of the Indian Civilization. The river Ganges, though, considered a thing of reverence by the Hindus has in the course of history defined the psyche of the Indian society as a whole, irrespective of religion. It not only nourishes the population that lives by its kingdom but also give them a sense of separate identity and belonging.
Janmashtmi Fair, Mathura
Janmashtmi is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India as well as Uttar Pradesh. Although the festival is celebrated all over the Uttar Pradesh but it is the celebrations in the Mathura zone that has a special significance in this festival. The twin cities of Mathura and Vrindavan celebrate the festival of Janmashtmi with great pomp and show.
Maha Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh, Allahabad
The Kumbh Mela is generally held every three years in rotation at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Kumbh Mela is organized in the month of Magh according to the traditional calendar, which when converted to Gregorian turns to be Feb-March. The most important among these is the one celebrated at Allahabad. Due to the rotation system, the Kumbha Mela comes to Allahabad every 12 Years.
Ramlila, Varanasi
Ramlila, plainly speaking, is a stage representation of the famous Hindu Epic Ramayana. The Ramayana is based on the life, times and values of Lord Rama. Lord Rama is called the Maryada Purushottam or the 'The best among the dignified'. The story of Lord Rama and his comrades is so popular in India that it has actually amalgamated the psyche of the Indian mainstream irrespective of their religion.
Sardhana Christian Fair, Meerut
Every year on the 1st Sunday of the month of November a large feast is held in honor of Mother Mary. Devotes and history lovers gather in a large numbers to see not only the wonderful shrine but also the fine palaces built in Italian style around the church by Begum Samru. The festival is marked by an Indian style Carnival that has become very popular in recent years. There are lots of traditional performances too.
Latthmar Holi Mathura
During spring, Holi, the festival of colors is celebrated all over India. Holi is a time to make merry. People smear each other with colored powdered and water colors. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion. The Holi celebrations in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna is spectacular. The Rang Gulal Festival is celebrated for a week with exuberant processions, songs and music.
Taj Mahotsava
The Taj Mahotsava is another very popular festive in India. Taj Mahotsava that is held annually at Agra is a colorful display of the Arts, Crafts, Culture and Cuisine of the Braj area. Organized by UP Tourism and held as an annual event at the Shilpgram, Taj Mahotsava is a fitting tribute to the legendary skills of master craftsmen of Uttar Pradesh.
Yoga Festival at Varanasi & Allahabad
The importance of Yoga is unparalleled in the Indian civilization. This art of meditation and alternative medication has heavily influenced the India and world. The path of yoga is considered to be a perfect way to find peace of mind and solace without corrupting the soul. The movement got popular in the west as a counter-revolution to the Hippie movement.
Ganga Mahotsava, Varanasi
Ganges has always been the not only the lifeline of India but also the felicitator and nourishment of the Indian Civilization. The river Ganges, though, considered a thing of reverence by the Hindus has in the course of history defined the psyche of the Indian society as a whole, irrespective of religion. It not only nourishes the population that lives by its kingdom but also give them a sense of separate identity and belonging.
Janmashtmi Fair, Mathura
Janmashtmi is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India as well as Uttar Pradesh. Although the festival is celebrated all over the Uttar Pradesh but it is the celebrations in the Mathura zone that has a special significance in this festival. The twin cities of Mathura and Vrindavan celebrate the festival of Janmashtmi with great pomp and show.
Maha Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh, Allahabad
The Kumbh Mela is generally held every three years in rotation at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Kumbh Mela is organized in the month of Magh according to the traditional calendar, which when converted to Gregorian turns to be Feb-March. The most important among these is the one celebrated at Allahabad. Due to the rotation system, the Kumbha Mela comes to Allahabad every 12 Years.
Ramlila, Varanasi
Ramlila, plainly speaking, is a stage representation of the famous Hindu Epic Ramayana. The Ramayana is based on the life, times and values of Lord Rama. Lord Rama is called the Maryada Purushottam or the 'The best among the dignified'. The story of Lord Rama and his comrades is so popular in India that it has actually amalgamated the psyche of the Indian mainstream irrespective of their religion.
Sardhana Christian Fair, Meerut
Every year on the 1st Sunday of the month of November a large feast is held in honor of Mother Mary. Devotes and history lovers gather in a large numbers to see not only the wonderful shrine but also the fine palaces built in Italian style around the church by Begum Samru. The festival is marked by an Indian style Carnival that has become very popular in recent years. There are lots of traditional performances too.
Latthmar Holi Mathura
During spring, Holi, the festival of colors is celebrated all over India. Holi is a time to make merry. People smear each other with colored powdered and water colors. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion. The Holi celebrations in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna is spectacular. The Rang Gulal Festival is celebrated for a week with exuberant processions, songs and music.
Taj Mahotsava
The Taj Mahotsava is another very popular festive in India. Taj Mahotsava that is held annually at Agra is a colorful display of the Arts, Crafts, Culture and Cuisine of the Braj area. Organized by UP Tourism and held as an annual event at the Shilpgram, Taj Mahotsava is a fitting tribute to the legendary skills of master craftsmen of Uttar Pradesh.
Yoga Festival at Varanasi & Allahabad
The importance of Yoga is unparalleled in the Indian civilization. This art of meditation and alternative medication has heavily influenced the India and world. The path of yoga is considered to be a perfect way to find peace of mind and solace without corrupting the soul. The movement got popular in the west as a counter-revolution to the Hippie movement.
Summer
Very hot in the summers across the Uttar Pradesh but there is a slight fall in temperature as we move from western UP towards East. Summer season persists from April to August. The daytime temperature remains very high and usually touches around 45°C in Western Uttar Pradesh and Agra zone where as it remains around 42°C in Eastern Utter Pradesh. Night are relatively cooler typical of extreme climate and the temperature comes down to as low as 28 °C because of the cool breeze. Dew is very common in all the parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Winter
Winters in Uttar Pradesh are a lot cooler with day temperature pleasant around 24°C. And nights are chilly with temperature getting as low as 2 to 4°C across the state. Earlier Eastern regions were comparatively warmer but due to persistent change in the weather trends, even these areas fall under intense cold wave. Cities like Allahabad and Varanasi are continuously seeing mercury dipping to freezing point. The winter falls around Mid-November and continue till February end.
Very hot in the summers across the Uttar Pradesh but there is a slight fall in temperature as we move from western UP towards East. Summer season persists from April to August. The daytime temperature remains very high and usually touches around 45°C in Western Uttar Pradesh and Agra zone where as it remains around 42°C in Eastern Utter Pradesh. Night are relatively cooler typical of extreme climate and the temperature comes down to as low as 28 °C because of the cool breeze. Dew is very common in all the parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Winter
Winters in Uttar Pradesh are a lot cooler with day temperature pleasant around 24°C. And nights are chilly with temperature getting as low as 2 to 4°C across the state. Earlier Eastern regions were comparatively warmer but due to persistent change in the weather trends, even these areas fall under intense cold wave. Cities like Allahabad and Varanasi are continuously seeing mercury dipping to freezing point. The winter falls around Mid-November and continue till February end.
By Air:
There are four domestic airports in Uttar Pradesh, i.e., in Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi. However, there is no international airport. Major cities in Uttar Pradesh are connected by air to Delhi and other large cities of India.
By Railway:
The state is connected with the major cities of India by trains. Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad and Mughalsarai are some of the major railheads that are linked to the rest of the country by express, super-fast and passenger trains.
By Road:
Uttar Pradesh is connected to the rest of the country by a good network of roads. Some of the important national highways that connect that state are NH 2, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 45.
There are four domestic airports in Uttar Pradesh, i.e., in Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi. However, there is no international airport. Major cities in Uttar Pradesh are connected by air to Delhi and other large cities of India.
By Railway:
The state is connected with the major cities of India by trains. Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad and Mughalsarai are some of the major railheads that are linked to the rest of the country by express, super-fast and passenger trains.
By Road:
Uttar Pradesh is connected to the rest of the country by a good network of roads. Some of the important national highways that connect that state are NH 2, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 45.