Situated in the northern part of India, bordering with the capital of India New
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh is one of the most popular and an established tourist
destination for both Indians and non-Indians alike in India. The most
populous state of India, Uttar Pradesh contains a large number of historical
monuments and places of religious significance. Geographically, Uttar
Pradesh is very diverse, with Himalayan foothills in the extreme north and the
Gangetic Plain in the centre. It is also home of India's most visited sites, the
Taj Mahal, and Hinduism's holiest city, Varanasi. Kathak, one of the eight forms
of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh is at
the heart of India, hence it is also known as The Heartland of India. Cuisine
of Uttar Pradesh like Awadhi cuisine, Mughlai cuisine, Kumauni cuisine are
very famous not only in India but also many places abroad.
Uttar Pradesh is known for its rich culture and tradition. It is home to
Ayodhya and Mathura birthplace of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna respectively.
Uttar Pradesh attracts a large number of both national and international
tourists. Taj Mahal, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in Agra is
also located in Uttar Pradesh. There are different places one can visit
in Uttar Pradesh. Agra, Jhansi, Lucknow and Meerut are historical cities famous
for their monuments. Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Allahabad
are holy cities for Hindus and Kushinagar and Sarnath are important
Buddhist places among the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of
Gautama Buddha. Noida is the most developed urban city of Uttar Pradesh.
To boost the tourism in the state from within the country and other parts of
the world, the Government of Uttar Pradesh established a 'Uttar Pradesh
Heritage Arc' covering the cities of Agra, Lucknow and Varanasi.
Agra The 17th century Taj Mahal in Agra is
the most popular monument in India, attracting over 2.5 million visitors per
year. Agra is home to four World Heritage Sites in Taj Mahal, Agra Fort,
Sikandra & the Fatehpur Sikri. Agra is also home to many other beautiful Mughal
buildings like Akbar's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah etc. Dayal Bagh is an
under-construction temple that many visit. The lifelike carving in marble is
not seen anywhere else in India. Kumbh Mela
Every year thousands gather at Allahabad to take part in the festival on the
banks of the Ganges, the Magh Mela. The same festival is organised in a larger
scale every 12th year and attracts millions of people and is called the
Kumbha Mela. Kumbh Mela is the most sacred of all the pilgrimages. Thousands
of holy men and women attend, and the auspiciousness of the festival is in
part attributable to this. The sadhus are seen clad in saffron sheets with
plenty of ashes and powder dabbed on their skin per the requirements of
ancient traditions. Some called nanga sanyasis or 'Dhigambers' may often be
seen without any clothes even in severe winter, generally considered to live an
extreme lifestyle. This tends to attract a lot of western attention as it is
seemingly in contrast to a generally conservative social modesty practised in
the country. Hindu religious sites
Millions of tourists and pilgrims visit the cities of Allahabad, Varanasi,
Mathura and Ayodhya, as those are considered to be the holiest cities in
India. = Varanasi=
Varanasi is widely considered to be the second oldest city in the world after
Jerusalem. It is famous for its ghats which are populated year round with
people who want to take a dip in the holy Ganges River.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is home to the Vishwanath Jyotirling
temple, which is one of the most sacred of Hindu Temples.
= Mathura-Vrindavan= Birthplace of Lord Krishana. Both
Mathura & Vrindavan have temples devoted to Krishna. During Holi, a special brand
of Holi called the Lath mar Holi is played here.
Janmaashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna, is celebrated in the region.
= Ayodhya= Hindus believe the birthplace of Rama to
be in Ayodhya at the place called Ram Janmabhoomi, the site of the demolished
Babri Mosque. Ayodhya is also the birthplace of five
Tirthankars, including the first Tirthankar of Jainism, Shri Rishabh Dev.
He is known as the father of Jain religion. The city is also important in
the history and heritage of Buddhism in India, with several Buddhist temples,
monuments and centers of learning having been established here during the age of
the Mauryan Empire and the Gupta Dynasty. Ayodhya reached its glorious
peak as known to history during the reign of the Guptas over India.
Swaminarayan led the Swaminarayan Sampraday sect of Hinduism and lived
here during his childhood years. It was from Ayodhya that Swaminarayan started
his seven-year journey across India as Neelkanth.
Tulsidas is said to have begun the writing of his famous Ramayana poem Shri
Ramacharitamanas in Ayodhya in 1574 CE. Several Tamil Alwar mention the city of
Ayodhya. Ayodhya is also said to be the birthplace of Bhahubali, Brahmi,
Sundari, King Dasaratha, Acharya Padaliptasurisvarji, King Harishchandra,
Shri Rama, Achalbhrata, and the ninth Gandhara of Mahavir Swami.
The Atharva Veda called Ayodhya "a city built by gods and being as prosperous as
paradise itself". Buddhist religious sites
Uttar Pradesh has many sites which are connected to Lord Buddha and hence, are
sacred to Buddhists. Sarnath: a place where he held his first
public discourse. Also at Sarnath is the Ashoka Pillar with the Lion Capital, is
important archaeological artifact with national significance.
Kushinagar: Where he attained Mahaparinirvana.
Kaushambi: Where Buddha delivered many sermons.
Sankassa: Where he descended after addressing his mother in Heaven.
Sravasti: His favorite monsoon resort. Places of interest
Places of interest in Uttar Pradesh include:
Varanasi – The origin of Hinduism and the oldest city of the world, also known
as City of temples, holy place for devotees of Lord Shiva, one of the
finest Textiles Industry in the world. Agra – Taj Mahal and several others
historical monuments and gardens. Allahabad or Prayag – Well known for its
Kumbh Mela. The place where Indian national river Ganges and Yamuna and
Saraswati rivers meet. A mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the
Ganges river. Akbar forts, one of the most popular religious center of ancient
and modern India for Hinduism. Uttar Pradesh's administrative and education
capital. Kanpur – Uttar Pradesh's commercial and
Industrial hub, several historical places from Mughal, British era.
Kanpur Sangrahalaya, a museum Lucknow – The capital of Uttar Pradesh,
Several historical places Mughal, British and ancient India.
Mathura-The birthplace of Lord Krishna of Hinduism and Neminath of Jainism.
Vrindavan Ayodhya – The birthplace of Lord
Vishnu's incarnation prabhu Shri Rama. Jhansi – Historical place, Rani
Lakshmibai's battlefield against British, Jhansi Fort
Sarnath-Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, the Buddha as one of the four
places of pilgrimage which his devout followers should visit. The birthplace
of Shreyansanath, the eleventh Jain Tirthankar of the Jainism.
Kushinagar – It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha is
believed to have attained Parinirvana after his death.
Fatehpur Sikri-Historical place for Mughal Empire's palaces and forts.
Meerut – The historical place of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 or the First War of
Indian Independence. Indian Historical place from Mahabharata period of ancient
India to Modern Uttar Pradesh, India. Mirzapur Division – The hub of world's
finest carpet Industries, and very popular tourist destination for its
natural beauty and one of the fastest growing region of Uttar Pradesh.
Ghaziabad – Historical places from ancient India to modern India and
India's fastest growing Industrial city Noida and Greater Noida – IT,
Electronics and education hub of Northern India.India's biggest city with
planned and highteck residential area. Gorakhpur – The city was home to
Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jain and Sikh saints. The birthplace of Paramhansa
Yogananda, great Hindu emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
Jaunpur – Historical city founded by the Sultan of Delhi, Feroz Shah Tughlaq and
named in memory of his father, Muhammad bin Tughluq as Jaunpur Sultanate.
Mughals, Lodis and Islamic forts. Dudhwa National Park – Dudhwa Tiger
Reserve, Birds Sanctuary, the unique Frog Temple at Oyal, Surat Bhawan
Palace, Elephant Rides. Rehar – Several major tourist
attractions can be mentioned in the town’s surroundings, like Jim Corbett
National Park about 24 km, Nainital about 69 km
Gonda - Mulagandhakuti. The remains of Buddha's hut in Jetavana Monastery,
Sravasti in Gonda Division and Swaminarayan Chhapaiyā: The village of
Chhapaiya is situated at a distance of 50 km from the district headquarters.
The chief interest of the place is Swaminarayan temple which marks the
birthplace of Swaminarayan, or Sahajanand Swami, who was born here on 2
April 1781 as Ghanshyam Pande. Ghanshyam left Chhapaiya at the age of 11 to
travel to the pilgrimage sites around India. He completed his pilgrimage in
Western Gujarat, where he assumed the leadership of Swaminarayan Sampradaya.
The very famous Akshardham temples in New Delhi and in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
built by his spiritual successor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, are both
dedicated to him. His followers consider him to be a manifestation of the Supreme
Godhead.[10] There have been many movies about the Swaminarayan filmed in this
temple in Chhapaiya and in nearby places in the district.
Wildlife Dudhwa National Park is one of the best
Tiger reserves in the country. Lakhimpur Kheri is home to the Tiger reserve. In
sept 2008, Uttar Pradesh has got another Tiger Reserve area in Pilibhit named
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. Some areas require a special permit for non-Indians
to visit. There are many other Wild life Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh.
= Wildlife sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh= Galleries
= Agra= = Allahabad=
= Dudhwa= = Fatehpur Sikri=
= Lucknow= = Mathura-Vrindavan=
= Sarnath= Outline of Tourism in India
References External links
Official Website of Agra maintained by NIC
27.190000°N 78.010000°E﻿ / 27.190000; 78.010000
Tourism in Uttar Pradesh travel guide from Wikivoyage
Agra City Guide arun is the main reason ..why
uttarpardesh is famous