Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh, one of the most incredible tourist destinations of India which is blessed with amazing tourist attractions and bestowed with glorious colors. The compelling beauty of Uttar Pradesh can be traced in its heritage cities, magnificent monuments, beautiful gardens, holy places and in its cultural possessions. The unending list of abundant holiday destinations in Uttar Pradesh grabs the attention of the vacationers and tourists across the country and the globe.
Location
Uttar Pradesh is the most populated and the fifth largest state of India. This state occupies a large area in the north western part of the country. The state of Uttar Pradesh shares its state border with Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Haryana. It splits its international boundary with Nepal. This state is positioned between 23°52'N and 31°28'N latitudes and 77°3' and 84°39'E longitudes.
Places to see
A tour to Uttar Pradesh brings myriad options for you to explore the diverse colors and shades of life and culture.
Agra: Agra is considered to be the most romantic city in India. Agra is the home of Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The medieval Indian history says that Agra was the capital of this country for long 135 years. The city houses a number of monuments forts and other historical evidences. A trip to this city will give you the opportunity to explore various cultures and shades of life.
Lucknow: The cultural grandeur of Lucknow has always mesmerized visitors from across the globe. Some of the major attractions of this heritage city are State Museum Zoo, Manzil, Clock Tower, Asafi Masjid, Bada Imambara, Chhota Imabara, Rumi Darwaza etc.
Allahabad: The history of this city of culture dates back to the Vedas. The city named by Akbar is now one of the most active and prominent cities of India. A tour to Allahabad will allow you to experience the art and cultural tradition of India. One can take a holy dip into the river Ganges as well.
Varanasi: Varanasi, the city of temples and ghats is one of the most famous pilgrim destinations in India. Situated on the banks of the sacred river Ganges, Varanasi popularly known as Venaras is a holy place for the Hindu devotees and is known as a divine adobe of Lord Shiva. Varanasi has 81 sacred bathing ghats where devotees gather to take a holy deep into the river Ganges.
Noida: Noida is a flourishing business centre of Uttar Pradesh which is best known for its IT and outsourcing business centers. Some notable destinations nearby Noida are Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Meerut.
Monuments
There are a number of monuments that specifically bear the impressions of this reign. These inspiring human architectures represent the vivid facets of tradition, history, art, culture and language of Uttar Pradesh. Prepare yourself to take a voyage through the impressive passage of history and architectural wonders.
Taj Mahal: The monument of love Taj Mahal is a tribute to magnificence. The Taj Mahal of Uttar Pradesh is a renowned destination which is also located in the tourist map f the world. This is the most adorned creation of the Mughal Emperors and is one of the most sought after destinations of India.
Akbar's Tomb: Uttar Pradesh is one of the finest examples of historical monuments and architectural blends. Akbar’s Tomb is located at Sikandra which is situated at a 4km distance from Agra. This tomb is a perfect example of the merger of five different styles, Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, Christian and Jain.
Red Fort: The Red Fort of Uttar Pradesh is a gorgeous monument made of red sand stone. The concept of this attractive mansion was conceptualized by the Mughal emperor Akbar during his reign in the16th century and was completed by his inheritor Shah Jahan. The heritage building Agra Red Fort is a perfect example of the excellent amalgamation of Indian Mughal artistry and Indian architecture.
Akbar's Mausoleum, Fatehpur Sikri, Palace of Jodha Bai, Lucknow Residency, Ram Nagar fort, Bada Imambada, Birbal Bhawan etc. are some popular monuments and tourist attraction of Uttar Pradesh.
Holy Places
The state of Uttar Pradesh is also rich in its spiritual legacy and legendary associations. There are not only Hindu temples, this state also features a number of mosques, Gurudwaras and Buddhist stupas and gompas which allure devotees from different parts of the country. The pilgrimages for the Hindus such as Vrindavan and Mathura are cloaked in the reminiscences of Lord Krishna. Kashi and Venaras are considered as the cultural capital of India. Worship points like Jama Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri, and a number of sacred places such as Gurudwaras andchurches have always been a matter of attraction for devotees and worshipers.
Gardens
The state of Uttar Pradesh boosts of numerous gardens and most of them dates back to the medieval age. The gardens of Uttar Pradesh comprises of large maintained green lawns, flower plants with diverse range of colors, trees and fountains. Most of these impressive gardens were constructed by the Mughal emperors therefore, contains the essence of the architectural splendor and the glorious past. These gardens are scattered in different parts of the state which are visited by tourists throughout the year. Some famous gardens of Uttar Pradesh are Mehtab Bagh Garden, Taj Mahal garden, Dayal Bagh Garden, Shah Jahan Park and Ram Bagh.
Museums
Most of the cities of Uttar Pradesh are very old, apart from being famous because of their historical legacy and cultural heritage. When it comes to the museums various ancient manuscripts, sculptures, coins, century old objects and items adorn the galleries of Uttar Pradesh. Those who have an extra interest in knowing the history of Uttar Pradesh can gather sufficient information from various museums such as The Taj Mahal Museum, State Museum Lucknow, Bharat Kala Bhavan Varanasi, Spiritual Museum Agra, Ram Katha Museum, Government Museum Mathura etc.
Wildlife
This north Indian state houses a quite attractive array of wildlife varieties. Lofty mountains, forests, green carpeted pastures, flowing rivers, amazing range of flora and fauna are some interesting features of the natural beauty of Uttar Pradesh. An amusing variety of fauna like Nilgai, wolf, wild boar, hyena, crocodile, sambar, chinkara, deer, chital etc. could be found there. Some of the important sanctuaries and reserve forests of Uttar Pradesh are Chambal National Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranipur Sanctuary, Mahavir Sanctuary etc. A tour of wildlife sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh is surely going to be an adventurous and exciting experience for you.
How to reach
Uttar Pradesh is very well connected with the rest of the states of India by road, rail or air.
By Air: This state has a couple of airports located in different major cities of like Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur etc. Regular flights connect Uttar Pradesh with all important cities of India.
By Rail: This state is well linked with the rest of the country by super fast, express and passenger rail services. Some of the major railway stations of Uttar Pradesh are Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad and Mughalsarai.
By Road: The interstate and intra state roadway communication of Uttar Pradesh is very smooth. Good roadway network connects this state with all the important cities of India. National Highway 45, 29, 27, 26, 25 and 2 link this state with all bordering states and in turn with the entire country.
What to do
There are a lot of things one can do while in Uttar Pradesh. The diverse culture of the state provides an opportunity for a lot of activities and options to enjoy. Some of them are:
Enjoy a Tonga Ride while visiting the historical places of Agra. Colorful Tongas are found in every tourist spot which offer a delightful city rides for the visitors.
Shopping in Uttar Pradesh means buying handicrafts, embroidered items, stone carvings etc. Uttar Pradesh handicrafts include carpet, brassware, leatherwear, jardozi etc.
The traditional Mughlai cuisine is something that you must taste once you visit Uttar Pradesh. Other continental and Indian dishes are also being served in different restaurants and food courts.
A day’s outing to Dhobi Ghat is always a delightful experience and a colorful option to capture in photographs.
A walk on the green lawns of the Mughal gardens or a view of Tajmahal on a full moon night is always something fascinating what a vacationer longs for.
Bars, pubs and restaurants are there to make entertainment a breathtaking choice for tourists from cosmopolitan places.
Best time to visit
Uttar Pradesh generally observes an extreme climate which is too hot in summer and becomes biting cold in winters. Therefore, it is better to avoid the summer season to stay away from the heat of the sun. Hence, October till March is the perfect time to visit this historical city when the weather remains fairly cold to enjoy a vacation in Uttar Pradesh. One can also check out the events and festivals which are being celebrated at different point in time.
History
The name of Uttar Pradesh can be traced from the famous Indian epic Mahabharata. The great war of Mahabharata between the Pandavas and the Kauravas is said to be fought here. Many ruler and emperors have ruled this state but the best period witnessed in Uttar Pradesh was during the reign of Mughal emperors. British ruled this state during the pre independence period and it was in the year 1950 when the state came into existence as Uttar Pradesh.
Climate
Uttar Pradesh enjoys a climate which is tropical monsoon in character though variations are there due to the difference in altitudes. The state experiences three seasons in a year namely summer, monsoon and winter.
Summer: March till June are the months of summer. Summer in Uttar Pradesh is comparatively very hot and dry. The maximum temperature recorded in this season is somewhere around 47 - 48 °C.
Monsoon: Uttar Pradesh receives heavy rainfall during the rainy seasons. Rain arrives on June and remains till September. The annual average rainfall is around 990 mm.
Winter: Winter is the best period experienced in Uttar Pradesh and this is also the season for tourism. Winter appears in the month of October and lasts till February and the temperature moves in and around 3 to 4°C and sometimes drops below -1°C.
