 |
 Situated
in the northern part of India, Uttar Pradesh
is the most populated state of India. In
terms of area, it is the fourth largest
among all the states. It is bound by Nepal
on the north, and is surrounded by the
states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Often
referred to as the "cow belt" or "Hindi
belt", Uttar Pradesh has been the most
dominant state in Indian politics and
culture since Independence, producing over
half of India's prime ministers.
The Ganges River forms the backbone of Uttar
Pradesh, and most of the state consists of
the vast Ganges plain. The Ganges is the
sacred river of Hinduism, and four of the
religion's seven holy towns are in the
state, including Varanasi, the holiest of
them all. Uttar Pradesh is also a place of
major importance to Buddhists, for it was at
Sarnath, just outside Varanasi, that the
Buddha first preached his message of the
middle way.
There's more to Uttar Pradesh than just
religion, though. The scenic north-western
corner has hill stations sprinkled along the
foothills of the Himalayas, boasts excellent
trekking and rises to form some of the
highest mountains in India.
Fast Facts
Area - 294,411 sq km
Population - 166 million
Capital - Lucknow
Climate
Summer (March to June) - Warm
Monsoon (July to Semtember) - Warm
Winter (October to February) - Cold
Clothing - Summer - Cottons;
Winter - Woollens
Languages spoken - Hindi
Best Time to Visit - October to March
Cities
Lucknow
 The state capital was associated with the
princely court of Oudh and then with the
British. Both cultures linger on in the
city, whose finest monument is the Bara
Imambara. The Lucknow Residency was site of
the Great Revolt of 1857 - you can still see
the cannon marks on the walls. The La
Martiniere school, founded by Claude
Martine, a French soldier, blends Mughal,
Hindu and Italian architecture and is a
leading educational institution. The Nawabi
tradition lives on in the leisurely habits
of the people, their style of speaking, the
architecture, etiquette, mouth-watering
cuisine and elegance.
Agra
 Who has not heard of Agra, universally known
as the city of the Taj Mahal, the most
extravagant tribute to love and one of the
seven wonders of the world? However, there
is a lot more to Agra than just the Taj.
Once the capital of India (under the Mughal
emperors), Agra is full of magnificent
monuments dating back to the 16th and 17th
century. The founder of the dynasty, Babar,
laid out the first formal Persian garden on
the banks of the river Yamuna. Akbar, his
grandson, raised the towering ramparts of
the great Red Fort, now a World Cultural
Heritage site. Jehangir, Akbar's son, and
Shah Jahan, his grandson, continued
embellishing it, changing it from a
principally millitary structure to a more
luxurious palace. The Itmad-ud-daulah tomb
standing midst a grand Persian garden, is
the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, Emperor
Jehangir's wazir (Chief Minister), and also
his father-in-law. This splendid garden tomb
is believed to be the precursor of the Taj
Mahal, and was the first Mughal structure to
be built entirely of marble, and to make use
of pietra dura, the inlay marble work that
came to be typical of the Taj. Near the Agra
Fort, is Jami Masjid, built by Shahjahan in
1648. 10 km north of Agra, in Sikandra, is
Akbar's tomb, construction of which was
started by the emperor in his lifetime. 40
km west of Agra, is the perfectly preserved
'phantom city' of Fatehpur Sikri. Between
1570 and 1586, during Akbar's reign, the
city served as the capital of the Mughal
empire, before being abruptly abandoned,
probably due to lack of water supply. The
dargah (tomb) of Sheikh Salim Chisti, the
renowned saint, set in the courtyard of the
Royal Mosque, still draws hordes of
pilgrims.
The Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri
are all listed in UNESCO's list of World
Cultural Heritage sites. Click here for a
lot more information.
 Allahabad
This city stands at the confluence of the
Ganga and Yamuna, the two most sacred rivers
of India. As such, pilgrims have thronged it
for centuries.
Varanasi
Varanasi, situated on the banks of the
sacred river Ganges, is the oldest city in
India, and the holiest for Hindus, who
believe that those who die in Varanasi will
be released from the cycle of rebirth. Pious
Hindus still come to Varanasi to spend their
last days, living in spartan communes run by
religious trusts.
What to see
Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary
Situated at Bharatpur, 55 kilometres from
Agra, is one of the finest bird sanctuaries
in the world. What was once the private
hunting ground of the Maharaja of Bharatpur
is now a protected breeding ground for
hundreds of species of birds. Several
species of migratory birds, especially the
Siberian Crane, spend their winters here.
Mathura
Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna is
the birthplace of Lord Krishna, the popular
incarnation of Vishnu (the preserver in the
Hindu trinity). This area, popularly known
as Brij Bhoomi, is a major pilgrimage place
of Hindus. Nearby is Brindavan, where
Krishna 'sported' with his gopis
(milkmaids). The land still echoes with
stories and songs that recount the exploits
of this charming God.
Dudhwa National Park
This 488.29 sq km national park is inhabited
by tiger, panther, sloth bear, sambar, swamp
deer, chital, hog deer, barking deer, nilgai,
peafowl, jungle fowl, and patridge. The
nearest airport is at Lucknow (250 kms) and
nearest railhead is at Dudhwa. The best time
to visit is from November to May.
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