In the northern region of India, a large, culturally rich and architecturally sound state resides. The name of this state is Uttar Pradesh and it's among the largest state in India. This is famous because of many reasons like Taj Mahal, River Ganga and much more. For tourists, it is like a complete package for experiencing cultural and ethnic diversity. Uttar Pradesh offers a quite good platform for flora and fauna lovers. From peak cold climates to harsh summers, this state has it all. Mughlai cuisine is among the famous foods that are available in Uttar Pradesh. So let’s learn about some of the best places that are worth of a visit.
Top Tourist Places to Visit in Uttar Pradesh (A brief data on top places)
Agra is a magnificent city and a credit goes to Taj Mahal. With a bunch of other monuments like Lal Quila, Agra is one of the most promising destinations for both indigenous and foreign tourist. Apart from these monuments, Mughal architecture and culture is much more of a worth than these structures. Namely followings are the places that are famous here: Taj Mahal, Akbar’s Mausoleum, Itimad-ud-Daulah, Chini-ka-Rauza, Mehtab Bagh, Jama Masjid, Kinari Bazaar. Fatehpur Sikri, Jama Masjid are some of the other sites that are located near Agra.
Mathura and Vrindavan
Mathura has more home crowd compared to foreign, but foreign tourist also visits this place in large numbers. Being the birth place of Lord Krishna, it holds a special place in the hearts of Hindu religion followers. Located on the banks of river Yamuna, Mathura caters lakhs of visitor every year and in the months of August and September these numbers increases several folds. There are around 25 sacred Ghats around this river and people take dip in this river on special occasions. Kesava Deo Temple, Archaeological Museum, Vishram Ghat, Gita Temple, are some of the famous places to visit. Vrindavan is a small village and it is said that Lord Krishna grew up here.
Lucknow being capital of Uttar Pradesh also enjoys the tag of being visited by several visitors every year. It was an important location for the British government and this is the reason why so many British era buildings are still here. Also called as the city of Nawab, Lucknow has an ancient culture and diversity. Hazratganj is the prime location in Lucknow and you can find several hotels and markets for shopping. Residency, Chota Imambara, Old Town, Aminabad is some of the best places to hang out and have fun. Try different types of cuisine as there are several special shops for food around the city.
Ayodhya
Like Mathura, Ayodhya is also a religious city. Lord Rama born here and it is among the seven holy cities in Hindu culture. Due to its religions importance, Ayodhya caters a large number of visitors every year. Apart from temples, nothing is more to see in Ayodhya. Some of the sacred sites that you might like to visit are: Hanumangarhi, Dashrath Bhavan, Kanak Bhavan, Ram Janam Bhumi, Ramkatha Museum.
It is famous for its Kumbh Mela that is being celebrated after gap of every 12 years. Three sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati merge together here and this place is popularly called as ‘Sangam’. People from all across the country come here to take a holy dip at this place. Sangam, Akbar’s Fort & Patalpuri Temple, Khusru Bagh, Anand Bhavan, Allahabad Museum are the most visited places in Allahabad.
It is said that Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma took their incarnation here, and this gives a religious importance to this place. Also lord Rama spent 11 and half years of their exile in this region. Ram Ghat is the prime location where people take dip into the river Mandakini and in the morning and evening sacred ‘aarti’ are conducted near the banks of this river.
This place is famous for its fort and Queen Rani Lakshmibai, who fought bravely in the 1857 revolt against the British. Jhansi Fort is the only star of this region and people often stop here as a stoppage towards their journey to Gwalior and Khajuraho. Jhansi Fort was constructed in the year 1613 and played a crucial role in the 1857 revolt against the British Empire.
It is among the seven holy cities in Hindu religion and has great religious importance. There are several Ghats where people take a dip to wash away their sins. Temples and all the things related to Hindu religion can be found here. Ghats, Vishwanath Temple, Benares Hindu University, Ramnagar Fort & Museum are most visited places in Varanasi.
Sunauli and the Nepal Border
It is a nice place to roam and it has wonderful views of Himalayan ranges. Nepal border gives you a nice view of Himalayan ranges. Wild nature, flora and fauna are the only thing to see here. Sunauli is a major stop for travelers going towards Nepal. All types of shops for shopping are available here. Buddhist culture is very famous here, so you can buy lots of souvenirs from here. There are several Gompas and monasteries that are located nearby this region. Gorakhpur is located near this place and a temple named as Gorakh Nath temple is very famous in this place.
Tips for Journey
Hot and Humid climate is the only factor that daunts people to visit Uttar Pradesh in the month of May and June. Beware of touts and avoid falling into traps of cheap deals. As there are so many temples, carry change money as much as possible to donate. All types of transportation are available here like Air, road and even River. If you are planning to roam whole state, then go for deluxe mode of transportation as it will ease your stress. Winters are also harsh in this state, so keep yourself prepared for that. In summers try to wear clothes that are loose and comfortable to wear, as hot and humid conditions can be unbearable. Prices of hotel room shoots up in the festive season, so try to book hotels on prior notice and it will avoid last minute hassle.