Uttar Pradesh Travel Guide
Situated
in the northern part of India, it has the distinction of being the
most populous state of India. In terms of area, it is the fourth
largest, among all the states. The wealth of its monuments, mystical
call of its mountains and lakes, and the religious fervour that it
evokes, have rendered Uttar Pradesh, one of the most fascinating
states of the Indian Union. Whether one is on a spiritual quest, or
in search of adventure, or just on a curiosity trip, Uttar Pradesh
has something to offer to everyone.
Uttar Pradesh offers an endless array of attractions, to the
tourist by way of monuments, health resorts, mountain peaks, a
wealth of ancient temples and viharas, rich flora and fauna,
fascinating rivers and captivating valleys. Agra, Ayodhya, Sarnath,
Varanasi, Lucknow, Mathura and Prayag combine religious and
architectural marvels; Nainital, Mussorie, Ranikhet and Almora are
hill resorts of rare charm; Corbett and Dudhwa National Parks head a
long list of wildlife reserves and sanctuaries; Yamnotri, Gangotri,
Kedarnath, Badrinath, Hemkund and the Pindari Glacier, enfolded
wthin the Himalayan ranges, offer a combination of adventure,
pilgrim centres and natural beauty.
Getting There:
By Air:
Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is well connected by air
with New Delhi, Patna, Calcutta and Mumbai.
By Rail:
Lucknow is an important junction of the Northern and North Eastern
Railways. It is well connected with all important cities of India.
By Road:
Lucknow is well connected with New Delhi (497 km), Agra (363 km),
Calcutta (985 km), Kanpur (79 km) and Allahabad (225 km).
Facts File:
Area : 2,38,566 sq km
Capital: Lucknow
Population(2001 census): 166,052,859
Principal Language: Hindi and Urdu
Major cities : Sarvasti,Vrindavan,Mathura,
Sarnath, Kushinagar,Ayodhya,Gokul, Bundi, Lucknow
Tourist Attractions:
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.
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.
Lucknow
Lucknow is a city synonymous with the Nawabi Culture. The
imperialistic splendor and magnificence of the Nawabi Era has been
glorified and eulogized down the ages by writers, poets and
historians alike. At the same time its mystical elegance and amorous
ethos has caught the fascination of many world famous romantics.
Known for its Adab and Tehzeeb (cultural refinement), Lucknow is
also associated with its legendary hospitality, leisurely moods of
life, fabled edifices steeped in history, world-renowned cuisine and
exquisite Sham-e-Avadh.
Bara Imambara
Built like a fort, this huge and elegant building is also called
the Asafai Imambara. This building was built in a famine relief
program in 1784 by Nabab Asaf-ud-Daulla. The structure took six
years to be completed. Just as we enter the building there is a hall
almost fifty meters long and 17 meters wide. The architecture of
this 15 meter high room is very unique and unparalleled. Here the
Nawabs used to hold there ' Darbar ' or their public hearings. It is
said that this hall is the worlds largest arched room without any
pillars. The upper part of this building is in shape of honey bees
comb and is surrounded by the famous 'Bhul Bhulliya'. This has got
numerous steps and there are 489 doorless galleries which are
similar in appearance. People get lost in these galleries. The
largest of these mazed rooms and galleries has a speciality that
even when a paper is torn on one of the end sit is heard on the
other end. In the courtyard of Bara Imambara is the Sahi Masjid
which stands tall on a platform, non muslims are not allowed here.
Just besides the Sahi Masjid is the bottomless well. The
BaraImambara also has the tomb of Asaf-Ud-Daulla.
Varanasi
Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world and the
ultimate pilgrimage for Hindus, who believe that to die in the city
is to attain instant salvation. Varanasi is the tract of holy land
lying between the Ganga and the Assi rivers. The Assi river also
flows into Ganga. Varanasi is also known as Kashi, the city of light
since one of the twelve 'Jyortinglinga's is installed here. Varanasi
has been a great cultural centre, especially in the fields of music,
learning and the craft of silk weaving.
Kushinagar
Kushinagar is situated in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,
51 km off Gorakhpur. The place, which is famous for the
Mahaparinirvana (death) of Lord Buddha, has been included in the
famous Buddhist trail encompassing Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.
Taj Mahal
The crowning jewel of Indo-Islamic architecture, the Taj Mahal is
one of the world’s most beautiful and beloved structures. The
monument was built in Agra, India, for Mumtaz Mahal, the favorite
wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Construction of the tomb began in
1632 and employed more than 20,000 laborers for 20 years. During the
reign of Shah Jahan, the structure was known simply as the rauza,
the tomb. Later, the mausoleum would be called the Taj Mahal, a
derivative of the name Mumtaz Mahal.
Agra Fort
Though Agra is more famous world over as the city of Taj, Agra Fort
is another dimension to the city that attracts tourists in hordes.
Built by Akbar in Red Sandstone when he was through with the
consolidation of his power after accession to power in 1654, Agra
Fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal
residence. Many of the palaces inside the fort were later added by
next generations of Mughal Emperors like Jahangir and Shahjahan.Most
of the buildings within the Agra Fort are a mixture of different
architectural styles. The assimilation of these different styles has
given the buildings within the fort a distinctive look. For
instance, the Jahangiri Palace built by Akbar is a good blend of
Islamic (Persian) and different local Hindu styles. Other buildings
either have a mixed style or conform predominantly to the Islamic
style.
