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It may come back to you in small moments. In thin slices of time and slim slivers of beauty. You may remember the curve of sunlight over the fair domes of the Taj Mahal. The gentle lap of the Ganga on the banks of Varanasi. The saffron cloth of a sadhu at the Kumbh mela. The muted, red glow of Fatehpur Sikhri. The crisp, ruffled edges of a kachori. The soft melt of a perfectly cooked kebab. The shivering tinkle of the ghungroo bells during a kathak performance.
These are the small moments that encapsulate a big state. A land where legends were born. Where spirituality and secularism are baked into the grounds. Where the rush of rivers meet and merge, where the foothills of the mountains rise, where thick elephant grass spears into the sky. This is Uttar Pradesh – a large state with an even bigger heart. Filled with moments and memories to cherish.
| Uttar Pradesh: A Quick View of the state | |
| Capital | Lucknow |
| Official Language | Hindi, Urdu |
| Dial Code | 0522 |
| Population | 221.468 million (as of 2018) |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time Zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Area | 243, 286 square kilometers |
A very thin veil lies between the past and present in Uttar Pradesh. Turn a corner and you will see a heritage building that played a prominent role in the past. Firstly, the iconic monument of love, one of the seven wonders of the world – the Taj Mahal in Agra. However, there’s so much more to see here. The ruby resplendence of the Red Fort. The stoic Jhansi and Allahabad forts. The majestic Kashi Vishwanath temple. The strength infused in every inch of the Buland Dharwaza. The stunning Sarnath Stupa. The lush grounds of the All Saints Cathedral.
Strands of every religion, faith, belief weave their way through the state. The banks of Varanasi ripple with spirituality and are sanctified by the holy waters of India’s holy river – the Ganges. Lose yourself in the ghats, the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple and more. Devotees of Krishna must visit Vrindavan and immerse themselves in the Banke Bihari Mandir, Prem Mandir and the Radha Raman Temple amongst others. Uttar Pradesh is also home to stunning mosques, like the Alamgir Mosque, Humayun Mosque, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid and more. For Buddhists, sites like Kushinagar, Piprahwa, Sarnath and Shravasti are a must-see.
Uttar Pradesh oozes culture, creativity and commerce. Explore the various markets across the city and pick up arts and crafts that are unique to the region, such as the glorious Chikankari embroidery from Lucknow, the regal Zari embroidery of gold and silver threaded through stunning Banarasi saris, glasswork that includes delicate bangles, stunning Persian carpets that dominate the room, hand printed fabrics from Farukhabad and artistic metal ware.
Uttar Pradesh is choc a bloc with cities, monuments and places of worship. However, if you take a walk to the wild side of the state, you will notice towering mountains, lush green meadows, thick dense forests and of course the stunning rivers of Ganga and Yamuna. Peel back these natural landscapes and you will discover a diverse wildlife that inhabits the area, including swamp deer, wolves, leopards, hyenas, wild boar, crocodiles, chinkara and the rare Gangetic dolphin. The state boasts of national parks and sprawling sanctuaries including Dudhwa National Park, Katrnighat Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandra Prabha Sanctuary and Okhla Bird Sanctuary.
Uttar Pradesh is one of the largest states in the country, and so it stands to reason that its festivities are also conducted on a larger-than-life scale. Holi, Diwali, Maha Shivratri, Janmashtami are all celebrated with great pomp and circumstance. The state is also home to the mighty Kumbh Mela – the largest peaceful gathering in the world.
Food, very often, tells a story. The cuisine of Uttar Pradesh silently speaks of the many dynasties, cultures and people who brought their spices and sweets to the state. Apart from the native cuisine, there are strong Mughlai and Awadhi flavours present in UP’s best dishes. It is also said that this land is the birthplace of Indian Chaat. Here you’ll find a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes like the glorious Aloo Paratha, the beloved Kachori, Pakora, Samosa, Galouti Kebabs, Chicken Biriyani and Tehri. Indulge your sweet tooth with world famous sweets like Pedha, Balushahi, Halva, Jalebi, Ras Malai and more. Behind each spice is a story of old, waiting to be told.
The fourth largest and most populous state in India has many neighbours. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh join hands with UP in the north-west. Haryana and Delhi step up to its western border. Madhya Pradesh meets UP in the south, while Rajasthan joins the state on the southwest border. Bihar bounds the state in the east and Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand complete the state boundaries in the south east.
Click here to view Uttar Pradesh on Google Map
Cool winds wing their way across the state during the winter (from October to March). The temperatures drop, a thick fog collects, and warm blankets and food enliven the chilly nights. Despite extreme temperatures, this is the best time to visit Uttar Pradesh. The summers are nothing short of scorching and invite heat strokes and dehydration if travellers aren’t careful. The monsoon in June brushes the summer heat aside, but also brings heavy downpours with it, so travellers are advised to proceed with caution.
All areas in the state are well connected to important cities via the national highways. UP has 2 main road networks 35 National Highways and 83 state highways making connectivity by roads easy and accessible. You can avail of both state and private buses and taxis to reach the state and to travel within its borders.
Uttar Pradesh is generously seasoned with railway lines and stations – the most important of which is in Lucknow. Other prominent stations include Agra, Kanpur, Faizabad, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and more. From these stations you can avail of taxis and buses to take you to your destination.
There are 4 domestic airports in Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi. Both Varanasi and Lucknow also serve as international airports for the state. All major carriers ply to Uttar Pradesh.
Records point to prehistorical finds in Uttar Pradesh from the Middle, Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods. Uttar Pradesh was also witness to the Indus Valley Civilisation, Harappa, the Vedic Period and the Iron Age. Legendary gods of Hinduism, like Ram and Krishna are purported to be born in UP, in Ayodhya and Mathura respectively. The Kurukshetra War of the Mahabharat is believed to have taken place in the land between Upper Doab and Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh has been the seat of power for many ancient rulers, such as King Harshavardhana, the Rashtrakuta Dynasty, the Chero Dynasty and then the Delhi Sultanate for over 320 years. These dynasties were succeeded by the mighty Mughal empire.
In more recent history, the British empire took over. In 1920, the capital of the state was shifted from Allahabad to Lucknow. The state become a hotbed for the Indian independence movement.
Once India achieved independence from the British Raj, the united provinces were officially christened as Uttar Pradesh (meaning “Northern Province”). In 2000, the northern districts of the state were carved out to form the state of Uttarakhand.
The number of stories attached to this land inform its architecture, its landmarks and its people to this day. Let’s explore UP today, keeping the stories of the past in mind.
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