Uttar Pradesh is India's tapestry of timeless cities, sacred rivers, and world-celebrated monuments. From the ethereal Taj Mahal and Mughal boulevards of Agra to Varanasi's ancient ghats, Lucknow's refined tehzeeb, and pilgrim towns along the Ganga, the state blends faith, architecture, crafts, and cuisine in unforgettable ways. Begin a journey where history breathes in marble and prayers float on flickering lamps.
The History & Culture
Cradle of epics and empires, Uttar Pradesh has seen Mauryan statesmen, Mughal patrons, Nawabi courts, and freedom-era ferment. Its living culture thrives in Urdu poetry and Kathak dance, Chikankari needlework, zardozi embroidery, Banarasi weaves, and a celebrated culinary lineage. Temple bells, azaan, and classical music drift across old quarters as river rituals and festivals paint the ghats and streets with colour and devotion.
Facts Good to Know
- CapitalLucknow
- Official LanguageHindi (widely spoken: Urdu, Awadhi, Bhojpuri)
- Population~24 crores
- Total Area243,286 km²
- CurrencyIndian Rupee (INR)
PLACES TO VISIT
Agra & Taj Mahal
Marble poetry in motion - sunrise hues at the Taj, plus Agra Fort and Itmad-ud-Daulah craft a luminous Mughal trilogy.
Varanasi (Kashi)
Ancient ghats, a maze of alleys, silk looms and evening aarti - a spiritual continuum on the banks of the Ganga.
Lucknow
Nawabi grace at Bara Imambara, Rumi Darwaza and heritage streets - paired with Chikankari ateliers and legendary kebabs.
Ayodhya
A sacred city on the Sarayu, celebrated in epic lore - riverfront ghats, temples and festive illuminations create a devotional aura.
Fatehpur Sikri
Akbar's red-sandstone dream capital - palaces, courtyards and Buland Darwaza narrate a brief but brilliant imperial chapter.
