Top 5 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Located on the banks of Yamuna River, Agra is sited with great architectural monuments and is filled with a rich historical background. It is home to the iconic Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and also a major tourist destination.

The city of Agra has a long and rich history. The city was first mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, where it was called Agrevaṇa. It was mentioned in the Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta as Agrevana. It was originally known as Akbarabad and was founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1556. It served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1658. After the Mughal Empire collapsed, the city came under the rule of the Maratha Empire. In 1803, the Maratha Empire was overthrown, and Agra came under the rule of the British East India Company. In 1835, the British East India Company was dissolved, and Agra became a part of the British Raj. The city remained under British rule until India gained independence in 1947.
 
Agra is a major tourist destination in India, with numerous monuments dotting the city. Places like Jahangir Mahal, Akbar’s Tomb, Agra Fort, and Mehtab Bagh are some of the iconic places to visit. One must try authentic Mughal cuisine and enjoy the best of it.

Located on the banks of the Ganges River, Varanasi is considered to be the most ancient and oldest city. It is considered one of the holiest cities for Hindu devotees on earth. Pilgrims come to Varanasi to bathe in the Ganges River and to pray at the city's many temples.

The district was formed in 1873 and is located in the eastern part of the state. It is bounded on the north by the district of Chandauli, on the east by the district of Jaunpur, on the south by the district of Allahabad; and on the west by the district of Mirzapur. The Ganges River flows through the district.

Varanasi is known for its many temples and for its spiritual atmosphere. It is also a major centre of Indian arts and culture. The city is also known for its silk saris, which are hand-woven with intricate designs. Simply sit on the popular Varanasi Ghats or pay your respects to multiple temples like Bharat Mata Temple, Kathwala Temple, and New Vishwanath Temple. The place is also dotted with numerous ghats, which is a perfect thing to detoxify and immerse in spirituality while admiring the Ganga Aarti.

Mathura, another important pilgrimage site for Hindus, is about 145 kilometres from New Delhi and 50 kilometres from Agra. As the birthplace of Lord Krishna, the city is considered one of the holiest places in Hinduism.

With the Yamuna River passing by the city and an hour's drive from Vrindavan, the city is home to a plethora of temples and other religious sites. Mathura, like Varanasi, has a number of ghats that allow devotees to witness a beautiful sunset and sunrise over the Yamuna River. Aside from temples, the area is home to numerous monasteries. The location was once a Buddhist centre and is now home to several monks.

Places like Kans Quila, Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir, Dwarkadhish Temple, Radha Kund, Govardhan Hill, and Rangbhoomi are some of the must-visit places in Mathura. People also indulge themselves in dipping in the holy water and trekking to the Govardhan Hills. Also, don’t miss out on having the authentic Mathura Peda and jalebi.

Also known as the land of Nawabs, Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh.

The first mention of Lucknow is in the epic Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as one of the seven sacred cities of India. The city was founded in the 16th century by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who named it after his favourite wife, Lakhnau. Lucknow passed through a period of decline in the 18th century, but was revived in the 19th century by the British, who made it the capital of their province of Awadh (Oudh). Lucknow prospered under British rule, and the city became known for its refined culture and its elegant architecture, including the famous Bara Imambara, the Rumi Darwaza, and the Chota Imambara. The city was also home to a large Muslim community, which played a significant role in the development of Urdu poetry and culture.

Not only that, the city is home to several renowned educational agglomerates. The Lucknow University, Allahabad University, the Central Drug Research Institute, and the Indian Institute of Management are some to name. The city is also noted for its cuisine, which is a blend of Awadhi, Mughlai, and North Indian styles.

Another striking and historical city in Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad is one of the holiest places in Hinduism. The reason being, the city is witness to the Ganges River, India’s longest, flowing through Allahabad. It is a major tourist destination and is home to the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Sarasvati rivers.

The city of Allahabad was founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1575. It was known as Illahabas at that time. He named it after Allah. Allahabad was the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1585 to 1605. It was also the capital of the North-Western Provinces from 1858 to 1902.

The city witnesses the popular Kumbh Mela, a large Hindu festival that takes place every three years, in which Hindus from around the world gather to bathe in a sacred river. The festival is said to cleanse the soul and bring good luck. Legend has it that the festival was inspired by a story in Hindu scriptures in which a group of demigods known as the "Nagas" (snakes) challenged the gods to a competition to see who could gather the most sacred water from the Ganges River. The gods triumphed, but a large amount of water spilled from their urn, forming four sacred rivers: the Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati, and the mythical river of the underworld, Saraswati. The Kumbh Mela festival is held to commemorate the gods' victory and the formation of these sacred rivers. The festival is said to be the world's largest religious gathering, with over 100 million pilgrims attending each year.

Nonetheless, the city is home to the Allahabad Fort and the Alfred Park, which includes the Allahabad Museum. The city is also an academic hub, with Allahabad University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, and the Indian Institute of Technology Allahabad all located in Allahabad.