Travel to Uttar Pradesh, one of the most
ancient cradles of Indian culture and heritage. The rich and ancient
heritage of Uttar Pradesh traces back its origin to the beginning of the
time. Uttar Pradesh is the place which gave shape to numerous cultures of
India. The fourth largest state of India and most populous one, Uttar
Pradesh offers an endless array of attractions to the tourists by way of its
historical monuments, a wealth of ancient
temples and viharas, rich flora and fauna and fascinating rivers. The land
of sages, scholars, leaders and martyrs, Uttar Pradesh is the most
interesting land of the Indian dominion. The history of Uttar Pradesh dates
back to times before the era of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The cities of
Banda, Mirzapur and Meerut link its history to early Stone Age and Harappan
era. The Aryan came to this place and got settled here. All the ancient
literature of Hindu religion is supposed to be written in this area.
Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama is said to be the capital of Lord
Rama's empire. The Mahabharata also had many links with the land of Uttar
Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh got developed as a center for administration and trade for
most of the rulers owing to its fertile land and river network. During the
reign of Ashoka, works for public welfare was taken up. The rule of the
Magadha empire brought Buddhism and Jainism into this region. Throughout the
rule of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals, the territory progressed. The
Jats, the Rohillas, and the Marathas subsequently established their rule
here and contributed to the growth of this region. In 1857, the Sipoy Mutiny
was started here in Meerut, which developed as a struggle for freedom later.
Uttar Pradesh has kept all evidence of its history intact.
Some of the major cities of Uttar Pradesh are Varanasi, Allahabad, Agra,
Lucknow, Jhansi, Kanpur, Meerut, Kannauj, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya and Mathura,
all of which are worth visiting. This major tourist attraction is also an
industrial hub in India. Leather work of Kanpur, Hand-knitten carpets of
Bhadoi and Mirzapur, perfumes of Kannauj, terracota work of Gorakhpur,
brassware of Moradabad, glassware work of Firozabad and handprinting of
Farrukhabad are very famous across India and are exported to various parts
of world. Among the major tourist attractions are the Taj Mahal and
Lal-Quila of Agra, ancient temples of Varanasi, the Ghats of Varanasi and
Allahabad, the confluencing point of river Ganga and Yamuna, Triveni, in
Allahabad, ancient temple site of Ayodhya, the temples of Mathura and
Vrindavan, the Bara Imambaara and Residency of Lucknow, the All Soul's
Cathedral Church of Kanpur, Sarnath temple, Banaras Hindu University in
Varanasi and the fort of Jhansi. In fact, Uttar Pradesh has innumerable
sites to visit. A trip to Uttar Pradesh is a must for any one who is
interested in seeing a land of historical, cultural and industrial
importance.
