Indian Century - Uttar Pradesh

UTTAR PRADESH: PLACES TO VISIT

Uttar Pradesh is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal; the Red Fort and the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, Varanasi,(which is also the most holy city for the Hindus). Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first Sermon and turned the Wheel of Dharma. is also situated in this state.

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UTTAR PRADESH STATS:

TOTAL AREA: 243,286 Sq. Km (93,933 Sq. Mi)	Rank: 4th
POPULATION (2011): 199,581,477	Rank: 1st
CAPITAL CITY: Lucknow
LITERACY RATE: 67.68%
HDI: 0.490	Rank: 7th
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Hindi, English, Urdu
Official Website: www.upgov.nic.in/

WEST: AGRA

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AGRA FORT

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Please refer for futher details on Taj Mahal: www.indiancentury.com/taj.htm

WEST: AGRA Cont.

TAJ MAHAL

BHULAND DARWAJA, FATEH PUR BIRBAL'S HOUSE, FATEH PUR SIKRI

Please Check for a description of Fateh Pur Sikri: www.indiancentury.com/fat.htm

WEST: Cont

SHEIK SALIM CHRISTI'S TOMB, FATEH PUR SIKRI

DIWAN-I-KHA, FATEH PUR SIKRI

ANUP TALAO, FATEH PUR SIKRI

DIWAN-I-KHAS, FATEH PUR SIKRI

WEST:Cont. VRINDAVAN

EAST: VARANASI

VISHWESWARA TEMPLE

PILGRIMS TAKING BATH IN HOLY GANGA RIVER

DASASWAMEDH GHAT

UTHAR PRADESH: EAST/SOUTHEAST

SARNATH

KUSHINAGAR:

LUCKNOW: CAPITAL CITY

Budhha's Nirvana

Claude Martin's Palace, Lucknow

PRESENTED BELOW ARE OTHER MAJOR ATTRACTIONS OF UTTAR PRADESH

GOVIND DEV TEMPLE

VISHWANATH TEMPLE
HARIDWAR, KUMBA MELA IN 2010

ISKCON TEMPLE

PAGAL BABA TEMPLE

FESTIVALS

Taj Mahotsav:

Held annually in Shilpgram near the eastern gate of Taj Mahal, Taj Mahotsav is a colorful display of the culture of the Braj area. This ten-day-long carnival, a vibrant platform displaying India’s rich arts, crafts, cultures, cuisines, dance, and music. Taj Mahal is the most beautiful, historic place in the country, is the appropriate site to exhibit the diverse riches of Incredible India.

The festival also invokes the memories of the old Mughal era and also the Navabi style of the 18th and 19th centuries. About 400 artisans from different parts of India assemble there grabbing the opportunity to display their talents and India’s panoramic cultural contributions to the world.

Ganga Mahotsav:

The river Ganga has been a sacred river for Hindus for ages. She is considered the Goddess ‘who washes away the sins’ and millions come to take a holy bath in her. They put forward flowers and floating oil or ghee lamps and save the holy waters for making use of it in a variety of Hindu rituals.

The festival Ganga Mahotsav is five days long and sends a message to all about the spiritual and religious beliefs and culture of Varanasi city. It is believed that Ganga nourishes the Varanasi civilization fa or long and it has been of great religious importance to Hindu society. Pilgrims celebrate the event by performing Indian classical style music and dance. Many luminaries irrespective of their religious beliefs participate and perform at the Ganga Mahotsav.

STATE SYMBOLS: (COURTESY WIKIPEDIA)

State animal	Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii)
State bird	Sarus Crane (Grus antigone)
State flower	Palash (Butea monosperma)
State tree	Ashoka (Saraca asoca)
State sport	Field hockey
State dance	Kathak
State seal