Tourist Places in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

With a tremendous population, Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state and is considered to be the birthplace of Hinduism and has many important sites of Hindu pilgrimage. The Ganges, Hinduism’s most sacred river, rises in Uttarakhand and flows through the state and it also houses the bathing ghats of Varanasi and Allahabad, which are India’s most auspicious Kumbh Mela sites.

The State is also important to Buddhism since its early days and has some monuments untouched by time. The Chaukhandi Stupa marks the spot where Buddha met his first disciples. The Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath commemorates Buddha’s first sermon. And, the town of Kushinagar is the place where Gautama Buddha died. India’s most famous icon, the Taj Mahal and other Mughal monuments in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri draws tourists, mesmerising them with their beauty. The Taj Mahal stands on the banks of Hinduism’s second holiest river, the Yamuna. Although Agra and Varanasi stands glittering in Uttar Pradesh, there is a lot more to see in this state of historical and cultural importance.

History

During the British rule, some areas in Uttar Pradesh were governed by English common law. In 1773, the East India company acquired the districts of Banaras and Ghazipur from the

Mughal Emperor and many other areas of modern-day Uttar Pradesh. The territories occupied from the Nawabs, the Scindias of Gwalior and the Gurkhas were included in the Bengal presidency. In 1833, they were separated and the north-western provinces originally called Agra presidency, were created. In 1877, the integration of the kingdom of Awadh with the northwestern provinces, earned the latter a new name, the North-western provinces of Agra and Oudh. Later the province was renamed as ‘United Provinces.’

With the end of British rule in 1947, United Provinces became an unit of independent India. In 1949, the autonomous states of Rampur and Tehri-GarhwaI were incorporated into United Provinces. When the new constitution was adopted in 1950, United Provinces got its present name, Uttar Pradesh.

■ Geography

Uttar Pradesh can be divided into four regions on the basis of its physiography: the central plains of the Ganga and its tributaries, the southern uplands, the Himalayan region, and the submontane region between the Himalayasand plains.

The Gangetic plain (largely consists of a fertile plain) occupies about three-fourths of the total area of Uttar Pradesh. It is composed of alluvial deposits brought down by the Ganga and its tributaries from the Himalayas.

The southern uplands constitute a part of the Vindhya range, which is rugged, largely dissected, and rises towards the south-east. The submontane region consists of the Bhabar, a narrow bed of alluvium and gravel. TheTerai area with tall grass and thick forests is marshy and damp.

The topography of the Himalayan region is vastly varied. There are deep canyons, rapid streams, large lakes and snow-capped mountains.

Major rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Ramganga, Rohini, Hindon, Ghaghara, Chambai, Betwa, Ken and Sarayu.

Climate: Uttar Pradesh has a diverse climate. The Himalayan region has a moderately temperate climate, while the southern uplands and the central plains experience tropical monsoon. The average temperature in the plains varies from 12.5°C to 34°C in May and June. Uttar Pradesh registers a rainfall between 1000-2000 mm in the east and 600-1000 mm in the west.

Flora and Fauna: The types of forest that are most common in the state are Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests. They are found in the moist regions of the Terai. Deciduous trees are found in higher altitudes. The plains of Uttar Pradesh are rich in minerals. Vegetation is diminishing due to demographic pressure. Natural forests abound in Uttarakhand. The Tropical Thorny Forest is found in the south­western parts of the State. The lower regions abound in bamboo, evergreen shrubs and cand. The important trees found here are the

dhak,jhingal, sal, gular.jamun, mahua, semal, palas and amla. The river banks abound in trees like sheesham, jamun, babool, amli (tamarind), peepal, mango, and neem.

Fauna: Uttar Pradesh has a variety of fauna. Important species of fish include trout, cuchia, labi, parthan, mirror crap, katla, eel, hilsa, magur, mirgal, mahaser, vittal and tengan. Birds found here include the nightingale, sparrow, parrot, pigeon, vulture, owl, nilkanth, cheel and peacock. The commonly found wildlife is kastura, sambar, chinkara, black deer, mountain goat, cheetal, snow leopard, elephant, hyena, tiger, and black-brown bear. The submontane region of the state is rich in animal life. Animals like wild boars, crocodiles, sloth bears, partridges, wild ducks, quails, peafowls, woodpeckers, blue jays, leopards and tiger can be found in the region.

Festivals of Uttar Pradesh

The speciality of Uttar Pradesh is its composite culture and the locals celebrate the Festivals of other religions also with equal enthusiasm. As many as 40 festivals are celebrated by various communities. The important Hindu festivals unique to the state are:

Taj Mahotsav:Taj Mahotsav is a modern day Indian cultural festival celebrated in the vicinity of Taj Mahal, one of the eight wonders of the world. This event, organised by the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism department is celebrated in the month of February every year. This is the best season to visit Taj Mahal for foreign tourists.

Jhansi Festival: A land steeped in valour and chivalry, with every nook and corner resounding with poignant memories of the past, Jhansi, plays host to the festive spirit, in the months of February-March.

Rang Gulal Festival (Holi): The Rang Gulal Mahotsav is celebrated in March at Mathura. During this festival Lord Krishna’s mystical homeland, Brajbhoomi becomes riotous with gaiety and colour.