UTTAR PRADESH

Uttar Pradesh : is the fifth largest and the most populous state in India. The state can be divided into two distinct regions : The southern hills and plateau with an altitude not exceeding 300 meters, and the vast Ganga plain, which is one of the largest alluvial plain in the world.

Uttar Pradesh has a very ancient and colourful history. The region finds mention in the great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the 6^th century B.C., the state was associated with two new religions, Jainism and Buddhism. Lord Mahavira breathed his last at Doora and it was Sarnath that Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. It is the land of great Sages like Bharadwaja, Vajnavalkya, Vasishta, Vishwamitra and Valmiki and the land of great scholars like Sri Shankaracharya. It is the land of cultural and architectural wonders and of the tales of the valour of its great warriors that are part of the history ofIndia, which is older than Buddha, Christ and Mohammed. No part of the country has more to offer the visitor, be he interested in relaxation, culture or the awesome, exquisite beauty of the Taj Mahal. The medieval period passed under the Muslim rule that led the way to a new synthesis of Hindu and Islamic cultures. The period gave India many intellectuals like Tulsidas, Birbal, Ramananda and his disciple Kabir. Later the state came under the British administration as the United Province of Agra and Outh until after independence it was renamed Uttar Pradesh in January, 1950.

The present-day Uttar Pradesh came into being on 9^th November, 2000, when the state of Uttaranchal was carved out of it.

State Government : http://www.upgov.nic.in

Capital :	Lucknow
Area :	238,566 square Kilometers
Population :	166,197,921 (2001 census)
Literacy :	56.27% (2001)
Language :	Hindi, Urdu
Roads :	183,100 Kms
Railways :	8,512 Kms
Airport :	Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Jhansi
Seaport :	Nil
Climate :	Summer (45° - 21° C), Winter (32° - 4° C), Monsoon : June to September
Best Season :	October to March
Places of Interest :	State Tourism : http://www.up-tourism.com
	Agra : City of the Taj, Palaces, Fort, Mausoleums, Gardens, Handicrafts. [Sikandra (10 Kms) : Akbar's Mausoleum.] Aligarh : Muslim University, Fort, Mosque, Lock manufacture. Allahabad : Where the Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati meet at the sacred Sangam, Kumbh Mela held once every 12 years, Forts, Temples, Centre of Hindu literature, Muslim cultural centre, Libraries, Planetarium. Ayodhya : One of the seven sacred cities of Hindus, Birthplace of Lord Rama, Temples. Bareilly : Rail and Industrial centre, Mosque. Batesar : Temple, Major Cattle Fair. Chandraprabha Sanctuary : Wildlife sanctuary. Chitrakoot : Hindu pilgrim centre. Chunar : Fort, nearby pilgrim centre. Dudhwa National Park : Variety of Wildlife. Etawah : Cattle Fair. Faizabad : Muslim Monuments. Fatehpur Sikri : Ghost Town, ancient capital of Akbar, Muslim pilgrim centre, Forts, Palaces, Mosques, Tombs. Garmuktesar : Retreat for meditating mystics and Swamis, Pilgrim centre. Jaunpur : Indo-Saracenic Architecture. Jhansi : Fort, a town associated with India's Freedom Movement under the leadership of the Rani Jhansi. Kannauj : Ancient Capital, Ruins, Centre of Indian essence industry. Kanpur : Industrial centre, Temple, Gardens, Leather & Footwear manufacturing centre. Kushinagar / Kasia : Buddhist pilgrim centre, Ruins. Lucknow : Muslim cultural centre, Gardens, Museum, Historic buildings and Architecture, Mughal cuisines. Mathura : One of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, Ancient city, Birth place of Lord Krishna, Temples, Mosques, Museums. [Saunkh (23 Kms) : Archaeological Excavations. Vrindavan (10 Kms) : The town of a thousand shrines, also associated with Lord Krishna, Ashrams.] Meerut : Cantonment town. Mirzapur : Handicrafts (carpets), Temples. Misrikh : Ashram, Hindu pilgrim centre. Moradabad : Mosque, Metal Handicrafts (Brassware). Nawabganj : Bird Sanctuary. Rampur : Fort. Sravasti : Ruins of ancient Buddhist city and Stupas, Jain religious centre. Varanasi : One of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, Sacred river banks, Temples, Mosques, Palaces, Seat of learning, Metal Handicrafts and Sarees. [Ramnagar (18 Kms) : Fort, Palace. Sarnath (10 Kms) : Buddhist pilgrim centre, Museums, Monasteries, Shrines, Old Stupas.]
Festivals :	Mahashivratri, Magh Mela (January - February), Holi (March), Janmashtmi (August), Raksha Bandhan (August), Navratri, Dussehra (October), Diwali (October / November)