Uttar Pradesh
General Informaion
Area : 294,411 sq km
Population : 166 million
Capital : Lucknow
Climate : Summer (March to June) - Warm Monsoon (July to Semtember) - Warm Winter (October to February) - Cold
Languages spoken : Hindi
Best Time to Visit : October to March
Introduction
Situated in the northern part of India, Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state of India. In terms of area, it is the fourth largest among all the states. It is bound by Nepal on the north, and is surrounded by the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Often referred to as the "cow belt" or "Hindi belt", Uttar Pradesh has been the most dominant state in Indian politics and culture since Independence, producing over half of India's prime ministers.
The Ganges River forms the backbone of Uttar Pradesh, and most of the state consists of the vast Ganges plain. The Ganges is the sacred river of Hinduism, and four of the religion's seven holy towns are in the state, including Varanasi, the holiest of them all. Uttar Pradesh is also a place of major importance to Buddhists, for it was at Sarnath, just outside Varanasi, that the Buddha first preached his message of the middle way.
There's more to Uttar Pradesh than just religion, though. The scenic north-western corner has hill stations sprinkled along the foothills of the Himalayas, boasts excellent trekking and rises to form some of the highest mountains in India.
What to see
Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary
Situated at Bharatpur, 55 kilometres from Agra, is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world. What was once the private hunting ground of the Maharaja of Bharatpur is now a protected breeding ground for hundreds of species of birds. Several species of migratory birds, especially the Siberian Crane, spend their winters here.
Mathura
Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, the popular incarnation of Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity). This area, popularly known as Brij Bhoomi, is a major pilgrimage place of Hindus. Nearby is Brindavan, where Krishna 'sported' with his gopis (milkmaids). The land still echoes with stories and songs that recount the exploits of this charming God.
Dudhwa National Park
This 488.29 sq km national park is inhabited by tiger, panther, sloth bear, sambar, swamp deer, chital, hog deer, barking deer, nilgai, peafowl, jungle fowl, and patridge. The nearest airport is at Lucknow (250 kms) and nearest railhead is at Dudhwa. The best time to visit is from November to May.
How To Get There
Air : The state has four domestic airports in it, namely: Agra , Kanpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi. So all major destinations have own airport near it. They are connected by regular flights of important public and private airlines to cities like Delhi , Mumbai .
Road : An extensive road network covers the state thoroughly. National Highways 2, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 45 and a number of State Highways run through the state. Agra , the most famous destination in Uttar Pradesh is nearly 4 hours drive from Delhi .
Rail : Notable tourist destinations in the state, viz: Agra , Varanasi, Lucknow are conveniently networked by Railways with the rest of the country. Many express, super-fast and passenger trains service these stations on a regular basis.