Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in India is also the home of some of the most pious places in the country. There are a lot of religious as well as historical places to visit in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Hindu lore, Lord Ram was born here. It is a highly spiritual place for Hindu devotees.
Not only that, the sacred monuments of other communities like Muslims, Buddhists and Jains also rest in Uttar Pradesh. It is also the most populated place in the country. UP is so large that it is divided into two parts namely, Uttar Pradesh East and Uttar Pradesh West.
Apart from these religious sites, various other tourist places in Uttar Pradesh are there. Numerous historical monuments like Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and the mighty Taj Mahal are the heart of UP tourism.
This state tops the list of states with the highest number of domestic arrivals in the country and Uttar Pradesh tourism makes a huge amount of revenue from it. Devotees, travellers as well as vacationers visit UP due to various attractions.
Below are some of the most famous cities and places to visit in Uttar Pradesh:
1. Lucknow
Also famous as the Nawab city, Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh falling into the domain of UP east cities. This is not just an ostentatious combination of majestic Vidhan Sabha, sheen bungalows of politicians and beauteous railway station but also a foodaholic’s paradise.
If you want to have a lap of luxury life with Awadhi food, you must join the tables with this elegant place.
The glances of Mughal history to the domicile of worthy-wise culture woo visitors. The exemplary infrastructure is another seduction towards the Nawab city relating to Uttar Pradesh history.
The surplus and extra gain is the generous nature of the clan which leads to having a pleasant sense to visit. Lucknow has the perfect attire of royalty, former time and nourishment of delightful Awadhi foodstuff.
- Apart from all this, there are various tourist places in Lucknow-
- Bara Imambara
- Ambedkar Memorial park
- Lucknow Zoo
- Clock Tower
- Anandi Waterpark
- Chota Imambara
2. Agra
A place where graves exhibit devotion of love, the great Taj Mahal, conceives its stand in The Seven Wonders of The World. It is considered as one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh and even in the world. Majority of the tourists come to Agra to take a glance at this Wonder of the World built with white marble only. The interiors are carved and engraved with historical art styles which add magnificence to this monument from the inside too. The Taj is considered as the most important part of Uttar Pradesh history.
The Mughal empire furnished the site with tombs, mausoleum, forts, hothouses and mosques. This incredible and beauteous combination boosts the statistic of visitors and no Uttar Pradesh tourism can be thrivingly executed without the cruise to Agra.
Moreover, the great leaders like Akbar, Shah Jahan and even the Lodi delivered their terrific reflection of artistic love adding sparkling stars to the city. Agra comes under the domain of UP west cities.
Other famous places to visit in Uttar Pradesh’s dear Agra are:
- Agra Fort
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Jama Masjid
- Dolphin water park
- Akbar’s Tomb
3. Vrindavan
This place of devotion for the beloved Lord Krishna is located in Mathura. Known highly due to Lord Krishna’s childhood, Vrindavan is among the primaeval city on the bank of Yamuna. It is believed that Lord Krishna spent his adolescence with the combination of babyhood naughtiness here.
Which is the perfect insight into the city? A great commemoration is compassed on ‘Krishan Janmashtami’ for the gala of load Krishna’s natal day. The euphoria is top notch but the only challenge is to rescue oneself from monkeys. Just because roughly every artery has the combination of temples of Lord Krishna parallelly, the plush with an emporium of worship stuff and sweets flood the place.
An affectionate place with alluring architectonics which builds up the charisma of Vrindavan makes it one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh.
4. Varanasi
Varanasi is one of the most pious cities in Uttar Pradesh. This place for devotion abutting river Ganga is the main substantial to woo visitors. Formerly called Banaras, this city attracts devotees from all across the country and also the world. Amongst the list of best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is not behind any other.
Varanasi is the glance of harmonious and natural glimpses with purity reflections. This city is the gathering place for Shiva devotees and habitat for some bizarre odour priests. The heaven is regarded when the pleading of Ganga aarti captivate in the dim. Most of the tourists come to Banaras to get absorbed into this sound. Magnificent attire is experienced when the pandits interlining in their rituals and glorifying the beauty of mighty spirits.
The oldest and ethical place of Uttar Pradesh is globally acknowledged, thus an enormous centre of attraction. Due to its spiritual nature, Varanasi is one of the best tourist places in Uttar Pradesh.
5. Mathura
‘Krishnbhoomi ‘ Mathura is believed to be the attire of Shri Krishna’s birthplace thus is the utmost sojourn near the sacred Yamuna river flows Falling in the portion of UP west cities, Mathura holds the prison where Lord Krishna was innate is the viewing artefact for the visitors. It includes 25 ghats which are everlasting adherence from the narrow to the dim.
Originally it was a Buddhist residence and habitat for monks and assorted monasteries, whereas it’s entirely a Tarriance site.
Furthermore, omitting the prison and harmonious view of ghats, there are iconic and dignified idols of Lord Krishna with beloved Radha.
Mathura is an anarchy of devotion and merges of sugary souls, which is the tempt for visitors. A UP tourism without Mathura is incomplete. It’s one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh.
6. Sarnath
The substantial Buddhist site in India, Sarnath is a nonpareil for Uttar Pradesh tourism. It’s about 10 km from Varanasi and falls in the Uttar Pradesh east cities. The Ganga and Varuna river’s confluence can be seen near Sarnath.
This place is highly regarded by the Buddhists as one of their major four pilgrim sites. The peace-loving and harmonious visitors term up with Sarnath for pilgrimage view.
Its diversity flocked with devotees of Buddhists, Hindus and Jains analogously. It’s a crowded place in Uttar Pradesh, with harmony. In addition to the historical anarchy with plentiful Buddhist stumps, museums, scoop ancient sites and beauteous temples, it is the centre of attraction due to the occult and serene setting. As Ashoka entrenched of stupas and exquisite monasteries, this becomes the attraction for Buddhist devotees.
For the tourists who avoid noisy crowded places, this is one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh.
7. Bareilly
Bareilly is one of the famous UP west cities. Widely famous for Bareilly ki Barfi and Bareilly ka Pagalkhana, this city has a lot more to offer to the tourists. Nath Nagri, Shah Sharafat Miyan, Ala Hazrat and Khankahe Niyazia, Zari Nagari and Sankasya are few epithets of Bareilly.
This metropolitan city is widely admired for furniture manufacturing and trade of sugar, cereal and cotton. A renounced city for cotton, cereal and sugar commerce as well as furniture productions. Being the birthplace of one of the most talented actress, model Priyanka Chopra adds stars to the city.
The Trivatinath temple is a place for the pilgrims. For amusement seekers, Fun city amusement park is there. This city is a central place between Delhi and Lucknow soon going to be a metropolitan roughly in the near future. A parallel combination of talents and trade makes it one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh.
8. Allahabad
Allahabad falls in the domain of UP east cities. It’s well known for its historical monuments turned tourist places in UP. The city
has some core of histories showing artistic knowledge of British era buildings, Mughal fort and tombs and the star part is Red-Guavas.
Allahabad is famous for its 16th-century Allahabad fort built by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The fort has an underground temple named as the Patalpuri Temple and the Ashoka pillar. Allahabad has a Triveni Sangam parallelly, known for the accommodation of three rivers namely The Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati into one.
Being the 3rd longest cable-advocated bridge in UP, The New Yamuna bridge is a stunning piece of engineering. Stars to the city are added by the rebound Kumbh Mela. The Maha Kumbh Mela is an enormous and colossal Mela celebrate in every 12 months. A huge haunt from globally took aid in this gigantic event.
Some other attractions or tourist places in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad are-
- Anand Bhavan
- Khusro Bagh
- Company Gardens
- Jawahar Planetarium
- Chandra Shekhar Azad garden
Apart from being one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad is the birthplace of legendary dignitaries like Jawaharlal Nehru and Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
9. Chitrakoot
Chitrakoot a proudly known city where Lord Rama with wife Sita and brother Lakshman took shelter for nearly eleven and a half year of their fourteen years of banishment. For pilgrims, it is one of the best places in Uttar Pradesh. Pilgrims come here from all over the country to see and feel how their lord Ram lived for fourteen years.
Chitrakoot has a drastic combination of devotion and enjoyment. It has been transformed itself into a flawless flip over the venue. An easygoing Chitrakoot visit is a dreamy holiday venue, as it provides a peaceful visit to nature’s glory and stippled temples.
Chitrakoot, due to Lord Rama, Mata Sita and brother Lakshman’s resting place on their fourteen years exile, comes under holy places of India. Chitrakoot falls in the part of UP east cities. Every travelling lover must have a visual examination of Chitrakoot
10. Ayodhya
Ayodhya is considered a very pure place because of it being the Janmabhoomi of Lord Ram. The glory of this UP east city widely enhance with Lord Ram’s temples accompanied with many more spiritual temples.
If one wants to devote themselves in the glimpses of prayers and peace, Ayodhya is waiting. Ayodhya has multiple grace and gems of Lord Ram and Mata Sita temples.
The Ram ki Paidi, Hanumangarhi, Ram Lalla mandir are some of the famous tourist attractions.
For the last two decades controversy talks have decreased the number of visitors, still, the beauty remains in star parts of Uttar Pradesh tourism. Ayodhya is a place for Lord Rama believers and is definitely one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh.
11. Aligarh
Famous as an important educational center in Uttar Pradesh, Aligarh is another jewel in the crown of the state. The city is a famous commercial center and center of the lock manufacturing industry (an industry that has its roots in the Mughal period). It is also known as the Battle of Ali Ghur which was fought between the French and the British. Brass products and ‘Aligarh pajamas’ are also specialties of this city.
12. Kapilvastu
Recognized as the capital of Shakya, where Lord Buddha was born, Kapilavastu is an important place for Buddhist devotees. Located about 27 km from Siddhartha Nagar district, the ruins of this place date back to the 8th century BC. Archaeologists have unearthed 14 layers of human habitation in the area, including several mounds built by Ashoka and the Gupta kings. Today, Kapilvastu consists of several villages like Piprahava, Ganvaria, and Nalagarh.
13. Sardhana
Sardhana receives special respect from Christians in India. Known for the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces, Sardhana is just 19 kilometers from Meerut. It is also recognized as the capital of the Kauravas in the Mahabharata epic and it is believed that the Pandavas prayed here before going to Laksagraha (the palace built by Duryodhana, the confluence of the Hindan and Krishna rivers). Today, large numbers of Christian devotees are seen shaking the city and occasionally taking part in worship held in the Basilica.
14. Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri in the Agra district is one of the best-preserved examples of Mughal architecture in India. Some of the important buildings and tourist attractions of Fatehpur Sikri are Buland Darwaza, Jame Mosque, Selim Chishti’s Tomb, and Panchmahal.
15. Jhansi
The historic city of Jhansi is located in the Bundelkhand region which was ruled by the Queen of the Kingdom of Jhansi. Places of interest in Jhansi include Jhansi Fort, Rani Mahal, Government Museum, Lakshmi Temple, and Herbal Gardens.
16. Mirzapur
Mirzapur district Vindhyachal is known for its tourist attractions like Vindhyavasini temple, several ghats and waterfalls, Baba Ashram, dams, natural spots, Chunar Fort, and clock tower.
17. Sonbhadra
The Sonbhadra region has many power plants and is said to be the energy capital of India. Tourist attractions in Sonbhadra district are Vijaygarh Fort, Salkhan Fossil Park, Rihand Dam, Shivdwar Temple, Jaladevi Temple, and Renukeshwar Mahadev Temple.
18. Bada Gaon
The village of Bada Gaon near Khekra is a prominent Jain religious site and famous for the temple of Lord Parshvanath. Trilok Tirtha Dham in Bara village is a 317 feet high Jain temple, built in the form of a Jain symbol.
19. Hastinapur
Hastinapur in Meerut district was the capital of the Kauravas of the Mahabharata on the banks of the holy Ganges. At present Hastinapur is famous for Mount Kailash, Jambudwip, Shwetambar Jain Temple, Gurudwaras, and Hastinapur Sanctuary.
20. Kumbh Mela at Triveni Sangam
The Kumbh Mela festival in India is the largest peaceful gathering in the world, held once in 12 years. The Triveni Sangam in Allahabad is the confluence of three sacred rivers in India – the Ganges and the Jamuna and the invisible Saraswati River, the site of the historic Kumbh Mela.
21. Dudhwa National Park
Dudhwa National Park is located in Terai on the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh. The park is home to a large number of endangered wildlife species. The main tourist attractions of the Dudhwa Wildlife Park are tigers, cheetahs, honey badgers, deer, elephants, hog deer, and sloth bears.
22. Kushinagar
Kushinagar is an important destination in the Buddhist circuit of India. It is recognized as a place where Lord Buddha breathed his last. Therefore, this place is highly revered by Buddhists. There are several temples where one can stay, hang out with monks or just think about one’s existence on earth. There are three major historical sites, including the Stupa, which are believed to have been the site of the Buddha’s cremation.
Kushinagar is an international Buddhist pilgrimage site located 53 km east of Gorakhpur. The main tourist attractions of Kushinagar are Parinirvana Stupa, Nirvana Chaitya, Ramvar Stupa, Nirvana Statue of Buddha, and Indo Japan Sri Lanka Temple.
23. Deogarh
Deogarh village in Lalitpur district is located on the right bank of the river Betwa and is known for its ancient Gupta monuments.
24. Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur is one of the major districts of Uttar Pradesh, situated on the banks of the river Rapti. The city of Gorakhpur is home to the Gorakhnath Temple, Gorakhnath Math, and the longest railway platform in the world which stretches for about 1.35 km.
Conclusion
There are some excellent examples of cultural fusion in northern India and there are several reasons for this. However, the results have been quite pleasing and there is no denying it. North India is a state that reflects the brightest colors by a combination of cultures. Yes, indeed the land of Lord Krishna, Rama, Buddha, and the Taj Mahal, this kingdom is a perfect canvas painted in different colors that brings out the favorite pictures of everyone. Uttar Pradesh boasts fragrant and delightful Awadhi cuisine, fine chicken and brass work, and royal architecture.
Holidays in India have almost everything you want and how much better it can be if you find it in one place. When it was the largest state in India before the bifurcation, Uttar Pradesh was the most diverse tourist destination in India. Jim Corbett National Park, one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Sans India, and some breathtaking treks in the Himalayas and obscure Hindu pilgrimage sites like Chardham Jatra.
Located in northern India, Uttar Pradesh has long been a historical, historical, architectural, and religious center of the country. Across the state, there is an abundance of cosmic cities and ancient cities that boast stories of love, heroism, spirituality, and glory. From the city of Taj Mahal to the world’s oldest ever habitable city, here are the top ten places that everyone should visit in UP.