Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh (UP, Hindi: उत्तर प्रदेश, Urdu: اتر پردیش), literally the "Northern Province", is a large state in the Plains region of India. With around 240 million inhabitants in 2021, it is not just more populous than other states of India, but all other sub-national regions in the world. If UP were a country, it'd be the fifth most populous country, just behind Indonesia and ahead of Pakistan.

Map of Uttar Pradesh

Here are nine of the most notable cities.

• 26.84780.9471 Lucknow — capital of Uttar Pradesh, the City of Nawab, also home to one of the IIMs
• 27.1878.022 Agra — tourist capital of India, home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Taj Mahal
• 26.79916782.2044443 Ayodhya — known as the birthplace of the Hindu God Rama and Lord Rishabhadeva, first Tirthankar of the Jains
• 25.4486278.569624 Jhansi — historical city of Bundelkhand
• 26.472580.3311115 Kanpur — once known as the "Manchester of India", now famous for its leather works and IIT Kanpur
• 27.49241377.6736736 Mathura — known as the birthplace of Lord Krishna
• 25.4581.857 Prayagraj (Allahabad) — holy place where the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati meet
• 25.38111183.0213898 Sarnath — the site of the Buddha Sakyamuni's first teaching after gaining enlightenment
• 25.31888983.0127789 Varanasi — one of the holiest cities in India to Hindus on the banks of the Ganges

• 24.9278583.114321 Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary — home to Devdari and Rajdari waterfalls, as well as diverse fauna
• 28.47087280.6992631 Dudhwa National Park — a project for wildlife preservation
• 26.76779.0012 Etawah Safari Park — A project for wildlife preservation
• 28.7052880.0616553 Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
• 27.85582.1014 Suhelva Wildlife Sanctuary — at the border to Nepal

Uttar Pradesh (UT-tuhr pruh-DAYSH) is the fourth largest state in terms of land area. The western plain is the most urban region. Agriculture is the most important section of Uttar Pradesh’s economy, employing about three-quarters of the work force. Uttar Pradesh has the largest production of food grain and oilseeds in India. In addition, UP ranks the first in the production of wheat, maize, barley, gram, sugar cane, and potatoes. The three most important industries of UP are sugar, cotton fabrics and diversified food preparations. Goods carrier equipment, photostat machines, chemicals, polyester fibre and steel tube galvanized sheets are the other big industries of UP.

Kathak, one of the eight recognised classical dance forms in India, was born in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, the countryside songs and dances are significant traits of the local culture. Uttar Pradesh is famous for handicrafts such as carpet weaving, hand printing, chikan (a type of embroidery), metal enamelling, brocade and brass, and ebony work. Uttar Pradesh has the biggest brass and copperware manufacturing industry in India.

The State of Uttar Pradesh has an ancient and rich history. It was recognised in the later Vedic Age as Brahmarshi Desha or Madhya Desha. Many great sages of the Vedic times flourished in this state. Several sacred books of the Aryans were also composed here. Two great epics of India, Ramayana and Mahabharata, appear to have been inspired by Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh has played a vital role in the history of many different religions. In the sixth century BCE, Uttar Pradesh was associated with two new religions - Jainism and Buddhism. It was at Sarnath that the Buddha preached his first sermon and laid the foundations of his order, and it was in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, where Buddha breathed his last breath. Several pilgrimage centres in Uttar Pradesh like Ayodhya, Prayag, Varanasi and Mathura became reputed centres of learning. In the medieval period, the area passed under Muslim rule and led the way to new synthesis of Hindu and Islamic cultures. Ramananda and his disciple Kabir, Tulsidas, Surdas and other intellectuals contributed to the growth of literature in Khadiboli, Braj Bhasha, Awadhi and other languages nowadays treated as dialects of Hindi.

Uttar Pradesh preserved its intellectual excellency even under the British administration. The British combined Agra and Oudh into one province, and called it United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. The name was shortened to the United Provinces in 1935. In January 1950, the United Provinces was renamed as Uttar Pradesh.

Official websites:

• Government of Uttar Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh Tourism^{[dead link]}

Uttar Pradesh has international airports at Ayodhya, Kushinagar, Lucknow, Noida and Varanasi. Besides, the state also has some smaller airports with domestic operations.

Uttar Pradesh is served by multiple trains from both Delhi and Kolkata. The major rail hubs include Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj and Varanasi.

There are four expressways from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh: the DND Flyway to Noida, the Hindon Elevated Road to Ghaziabad, the Delhi–Meerut Expressway (NE 3) to Meerut and the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway (NH 709B) to Saharanpur. There are no expressways from other sides of India to UP, although the Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway is under construction.

The fastest way to get here from Kolkata is via NH 19, which ends at Agra.

The historic Grand Trunk Road passes through this state via Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Aligarh and Ghaziabad.

Uttar Pradesh has a diverse transport system due to its huge size. The state government is further investing on more efficient systems.

UP's rail network is the largest in India. The Northern Railway (NR) covers the Delhi–Lucknow–Varanasi corridor, whereas the North Central Railway (NCR) covers the Agra–Kanpur–Varanasi one. The North Eastern Railway (NER) covers the northern part of UP with a relatively poor rail connectivity.

The bus network of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) is also very extensive. However, the bus service can be unreliable.

Uttar Pradesh also has the largest road network in India with 42 national highways and 83 state highways. All cities are connected to state highways, and all district headquarters are connected with four-lane roads.

The state also has 16 expressways, the highest in India. Popular expressways include the Agra–Lucknow Expressway, the Bundelkhand Expressway (Etawah–Chitrakoot), the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (NE 2), the Ganga Expressway (Meerut–Prayagraj), the Purvanchal Expressway (Lucknow–Ghazipur) and the Yamuna Expressway (Greater Noida–Agra).

Five cities in Uttar Pradesh are served by metro systems, the highest in India. The cities are Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut and Noida.

• Sangam, Anand Bhavan, Minto Park, Sita Samahit Isthal, Company Garden, New Yamuna Bridge, and lots more in the holy city Allahabad (Prayag).
• Ghats at Varanasi (Kashi).
• Nawab's or Royal city Lucknow.

Take a holy dip in Sangam at Allahabad and visit ghats at Varanasi and it is a very royal place.

In Lucknow, there is a place called Chowk. Chowk has tons to offer (in terms of touristy locations like the Imambaras) and its narrow streets are interesting.

The cuisine consists of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Uttar Pradesh's most famous dishes include kebabs, Dum Biryani, and various Mutton recipes. The Chaat, samosa and pakora, among the most popular snacks in all of India, are also originally from Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh has been greatly influenced by Mughal cooking techniques. Mughali cuisine is also integral to Western and Central Uttar Pradesh's cuisine.

The state is famous for its Nawabi foods (of Lucknow and environs) and use of mutton, paneer, and rich spices including cardamom and saffron. Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, is a heaven for food lovers due to the sheer range of variety available. Lucknow, before being the seat of Nawabs (Kings) of the Awadh region, is the birth place of the famous Awadhi cuisine. Awadhi cuisine bears similarities to those of Kashmir and Punjab. It is a good place to find refined Muslim Indian food. During your visit, go to Old Lucknow. It's normal to visit eateries which are 150-200 years old, serving famed Lucknowi Biryani (mutton & Basmati rice preparation with exotic herbs), nehari, kulcha, sheermal and many more traditional dishes.

Varanasi is another city where people live for eating. It is famous for the Hindu vegetarian thali style which includes chaat, tikki, and kachori, among others.

Always have a keen eye to famous drinks like Lassi, Kullahd, etc. People will guide you very well for that.

Uttar Pradesh is notoriously known for kidnapping, particularly outside the metropolitan cities. While this is mainly of concern to residents, as always, travel sensibly and remain vigilant.

• Bihar
• Delhi
• Rajasthan
• Uttarakhand