UTTAR PRADESHOver 2000 years ago the state was part of Ashoka's great Buddist empire. More recently it was part of the Mughal empire, and for some time Agra was its capital. The state was first known as United Province when Britishers took over, but was renamed after Independence.
Uttar Pradesh has produced seven of the nine Indian prime ministers
since Independence. In terms of population Uttar Pradesh is the largest
state in India. It's staggering to think that if it were a country in its
own right, it would rank among the 10 biggest in the world.It is also one
of the great historical and religious centers of India.The Ganges River,
which forms the backbone of Uttar Pradesh, is the holy river of Hinduism,
and there are several important pilgrimage towns along it. The main ones
are Rishikesh and Haridwar, where the river emerges from the Himalaya and
starts across the plains, but there's also Varanasi,the most holy city
of India. Bhuddism also has its great shrine in the state, for it was at
Sarnath, just outside Varanasi, that the Bhuddha first preached his message
of the middle way.
Visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan
in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later
visit the Agra Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and
Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by Empress
Noorjehan in memory of her father.
Akbar's Mausoleum at Sikandra is a fusion of Muslim Hindu architectural
style which is characteristic of that period.
Here you will meet pilgrims, Sadhus (holy men) coated in cow dung
ash, barbers waiting to shave the nostrils, ears and heads of the pilgrims
before their ritual bath. Hanging to the chains in the fast flowing river,
the pilgrims, once shaved, blessed and anointed, caste gifts of flowers,
sweets and milk into the Ganges.
The city of Gardens was the 18th century capital of Nawab Wazirs
& the centre of culture and tradition. Visit the great Imambara, Jama
Masjid, Picture Gallery, The Clock Tower, Roomi Darwaza, Residency and
Dilkusha Palace.
Rishikesh is an ancient pilgrimage centre nestling in the foothills
of the Garhwal Himalayas on the banks of river Ganges. Millions of Hindus
come here every year to absolve themselves of their sins by bathing in
the Holy Ganges, which has supported the ancient civilisation of the North
Indian plains since time immemorial.
Varanasi - Hindus holiest city and one of the oldest living cities
in the world. Varanasi was already old when Rome was founded, a flourishing
trade centre when the Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his first sermon.
It was a city of great wealth and religious importance when the Chinese
travelers Hiuen Tsang visited in the 7th century. Half day, sightseeing
tour of the city visiting the Bharat Mata Temple with a big relief map
of India in marble, Durga Temple,Tulsi Manas Mandir,Banaras Hindu University
which has an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb built
on the site of an ancient Hindu Temple.
Boat excursion on the river Ganges, a ferry pilgrimage from ghat
to ghat. People bathe early in the morning to offer the prayers to the
rising sun. The two cremation ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchandra
where funeral pyre burns day and night. Every pious Hindu believes that
to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain
release from the cycle of birth and death.
Visit the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 6th century B.C. to 12th century AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple and the Museum (Museum closed on Fridays).
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