Unsurprisingly as the home of the Taj Mahal this state is usually on every vacation that is planned in India.

But as magical as the white marble of this testament to love is, it is unlikely to take up more than a couple of days of your time here in this state.  Fortunately they are not one hit wonders, and there is much to do in this bustling and overflowing state.  Uttar Pradesh is the fifth largest state in India.

A shining example of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is literally the heartland of Hinduism it carries the mystery of Orient and the wealth of its monuments.  It is a vigorously vibrant, cosmopolitan and puts forward a modern face of India.  Uttar Pradesh absolutely dominates with its culture and tradition and this shines through in its language, religion, politics and business. All this considered Uttar Pradesh is one of the most fascinating states in India and has a lot to offer to the discerning traveller as well as those on a backpacker’s budget.

Uttar Pradesh needs to be visited for one to truly appreciate the beauty and solidarity of this state.  There is not any one thing that really makes for a stand out destination or activity as there is something for everyone; historical cities, wildlife sanctuaries, centers of pilgrimage and adventure tourism just a few of the things that can be experienced here.   Of course the majority of people that come to this state do so to see the Taj Mahal in Agra, but while here there is also the opportunity to see Agra fort which is one of India’s finest, or the ruins of Fatehpur Sikri.

Religion and tourism in Uttar Pradesh

Religion is integral to this state and there is barely a day that goes by where you won’t pass a sacred bathing Ghats, temple or pilgrimage site.  Uttar Pradesh is regulated by a caste system; where the minority are the rich and powerful, there is a majority here of impoverished people who work extremely hard and have learnt to live happily despite this.

History and tourism in Uttar Pradesh

Kings and emperors from medieval times have left many monuments in Uttar Pradesh. Temples, mosques, mausoleums, palaces and forts show an enduring grand ambiance that reflects the opulence of the time.  While the British raj-era buildings are still often found in judicial city buildings, hospitals, banks, post offices, police stations and railway stations.  On the banks of the river Ganges stands the city of Varanasi.  Being one of the world oldest continually inhabited cities has its advantages and its gems.  It is intensely spiritual and you can feel this energy that is always present, this is one of the absolute must-visit destination for this state.

Clothing in Uttar Pradesh

The people of Uttar Pradesh wear both native dress and western style dress as with the rest of India. Sari, dhoti and lungi are common with European styled clothes and suits common for men in business or more educated.  During the summer months it is best to wear cottons here as it breaths freely while in the winter a sweater may be needed or a jacket.