We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There
is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes
open, truly said by Jawaharlal Nehru. Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in
North India and housing the largest population, It is the heart of
tourism in North India. The Taj Mahal at Agra, Sangam at
Allahabad, Assi Ghat at Banaras are a testament to the importance
of Uttar Pradesh in the history of the country and in the history of
both Hinduism and Islam. The place of birth of Lord Rama and the
origin of Nawabs of Lucknow all are encompassed under its glorious
history. The culture and heritage here are attractions few can avoid
and the forts, palaces British and Mughal Architecture make Uttar
Pradesh an experience in itself.
Up:
India has been blessed with a geographical, cultural and linguistic diversity, which is so rich
and varied that one will need a lifetime to explore each and every part of India. The
tourism potential of India is immense and still to be explored fully. Each century has
brought a new culture on to Indian soil leading to a diversified commingling that has shaped
modern India. There are so many places of historical interest, heirlooms left over from the
various centuries.
From the mosques to the temples and churches, India is a living testament to its vast and
varied religious heritage. Being a secular country, every religion in India has full liberty to
celebrate its special festivals in which the entire country participates as a whole. For those
looking to just get away from the madding crowd, hill stations during summers, the sun-
kissed beaches in winter and leisure tourism are the go-to options. Over the years, medical
tourism has also emerged as an extremely viable option, considering world-class facilities
are made available at half the prices here, enabling more and more people to come to India
for their healthcare. The options enumerated so far are just some instances of India’s
diversified touristic potential. There is so
much more waiting to be explored in what can truly be the dream destination for tourists.
20 reasons to visit to north india:

1. Endless beauties of Northeast India

Source : Tripadvisor
The undulated hills and valleys, the virgin forests, the cascading waterfalls, the crystal
clear rivers, the lush green tea gardens, the mystic nature, the myths and legends, the
wildlife, varied flora and fauna, the people – their culture, traditions, heritage, food habits
and celebrations of life make the Northeast India a treasure trove for the explorers.

2. Melting pot of ethnicity

Source : Northeast Now
Northeast India comprises of eight states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya,
Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The region has 65 million people, and
about 400 ethnic groups. The ethnic diversity includes Austro-Asiatic speakers from
Southeast Asia, Tibeto-Burmese from China and Indo-Aryans from the Gangetic Plains.

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3. Multi-lingual region
Nowhere in the world has a geographical area equivalent to the Northeast India which
consists of such a varied group of people. The region has highest density of different
tribes and several sub-tribes residing in an area, making the region vibrant with colourful
people. Each tribe has its own language, culture, traditions, heritage, way of life and
dressing.

4. Colourful traditional dress

The traditional attire worn by the women of Northeast India are vibrant and unique, and
have a charm of their own. The eight states of the region have their own unique dresses
that are a reflection of the tribal culture, with exclusive patterns and vivacious colours.

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5. Geographical matchlessness

Geography and climate of the Northeast India is tectonically and morphologically part of
East Asia, while politically it is part of South Asia. The region is connected with the Indian
mainland with a 22 km-wide landmass called the Siliguri Corridor. Northeast India shares
98 percent of its borders with five countries – China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and
Bangladesh.

6. Kanchenjunga to the Arakan Yoma

Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world, and lies partly in Sikkim. It is at
an elevation of 8,586 m (28,169 ft), the second highest mountain of the Himalayas, and
the highest in India. It is called Five Treasures of Snow after its five high peaks, and has
always been worshipped by the people of Darjeeling and Sikkim. In general, the beautiful
mountains and highlands in Northeast India are extension of the Minor Himalayan ranges,
and runs south as the Arakan Yoma in Myanmar.

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7. Unique people of Northeast India

The earliest settlers in the Northeast India are believed to be the Austro-Asiatic speakers
from Southeast Asia, followed by Tibeto-Burmese from China and by 500 B C Indo-
Aryans speakers from the Gangetic Plains. People residing in the region are varied,
diverse and lead different lifestyles. The divergence in the culture is so much that it varies
from one village to the other. They practice different customs, traditions and beliefs – but
one thing binds the people of the Northeast India with one thread — simplicity.

8. Unbounded hospitality

One is sure to be mesmerized by the warmth and hospitality, irrespective of social

standing in Northeast India. People of mainland India can always take lessons on the art
of welcoming guests from northeast. This is unique and unparallel.

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9. High respect for women

What stands out is the life of women in Northeast India. It is much better than the rest of
the country. They are financially independent and take their own decisions. They work
side by side with men ranging from street vendors, labourers to teachers and managers to
engineers. While gender equality is universal in the region, the state of Meghalaya is
unique for its matrilineal system.

10. Caste-less society

When social reformers are struggling to eradicate caste-ism as a social evil even after 71
years of India’s independence, Northeast India is the only region which does not
differentiate its people on the basis of caste, creed or religion. The social standing of
northeast India is high in absence of a rigid caste system and evil practices like dowry.

11. Unique matrilineal society

Three prominent tribes of Meghalaya — Garo, Jaintia and Khasi follow a unique
matrilineal system. After marriage, the groom shifts to the bride’s house and children take
mother’s surname or clan name. Khasi and Jaintia are said to be the largest surviving
matrilineal culture (s) in the world. Both Khasi and Jaintia are of Mon-Khmer origin. Garos
are of Austric-Mongoloid ethnic group, and are also one of the few remaining matrilineal
societies in the world. Traditionally, in Khasi, Jaintia and Garo societies, the youngest
daughter inherits the property from her mother.

12. Unrivaled pattern of dressing

Every tribe in the northeast India has a distinctive pattern of dressing. All of them have
their own colorful, traditional attire, which are quite different from each other. While the
traditional attires are worn mainly by the women of Northeast India, all of those are quite
different from saree, salwar kameez and ehenga choli worn by women in the mainland in
India.

13. Gorgeous Jewelry

Jewelry in the Northeast is quite different from rest of India. All the tribes have its own
highly gorgeous jewelleries, generally made of beads and locally available materials..
Jewellery is also a form of distinguishing each tribe in the northeast. Some tribes create
earrings made of bamboo, cane, glass beads, seeds, and reed, while others wear metal
coin necklaces and leather waistbands with stones. The Apatani tribe wears iron bracelets
made by the blacksmiths.

14. Colourful festivals

Tribes in northeast celebrate life to the full and they have festivals for almost every
occasion. The festivals flaunt the region’s rich culture. Most of the festivals here are either
related to harvest and beginning of a New Year. Some of the biggest festivals are – Bihu
(in Assam), Hornbill festival (in Nagaland), Cheiraoba festival (in Manipur), Chapchar Kut
(in Mizoram), Siang River Festival (Arunachal Pradesh), Saga Dawa (in Sikkim) and
Ashokasthami festival (in Tripura).  These festivals are a wonderful opportunity for the
people belonging to different tribes to bond.

15. Exclusive tribal dance forms

Dance is integral part of the life of the tribals of northeast India. The region presents a
wide spectrum of dance forms. All the folk dances are accompanied by songs and are
supported by distinct traditional musical instruments. Some of the popular dance forms
are – Hai Hak (Tripura), Cheraw (Mizoram), Bihu (Assam), Nongkrem dance
(Meghalaya), Damphoo Dance (Sikkim), Jagoi (Manipur), Bardo Chham (Arunachal
Pradesh) and Changai Dance (Nagaland).

16. Matchless Tribal Music

Tribes in northeast India are fond of music. Though the indigenous composition is highly
rich in quality, it is largely undocumented and unheard in the mainland. With strong
western influence of music in the region, the indigenous music, including the aboriginal
musical instruments is slowly fading away. Now, various music forms are now confined to
indigenous cultural and music festivals.

17. Rock Capital of India

Shillong, is popularly known as the Rock Capital of India. The picturesque hill city of
Meghalaya is probably the best destination for music connoisseurs in India. Almost every
single person here can sing or play an instrument, and especially the guitar. Whenever
the best bands of the world visit India, Shillong is always the venue. The city has also
produced some of the finest singers of India, be it the blues, reggae or the rock-n-roll.
Some Major Music Festivals hosted here are: Shillong Blues & Jazz Festival and NH7
Weekender.

18. Boundless Rock-n-Roll

The northeast India states as a whole is the rocking zone of India. Like Shillong, there are
several other places in northeast India, which attracts tourists every year because of the
rich tradition of music. Organised every year from December 1 to 7, the Hornbill
International Rock Festival is always a major attraction. Similarly, the Ziro Festival is again a
destination for music lovers. Started in 2012, festival in the beautiful Ziro Valley of
Arunachal presents a fantastic quality of independent rock bands. The festival is usually
four days long and takes place in late September, and is hosted by the indigenous people
of the valley.

19. Gastronomic delights

Food connoisseurs will always find northeast India as the most exciting destination. As
northeast India is a melting pot of various tribes and cultures, the flavors of the dishes are
unique and mouth watering. Though meat is the primary composition of the dishes, the
dishes are light and make you drool forever. Jadoh (Meghalaya), Iromba (Manipur),
Vawksa Rep (Mizoram) and Kumurat diya Hanhor Mangxo (Assam) are some of the
dishes the tourists should never miss.

20. Mechuka, the Forbidden Valley

Northeast India is an explorers’ paradise with some of the most fascinating gifts of nature.
One among them is Mechuka, the Forbidden Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. Located about
29 km from the MacMahon Line (that separates India from China), is the breathtakingly
beautiful Mechuka Valley. Located at a height of 6,000 feet above sea level, Mechuka has
practically remained unexplored. Until recently, the bowl-shaped valley was known only
for its airfield – it was one of the crucial strategic locations during the 1962 war with
China. It became accessible by road only a few years ago.

Tourism in up:
Uttar Pradesh is one of the largest states situated in northern part of India. In
terms of population, Uttar Pradesh is one of the most populous states in the
country. Under British Rule, the state was named as United province but after
independence, the state was renamed as Uttar Pradesh. The state constitutes
of 75 districts with Lucknow as a capital city. The state is drained by two major
glacial rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Uttar Pradesh fondly termed as UP is
surrounded by other Indian states like Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and
Rajasthan. By landmass, the state is fourth largest states in the country with
243,290 square kilometers
History
The state of Uttar Pradesh has great importance in Hindu mythology. The Hindu
religious figures like Lord Rama and Krishna both had a connection with the
current region called UP. Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya and Lord Krishna
was born in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. During the medieval period, the region of
Uttar Pradesh was ruled by various kings like Guptas, Mauryans, Kushans etc.
During the 16th century, the region was ruled by Mughal emperors until British
East Indian Company defeated the Mughal Empire to establish its rule. In 1947
after independence, the state was renamed and declared to be part of the
Indian republic.
Geography
The state of Uttar Pradesh is as large as the size of the United Kingdom with an
area of 243,290 square kilometers. The state also shares its border with Nepal
in the Himalayan region. The region comprises of mountains as well as plains.
Uttar Pradesh is bestowed with thirty-two small and big rivers that flow out of
the Himalayan glacier. Due to the Ganges and its tributary, Uttar Pradesh is
blessed with fertile and mineral-rich soil.
Economy
The state of Uttar Pradesh is second in the list in terms of net state domestic
products. The major revenue of the state comes from agriculture. As per
government of India report, UP contributes 19% to India’s total grain output. 70-
80% of sugarcane production in India comes from Uttar Pradesh. Apart from
agriculture, UP is the hub of many industrial and manufacturing companies in
India. In terms of information and technology, Noida and Lucknow in Uttar
Pradesh top the chart.
Tourism
Uttar Pradesh has recorded most domestic tourist arrivals in the country. Most
of the religious places are situated in the region which makes the state one of
the most visited one. Magh Mela and Kumbh Mela are known worldwide. Apart
from religious tourism, the state has several beautiful places that are known for
its scenic beauty.

Meghalaya is “The House of Clouds”. The place is simply divine and extremely
beautiful. The capital city of Meghalaya is Shillong which is another popular
tourist destination in India. English is the official language here and this state is
one of the seven north-eastern sisters of India. Meghalaya shares its borders
with Assam and Bangladesh to the north and south respectively. Mostly people
practice Christianity followed by Hinduism and just about 4% of the population
practice Islam. Meghalaya is the wettest place on the planet as it receives as
much as 1200 cm of rainfall per year. Cherrapunji holds the world record for
maximum annual rain.
History
The British during their rule named Meghalaya as “Scotland of the East”. Earlier
this place was inhabited by the ancient tribes – Jaintia, Garo and Khasi.
Meghalaya was earlier a part of Assam and then in the year 1972, after a lot of
reorganization, it was made an independent state. This was made by merging
the Jaintia Hills and Garo and Khasi districts. Therefore Meghalaya is one of the
youngest states of India.
Tourist Spots
Meghalaya
Mainly people indulge in farming and about 80% of the economy of the state is
run by agriculture. Though the land is majorly barren but still the major
agricultural products grown here are Maize, Rice and Potatoes. The Khasi
Mandarin Orange is very famous and loved all over the world. The industries in
Meghalaya are Cottage industries, iron and steel industries and Cement
industry.Meghalaya is known for its coal, limestone and uranium deposits.
As a matter of fact, this is the only state in India which follows matrilineal
system. This means that the entire inheritance and lineage is mapped out
through women. The other neighboring states are following the patrilineal
system.
Tourist Spots
Meghalaya is all about the mountains and peaks, the caves and falls and the
cane and bamboo handicrafts. Shopping here is a delightful experience. People
here are very hospitable. The Shillong peak is the highest which lies on the
Khasi hills. Jaintia hills boasts of the longest caves which is almost 22
kilometers long. Nohkaliaki falls near Cherrapunji is the India’s highest plunge
type waterfall and a must see tourist spot.The most prominent tourist places in
Meghalaya are:
Umiam Lake
Laitlum Canyons
Root Bridges
Dain Thlen Falls
Mawlynnong waterfall
Krang Suri falls
Elephant Falls
All Saints church