Uttar Pradesh was back in limelight just a few days

ago, owing to the grand Bhoomi Poojan ceremony

of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Once constructed,
this temple is certainly going to be one of the
biggest draws for pilgrims and travellers alike and
will add a feather in the hat of Uttar Pradesh
Tourism. Uttar Pradesh is indeed special in so many
ways. It’s here that once Lord Rama, Lord Krishna
and Lord Buddha walked among humans, making it
the cradle of Indian mythology and civilization. Uttar
Pradesh is such a vast state that many times, in the
due course of visiting the world-famous Taj Mahal,
the holy Kushinagar, bustling and vibrant Varanasi
or the city of Tehzeeb Lucknow one may not realise
that all these diverse places are a part of this single
north Indian state. A beautiful kaleidoscope of
monuments, architectural wonders, pilgrim centres,
spiritual experiences and wildlife, if you haven’t
discovered the treasure trove that Uttar Pradesh is,
it’s high time you do it. In this blog, we bring to you
10 tourist places in Uttar Pradesh that you just can’t
afford to give a miss on your trip.
 Agra
One of the most important places to visit in Uttar
Pradesh and famous across the globe for being the
home of the Taj Mahal, Agra is located on the banks of
River Yamuna. Home to two more UNESCO World
Heritage Sites – Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, Agra is
indeed a sneak peek into the architectural history and
legacy of the Mughal empire. The city forms part of the
popular Golden Triangle Circuit for tourists along with
Delhi and Jaipur and also a part of the Uttar Pradesh
Heritage Arc including Varanasi and Lucknow. Agra is a
heaven for history fanatics, architecture buffs and
foodies, all alike. It’s famous for its Petha and also well-
known for its marble artefacts. Agra is therefore among
the must-visit destinations in Uttar Pradesh for anyone
living in or visiting India.Nearest Railway
station/Airport:-Agra .
 Fatehpur Sikri

A city made of red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri was

founded in 1571 by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It’s
located at a distance of 40 km. from Agra and is
rightly known as the pride of the Mughal Empire.
Fatehpur Sikri is essentially a fortified city and had
been the capital of the Empire for fifteen years. A
unique blend of Indo-Islamic architectural
excellence and religious beliefs adorns Fatehpur
Sikri. Today, a UNESCO world heritage site, it is
home to the three palaces for each of Emperor
Akbar’s favourite wives – one a Hindu (Jodha Bai),
one a Muslim and one a Christian; Jama Masjid – a
stunning mosque which is still in use today; Buland
Darwaza; and tomb of Salim Chisti among many
other famous monuments. Fatehpur Sikri looks
magical and splendid, especially during the sunset.
This one is certainly one of the best places to visit in
Uttar Pradesh.Nearest Railway station:-Fathepur
Sikhri.Nearest Airport:-Agra.
 ..
Varanasi

Varanasi, also known as Kashi and Benaras and

considered to be the world’s oldest living city is one
of the most famous tourist places in Uttar Pradesh.
Being one of Hinduism’s seven holy cities, Varanasi
is indeed the spiritual capital of India. While you
would find temples at almost every turn in the city,
the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which is one of the
12 Jyotirlingas, is the most visited and the oldest of
all. Varanasi is considered an auspicious place to
die, as it is believed to grant moksha or liberation
from the cycle of life and death. About 80 ghats
along the banks of the Holy Ganges form the heart
and soul of the city. The ceremony of immense
grandeur and spiritual enlightenment, the Ganga
Aarti is a must-experience when in Varanasi. Also,
the hot chaat and cool lassi would be the perfect
feast for your taste-buds.
Nearest Airport/Railway station:-Varanasi
4. Mathura

Being the birthplace of Lord Krishna makes Mathura

one of Hinduism’s seven sacred cities and therefore
attracts a horde of pilgrims from all over the world,
making it one of the most visited pilgrims and tourist
places in Uttar Pradesh. Similar to the Ganga Aarti
in Varanasi, the Yamuna Aarti is one of the
highlights of Mathura. The town is flooded with
tourists and pilgrims during the two main festivals –
Janmashtami and Holi. Shri Krishna Janmabhumi is
the most famous tourist attraction in Mathura, as
this place is believed to be the exact place where
Lord Krishna was born, and the prison where he
was born is now on display for tourists to see. Other
two most important temples in town are the
Dwarkadheesh Temple and the Gita Mandir.
Mathura also has a delicious history of street food.
Some must-try local snacks are kachodis, aloo-puri,
chaat, jalebis and gulab-jamuns.
Nearest Railway station:-Mathura.Nearest
Airport:-Agra.

5. Vrindavan

Located only 10 km. away from each other, Mathura

and Vrindavan are often considered twin cities. One
of the oldest cities on the banks of Yamuna,
Vrindavan is considered to be one of the most
important places of pilgrimage for the devotees of
Lord Krishna. Considered to be his childhood
abode, the city of Vrindavan, which is located along
the waters of river Yamuna hosts hundreds of Lord
Krishna and Radha temples scattered throughout.
The most famous of them are Banke Bihari temple
and the world-famous ISKCON temple. The name
of the city has been derived from Vrinda (meaning
basil) and Van (meaning grove) which perhaps refer
to the two small groves at Nidhivan and Seva Kunj.
Since Vrindavan is considered to be a sacred place,
a large number of people come here to renounce
their worldly life.
Nearest Railway station:-Agra,Nearest Airport:-
Agra.

6. Lucknow

The capital and the largest city of Uttar Pradesh,

Lucknow welcomes you with a heart-warming note
of ‘Muskuraiyein, kyunki aap Lucknow mein hai’
(Smile, for you, are in Lucknow). Situated on the
banks of river Gomti, this city of Nawabs and
Kebabs is renowned for its architecture, history,
literature and culture. The people of Lucknow are
known for their courtly manners and endearing
‘Pehle aap’ (you first) culture, which always leaves
behind a smile on the faces of the visitors. Rumi
Darwaza, the Mughal Gateway built in the centre of
the capital divides the city into its old and new part.
While Old Lucknow is well-known for its bustling
vibrant streets, authentic mouth-watering kebab and
biryani outlets, Lucknowi Chikan (a form of
embroidery) market and wholesale jewellery stores,
New Lucknow hosts people of varied cultures, is
urban and one of the most planned cities in Asia.
Lucknow is certainly one of the most famous places
not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in the whole of
India.
Nearest Airport/Railway station:-Lucknow

7. Allahabad

Officially known as Prayagraj, Allahabad is famous

for Triveni Sangam or the meeting points of three
rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati and
therefore one of the important tourist spots to visit in
Uttar Pradesh. Built on the site of the ancient town
of Prayag, Allahabad has, since time immemorial,
held the largest Hindu gathering on the banks of the
Sangam – the Maha Kumbh Mela, which is held
here every twelve years and is attended by millions
of pilgrims from across the globe. Prayag or
Prayagraj had been the ancient name of the city,
however, after the Mughal invasion, Emperor Akbar,
impressed by the location named the city ‘Ilahabas
which meant ‘Abode of God’. Emperor Shah Jahan,
his grandson, renamed the city to Allahabad. Other
popular places to visit in Allahabad include the
UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Allahabad Fort;
Anand Bhavan – the ancestral home of the Nehrus;
All Saints Cathedral;  Chandra Shekhar Azad Park;
and Allahabad Museum among others.
Nearest Airport/Railway station:-Allahabad

8. Sarnath

Yet another holy tourist place in Uttar Pradesh,

Sarnath is a quiet and spiritual city of historical
marvel with numerous Buddhist stupas, museums,
excavated ancient sites and beautiful temples… all
adorned with a mystical and serene setting. One of
the four holiest places to the Buddhists, Sarnath is
just 10 km. from Varanasi and is often flocked with
Buddhist, Jain and Hindu devotees, alike. It’s the
place where Lord Buddha preached his first
sermon. The attractions that contribute to the
spiritual significance of Sarnath are Ashoka’s Pillar
and Dharma Stupa built by Emperor Ashoka among
many others. All of this makes Sarnath one of the
must-visit places to see and experience in Uttar
Pradesh. Nearest Railway station:-Sarnath
Airport:-Varanasi

9. Ayodhya

Yet another very famous place in Uttar Pradesh,

Ayodhya has been in limelight since many years
now and very recently for the grand Bhoomi Poojan
of the Ram Mandir that is to constructed here. The
birthplace of Lord Rama, Ayodhya is located on the
banks of river Sarayu in Uttar Pradesh and is one of
the seven sacred cities for Hindus. Ayodhya is also
the birthplace of four of Jainism’s 24 Tithankaras
thus making it one of the most important tourist
destinations in Uttar Pradesh for Jains too. The
religious town is adorned with many serene ghats
by the banks of the holy Sarayu river. Despite the
controversy, Ayodhya has so much colour and
spirituality to see and experience for its tourists and
continues to be a significant pilgrim centre.
Nearest Railway station:Ayodhya
Nearest Airport:-Agra.

10. Jhansi

Popular as a place where Jhansi Ki Rani – Rani

Laxmibai lived and reigned, Jhansi is located on the
banks of the Betwa and Pahunch rivers, at the very
south in the Bundelkhand region. Jhansi gets its
name from the Jhansi Fort built by Raja Bir Singh
Deo and was named so since the rulers could only
see a shadow atop a distant hill when gazing at the
fort. Jhansi was originally known as Balwantnagar,
which was a walled city built around a fort. The
interesting and glorious history of the city along with
the variety of monuments and other essential
landmarks make Jhansi one of the significant tourist
destinations in Uttar Pradesh.
Nearest Railway station:- Virangana Lakshmibai
Jhansi JN
Nearest Airport:-Gwalior
Uttar Pradesh ranks first in domestic tourist arrivals among all
states of India with more than 71 million,[259][260] owing to its rich
and varied topography, vibrant culture, festivals, monuments,
ancient places of worship, and viharas. Uttar Pradesh is also
home to three World Heritage Sites: the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort,
and the nearby Fatehpur Sikri. Uttar Pradesh is a favoured
tourist destination in India due to the location of Taj Mahal,
nearly 69 lakhs (6.9 million) people visited the Taj Mahal in
2018–19, up 6% from the previous year when the number
stood at 64 lakhs (6.4 million). The monument earned
almost ₹78 crore (US$9.8 million) in ticket sales in 2018–19.
[261]
 The state's tourism industry is a major contributor to
the state's economy, growing at the rate of 21.60%.[262]
Religious tourism plays a significant role in Uttar Pradesh
tourism as the state has some of the holiest Hindu
shrines. Varanasi a major religious hub, is the holiest of the
seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism and Jainism.
Domestic tourists most commonly visit for religious purposes
while foreign tourists visit for ghats along the river
Ganges. Vrindavan is considered to be a holy place
for Vaisnavism. Owing to the belief as to the birthplace
of Rama, Ayodhya (Awadh) has been regarded as one of the
The Ministry of Tourism, is the nodal agency for the formulation of national policies
and programs and for the co-ordination of activities of various Central Government
Agencies, State Governments/UTs and the Private Sector for the development and
promotion of tourism in the country.seven most important pilgrimage
sites. Millions gather at Allahabad to take part in the Magh
Mela festival on the banks of the Ganges.[263] This festival is
organised on a larger scale every 12th year and is called
the Kumbh Mela, where over 10 million Hindu pilgrims
congregate in one of the largest gatherings of people in the
world.[264] Vindhyachal is a Hindu pilgrimage site having the
temple of Vindhyavasini.
Buddhist attractions in Uttar Pradesh
include stupas and monasteries. The historically important
towns of Sarnath where Gautama Buddha gave his first
sermon after his enlightenment and died at Kushinagar; both
are important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists.[265] Also at
Sarnath are the Pillars of Ashoka and the Lion Capital of
Ashoka, both important archaeological artefacts with national
significance. At a distance of 80 km from
Varanasi, Ghazipur is famous not only for its Ghats on the
Ganges but also for the tomb of Lord Cornwallis, the 18th-
century Governor of East India Company ruled Bengal
Presidency. The tomb is maintained by the Archaeological
Survey of India.[266] The state has one National Park and 25
Wildlife Sanctuaries. Okhla Bird Sanctuary known as a haven
for over 300 bird species out of which 160 bird species are
migratory, travelling from Tibet, Europe & Siberia and Patna
Bird Sanctuary in Etah district, is a major tourist attraction.