Uttar Pradessh is the fourth largest state in northern India. It was created on 1st April 1937 as the United Province of Agra and Oudh during British rule and was renamed Uttar Pradesh in 1950. Uttar Pradesh shares its border with Nepal in the north and the Indian state of Uttarakhanda and Himachal Pradesh in the Northwest, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan in the west, Madhya Pradesh in the south, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in the southeast and Bihar in the east The two major rivers of the state, the Ganges and Yamuna join at Allahabad and then stream as the Ganges towards east.
Uttar Pradesh is the birthplace of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna and also home to a large number of historical sites and heritage monuments. The famous historical cities of Uttar Pradesh are Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Kushinar, Sarnath Agra, Jhansi, Lucknow, Meerut and Allahabad. Here are some of famous historical monuments and places in Uttar Pradesh.
Taj Mahal: A Monument Devoted to Love
Famous as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and an iconic structure of India, is epitome of true love and passion Due to its beautiful architecture, it is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its beauty is unmatched and has never been surpassed by any other building. This monument was built by the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved life Mumtaz Mahal. It is made-up entirely of white marble. It glows more in the light of the full moon and in the foggy morning, it looks like a pure white structure, which is placed among the clouds.
Agra Fort -walled city
Agra Fort was built in the year 1573 under the reign of Akbar – one of the greatest Mughal Emperors.The fort is separated from its sister monument Taj Mahal by just 2.5 kilometers. Often described as the walled city, Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. The Agra fort houses abundant impressive monuments like the Jahangir Mahal, Khas Mahal, Diwan-i-Khass, Diwan-i-Am, Machchhi Bhawan and Moti Masjid.
The Deserted City – Fatehpur Sikri
The Deserted Mughal City was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar during the second half of the 16th century, lies just outside Agra. Akbar who was searching for a new capital for his empire took a keen interest in the designs and construction of the buildings. Red sandstone was extensively used in the construction of this city because of its easy availability in the nearby areas of Fatehpur Sikri. After fifteen years of hard work, the resulting city was an outstanding beauty in red stone but was soon deserted due to the lack of water system.
The most important buildings located in Fatehpur Sikri that are worth visiting sites are as follows: –
Buland Darwaja-It is also known as Gate of Magnificence, the largest gateway 550 meters high in the world.
Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti– It is made of carved white marble, located within the Jama mosque’s courtyard. The tomb is actually a single -storey structure built around a central square chamber that holds the grave of the saint with the mother of pearls.
Jama Masjid-Jama masjid or the central mosque is the first building built in the whole complex of Fatehpur Sikri. It is rectangular in shape and made with carved red sandstone.
Panch Mahal– Panca Maha also known as wind catcher tower, is a five storied structure built in a pyramidal structure and supported by a total of 176 columns. This building is often used for various theatrical, musical and dance performances.
Moti Mahal, Pearl Palace-Moti Mahal, Faizabad is a Monument in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh which bears a historical and cultural significance. Moti Mahal is often known as the “Pearl Palace”.Moti Mahal at Faizabad is recognized by its grandeur as a building and the essence of the rich heritage of the Nawabi culture that existed in the city during the rule of the Mughals in India. The Monuments of Faizabad were built by the kings in order to commemorate their loved ones.
Allahabad Fort- Akshayavat Tree
Allahabad Fort is a home to the Patalpuri Temple, which is said to be home to all the gates of hell. It is also well known for its Akshayavat Tree (Banyan Tree). According to a myth, the tree was used by the locals to commit suicide to achieve salvation. Entry is allowed through a small gate to only the area that is occupied by the magnificent tree to see the Akshayavat Tree
Ramnagar Fort
Ramnagar Fort is one of the popular forts in Uttar Pradesh, built with creamy-coloured Chunar sandstone. The temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, the author of the Indian epic the Mahabharata. It is believed that Ved Vyasa resided within the fort for a short period.
Dhamek Stupa-Cylindrical Stupa
Dhamek Stupa is one of the most famous and Buddhist stupas located in Sarnath near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is solid cylindrical shaped Stupa made of red bricks, has a height of 43.6 m with a diameter of 28 m. this is the sacred place where Lord Buddha preached the first sermon to His five disciples after attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya.
Sun Temple
The Sun Temple is located on the Kasia-Tamkuhi road at a place called Turkpatti. The statues are made of black stones called Neelmani stone by the residents of the area. The temple was built during the reign of the Gupta Dynasty.
