Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow was associated with
the princely court of Oudh and then with the
British, both traditions lingering on in the
city whose finest monument is the Bara Imambara.
Further east, Varanasi is the oldest city in
India. An important centre of Hindu pilgrimage,
it is believed that those who die in Varanasi
will be released from the cycle of rebirth.
Pious Hindus still come to Varanasi to spend
their last days, living in spartan communes
run by a multitude of religious trusts. The
focus of interest to a visitor is the sacred
River Ganga. At the series of steps leading
down to it, people come to wash away their sins
by bathing in the river, the dead are cremated
and holy men meditate. In the narrow bylanes
of the city are crowded bazaars selling brassware
and silk brocades.
Agra
Agra, the city of the inimitable Taj Mahal
is now an educational and business centre-known
for its craftsmen & handicrafts. Marble
and softstone inlay work, carpet and leather
goods are some important traditional crafts
of the city Agra, and the nearby city of Fatehpur
Sikri, are conveniently close to Delhi to
warrant an all day excursion by coach or taxi
although there are several hotels of every
standard of comfort. Besides the Taj Mahal
are Agra Fort, Sikandra, Ram Bagh and Itmad-ud-Daulah.
35 km away are the imperial ruins of the Mughal
city, Fatehpur Sikri. Agra and Fatehpur Sikri
are not merely rich legacies of Mughal history
– they are the finest examples of architecture
which combined Hindu and Muslim elements.
Climate (°C):
Summer- Max.45, Min.21.9
Winter- Max.31.7, Min.4.2
Rainfall: 66 cms (June to September)
Best Season: October to March
STD Code: 0562
How to get there
Air: Indian Airlines connect Agra with Delhi,
Khajuraho and Varanasi.
Rail: Agra is connected by rail with major
cities, like Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bombay,
Calcutta, Delhi, Jaipur, Madras, Secunderabad
and Trivandrum.
Road: Agra is connected by good motorable
roads to Delhi- 204 km, Jaipur-237 km, Khajuraho-
395 kms, Mathura- 54 kms, Gwalior- 110 kms,
Lucknow- 257 kms, Bharatpur 54 kms etc.
Local Transport: City bus services, tempo/scooter/cycle
rickshaws and tongas. Regular bus services
from Mathura, Delhi, Khajuraho, Jaipur, Bharatpur,
Gwalior, Haridwar, Lucknow, Brindavan etc.
Places of Interest
Taj Mahal (3 kms)
Agra Fort (3 kms)
Dayal Bagh (8 kms)
Chini-Ka-Roza (9 kms)
Itmad-Ud-Daula Tomb (6 kms)
Radhaswami Samadhi (8 kms)
Mariyam's Tomb (13 km)
Sikandra (10 kms)
Jama Masjid
Motilal Nehru Park
Shah Jahan Gardens & Rosary
Ram Bagh (10 kms)
Excursins
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary 54 kms
Fatehpur Shikri 37 kms
Kaitham Lake 23 kms
Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Mathura 54 kms
Van Vihar Widlife Sanctuary 60 kms
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, one
of the biggest states in India and is situated
on the banks of the river Gomati, tributary
of the Ganga. It is famous for its Gardens,
Parks and unique archaeological monuments.
The people of Lucknow are known for exquisite
charm, courtesy and flair of the Urdu language.
Altitude: 123 metres (403 ft. above sea level)
Climate (°C):
Summer: Max 36.6, Min 25
Winter: Max 21.1, Min 11.1
Rainfall: 44 cms (June-Sept).
Best Season: October to March.
How to get there
Air: Lucknow is connected to Calcutta, Patna,
Delhi, Bombay by Indian Airlines. Vayudoot
services also connects Lucknow with Delhi.
Rail: Lucknow, on the Northern and North-Eastern
Railway, is directly connected with Calcutta
and all other main places in India.
Road: Lucknow is connected by road with Agra
(314 kms), Allahabad (225 kms), Calcutta (985
kms), Corbett National Park (280 kms), Delhi
(514 kms), Kanpur (79 kms), Varanasi (314
kms) etc.
Local Transport: Taxis, buses, cycle, rickshaws,
tempo service available.
Places of interest
Residency
Bada Imam Bara
Rumi Darwaza
Hussainabad
Clock Tower
Shah Nazar Zoo
State Museum
Macchi Bhawan
Khurshid Mahal
Botanical Gardens
Picture Gallery
Excursions
Chinhat Lake (13 kms)
Kukrail Picnic Spot (15 kms)
Nawab Ganj Bird Sanctuary (40 kms)
Nimsar (102 kms)
Dudwa National Park (60 kms)
Golaknath Temple (171 kms)
Ayodhya, a religious place, is directly connected
by regular bus services with Lucknow (141
kms).
What to see
Hanumangarh
Janmasthan
Kanak Bhawan
Jain Temple
Treta-ke-Thakur
Mani-Parvat Nageshwar Nath Temple
Amawan Temple
Tulshi Chaura
Tulshi Smarak
Brahma Kund
Allahabad
Allahabad is situated at the confluence of
the 3 sacred rivers - Ganga, Yamuna &
the invisible Saraswati. It is here at the
sangam that hindus Converage for a holy dip
especially during the Kumbha Mela, held here
every 12 years after.
Altitude: 322 ft.
Climate (°C) :
Summer:- Max 46.6, Min 27.2
Winter- Max 25.6, Min 10.5
Clothings:
Summer: Cottons/Tropical
Winter: Woollens
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Urdu, English.
Best Season: October to March.
STD Code: 0532
How to get there
Air: The nearest airport Varanashi (135 kms)
is connected by Indian Airlines flights with
Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Bombay, Delhi, Khajuraho,
Lucknow.
Rail: Allahabad is an important rail terminus
connected by rail with all the major cities
in India.
Road: Allahabad is connected by road with
the major cities in India. Important road
distances from Allahabad are:- Agra 483 kms,
Delhi 612 kms, Lucknow 227 kms, Lumbini 406
kms, Khajuraho 294 kms, Varanashi 127 kms,
Bombay 1,502 kms, Chitrakoot 128 kms.
Bus Service: Direct buses are available from
Allahabad to Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Varanashi,
Lucknow and Kanpur.
What to see
Anand Bhawan (Home of the Nehru family)
Allahabad Fort
Bhardwaj Ashram
Khusro's Tomb
Patlipuri Temple
Sangam
Swaraj Bhawan
Botanica Gardens
Allahabad Museum
Excursion
Kaushambi 6O kms
Chitrakoot 132 kms
Ayodhya 167 kms.
Festival
The Kumbh Mela is held at the sangam in Allahabad
for over a month every 12th year.
The Magh Mela (Mini Kumbha) is held every
year(except in the years of Kumbha Mela &
Ardh Kumbh Mela) in the month of Magh(January-February)
Varanasi
As the sacred river Ganga flows the snow-clad
Himalayas into the vast plains, half way between
Delhi and Calcutta it curves into a gentle
crescent and along the crescent lies Varanasi.
Said to be the frist created spot on earth
according to legend, in existence for over
thousands of years. Varanasi is the city which
enshrines the very essence of Hinduism.
Area: 73.89 sq.km.
Altitude: 80.71 mts.
Temperature (°C):
Summer: Max. 46, Min. 32
Winter: Max. 15.5, Min. 5
Rainfall: 11.1 cm. (June to September).
Clothings: Summer- Light cottons, Winter-
Woollens.
Languages spoken: Hindi, Bengali, English.
Best Season: Throughout the year, but preferably
October to March.
STD Code: 0542
How to reach
Air: Indian Airlines connect Varanasi to
Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow, Agra & Delhi, where
the above places are directly connected by
flights with Calcutta.
Rail: Varanasi is connected by rail with
all the major cities in India.
Road: Good bus service connects Varanasi
with most of the important places of Uttar
Pradesh and Bihar. Some of the road distances
are:- Agra 610 kms, Allahabad 127 kms, Bodh
Gaya 240 kms, Gorakhpur 215 kms, Khajuraho
406 kms, Kushinagar 260 kms, Lucknow 320 kms,
Lumbini 320 kms, Patna 270 kms Calcutta 681
kms, Bombay 1550 kms, Delhi 710 kms etc.
Places of Interest
River Front 5 kms,
Alamgir Mosque 8 kms
Bharat Mata Temple 3 kms
Tulsi Manas Temple 8 kms
Gyanvapi Mosque 5 kms
Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple) 5 kms
Vishwanath Temple (Benaras Hindu University)
12 kms
Durga Temple 8 kms
Sarnath 10 kms
Archaeological Museum Sarnath (1000-1700 hrs.
Friday Closed)
Fort Museum, Ramnagar (0900-1200 & 1400-1700
hrs)
Bharat Kala Bhavan Hindu University (0800-1200
hrs. Summer & 0900-1630 hrs Winter). Closed
on Sundays & University holidays.
