11 Best Places to Visit in Uttar Pradesh

At a distance of 214 km from Delhi, 242 km from Jaipur, 359 km from Lucknow, 576 km from Bhopal, 847 km from Patna and 876 Km from Ahmedabad, Agra, the land of the Taj Mahal, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is situated on the banks of River Yamuna in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra is also among best weekend getaways near Delhi & Noida for a two day trip. Agra is one of the most popular tourist places in India and also one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Uttar Pradesh. Agra is included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, along with Delhi and Jaipur.

Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the World with three UNESCO World Heritage monuments - Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri & Red Fort. Agra was first mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, where it was called Agrevana meaning the border of the forest. Sultan Sikandar Lodi (1488-1517) was the first to move his capital from Delhi to Agra in 1504. After his death in 1517, his son Ibrahim Lodi continued to rule, until his defeat in the first battle of Panipat at the hands of the Mughal Emperor Babur in 1526. Agra famously became the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1658. It was known then as Akbarabad and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under the Emperors Akbar, Jahangir ...

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At a distance of 125 km from Allahabad, 163 km from Aurangabad, 208 km from Gorakhpur, 239 km from Rewa, 250 km from Patna, 258 km from Gaya, 321 km from Lucknow, and 327 km from Kanpur, Varanasi is an ancient city located on the banks of river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one among the most revered places of Pilgrimage in India and also one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh.

Also known as Kashi and Banaras, the city gets its name from two rivers Varuna and Assi. Nicknamed as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi was the seat of learning in the past. Legend has it that Lord Shiva himself established this holy city as his abode. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites in India and also one of the Shakti Peethas. Varanasi is an important destination among Hindus as they believe those who die in Varanasi will attain salvation. Varanasi is also a preferred site for immersing ashes of the dead in river Ganga. Performing funeral rites and cremation in the pyres are the common sights here.

The holy city of Varanasi is more than 3000 years old and is one of the oldest living cities of the world. The early settlements around Varanasi began in the 18th century BC according to archaeological evidence. During the time of Gautama Buddha, the city of Varanasi was the capital of the Kashi Kingdom. Lord Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism here around 528 BCE when he gave his first sermon at nearby Sarnath. ...

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Ayodhya is a holy city situated on the banks of river Sarayu in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the top places to visit in Uttar Pradesh, and among the must-include places in India tour packages. It is about 135 km from Gorakhpur, and 140 km from Lucknow.

Ayodhya or Awadh is the birthplace of the Hindu deity, Lord Ram Shri Ram. This holy city has been regarded as the first one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus, and among the prominent places to visit near Kanpur. It is believed that a temple stood at the supposed birth spot of Rama, which was demolished by the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur and a mosque was erected in its place that was later demolished by Hindu mobs. The construction of the Ram Mandir commenced in 2020 and is the must-include in Ayodhya packages.

Ram Janam Bhoomi, Ram ki Paidi, Hanuman Garhi, Nageshwarnath Temple, Treta Ke Thakur, Mani Parbat, Dasrath Bhavan, Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, Kanak Bhawan, Guptar Ghat, and Bahu Begum ka Maqbara are some of the top places to visit in Ayodhya.

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At a distance of 56 km from Agra, 159 km from Delhi, 419 km from Lucknow and 224 km from Jaipur, Mathura is an ancient city and also the district headquarters of Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Mathura is one of the popular tourist places near Agra and also one of the best places to visit near Delhi.

Mathura is one of the seven cities (Sapta Puri) considered holy by Hindus, the other six are Ayodhya, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kanchipuram, Ujjain and Dwarka. Mathura has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of Government of India. Mathura is also one of the popular Delhi weekend getaways for 2 day trip. Mathura is located at the banks of river Yamuna and is popularly known as the Brajbhoomi, the sacred land of Lord Krishna. The Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple is home to a prison cell called Garbha Griha that is believed to be the exact birthplace of Krishna. Large number of devotees visit this temple every year on Janmashtami.

The city of Mathura has a rich history. In the traditional times, Mathura was an important point of culture and civilization. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the city is mentioned in the epic, Ramayana. In the epic, the Ikshwaku prince Shatrughna slays a demon called Lavanasura and claims the land. ...

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At a distance of 13 km from Mathura, 70 km from Agra, 155 km from Delhi, 400 km from Lucknow and 235 km from Jaipur, Vrindavan is a holy town situated on the banks of Yamuna River in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. It is also among the sacred places to visit near Delhi for a 2 day weekend trip and also one of the popular places to visit near Agra.

Vrindavan is a major pilgrimage center for the Hindus and one of the oldest cities in the country. The holy town of Vrindavan has a very rich history associated with the Hindu god Lord Krishna. It is said to be the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a great devotee of Lord Krishna is credited with rediscovering of Vrindavan. The place was later developed by various kings of the region.

The name Vrindavan is derived from the words vrinda meaning tulsi (or basil) and van meaning grove and most likely refers to the two small groves at Nidhivan and Seva Kunj. While Seva Kunj is believed to be the place where Krishna performed Raaslila with Radha and the Gopikas, Nidhivan is said to be the place where the divine couple rested. The place is also one of the Shaktipeeths, named Bhuteshwar Mahadev. The place is believed to have been the site where the hair of Devi Sati fell.

Vrindavan is also one of the most prominent sites for ISKCON, ...

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Officially known as Prayagraj, Allahabad is a sacred city located in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the popular places to visit in Uttar Pradesh, and among the must-include places in India tour packages. It is about 202 km from Lucknow, and 721 km from Delhi.

Also known as Prayag, Allahabad is one of the most religious cities for Hindus in India, and among the prominent places to visit near Lucknow. It is believed to be the spot where Brahma offered his first sacrifice after creating the world hence the name Prayag or Prayagraj where Pra means 'first' and Yag means 'devotion'. Prayag also signifies Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. This is the place where Maha Kumbh Mela is held every twelve years and is attended by millions of pilgrims as part of Prayagraj packages.

The city is home to many many-faceted jewels of Indian culture, full of ancient tombs, and gorgeous parks. Triveni Sangam, Allahabad Fort, Allahabad Planetarium, Chandrashekar Azad Park, Allahabad Museum, etc. are some of the top Allahabad tourist places. It can be visited along with Varanasi tour packages ...

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At a distance of 37 km from Agra, 223 km from Delhi and 209 km from Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted fort city in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India. UNESCO declared this complex as a World Heritage Site in 1986. It is one of the popular place to visit along with Golden Triangle tour and also among ideal weekend getaways from Delhi & Noida cities.

Akbar, the greatest Mughal Emperor, was commissioned Fatehpur Sikri in 1569. The city was constructed to honour Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chisti, who used to live in a cavern on the ridge at Sikri. Akbar revered him very much as the Saint had blessed him with a son who was named Salim in 1569. Akbar shifted his capital from Agra to Sikri in 1571 and named the city as Fatehabad meaning victorious. This city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 till 1585 and was later called Fatehpur Sikri. However, 15 years after it was established, the court had to be moved out of Fatehpur Sikri because of acute shortage of water. In 1619 Emperor Jahangir camped here for three months while a plague raged in nearby Agra. The city was refurbished to host the coronation of Muhammad Shah in 1719. After that, the city was largely abandoned until Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India for the British from 1898 to 1905, sponsored an archaeological survey and restoration ...

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Also known as Ishipatna, and Mrigadaya, Sarnath is one of the sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India and also one of the must include places in Varanasi Tour Packages. According to the legend, Lord Buddha after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya came to Sarnath and delivered his first sermon to his five disciples. Hence, Sarnath is considered as one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage centers of India, the other three being Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar. About 10 km from Varanasi, and 135 km from Allahabad, Sarnath is also sacred to the Jains as it is the site of asceticism and death of Shreyamshanath, the 11th Tirthankara.

A quiet and spiritual town, Sarnath is a city of historical marvel with numerous Buddhist stupas, museums, excavated ancient sites, and beautiful temples. Dhamek Stupa, the Chaukhandi Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Deer Park, Archaeological Museum, Tibetan Temple, Thai Monastery, Japanese Temple, and Chinese Temple are some of the prominent places to visit in Sarnath. Being an important Buddhist pilgrimage spot, Sarnath celebrates Buddha Purnima with a lot of enthusiasm.

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Situated on the banks of river Gomti, Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh is one of the popular places to visit in Uttar Pradesh, and among the must-include places in India tour packages. It is situated about 82 km from Kanpur, and 527 km from New Delhi.

Popularly known as the 'City of Nawabs and City of Tehzeeb', Lucknow is a place overflowing with rich culture and ancient heritage. The skyline is crowded with buildings that showcase a fascinating range of ancient styles, most of which date back to Mughal or British rule. From a slice of rich colonial history to modernized museums, Lucknow Packages beautifully bring together the opulence of a glittering past and the simplicity of a modern city. Lucknow, along with Agra and Varanasi, is in the Uttar Pradesh Heritage Arc.

Lucknow has been winning the hearts of tourists throughout the world for its Nawabi finesse for ages. Bara Imambara, Chhota Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, Hazratganj, Lucknow Zoo, Lucknow Museum, Dilkusha Garden, Chattra Manzil, Ram Krishna Math, La Martiniere, etc., are some of the must-visit Lucknow tourist places. Besides, this historical city is also known for its elaborate Nawabi-style cuisine which includes biryanis, kebabs, and bread.

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The historical town of Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is one of the popular places of Buddhist Pilgrimage in India, and among the must include places in Uttar Pradesh Tour Packages. About 54 km from Gorakhpur, and 329 km from Lucknow, Kushinagar is one of the four holy sites of Buddhism as it is the place where Gautam Buddha delivered his last sermon, attained Mahaparinirvana (salvation) in 483 BC, and was cremated at Rambhar Stupa.

Kushinagar is a city of beautiful stupas and temples. The Mahaparinirvana Temple, with the world-famous reclining nirvana statue of Buddha, is an important site to visit in Kushinagar. Besides, the Japanese Temple, Ramabhar Stupa, Buddha Museum, Wat Thai Temple, Matha Kuar Shrine, Kushinagar Museum, etc. are some of the top places to visit in Kushinagar.

Every year, Buddha Poornima is celebrated here with great enthusiasm during April/May.

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