Uttar Pradesh 
Agra | Lucknow | Allahabad | Varanasi
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, 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, Mumbai (Bombay), Lolkata (Calcutta), Delhi, Jaipur, Chennai (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 kms)
- Sikandra (10 kms)
- Jama Masjid
- Motilal Nehru Park
- Shah Jahan Gardens & Rosary
- Ram Bagh (10 kms)
Excursions
- 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 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, Mumbai (Bombay) by Indian Airlines. Vayudoot services also connects Lucknow with Delhi.
Rail: Lucknow, on the Northern and North-Eastern Railway, is directly connected with Kolkata (Calcutta) and all other main places in India.
Road: Lucknow is connected by road with Agra (314 kms), Allahabad (225 kms), Kolkata (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 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.
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, Mumbai (Bombay) 1,502 kms, Chitrakoot 128 kms.
Local Transport: Direct buses are available from Allahabad to Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Varanashi, Lucknow and Kanpur.
Places of Interest
- Anand Bhawan (Home of the Nehru family)
- Allahabad Fort
- Bhardwaj Ashram
- Khusro's Tomb
- Patlipuri Temple
- Sangam
- Swaraj Bhawan
- Botanica Gardens
- Allahabad Museum
Excursions
- Kaushambi (60 kms)
- Chitrakoot (132 kms)
- Ayodhya (167 kms)
As the sacred river Ganga flows the snow-clad Himalayas into the vast plains, half way between Delhi and Kolkata (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 km²
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 get there
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 Kolkata (Calcutta) 681 kms, Mumbai (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.
