Indian Geography

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

Lets talk about Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh or UP is the most populated state in India and also holds a great historical, cultural, and political status. It is known as “Heartland of India” because it is considered the origin place of a great number of old civilizations and religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The state has different geography, rich traditions, and a rich cultural heritage.

 

1. Geography

The place: North Indian.
The area: 243,286 km² (4th largest in India).
Capital: Lucknow.
Largest city of State: Kanpur.

Borders :

Indian states: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh (north), Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan (west), Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh (south), Jharkhand, Bihar (east).
International: Nepal (northern border).

Major Rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gomti, and Chambal.

Climate:

Summers: Hot and dry.
Winters: Cool and foggy.
Monsoon: Heavy rains in parts.

 

2. Administrative Divisions

Uttar Pradesh is divided into 75 districts, grouped under 18 divisions, including:  

  1.  Agra Division
  2. Aligarh Division
  3. Allahabad (Prayagraj) Division  
  4. Azamgarh Division
  5. Bareilly Division
  6. Basti Division
  7. Chitrakoot Division  
  8. Devipatan Division  
  9. Faizabad (Ayodhya) Division  
  10. Gorakhpur Division  
  11. Jhansi Division  
  12. Kanpur Division  
  13. Lucknow Division  
  14. Meerut Division  
  15. Mirzapur Division  
  16. Moradabad Division  
  17. Saharanpur Division.
  18. Varanasi Division.


3. History and Heritage

Ancient Importance:

Abode to old cities such as Varanasi (Kashi), one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
The chief center for the Mahabharata and Ramayana epic tales.

Religious Import:

Ayodhya: Birth place of Lord Rama.
Mathura: Lord Krishna’s birth town.
Sarnath: Lord Buddha preached the first sermon
Colonial Period: A chief center of India’s freedom struggle.

 

4. Culture

Language:

Hindi is an official language.
Urdu is widely spoken.
There are several regional dialects like Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Braj, and Bundeli.

Folk Dance and Music:

Dances: Kathak (classical dance form).
Folk Music: Rasiya, Kajri, and Dadra.

Art and Craft:

Chikankari embroidery (Lucknow).
Banarasi silk sarees (Varanasi).
Brassware (Moradabad).

Festivals:

Holi, Diwali, Navratri, Ram Navami, and Kumbh Mela (world’s largest religious gathering).

 

5. Economy

Agriculture:

Major contributor to wheat, sugarcane, rice, and mangoes produce.
Known as the “Sugar Bowl of India” as it produces enormous amounts of sugarcane.

Industries:

Textiles, leather, brassware, and handicrafts.
IT and electronics manufacturing hubs in Noida and Greater Noida.

Tourism:

Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Prayagraj are major pilgrimage centers.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort.

 

6. Tourism and Attractions

Historical and Religious Sites:

Taj Mahal (Agra): One of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Fatehpur Sikri: Historical city built by Emperor Akbar.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi): A key religious destination.
Triveni Sangam (Prayagraj): Confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers.
Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Newly constructed grand temple.

Natural Attractions:

Dudhwa National Park.
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary.

 

7. Miscellaneous Facts

State Symbols:

Animal: Swamp Deer (Barasingha).
Bird: Sarus Crane.
Tree: Ashoka.
Flower: Brahma Kamal.

Cities:

Lucknow (City of Nawabs).
Kanpur (Industrial hub).
Varanasi (Cultural capital of India).
Agra (Taj Mahal city).

Population: Largest population in India, over 200 million (Census 2011).

 

8. Education

 Prestigious institutions like:
Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi).
Aligarh Muslim University (Aligarh).
IIT Kanpur.
Several religious and Sanskrit universities.

 

10. Interesting Facts

Kumbh Mela: UNESCO recognized it as an intangible cultural heritage.
Freedom Movement: Home to many leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Chandrashekhar Azad.
Cuisine: Famous for Awadhi dishes (kebabs, biryani) and sweets like Petha and Gujiya.

Uttar Pradesh is a miniature India, hosting a mixture of tradition, spirituality, and modern development, and hence, plays a significant role in the country’s history and future.

 

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