5 Day Tour in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is a wonderful state to visit. It is rich in culture, art, dance and tradition. It has been the throne of every kingdom which has ruled India – be it the Marthas or the Mughals or the British Raj. If you wish to see the Indian culture then Uttar Pradesh is the place for you. Let’s see some of the hot tourist spots of UP.
Day 01: Agra
Places to visit
Taj MahalWell, who doesn’t know about Agra? Yeah you are right, everyone one does. Agra is a beautiful city housing the seventh wonder of the world – the
Taj Mahal. Built in the memory of the beautiful Shah Jahan, this monument is a must visit.
Agra FortThe majestic fort is a must see sight. It’s huge! The hotels nearby this fort are Hotel Lals Inn and Sun Hotel Agra.
It is open on all weekdays from 5: 00 in the morning to 6: 30 in the evening.
Entry Fee: INR 20 for an Indian.
Places to stay
A wonderful hotel,
it provides all the basic amenities at rock bottom prices. 24 x 7 butler
services, laundry, Wi – Fi, travel desk and free newspaper.
One
of the best heritage hotel , the Grand Imperial is made of Lahori
bricks. It is picturesque sight in itself. A bit heavy on pocket but is
worth it for its awesome facilities.
Very close to the Taj Mahal, this offers some of the best amenities at a tariff of just INR 2100.
After booking hotel and having breakfast, get ready to hunt this pretty city.
Fatehpur Sikri
A few kilometers from Agra, this place is definitely worth a visit.
Fatehpur Sikri is popular worldwide for its fascinating Mughal architecture. This place will take you back in time to the royal Mughal era.
TimingsIt is open on all weekdays from sunrise to sunset.
Akbar’s Tomb in SikandraThe tomb is one of India’s greatest assets and is dedicated to powerful Mughal ruler Akbar. The tomb is built in red sand stone and is pleasing to eyes.
Timings: Open on all days from morning to evening.
Day 02 : Mathura-Vrindavan
Next stop is the land of the temples, Mathura-Vrindavan. Reciting the stories of the brave childhood of Lord Krishna, the duo cities have been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for people all around the globe.
The rail distance between Agra and Mathura is just 50 kilometers. There are about 30 trains carrying passengers between the two spots. Some of the trains which you catch are the Taj Express, Utkal Express, Punjabi Mail etc.
Dominated by the popular stories of the romantic childhood of Lord Krishna, the duo city houses many temples of Lord Krishna, such as
Pagal Baba Temple and
Iskcon Temple.
Places to visit
Krishna Janambhoomi TempleThis temple is known as the birth place of Lord Krishna. The timings to visit this temple is from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. The temple hosts the jail where Lord Krishna took birth under the tyrannous rule of the king of Mathura.
Close your eyes and try to memorize the Mughal architecture you just visited in Agra. You will see the stark contrast in the antiquated architecture of these temples and the tombs of Agra.
After visiting this temple brace yourself up to taste the best delicacies of the city;
Mathura ka peda and Kulhar tea. You can avail these from any shop. The aroma of the Kulhar Tea will embrace you within itself. And the peda will leave you mesmerized.
Are you still curious about the life of Lord Krishna? Well, go to the local bus stand and board a bus for Vrindavan. You will get a zillion of buses for Vrindavan.
ISKCON TempleConstructed in 1975, the
ISKCON temple is an extremely beautiful temple. The deities places in
the central hall are enchanting and will make you go crazy. They are
perfect and definitely demand a visit.
Banke Bihari TempleIf you are visiting Vrindavan and not visiting
Banke Bihari Temple then you are committing a sin. No pun intended.
A
beautiful piece of architecture, this temple holds a lot of religious
sentiments for Hindus. It is believed if you ask anything from Lord
Krishna in this premises he will grant your wish.
MVT Bhaktivedanta AshramA perfect place to take shelter in, Bhaktivedanta Ashram is a clean and small place to stay in. It is located nearby the ISKCON temple the stay here is very economical. Here, eat, pray and love, everything is Lord Krishna. Thus, offering a splendid ambience.
Kridha Residency
With super bright rooms, this place is definitely worth trying if you are looking for a peaceful ambience.
Day 03 - Aligarh
Situated at a road distance of 62 kilometers, there is no direct bus or train from Vrindavan to Aligarh. The best or the cheapest way to reach Aligarh is to board a taxi.
Places to visit
Aligarh FortA splendid site, Aligarh Fort is a treat for all the history buffs. It is one of the strongest forts in India. Surrounded by a deep gorge, this fort in polygonal in shape and is a treat to eyes.
Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and SciencesAn extravagant museum of the rich Indian culture and heritage, thus museum is a must try.
Dor FortressIt is one of the major attractions of Aligarh. The Fort is situated on small hillock. Named on king Buddhsen Dor, he laid the foundation of the testimony here.
Places to Stay
Approximately one kilometre
from the railway station and the bus stand this is a very comfortable
place to stay in. Light on pocket, you need to shell out some 1000 bucks
per night to stay in this hotel and enjoy some good facilities. Overall
ambience is descent.
A classy hotel, you need to shell out around 1500 bucks to stay here for a night.
Day 04 - Pilibhit
Are you sick of all the monuments and heritage sights? Want to come out of the past and get some fresh air? Well, how about visiting the majestic cats of
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. Albeit there are no direct trains or flights from Aligarh to Pilhibit, but there is one direct bus. The time taken by the bus is five hours.
Pilibhit Tiger ReserveSpanning across the Indo-Nepal border, at the foothills of the majestic Himalayas, the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is one of India’s 41 Project Tiger Reserves. The reserve has a core area of 1089 square kilometers. Hosting atleast 36 tigers the authorities have ensured to maintain a good prey base for the tigers’ survival.
Jama MasjidBuilt in 1765, Jama Masjid is a great piece of Mughal architecture to visit. The Friday Namaz is the major attraction amongst the tourists.
Places to stay
One should be grateful to this small
hotel as they provide excellent facilities in this small town. At a
tariff of rupees one thousand you can avail a room for twenty four
hours. The services offered are simply great.
Day 05 Kashi (Varanasi)
It will take around eight hours to reach Kashi from Pilibhit. The cheapest and pocket-friendly way is to board a taxi.
One of the oldest living cities in the entire world, Kashi is the religious centre for Hindus. Kashi Yatra is considered to be very holy and helps in getting salavation.
Places to visit
Durga TempleBuilt some five hundred years ago, this temple is devoted to the Goddess Durga. Famous for its intricate stone work, this temple is a must visit.
Kashi Vishwanath TempleThis is the most auspicious temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a supreme place of pilgrimage amongst Hindus. Hindus consider it really sacred to cremate the remains of the dead at this place. The temple is a cluster of various beautiful shrines.
Things to do in Varanasi
If you love shopping then this place is a treat for you. People travel from all over the world to Banaras to shop for the popular Banarasi sarees. The silk and brocades are equally popular. One can find all of these in Varanasi Chowk, Pilkothi and Golghar markets.
- Exploring the library of BHU
Banaras Hindu University and its sprawling campus will cast some affinity on you and you will get dragged to visit it. The university houses an amazing library with some amazing collection of books.
Places to stay
Very classy hotel to stay in,
it is quite expensive. If you are low on budget then it is not
advisable. But if you are good on budget then this is the best hotel in
Varanasi. A courteous staff, a well-to do house-keeping and huge
rooms and bathrooms will welcome you in this hotel.
- The Gateway Hotel Ganges Varanasi
Again an elite place, this hotel is known for its exotic view of river Ganga. A must try if you have plenty of money to spend.