UP Heritage Walk in Uttar Pradesh

Heritage Walk is exploring a state or a city in and out, knowing about its past which has shaped its present and which will eventually shape its future. More precisely it is walking through the rich heritage of the state.

Uttar Pradesh, one of the biggest states of India, is also the most populated state. Extremely rich in art and culture, UP heritage walk will mesmerize you from head to toe. The historical monuments, the colorful markets and the versatile cuisines will caste an enchanting spell on you. This walk will spellbind you in time. Let’s delve into it in a bit more detail:

Lucknow

Starting with the capital of Uttar Pradesh, it was earlier a part of the Mughal Empire which was later taken over by the British Raj. It has various spectacular places to visit, including monuments and heritage sights from Mughal era and the British Raj.

Among these are Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara and Rumi Darwaza.

Build by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784 Bara Imambara is a Shia Muslim shrine, which is one of the grandest building of the city. Enriched with beautiful architecture it reflects the imprints of the mesmerizing Mughal architecture. The splendid glassware and the chandeliers will make your heart skip a beat. The Bada Imambara comprises of 496 intricate corridors and passages which are exactly similar top one another, thus making your mind boggle.

Near Bara Imambara there is other imperative monument of historical and religious importance, Chota Imambara which was built in 1838 by Nawab of Awadh, Muhammad Ali Shah. Both of these monuments are connected by a magnificent gateway called Rumi Darwaza.

How can one forget the vivacious Chowk Market when in Lucknow. Chowk is called the treasure house of historical and cultural heritage of Lucknow. Retaining the Nawabi architecture and Mughal imprints, one can buy the world famous chikan garments in this market. Beautiful handicrafts is another attraction of this market.

Mathura – Vrindavan

Reciting the stories of the brave childhood of Lord Krishna, the sacred land of Mathura – Vrindavan has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for people all around the globe.

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, Bankey Buihari Temple and Isckon Temple. The archaic architecture of these temples is outstanding. Your eyes will be glued to the beautiful deities and the minute details.

The Kulhar tea is another attraction that will spellbind you to this auspicious land. The aura of the tea will catch hold your mind and heart and you will never want to leave this land.

Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh houses the oldest city of Varanasi which is located on the banks of the sacred river of Ganga. The auspicious Ganga aarti performed by the priests daily on the Dashashwamedh Ghat is something which attracts people from all parts of the world.

Varanasi, also known as Banaras, also hosts on of the oldest universities of India, The Banaras Hindu University. The sprawling campus is indeed a happening place and a must see.

After the campus, one can pay visits to the various pious temples like the Monkey Temple, Manas and Durga Temple and so on.

People travel from all over the world to Banras to shop for “Banarasi” sarees. The silk and brocades are equally popular. One can find all of these in Varanasi Chowk, Pilkothi and Golghar markets.
The region around Banaras can be explored for wool and gorgeous silk carpets.

Sarnath

Situated in close proximity to Varanasi is Sarnath which is of great importance to the Budhhists. It is here that Lord Budhha gave his first preaching. Apart from these, Sarnath is very crucial for national integrity as it has the Lions of Ashoka and the four pillars of Ashoka.

Jhansi

Situated in the extreme south of the state, Jhansi is envisaged to have an important place in the history of India. It served as the capital of the Maratha province in the 18th century.

Every child recites the name of Rani of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai, and is well aware of her brave participation in the freedom struggle. The Rani Mahal is still intact and attracts tourists from all across the world. Other tourist attractions significant to the history include the Jhansi Fort and the Government Museum which house all the pictures, dresses and weapons of the Chandela dynasty.

Agra

Epicenter of historical importance, Agra is the land of one of the finest piece of architecture The Taj Mahal. In addition Agra has other important monuments namely Agra Fort which is included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.

Taj Mahal, a mesmerizing marble structure was built in the year 1653 under the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It was built in remembrance of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

When it comes to shopping, Agra is famous for its intricate jewellery and zaradari embroidery. One will find enough of these in The Mall or in the Taj Ganj.

Agra Fort was constructed in the reign Akbar in 1565. Agra Fort is a vast structure of walls with a height of seventy feet. It stands firm and high, since 400 years, symbolizing the powerful Mughal Empire in India in the 16th century. The detailed naqqashi inscribed on the white marbles is worth noticing.

Fatehpur Sikri

Another important monument built during Akbar’s reign is Fatehpur Sikri, which is 50 kilometers off Agra. It is essentially a cluster of historically significant monuments. The Buland Darwaza hosted by this place is the largest gateway in the entire Asia.