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Uttar Pradesh The region now called Uttar Pradesh played a pivotal role in the history of India. Ancient cities and archaeological sites abound as evidence that this area was central to the conquest and control of the entire subcontinent. Varanasi is one of the oldest inhabited cities of the world and lies at the very core of Hindu religious beliefs. Close to Varanasi is Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon to his very first disciples. Derogatorily called the ‘cow belt' of India, philosophers, thinkers, jurists, writers, artistes and poets were nurtured on its soil. Successive rulers of the subcontinent realised early on that they could administer an entire country from this heartland. |
Agra - the first impression is of a chaotic, overcrowded, polluted mess that can offer nothing of interest.But wait, hold your breath, for hiding behind the heat and the chaos is the stunning monument of cool white marble, the wonder that is called the Taj Mahal.
In Agra layers of history are peeled away to reveal an amazing tapestry of life - of wars waged, of great architectural magnificence and above all a testimony of the undying love of a king for his queen.
That Agra is unparalleled as a travel destination is an established fact. Even Bill Clinton testified to as much when he declared the world was divided into two: those who have seen the Taj and those who have not! Besides the Taj Mahal though, there are a lot of other important sights in and around Agra. The Agra Fort, Moti Masjid and innumerable other attractions make the city feature on every travellers must-do-sightseeing list. |
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Lucknow - the old capital of the nawabs of Awadh where culture, courtesy and courtly lifestlye reigned supreme. Life in Lucknow was characterised by an old world charm with warmth, hospitality and a genteel formality inherent in every facet of its people. The city saw its most glorious days under the Nawabs when it became a great centre for literature, music, dance, arts and crafts. Contemporary Lucknow is a far cry from the elegance and class of the old Awadh; now, the city is very much a reflection of modern India with unplanned development, crowded streets and polluted air. But the discerning traveller can still glimpse the aura of those heady days in the old monuments, ruins and inner city lanes and alleyways.
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Varanasi Tonsured heads, chillum-smoking sadhus, the chanting of mantras and cremation grounds where the fire never dies down. This is Varanasi - the holiest of Indian cities. Also known as Kashi or the city of light, the abode of Lord Shiva where, according to Hindu religious legends, the first rays of light fell after creation. It is here, in Varanasi, that the Hindu world converges to partake in an endless cycle of birth and death, life and salvation. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi is paralleled only by Damascus in terms of antiquity.
Many people refer to Varanasi as Benares, an anglicised corruption of its ancient name. Attracting over a million pilgrims every year, the city lives and breathes traditional Hindu religion and culture. Yet it has evolved through the amalgamation of the sacred and profane, the spiritual and the commercial. This is a city that buzzes with activity; a city that is not just a dead mound of history. |
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