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 Often referred to as the 'cow belt' or 'Hindi
belt', Uttar Pradesh has been the most dominant state in Indian
politics and culture since Independence, producing seven of India's
10 prime ministers. This is partly because it is the nation's most
populous state - and partly because of the central role the region
plays in the religious landscape of Hindus. The Ganges River, which
forms the backbone of Uttar Pradesh, is the sacred river of
Hinduism, and four of the religion's seven holy towns are in the
state, including Varanasi, the holiest of them all. Uttar Pradesh is
also a place of major importance to Buddhists, for it was at
Sarnath, just outside Varanasi
, that the Buddha first preached his message of the middle
way. Most of Uttar Pradesh consists of the vast Ganges plain, an area of awesome
flatness which often floods dramatically during the monsoon. In stark contrast
to the plains, the scenic north-western corner has hill stations sprinkled along
the foothills of the Himalayas.
The wealth of its monuments, mystical
call of its mountains and lakes, and the religious fervour that it evokes, have
rendered Uttar Pradesh, one of the most fascinating states of the Indian Union.
It offers an endless array of attractions, to the tourist by way of monuments,
health resorts, mountain peaks, a wealth of ancient temples and viharas, rich
flora and fauna, fascinating rivers and captivating valleys. It offers some
excellent trekking opportunities and rises to form some of the highest mountains
in India.
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