Uttar pradesh

FIGURES AND FACTS OF UTTAR PRADESH :

Area:92,111 sq.m.,
Capital:Lucknow,
Largest city:kanpur,
Population:166,052,859(1st),
Density:1,867/sq.m
Districts:70,
Languages:Hindi,Urdu.

HISTORY OF UTTAR PRADESH:

Archaeological evidence of small settlements (a little bit away from the main rivers) exist from 2000BC. Some centres from the Painted Grey Ware culture (approx. 1000 BC) are in Uttar Pradesh (e.g. near Mathura, and Varanasi). The Panchala region extending between the Yamuna and the Ganga rivers (the Doab), features prominently in Hindu and Buddhist histories. Much of the state was part of the Kuru-Pandava kingdom at the heart of the Mahabharata war. The Kosala kingdom in Ayodhya is associated with Rama of the Ramayana, and Krishna, revered as the eighth Avatara of Vishnu, is said to have been incarnated in the city of Mathura. The Chaukhandi Stupa marks the spot where Lord Buddha met his first disciples. The Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath commemorates Buddha's first sermon. Control over this region was often vital to the power and stability of all of India's major empires, including the Mauryan (320-200BC), Kushan (100-250AD) Gupta (350-600AD) empires.
After the Guptas, the region was the heart of Harshavardhana's empire, from Punjab to Bengal, with its capital at Kannauj. Many modern communities in different parts of India -- Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Bengal -- often trace their lineage to Kannauj.Beyond 1000 AD, Uttar Pradesh became part of several Muslim Sultanates who ruled from Delhi. In Mughal times, U.P. became the heart land of what was called 'Hindustan' (a name referring to India), even today UP-ites often refer to themselves as 'Hindustani'(Bhartiya/ Indian) rather than Uttar Pradeshi.Agra and Fatehpur Sikri were important as the capital city of Akbar, the great Mughal Emperor of India. After the decline of the Moghuls, a number of kingdoms arose: Oudh of the Nawabs, Rohilkhand by Afghans, Bundelkhand by the Marathas and Benaras by its own king, while Nepal controlled Kumaon-Garhwal. The city of Lucknow was established by the Muslim nawabs of Oudh in the 17th century.At the same time it included Oudh into the state.
The new state was called the North Western Provinces of Agra and Oudh, which in 1902 was renamed as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. It was commonly referred to as the United Provinces or its acronym UP. In 1920, the capital of the province was shifted from Allahabad to Lucknow.The high court continued to be at Allahabad, but a bench was established at Lucknow. Allahabad continues to be an administrative base of today's Uttar Pradesh and has several administrative headquarters.Uttar Pradesh continued to be central to Indian culture and politics and was especially important in modern Indian history as a hotbed of both the Indian Independence Movement and the Pakistan Movement. The First Freedom fighter Mangal Pandey was from Uttar Prdesh. The sense of 'Bhartiyata' came from every people.

UTTAR PRADESH'S GEOGRAPHY :

Uttar Pradesh can be divided into two distinct hypsographical regions:The Gangetic Plain in the centre — highly fertile alluvial soils; flat topography broken by numerous ponds, lakes and rivers; slope 2 m/kmThe Vindhya Hills and plateau in the south — hard rock Strata; varied topography of hills, plains, valleys and plateau; limited water availability.The climate is generally tropical monsoon, but variations exist due to difference in altitudes.

UTTAR PRADESH'S ECONOMY :

The major economic activity in the state is agriculture, and in 1991, 73 percent of the population in the state was engaged in agriculture and 46 percent of the state income was accounted for by agriculture. UP has retained its pre-eminent position in the country as a food-surplus state. The production of foodgrains has increased from 14.5 million metric tons in 1960-61 to 42.5 million tons in 1995-96 showing an average annual growth rate of 3.1 percent, which is much higher than the population growth rate. UP has witnessed rapid industrialization in the recent past, particularly after the launch of policies of economic liberalization in the country. As of March 1996, there were 1,661 medium and large industrial undertakings and 296,338 small industrial units employing 1.83 million persons. The per capita state domestic product was estimated at Rs 7,263 in 1997-98, and there has been some decline in poverty in the state.
Yet nearly 40 percent of the total population lives below the poverty line.Uttar Pradesh's gross state domestic product for 2004 is $339.5 billion by PPP and $80.9 billion by Nominal . After partition, the new Uttar Pradesh state produces about 92% of the output of the old Uttar Pradesh state. Uttar Pradesh is the second largest economy in India after Maharashtra.It has bigger economy than many of the world big economic players like Israel,Switzerland and Hong Kong.

TOURISM IN UTTAR PRADESH :

Uttar Pradesh attracts a large number of both national and international visitors. There are two regions in the state where a majority of the tourists go. These are the city of Agra and the holy cities: the cities of Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura, and Allahabad, by the sacred rivers — the Ganga and the Yamuna are all located in the state. The state hosts a Kumbha Mela every 12 years, where over 10 million Hindus congregate — the largest gathering of human beings in the world.A vast number of tourists visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. Another important tourist attraction in Agra is the Agra Fort. Also famous is a 16th century capital city built by the Mughal emperor Akbar known as Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Dayal Bagh is a temple built in modern times that many visit. It is still under construction, and would take an estimated one century for completion. The life-like carving in marble is not seen anywhere else in India.Dudhwa National Park is one of the best Tiger reserves in the country. Lakhimpur Kheri is a must see location, and home to the Tiger reserve.Millions of tourists and pilgrims visit the cities of Allahabad, Varanasi and Ayodhya, as those are considered to be the holiest cities in India. Every year thousands gather at Allahabad to take part in the festival on the banks of the Ganges, the Magh Mela.
The same festival is organised in a larger scale every 12th year and attracts millions of people and is called the Kumbha Mela.Varanasi is widely considered to be the second oldest city in the world after Jerusalem. It is famous for its ghats (steps along the river) which are populated year round with people who want to take a dip in the holy Ganges River.About 13 km from Varanasi is the historically important town of Sarnath. Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath after his enlightenment and hence is an important pilgrimage site for the Buddhists. Also at Sarnath are the Ashoka Pillar and the Lion Capital, both important archaeological artifacts with national significance.

ARTS AND CRAFTS :

Uttar Pradesh is famous for its arts and crafts. Specific regions such as Varanasi for its saris and silk, Mirzapur and Bhadohi for its carpets, Agra and Kanpur for their leather craft, Moradabad for its metal ware, Lucknow for its cloth work and embroidery, and the entire state for its pottery are not only famous in India but around the world.