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Tourist places in Uttar Pradesh

Here are the top 35 places to visit in uttar pradesh in 2024:.

1 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 20 Tourist attractions

Located on the banks of River Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh, Agra is a popular tourist destination as it is home to one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. It is a sneak peek into the architectural history and legacy of the Mughal empire with two other UNESCO World Heritage S...

Best Time: October to March

2. Varanasi

2 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 42 Tourist attractions

World's oldest living city, Varanasi - also known as Kashi (City of Life) and Benaras, is the spiritual capital of India. It is one of Hinduism's seven holy cities. The old city of Varanasi lies along the western banks of the Ganges, spread across a labyrinth of narrow galis. Be&...

3. Vrindavan

3 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 18 Tourist attractions

One of the oldest cities on the banks of Yamuna, Vrindavan is considered to be one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the devotees of Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna had spent his childhood in Vrindavan. The name of the city has been derived from Vrinda (meaning basil) and van (mea...

4 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 47 Tourist attractions

The capital and the largest city of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, situated on the banks of river Gomti, welcomes you with a heartwarming note of "Muskuraiyein, kyunki aap Lucknow mein hai". A city of kebabs and nawabs, of architecture and history, of literature and culture – that is Lucknow in a nuts...

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Enthralling Varanasi, Bodh Gaya & Patna

Uttar pradesh pilgrimage odyssey: varanasi, prayagraj, chitrakoot, and ayodhya exploration, religious tour package for varanasi and ayodhya, uttar pradesh trip- varanasi, allahabad, agra & lucknow, uttar pradesh trip- varanasi, allahabad & chitrakoot, holy trail including ayodhya & varanasi, 5. prayagraj.

5 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 23 Tourist attractions

Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, is a city located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Reminiscent of all that is spiritual and sacred in Hinduism, Prayagraj is famous for Triveni Sangam or the meeting point of three rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati. Built on the site ...

6 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 9 Tourist attractions

A quiet and spiritual town set amidst the otherwise densely populated state of Uttar Pradesh, Sarnath is a city of historical marvel with numerous Buddhist stupas, museums, excavated ancient sites and beautiful temples that prove to be a source of immense wonder and astonishment to tourists due to t...

7 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 28 Tourist attractions

One of Hinduism's seven sacred cities, Mathura is the birthplace of the very beloved Lord Krishna. Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Mathura and Vrindavan are often considered twin cities (located only 10km away from each other). Mathura is a small town dotted with temples from various ages and...

8. Fatehpur Sikri

8 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Located at a distance of 40km from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri is a town in the Agra district and a famous tourist attraction. A city predominantly made of red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri was founded in 1571 century by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is essentially a fortified city built by the king and had been th...

9. Vindhyachal

9 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 6 Tourist attractions

Vindhyachal is a famous Hindu pilgrimage spot closer to Mirzapur and Varanasi and has several temples in the vicinity with their own interesting stories. This town is situated on the banks of holy river Ganga and people come here to take a dip into it to pray to Goddess Ganga.

10. Chitrakoot

10 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 13 Tourist attractions

Chitrakoot, a small town situated in the north Vindhyan range, is located over the districts of Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh and Satna in Madhya Pradesh. It holds great importance according to Hindu mythology and the epic Ramayana. Legends have it that Chitrakoot was the place where Lord Ra...

Best Time: July to March

Best tourist destinations & places in Uttar Pradesh

Top Religious Places in Uttar Pradesh

11. Ayodhya

11 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 16 Tourist attractions

Often referred to as the birthplace of Lord Rama, Ayodhya is deeply entrenched in Hindu mythology and spirituality. Nestled along the banks of the sacred Sarayu River in Uttar Pradesh, Ayodhya stands first among the seven most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus. The name "Ayodhya" itself is deeply i...

12. Dudhwa National Park

12 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Nestled in the Lakhimpur-Kheri District of Uttar Pradesh on Indo-Nepal border, Dudhwa National Park is all about wildlife, nature and diversity and is a perfect getaway for nature buffs and wildlife lovers.

Best Time: December to Apr

13. National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary

13 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 2 Tourist attractions

Just a 1 hour drive down from Agra, this is a perfect destination for the wildlife enthusiasts. It is a habitat of some of the most endangered species, but the main attraction here are, Gharial, Red crowned turtles, Gangetic Dolphins, Indian skimmers, among others.

Best Time: November to March

14 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 16 Tourist attractions

The city of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh is a definite addition to every history buff or traveller who sets foot in this state. Sitting at the very south in the Bundelkhand region and built on the banks of the Betwa and Pahunch rivers, Jhansi is popular as the place where Rani Laxmi Bai, who is...

15. Hastinapur

15 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 7 Tourist attractions

Hastinapur is an ancient town which was the centre to the glorious tales of the epic Mahabharata. Situated on the banks of Ganga near Meerut in UP, Hastinapur is also the birth place of three Jain Teerthankara, and it has become an important centre of pilgrimage for the Jains.

16 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 17 Tourist attractions

A part of the National Capital Region, Noida, with the inauguration of Budhh international circuit for the formula one racing, Sunburn arena where international artists perform, and upcoming projects of one of the tallest buildings in North India. Noida is just busy running towards faster growth. No...

Best Time: September to December, February to March

17 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 27 Tourist attractions

Situated on the banks of Ganges, Kanpur is one of the largest cities of Uttar Pradesh, and the industrial capital of the state known for its chemical, textile and leather industries. Known for its immense human resource, it has also earned a reputation as the eleventh most populous agglomeratio...

Best Time: October-March

18. Muzaffarnagar

18 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 6 Tourist attractions

Muzaffarnagar is a municipal board in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh which is also the headquarter of the district. Located in the centre of the highly-fertile upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab region on the Delhi-Haridwar highway, Muzaffarnagar is one of the most prosperous cities of the state ...

Best Time: November to February

19. Ghaziabad

19 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 14 Tourist attractions

Ghaziabad can be best described as the "Gateway to Uttar Pradesh". Although geographically located in Uttar Pradesh, it forms part of the Delhi NCR (National Capital Region). Given its proximity to the national capital, the social life of the rapidly developing town is intertwined with that of Delhi...

Best Time: October to December, February to March

20 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 13 Tourist attractions

Rich culture, stunning monuments, significant history and lip-smacking cuisine awaits you at Meerut. This historical city located in the state of Uttar Pradesh sits at a distance of about seventy kilometres from New Delhi, forming part of the National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR). With an exciting pas...

Best Time: October - March

Best Tourist Attractions in Uttar Pradesh

Fatehpur Sikri

Bara Imambara

Banke Bihari Mandir

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple

21. Aligarh

21 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh 6 Tourist attractions

Nestled in the populous state of Uttar Pradesh, Aligarh has grown as a prominent educational and commercial centre in Northern India. Known as Kol or Koli in the ancient times, the city is said to have been founded by the Dor Rajputs in 372 AD and has housed the famous Aligarh Muslim University sinc...

Best Time: October to February

22. Firozabad

22 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Firozabad is a city located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, at distance of 40 kilometer from Agra. Firozabad is dotted with specialty shops offering dainty glassware, colourful beads and dazzling bangles, a thriving industry for which the city has received much International acclaim. As a result of t...

23 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Loni, a surprisingly less known town in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, is a place of religious significance. The historical site is connected to many Hindu mythological stories. There are also many significant temples around the city. The Loni Fort being another attraction in the city is believed to...

24. Kushinagar

24 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Located in the north-eastern region of Uttar Pradesh near Gorakhpur, Kushinagar is a prominent Buddhism pilgrimage site. This religious town is believed to be the place where Gautam Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, making Kushinagar an international tourist destination, especially among the fol...

25. Barsana

25 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Barsana is a place of historical significance which is located in the district of Mathura at Uttar Pradesh, India. The town is nicknamed as the Birthplace of Radha Rani as the Hindu goddess Radha (Lord Krishna's consort) was born in this city. Barsana is also popular for the grand celebration p...

26. Shravasti

26 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

A sacred land that holds importance to the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists alike, Sravasti is a cultural paradise, that lies in the heart of Uttar Pradesh. Monasteries from Thailand, Tibet and Korea bring to life every architect's dream. A city that holds the ancient Bodhi Vriksh (tree) is not unfamilia...

Best Time: September to November

27. Garhmukteshwar

27 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

At just about 110 km from Delhi, Garhmukteshwar is a heritage town that dates back to having been part of ancient Hastinapur. It currently falls in the Hapur District of Uttar Pradesh. One of the famous road trip routes from Delhi, this is the closest point where one can take a bath in the Holy Gang...

Best Time: March to May

28. Pilibhit

28 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Pilibhit is a quaint little town cloaked in dense forest in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is also called 'Basuri Nagri- the land of flutes' because of the large scale production of flutes that is undertaken here. This city with its picturesque beauty and a number of skillfully built temples with be...

Best Time: September to March

29. Bateshwar Temples

29 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

With a backstory that is ironic to the infinite calm that they offer, Bateshwar Temples is situated in the ghats of Chambal. It is believed that some of the most infamous and sought after dacoits of the Chambal Region had made it their hiding place. The complex was in a shoddy shape until the Archae...

30. Dewa Sharif

30 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Situated in the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, 25 kms away from Lucknow, Dewa or Dewa Sharif is a small town which is renowned world wide for the shrine of Haji Waris Ali Shah. Considered to be a prominent site of Muslim heritage, the shrine also has a mosque and a khankah within the premises,...

31. Bithoor

31 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Bithoor is a quaint little town nestled away in the Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, acclaimed for being an important hub of pilgrimage for Hindus. Along with its religious significance, Bithoor also has a good share of historical places of interest. Bithoor is immersed in local legends, religious ...

32. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

32 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Also known as Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary, the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is located in Unnao near Lucknow. Engulfed by dense forests, this bird sanctuary is home to over 250 species birds and is also a great place to spot other wildlife.

33. Pilibhit

33 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

34. Fort of Unchagaon

34 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Fort Unchagaon is not just an exceptional heritage resort but also a spectacular weekend getaway. Situated majestically in the village of Unchagaon which is close to Garh Mukteshwar on Moradabad – New Delhi National Highway in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

35. Naimisharanya

35 out of 35 Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Located on the banks of Gomti River in Sitapur district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Naimisharanya is a revered Hindu temple enshrined by the God Vishnu. Also known as Nimsar, Neemsar or Nimkhar, it is one of the ‘Divya Desams’ i.e. one of the 108 Vishnu temples mentioned in the works of ...

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35 Popular Tourist Places to Visit in Uttar Pradesh (2024)

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At a distance of 214 km from Delhi, 242 km from Jaipur, 359 km from Lucknow, 576 km from Bhopal, 847 km from Patna and 876 Km from Ahmedabad, Agra, the land of the Taj Mahal, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is situated on the banks of River Yamuna in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra is also among best weekend getaways near Delhi & Noida for a two day trip. Agra is one of the most popular tourist places in India and also one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Uttar Pradesh . Agra is included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit , along with Delhi and Jaipur. Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the World with three UNESCO World Heritage monuments - Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri & Red Fort. Agra was first mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, where it was called Agrevana meaning the border of the forest. Sultan Sikandar Lodi (1488-1517) was the first to move his capital from Delhi to Agra in 1504. After his death in 1517, his son Ibrahim Lodi continued to rule, until his defeat in the first battle of Panipat at the hands of the Mughal Emperor Babur in 1526. Agra famously became the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1658. It was known then as Akbarabad and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under the Emperors Akbar, Jahangir ...

2. Varanasi

At a distance of 125 km from Allahabad, 163 km from Aurangabad, 208 km from Gorakhpur, 239 km from Rewa, 250 km from Patna, 258 km from Gaya, 321 km from Lucknow, and 327 km from Kanpur, Varanasi is an ancient city located on the banks of river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one among the most revered places of Pilgrimage in India and also one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh . Also known as Kashi and Banaras, the city gets its name from two rivers Varuna and Assi. Nicknamed as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi was the seat of learning in the past. Legend has it that Lord Shiva himself established this holy city as his abode. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites in India and also one of the Shakti Peethas. Varanasi is an important destination among Hindus as they believe those who die in Varanasi will attain salvation. Varanasi is also a preferred site for immersing ashes of the dead in river Ganga. Performing funeral rites and cremation in the pyres are the common sights here. The holy city of Varanasi is more than 3000 years old and is one of the oldest living cities of the world. The early settlements around Varanasi began in the 18th century BC according to archaeological evidence. During the time of Gautama Buddha, the city of Varanasi was the capital of the Kashi Kingdom. Lord Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism here around 528 BCE when he gave his first sermon at nearby Sarnath. ...

Ayodhya is a holy city situated on the banks of river Sarayu in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the top places to visit in Uttar Pradesh , and among the must-include places in India tour packages . It is about 135 km from Gorakhpur, and 140 km from Lucknow. Ayodhya or Awadh is the birthplace of the Hindu deity, Lord Ram Shri Ram. This holy city has been regarded as the first one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus, and among the prominent places to visit near Kanpur . It is believed that a temple stood at the supposed birth spot of Rama, which was demolished by the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur and a mosque was erected in its place that was later demolished by Hindu mobs. The construction of the Ram Mandir commenced in 2020 and is the must-include in Ayodhya packages . Ram Janam Bhoomi, Ram ki Paidi, Hanuman Garhi, Nageshwarnath Temple, Treta Ke Thakur, Mani Parbat, Dasrath Bhavan, Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, Kanak Bhawan, Guptar Ghat, and Bahu Begum ka Maqbara are some of the top places to visit in Ayodhya .

At a distance of 56 km from Agra, 159 km from Delhi, 419 km from Lucknow and 224 km from Jaipur, Mathura is an ancient city and also the district headquarters of Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Mathura is one of the popular tourist places near Agra and also one of the best places to visit near Delhi . Mathura is one of the seven cities (Sapta Puri) considered holy by Hindus, the other six are Ayodhya, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kanchipuram, Ujjain and Dwarka. Mathura has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of Government of India. Mathura is also one of the popular Delhi weekend getaways for 2 day trip. Mathura is located at the banks of river Yamuna and is popularly known as the Brajbhoomi, the sacred land of Lord Krishna. The Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple is home to a prison cell called Garbha Griha that is believed to be the exact birthplace of Krishna. Large number of devotees visit this temple every year on Janmashtami. The city of Mathura has a rich history. In the traditional times, Mathura was an important point of culture and civilization. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the city is mentioned in the epic, Ramayana. In the epic, the Ikshwaku prince Shatrughna slays a demon called Lavanasura and claims the land. ...

5. Vrindavan

At a distance of 13 km from Mathura, 70 km from Agra, 155 km from Delhi, 400 km from Lucknow and 235 km from Jaipur, Vrindavan is a holy town situated on the banks of Yamuna River in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. It is also among the sacred places to visit near Delhi for a 2 day weekend trip and also one of the popular places to visit near Agra . Vrindavan is a major pilgrimage center for the Hindus and one of the oldest cities in the country. The holy town of Vrindavan has a very rich history associated with the Hindu god Lord Krishna. It is said to be the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a great devotee of Lord Krishna is credited with rediscovering of Vrindavan. The place was later developed by various kings of the region. The name Vrindavan is derived from the words vrinda meaning tulsi (or basil) and van meaning grove and most likely refers to the two small groves at Nidhivan and Seva Kunj. While Seva Kunj is believed to be the place where Krishna performed Raaslila with Radha and the Gopikas, Nidhivan is said to be the place where the divine couple rested. The place is also one of the Shaktipeeths, named Bhuteshwar Mahadev. The place is believed to have been the site where the hair of Devi Sati fell. Vrindavan is also one of the most prominent sites for ISKCON, ...

6. Prayagraj

Officially known as Prayagraj, Allahabad is a sacred city located in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the popular places to visit in Uttar Pradesh , and among the must-include places in India tour packages . It is about 202 km from Lucknow, and 721 km from Delhi. Also known as Prayag, Allahabad is one of the most religious cities for Hindus in India, and among the prominent places to visit near Lucknow . It is believed to be the spot where Brahma offered his first sacrifice after creating the world hence the name Prayag or Prayagraj where Pra means 'first' and Yag means 'devotion'. Prayag also signifies Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. This is the place where Maha Kumbh Mela is held every twelve years and is attended by millions of pilgrims as part of Prayagraj packages . The city is home to many many-faceted jewels of Indian culture, full of ancient tombs, and gorgeous parks. Triveni Sangam, Allahabad Fort, Allahabad Planetarium, Chandrashekar Azad Park, Allahabad Museum, etc. are some of the top Allahabad tourist places . It can be visited along with Varanasi tour packages ...

7. Fatehpur Sikri

At a distance of 37 km from Agra, 223 km from Delhi and 209 km from Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted fort city in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India. UNESCO declared this complex as a World Heritage Site in 1986. It is one of the popular place to visit along with Golden Triangle tour and also among ideal weekend getaways from Delhi & Noida cities. Akbar, the greatest Mughal Emperor, was commissioned Fatehpur Sikri in 1569. The city was constructed to honour Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chisti, who used to live in a cavern on the ridge at Sikri. Akbar revered him very much as the Saint had blessed him with a son who was named Salim in 1569. Akbar shifted his capital from Agra to Sikri in 1571 and named the city as Fatehabad meaning victorious. This city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 till 1585 and was later called Fatehpur Sikri. However, 15 years after it was established, the court had to be moved out of Fatehpur Sikri because of acute shortage of water. In 1619 Emperor Jahangir camped here for three months while a plague raged in nearby Agra. The city was refurbished to host the coronation of Muhammad Shah in 1719. After that, the city was largely abandoned until Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India for the British from 1898 to 1905, sponsored an archaeological survey and restoration ...

Also known as Ishipatna, and Mrigadaya, Sarnath is one of the sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India and also one of the must include places in Varanasi Tour Packages. According to the legend, Lord Buddha after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya came to Sarnath and delivered his first sermon to his five disciples. Hence, Sarnath is considered as one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage centers of India, the other three being Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar. About 10 km from Varanasi, and 135 km from Allahabad, Sarnath is also sacred to the Jains as it is the site of asceticism and death of Shreyamshanath, the 11th Tirthankara. A quiet and spiritual town, Sarnath is a city of historical marvel with numerous Buddhist stupas, museums, excavated ancient sites, and beautiful temples. Dhamek Stupa, the Chaukhandi Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Deer Park, Archaeological Museum, Tibetan Temple, Thai Monastery, Japanese Temple, and Chinese Temple are some of the prominent places to visit in Sarnath. Being an important Buddhist pilgrimage spot, Sarnath celebrates Buddha Purnima with a lot of enthusiasm.

Situated on the banks of river Gomti, Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh is one of the popular places to visit in Uttar Pradesh , and among the must-include places in India tour packages . It is situated about 82 km from Kanpur, and 527 km from New Delhi. Popularly known as the 'City of Nawabs and City of Tehzeeb', Lucknow is a place overflowing with rich culture and ancient heritage. The skyline is crowded with buildings that showcase a fascinating range of ancient styles, most of which date back to Mughal or British rule. From a slice of rich colonial history to modernized museums, Lucknow Packages beautifully bring together the opulence of a glittering past and the simplicity of a modern city. Lucknow, along with Agra and Varanasi, is in the Uttar Pradesh Heritage Arc. Lucknow has been winning the hearts of tourists throughout the world for its Nawabi finesse for ages. Bara Imambara, Chhota Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, Hazratganj, Lucknow Zoo, Lucknow Museum, Dilkusha Garden, Chattra Manzil, Ram Krishna Math, La Martiniere, etc., are some of the must-visit Lucknow tourist places . Besides, this historical city is also known for its elaborate Nawabi-style cuisine which includes biryanis, kebabs, and bread.

Jhansi is a historical city lies in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. About 102 km from Gwalior, 235 from Kanpur, and 314 from Lucknow, it is one of the top places to visit in India , and among the must-visit places as part of Uttar Pradesh tour packages . Situated between Betwa and Pahunch Rivers, Jhansi is one of the top places to visit near Gwalior . Earlier known as Balwant Nagar, Jhansi was the seat of the Chandela dynasty and flourished under their rule. The region got its name from the fort built by Raja Bir Singh Deo, in 1613 CE, one of the must-include places in Jhansi packages . The artistic grandeur of the Chandela rulers is still evident in the monuments and other ancient structures standing in the city. Jhansi Fort, Rani Jhansi Museum, Parichha Dam, Rani Lakshmi Bai Park, Barua Sagar, Rani Mahal, and Cenotaphs of Gangadhar Rao are the top tourist places in Jhansi .

11. Kushinagar

The historical town of Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is one of the popular places of Buddhist Pilgrimage in India, and among the must include places in Uttar Pradesh Tour Packages. About 54 km from Gorakhpur, and 329 km from Lucknow, Kushinagar is one of the four holy sites of Buddhism as it is the place where Gautam Buddha delivered his last sermon, attained Mahaparinirvana (salvation) in 483 BC, and was cremated at Rambhar Stupa. Kushinagar is a city of beautiful stupas and temples. The Mahaparinirvana Temple, with the world-famous reclining nirvana statue of Buddha, is an important site to visit in Kushinagar. Besides, the Japanese Temple, Ramabhar Stupa, Buddha Museum, Wat Thai Temple, Matha Kuar Shrine, Kushinagar Museum, etc. are some of the top places to visit in Kushinagar. Every year, Buddha Poornima is celebrated here with great enthusiasm during April/May.

12. Shravasti

The ancient city of Shravasti is one of the popular places of Buddhist pilgrimage in India and among the must include tourist destinations in Uttar Pradesh Tour Packages. About 175 km from Lucknow, it was one of the six largest cities in ancient India when Gautam Buddha began to spread his teachings of Buddhism around the Indian subcontinent. Shravasti is closely associated with the life of Gautama Buddha, who is believed to have spent 25 rainy seasons here. Also, Shravasti is an important center for the believers of Jainism since Sobhanath temple is believed to be the birthplace of Tirthankara Sambhavanath of Jainism. Anathapindika Stupa, Angulimala Stupa, Jetavana Monastery, Shobnath Temple, Vibhuti Nath Temple, etc., are some of the top places to visit in Shravasti. Shravasti Mahotsav is one of the major cultural events celebrated in Shravasti towards the end of winter (January). Various local artists showcase their talent throughout this festival.

Formerly Called 'Cawnpore', the bustling city of Kanpur is one of the popular places to visit in Uttar Pradesh and among the must-include places in India tour packages . It is situated about 82 km from Lucknow, and 480 km from Delhi. Situated on the banks of the holy Ganges, Kanpur is the largest city in Uttar Pradesh, and one of North India's major industrial centers. The city is a perfect blend of history, architecture, commerce, and culture with authentic cuisines, traditional theatrical art. It is one of the most popular places to visit near Lucknow . Having played a significant role in the first Indian war of Independence, Kanpur houses several historical places. One can also visit several pilgrimage places on the banks of the Ganges as part of Kanpur packages . ISKCON Temple, Shri Radhakrishna Temple, Allen Forest Zoo, Kanpur Museum, Jain Glass Temple, Nana Rao Park, Kanpur Memorial Church, etc. are some of the major and the top tourist places in Kanpur . Besides, Kanpur is home to the much-revered Indian Institute of Technology.

14. Bulandshahr

At a distance of 65 km from Noida, 85 km from Delhi, 110 km from Gurgaon, 68 km from Meerut, and 414 km from Lucknow, Bulandshahr is a town and headquarters of Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh. It is part of the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). According to legend, this region is close to the capital of the Pandavas - Indraprastha and Hastinapur. After the decline of Hastinapur, Ahar, which is situated in the north-east part of Bulandshahr District, became an important place for the Pandavas. A Tomar king named Ahibaran, laid the foundation of a fort called Barn here and established his capital. The city was earlier called Barn city and since it was perched on a highland, it also came to be known as the High City. Subsequently, the city got the name Bulandshahr, which in Persian means High City. The Barn kingdom was a great center for trade, commerce and arts, which existed for hundreds of years. In 1192 AD when Muhammad Ghauri conquered parts of India, his general Qutubuddin Aibak surrounded Barn, defeated King Chandrasen Dor and took control of the Barn kingdom. The ancient ruins found at places like Bhatora Veerpur and Ghalibpur offer glimpse into the past of Bulandshahr. There are several other important places in the district from where antiquities have been retrieved. Several artifacts are preserved in the Lucknow State Museum. Some of the places of interest include Ahar, Belon, Garhmukteswar, Kuchesar, Unchagaon and Sikandrabad. Delhi ...

15. Hastinapur

Hastinapur is a historical city in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. Situated about 41 km from Meerut, 129 km from New Delhi, and 447 km from Lucknow, it is one of the popular places to visit in Uttar Pradesh , and among the must-include places in India tour packages . Situated on the right bank of the holy Ganges near Meerut, Hastinapur is an ancient town that was the center of the glorious tales of the great Hindu epic Mahabharata. It was the legendary capital of Kauravas. Hastinapur is viewed as one of the holiest places by both Hindus and Jains alike. This ancient town is also the birthplace of three Jain Tirthankaras. Also being the birthplace of Panch Pyare Bhai Dharam Singh, one of the five disciples of Guru Govind Singh Ji, Hastinapur is also a center for Sikh devotees. One can find many famous and historical places around and within the city to explore and gain a lot of information about the history of our country as part of Hastinapur packages . Some of the best Hastinapur tourist places are Pandeshwar Temple, Karna Temple, Jambudweep, Bada Digambar Jain Temple, Ashtapad, Kailash Parvat, and Bhai Dharam Singh Gurdwara. It is also one of the top places to visit near Delhi ...

16. Ramnagar Fort

At a distance of 14 km from Varanasi Junction, Ramnagar fort is a medieval fort located on the banks of River Ganges in Ramnagar area of Varanasi. Ramnagar Fort is one of the popular forts in Uttar Pradesh and among the best places to visit in Varanasi. Ramnagar Fort was constructed by Maharaja Balwant Singh in 18th century CE. This was the royal residence of Raja of Banaras, also known as Kashi Naresh. The fort represents typical Mughal style of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and picturesque pavilions. Built with creamy-coloured Chunar sandstone, the fort houses a temple, a museum and the king's residential complex. The temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, the author of the Indian epic the Mahabharata. As per the legends, it is believed that Ved Vyasa resided within the fort for a short period. The fort still retains its charm and attracts tourists in large numbers. One can still witness the ornamented swords, photographs of tiger shoots and visits by the King and Queen of Belgium can be seen decorated on the wall. The hall of public audience, popularly known as 'Durbar Hall', is converted into a museum now. The museum is famous for its rare collection of old American cars, ivory works, medieval costumes, and a huge astronomical clock. Ramnagar Fort also houses the Durga Temple, temple of Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman and Chhinnamastika Temple. Only a part of the structure is open for public as the rest of it is the residence of Kashi Naresh ...

17. Suhelwa / Suhaildev Wildlife Sanctuary

At a distance of 52 km from Shravasti, and 56 km from Balrampur, Suhelwa, or Suhaildev Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife reserve spread across Gonda, Shravasti, and Balrampur districts of Uttar Pradesh. Situated along the Indo-Nepal border, it is one of the popular wildlife sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh, and among the best places to visit as part of Shravasti Tour Packages. The forest of Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary was owned by Maharaja of Balrampur before the implementation of the Zamindari Abolition Act 1952 and was known as Balrampur Estate. The forest is one of the oldest forests in Uttar Pradesh and was given the status of a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1988. Sprawling in an area of 452 sq km, this sanctuary is a strip of land, approximately, 120 km long from the east to west and 6-8 km wide. In the north are the jungles of Nepal and together they form a situational unit. The wildlife sanctuary encompasses Tulsipur, Barhawa, Bankatwa, Eastern Suhailwa, and Western Suhailwa Range and the Buffer Zone covers Bhaabar and Rampur Range. With a buffer zone of 220 sq.km, the sanctuary is known for affluent flora and fauna making it one of the top tourist attractions of Shravasti. The fauna found in the sanctuary includes Leopard, Tiger, Bear, Wildcat, Wild Boar, Sambhar, Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Barking Deer along with Monkeys of different types. Also, Suhaildev is home to 300 species of birds. One can spot, little Grebe, Indian Cormorant, Darter, Indian Pond ...

18. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary / Chandra Shekar Azad Bird Sanctuary

At a distance of 43 km from Lucknow, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary located at Nawabganj near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Situated on the Kanpur-Lucknow highway, it is one of the many wetlands of Northern India, and among the best places to visit near Lucknow . Also known as Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary, the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is a virtual heaven for bird-watchers, nature lovers, and those seeking a break from the humdrum city life. To promote proper protection and conservation to the resident and migratory birds, the Nawabganj lake and its surrounding areas were declared as Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary in 1984. Managed by the State Forest Department, the sanctuary was renamed Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary in the year 2015. Spread over an area of 3 sq. km, the sanctuary provides protection for 250 species of migratory birds mostly from the Himalayas, Tibet, China, Europe, and Siberia. Greylag Goose, Pintail, Common teal, Cotton teal, Red Crested pochard, Brahmini duck, Gadwall, Shoveller, Wigeon, Coot and Mallard, etc. are some of the migratory birds found in the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary. Besides, one can also spot native birds like Spot will, Sarus crane, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Black Ibis, Dabchick, Whistling teal, Open billed stork, White-necked stork, Black-necked stork, Spoonbill, Indian Moorhen, Grebe, Cormorant Darter, Lapwing, Egret, Kingfisher, Nightjar, ...

19. Sun Temple

At a distance of 17 km from Kushinagar, Sun Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated in Turkpatti near Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the sacred shrines in Kushinagar, and among the best places as part of the Kushinagar Trip. Dedicated to the Sun God, the Sun Temple was built during the Gupta Period and is mentioned in the Puranas. The temple is famous for its idol of the Sun God which was carved out of a special black stone (Neelmani Stone). The statue was believed to have been found during excavations conducted between the 4th and the 5th centuries. Surya is worshiped widely on every Sunday. The Sun Festival, held in November every year, is a center of attraction for the people. Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM Entry: Free

20. Patthar Ghat

At a distance of 24 km from Kanpur Central, Patthar Ghat is a bathing ghat situated in the Bithoor suburb of Kanpur. Situated on the banks of the River Ganges, it is one of the prominent Ganga Ghats in Uttar Pradesh, and among the top places to visit near Kanpur . Situated on the Fort Road, Patthar Ghat was built by Tikait Rai, who was once the minister of Awadh state. The ghat was carved entirely out of the red sandstone. It is believed that one can get rid of his/her sins by taking a dip in the holy waters of the river Ganges at Patthar Ghat. Just like other ghats in the suburb, Patthar Ghat is also frequently visited by locals and visitors on a large scale. Patthar Ghat is one of the prominent Ganga ghats where daily aartis are conducted, and numerous people participate in it. Patthar Ghat is also known for housing a Shiva Temple. This temple has a unique aspect that the shiva linga is made of the philosopher's stone which is also locally known as Kasauti. This temple has great religious importance, especially among the locals as it is said that making a wish at this temple comes true. Many childless couples, people suffering from a prolonged ailment, having financial issues can be seen praying for their well-being here. On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, the locals flock to this temple on a huge scale and make offerings. Timings: 7 AM - 6 PM Entry: Free

21. Brahmavart Ghat

At a distance of 24 km from Kanpur Central, Brahmavart Ghat is a holy river ghat located in the Bithoor suburb of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Situated on the banks of the river Ganges, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Kanpur, and among the best places to visit near Kanpur . The Bithoor suburb of Kanpur city houses some of the most religiously sacred and significant places in the Hindu culture. The Brahmavart Ghat is one such holy place that one must visit while in Kanpur. Dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Brahma, it is believed to be the place where Lord Brahma lived and has started making mankind with clay and all the righteousness in the world. Hence, it is a place of utmost religious and sacred values. It is here that Brahma Ji has installed a Shiva Linga which is now worshipped as the Brahmeshwar Mahadeva. A horseshoe nail is also embedded on the steps of the ghat. It is believed that this nail belonged to Lord Brahma's horse while they were on the way to the Ashvamedha Yajna. Due to its religious significance, a small temple dedicated to Lord Brahma has also been constructed on the ghat. After a ritual bath in the Ganga, the devotees pray at the temple. Apart from being a place of religious prominence, Brahmavart Ghat is also growing as a tourist destination and family picnic spot as it is a peaceful place away from the hustle-bustle of the city. The ghat offers a mesmerizing view ...

22. Siddhi Dham / Sudhanshu Ashram

At a distance of 20 km from Kanpur Central, Siddhi Dham is a meditation & spiritual center located in the Bithoor suburb of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Also known as Sudhanshuji Maharaj Ashram, it is one of the popular places to visit near Kanpur . Siddhi Dham is one of the beautiful ashrams founded by Shri Sudhanshuji Maharaj, a spiritual preacher in India. Run by Vishwa Jagriti Mission, the ashram has a vast campus and has an artificial Kailash mountain and Radha Krishna temple located on the premises. The ashram also has a very beautiful garden that houses the idols of different Hindu gods including Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Lord Hanuman, Goddess Parvati, and Goddess Radha. All the idols have a height of 8 feet to 20 feet. The garden also has a beautiful fountain in front of a cave and walking inside the cave is a whole new experience. There is an aviary on the premises of the ashram having some very beautiful birds including different breeds of parrots like Makaw and kakatua etc. The ashram premises also has an aquarium that houses fishes like the tiger shark, carp, catfish, etc. Behind the temple, there is a non-profit shelter for homeless persons. Ashram Timings: 8 AM - 7 PM Temple Timings: 9 AM - 11 AM & 4 PM - 6 PM Entry: Free

23. Barua Sagar

At a distance of 24 km from Jhansi Junction, Barua Sagar is a town and a municipal board in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh. Many monuments, temples and forts adorn Barua Sagar which reminisces the ancient and the historical past. The town got its name from the beautiful Barua Sagar Lake. Barua Sagar is an artificial lake built by the King of Orchha, Raja Udit Singh about 260 years ago. He also built embankments around this beautiful lake. The place is also famous for being the battleground of the Bundelas and the Marathas in 1744 AD. There is a temple dedicated to Sage Shringarishi on the banks of the lake. A fort, now in ruins, was also built by Raja Udit Singh on the banks of this lake. The fort commands an excellent view of Barua Sagar Lake and the surrounding landscapes. There are ruins of two Chandela period temples, locally known as Ghughua Math and Jarai Ka Math. Ghughua Math is built in granite and has four cells, each fitted with doorways, of which three have an image of Ganesh and the fourth has an image of Durga. Jarai Ka Math is an east facing temple located in the outskirts of Barua Sagar Town, on Jhansi-Mauranipur road. The temple consists of a sanctum, antarala and a ruined mukha-mandapa. Jarai Ka Math is probably one of the most popular temples in Barua Sagar that was built during the times of Pratiharas in 860 AD. Parts of the temple have been severely damaged and some have been rebuilt during the Bundelas in 17th Century. The intricate ...

24. Parichha Dam

At a distance of 27 km from Jhansi Junction, Parichha Dam is a manmade reservoir situated near Parichha town on Jhansi-Kanpur National Highway in Uttar Pradesh. Built on Betwa River, Parichha Dam & Reservoir is one of the top places to experience Jhansi Tourism. Parichha Dam was constructed during the time of the British between 1881 to 1886 CE. The total length of the dam is 1174.6 m and height is 16.77 m. The reservoir of the dam stretches from Parichha to Notghat Bridge which is about 34 km from Jhansi. Parichha Dam is the main source of water for drinking and agricultural purposes for Jhansi. The dam also has a Thermal power station which generates 1149 MW power. This place is ideal for water sports especially boating and fishing activities. It also offers great scenic view of the surroundings.

25. Chunar Fort

At a distance of 35 km from Mirzapur and 40 km from Varanasi, Chunar Fort is an ancient fort located at Chunar town in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. Also known as Chandrakanta Chunargarh and Charanadri, it is one of the best places to visit near Varanasi. The Chunar Fort was established by Maharaja Vikramaditya, the King of Ujjain for his brother Raja Bhartihari. As per Alha Khand, King Sahadeo made this fort as his capital and renamed as Nainagarh in 1029 AD. Built and rebuilt several times, Chunar first came into prominence in 1177 AD, when Prithviraj Chauhan established his fort here. Later, the fort was ruled by Mughal ruler Babar in 1525 AD and then Sher Shah Suri took control over the fort in 1532 CE. In 1575 AD, Akbar recaptured this fort and then it passed to the nawabs of Awadh in the 18th century. Finally in 1772 AD, it was captured by the British and used it as a warehouse of weapons and missiles till India's independence. Bordered by River Ganga on two sides, the fort is famous for its natural beauty and historical events. Spread across 34,000 sq. ft, the fort is a solid structure that stands on a rock, a detached part of the Vindhya Range. Due to the steep slope, the rocky fort is practically impregnable. The approach to Chunar Hill is marked by a chain of low hills, running parallel to the river on its right bank, which is covered by plantations and bungalows. The southeastern part of the fort is on the rocky bank of Ganga River, which is navigable ...

26. Vijaygarh Fort

At a distance of 24 km from Robertsganj and 105 km from Varanasi, Vijaygarh Fort is a ruined fort located in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. Situated south east to Maunukalana village on Robertsganj-Churk road, it is one of the famous historical forts in Uttar Pradesh and also one of the popular places to visit near Varanasi. This 5th-century Vijaygarh Fort was constructed by Kol kings. Over time, this fort came under the rule of Chandela kings of Agori Barhar. Later this fort was ruled by Sher Shah Suri and Balwant Singh. The fort was under Kashi King Chet Singh's rule until the arrival of British. The fort is said to be mesmeric and another fort is hidden under the fort called the fort of princess Chandrakanta. This elegant fort has also been pertinently described in the novel Chandrakanta by Babu Devkinandan Khatri along with Princess Chandrakanta. Vijaygarh Fort has both historical and archaeological importance. Some of the unique features of the fort include cave paintings, statues, rock inscriptions and the four perennial ponds. The main gate is preceded by a tomb of Muslim saint, Sayyed Jain-ul-Abdin Meer Sahib popularly called Hazrat Meeran Shah Baba. An Urs or a fair dedicated to the great saint is held every year in April which draws large crowds of devotees of all faiths. Two other landmarks located near the fort are the tanks known as Mira Sagar and Ram Sagar. Wedged between them is the Rang Mahal Palace which houses beautiful rock carvings. Timings: ...

27. Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary

At a distance of 65 km from Varanasi Junction, Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve situated in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh. It is under the control of Divisional Forest Officer, Kashi Wild Life Division with head quarter at Ram Nagar, Varanasi. Also known as Chandraprabha, this area was made a hunting reserve for the rulers of Benaras in the second half of the 18th century. Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary was established in the year 1957. Asiatic lions were introduced at Chandra Prabha in 1958. The exercise was successful in the beginning, with the number of lions increasing from three to eleven by 1969. However, the following year the lions were found missing. Chandra Prabha Sanctuary is spread over an area of 78 sq.km and lies on the Naugarh and Vijaigarh hillocks on the north slope of the Kaimur Range. The Chandraprabha River, a tributary of the Ganges, flows through the sanctuary. A variety of wild animals are found at Chandra Prabha which include blackbucks, chital, sambar, nilgai, wild boar, porcupine and chinkara. The park is also a bird watcher's paradise, as one can see around 150 species of birds. Chandraprabha is endowed with beautiful picnic spots, dense forests, and scenic waterfalls like Raj Dari and Dev Dari that attract a large number of tourists. Surrounded by the forest area, this stepped waterfall is the main attraction point for the tourists. A picnic spot has been developed by the forest department near the ...

28. Lakhaniya Dari Waterfalls

At a distance of 35 km from Chunar & 54 km from Varanasi, Lakhaniya Dari is a breathtaking waterfall situated near Ahraura in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the marvelous waterfalls in Uttar Pradesh and also among the best Places to visit in Varanasi. Lakhaniya Dari waterfalls cascades down from a height of about 150 m into a pool. The falls looks more beautiful and magnificent during monsoon when it is in full strength. Waters of this fall are stored in Ahraura Dam which is used for irrigation purpose to surrounding village farms and fields. It is a picnic spot for families and a small adventure for trekkers. One needs to trek 2-3 km from the entry gate to reach the Main waterfall. Visitors need to cross huge rocks, rivulets, jungles etc. and it takes around one and half hours. It is a lonely place and very less people do trekking for the main waterfall, prefer going in groups only. Try to cover this place in day time only. Do carry your own food as there is no eating joint nearby. The water is very deep and rocks are mysterious. Every year there are cases when people get in to water and then never come back. So if you want to get into water, walk some distance towards downstream and then do whatever you want. Entry: Rs. 50 per Person, Rs. 50 for Parking

29. Kusum Sarovar

At a distance of 26 km from Mathura, 148 km from New Delhi, and 25 km from Vrindavan, Kusum Sarovar is a huge tank, which belonged to the period of Lord Krishna, located between Govardhan and Radha Kund. Kusum Sarovar lies towards the right side of sacred parikrama path. It is among the ideal tourist places near Delhi & Noida for one day trip. Kusum Sarovar is 450 feet long and 60 feet deep tank and features a flight of stairs on all sides. The Sarovar is believed to be the place where Radha along with gopikas used to collect flowers and meet Lord Krishna. Kadamba trees are found all over the place and it is said that Kadamba tree was the favorite tree of Lord Krishna. During the time of Lord Chaitanya (a great devotee of Lord Krishna), this place was known as Sumanah Sarovar. It is stated in the Chaitanya Charitamrita that Lord Chaitanya took bath here. The Sarovar is surrounded by magnificent structures which were constructed by Jawahar Singh, the king of Bharatpur in the middle of 18th century, in honor of his father Raja Suraj Mal. A simple earthen pond till 1675, it was properly built by ruler of Orchha, Veer Singh, after which Suraj Mal constructed a garden for his queen, converting it into a beautiful place. Afterwards, Jawahar Singh built astonishing structures in the memory of his parents. There are three tombs in the upper level. The main tomb of Raja Suraj Mal has beautiful paintings on its ceiling depicting the pastimes of Krishna and the lotus ...

30. Barsana

At a distance of 48 km from Vrindavan and 45 km from Mathura, Barsana is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. Barsana was the birthplace of Radha, the consort of Krishna. Barsana is among well known tourist places near Delhi, best visited during Holi festival. Barsana is surrounded by hills from four sides and this place was earlier named Brahmsarin. The myth goes that Krishna asked Brahma to take the form of hill. The four hills are said to represent the four heads of Brahma. Hence Brahma and Sarin (head) form this name. All the four hills have temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha. The most famous among these is the Radharani Mandir, more fondly referred to as the Ladli ji Temple. It was built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo of Orchha in 1675. The new marble temple adjoining it is a later addition. The village also boasts of a tank named Prem Sarovar that is believed to be the first meeting place of Lord Krishna and Radha. Barsana is famous for Lath Mar Holi. It was the home of Radha where Krishna went to tease her and her friends. Taking offence at this, the women of Barsana chased Krishna and his friends away. The main celebrations at Barsana, take place at the Ladli ji temple, dedicated to Sri Radha Rani. The two day celebrations of Lath Mar Holi are a unique experience. In the first day men from Krishna's village, Nandgaon travel to Barsana to tease the women there. The women chase men and ...

At a distance of 58 km from Bulandshahr, 55 km from Aligarh & 145 km from New Delhi, Belon is a small village located near Narora town in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. Belon is famous for the old temple of Goddess Belon. The name Belon is derived from Bilwan which comes from its groves of Bael Tree. Belon temple is a very old Hindu temple and is also important Hindu pilgrimage site. The temple is dedicated to Sarva Mangala Devi, the goddess of all wellbeing. A visit to the temple is believed to bring happiness in all aspects of one's life. Pilgrims come from many parts of Uttar Pradesh to catch a glimpse of mother goddess, to perform prayers. There is a tradition of playing Holi with Tesu Phool (Flowers of Palash). This temple is usually crowded by tourists during the months of October through March. Thousands of people visit the shrine during Navratris ﴾during Dusserah﴿ and during Ram Navami. Timing: 6 AM - 12 PM and 5 PM - 8 PM

32. Kuchesar

At a distance of 39 km from Bulandshahr, 55 km from Meerut, 58 km from Ghaziabad, 75 km from Noida, 83 km from New Delhi and 172 km from Mathura, Kuchesar is small village in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. Kuchesar is an ideal weekend getaway from Delhi , Noida & Gurgaon. Kuchesar is known for the Kuchesar Fort, also known as Rao Raj Vilas, built by the Jat rulers. The fort was built in the mid-18th century by the Jat rulers and is surrounded by a 100-acre mango grove. During 1740, the Jats became strong military power who originally belong to Mandoti in Haryana and were the descendants from the Jats of the Dalal sub-caste. The Kuchesar Fort was brought into the Ajit Singh's family's possession in the 18th century when the Mughal emperor Najib-ud-Daulah bestowed the Jat family with the title of Rao Bahadur and the Jagir of Kuchesar comprising of 365 villages. The mud fort of Kuchesar was captured in 1763 but was recovered by the Jat rulers by 1782 and it remained under their control until British captured it in 1807. The Mud Fort has seven turrets built in defense against British cannon attack. A wide moat was dug to create the ramparts. The main palace overlooks gardens on three sides and on the west are the ruins of a replica of Robert Clive's house in Kolkata. Now, a part of the Fort was restored by Neemrana Hotels and turned into a heritage hotel in 1998. The royal family currently resides ...

33. Unchagaon

At a distance of 38 km from Bulandshahr, 91 km from Gaziabad, 102 km from Noida & 123 km from New Delhi, Unchagaon is village situated near River Ganges at a distance of 36 km from Garhmukteswar in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an ideal place to visit from Delhi & Noida for a quick day trip. Unchagaon is known for sightings of Gangetic Dolphins. Unchagaon is also famous for Unchagaon Fort. This is a mud fort built during 1850s and belonged to Rajput Zamindars. Now it is owned by Raja Surendra Pal Singh, who inherited it at the age of 10. This palace was renovated by Surendra Pal Singh and now part of it is opened as a heritage resort. The imposing white facade of Fort is surrounded by well-manicured, lush verdant lawns. A section of the fort is still used by the Rajas as residence. Another part of the palace, The Court, used to be the main office of the Zamindars in the 18th century. Today, it has a conference hall and seven bedrooms that display the grandeur of the past. The living room is a mini museum, with imposing portraits of the ancestors, tiger skins and a rare collection of swords.

34. Garhmukteshwar

At a distance of 68 km from Ghaziabad, 52 km from Bulandshahr, 44 km from Meerut & 93 km from New Delhi, Garhmukteshwar is a holy town in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated on the banks of holy Ganges River and is a well known tourist place near Delhi, Noida & Gurgaon.. Garhmukteswar is mentioned in Bhagvat Purana and the Mahabharata. It is believed that Garhmukteswar was a part of ancient city Hastinapur, the capital of Kauravas. There is an ancient fort which was believed to have been constructed by the Pandavas It was later renovated by a Maratha General Mir Bhawan during Anglo Maratha War. Not much remains of that Fort now and one can only trace some ruins. The name Garhmukteswar is derived from the great temple of Mukteshwar Mahadeva, dedicated to Lord Shiva and goddess Ganga. This temple is one of the most known and ancient temples located in Garhmukteshwar and said to have been built by King Shivi. There is a huge Shiva Linga installed inside this temple which is said have been installed by Sage Parasurama. The temple receives thousands of devotees during Shivrathri who throng to the temple to have darshan of Lord Shiva. There is also a Ganga Temple which is one of the famous tourist spots of this city. Lakhs of devotees come here to have a holy dip in the river Ganga at the time of Maha Kumbh Mela, which comes once in 12 years. The place is also famous for its 80 Sati Pillars which is a mark where Hindu widows used to have committed ...

35. Mata Chandrika Devi Temple

At a distance of 34 km from Lucknow, Chandrika Devi Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated in Kathvara village, near Lucknow City. Located on the banks of the Gomti River, it is one of the well-known places of pilgrimage in Uttar Pradesh , and among the top places to visit near Lucknow . Chandrika Devi Temple is 300 years old and is dedicated to the deity Chandrika Devi, a form of Goddess Durga. According to the temple history, the elder son of the Lakshmana who is the founder of the Lucknow, Rajkumar Chandraketu, was once passing with Ashwamegh horse through the River Gomti. On his way, it became dark and he had to take a rest in the dense forest. Hence, he prayed to Goddess for safety and within a moment there was cool moonlight and the Goddess appeared before him and assured him. Later, he built the temple where the goddess appeared. It is also said that in Dwaper Yuga, God Krishna advised Barbreek, son of Ghatotkach, about the Tirth for acquiring power. Barbreek worshipped Goddess Chandrika Devi for continuous 3 years at this place. It is said that a grand temple established here during that era was destroyed in the 12th century by foreign invaders. It is also said that around 250 years back some nearby villagers while roaming in the forests, located this beautiful place which was hidden with dense forests. The next day, a villager could locate ...

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Embedded in the heart of India is Uttar Pradesh, a land where cultures have evolved and religions have emerged. The greatness of Uttar Pradesh lies not only in this confluence but also in the emegence of cultural and religious traditions along some of the greatest rivers in the Indian subcontinent, the Ganga and the Yamuna. Through history, great cities have emerged and been established along great rivers. Within India, the Ganga and the Yamuna have nurtured a culture because of which religious faith, rituals, culture, and intellectual enlightenment have evolved in places along the two rivers.

#Incredible Uttar Pradesh

The Best Luxury

Hotels in uttar pradesh.

We have created a list of the best luxury hotels in Uttar Pradesh, India. I hope you enjoy it. We think it might be the best of its kind. Tip: Set your dates to see room prices!

Hotel Saras

Strategically located on the National Highway, right at Malikmau crossing, this proporty is an ideal place to stay in Raebareli.

Rahi Veerangana

Comfortable accomodation to Veerangana promises a hospitality that will leave guests with an experience to remember.

Rahi Triveni

The Hotel Triveni Darshan is located on the banks of the river Yamuna, just upstream the holy Sangam. Enjoy a serene evening.

Rahi Tourist

Located on the Banks of Garra river, the tourist Bungalow is a good place in the city to stay. Celebrate a quiet evening with near and dear ones.

Click on any district to explore more details. or choose the hotel of a lifetime as per your interest in the experience tab.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 20831.33

Hotel Gomti, Lucknow ₹1,500 per night

Hotel Gomti is ideally located in the heart of town, close to Hazratganj. All major cultural, historical and shopping landmarks of the city are nearby. It has well furnished and tastefully done up rooms equipped with modern amenities including wi-fi. There are various types of rooms to suit every budget. The restaurant serves great food. The hotel has a bar with a nice lush green lawn.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 21553.05

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 8383.29

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 36505.91

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 14429.67

Jyotiba Phule Nagar

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 15395.45

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 11692.15

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 29511.08

Rahi Hotel Rohila, Bareilly ₹9,50 per night

Located at a prime location in Civil lines, this hotel has all the major landmarks of the city nearby. It has convenient connection to the Railway Station as well as to the Bus Station. The hotel has a tastefully done up Bar and Restaurant serving variety of liquors and sumptuous food. Enjoy a relaxed cosy evening in the lush green lawn of the property and a morning stroll in the Gandhi Udyan adjoining. The property also has a banquet hall to organise business seminars and other events.

Bulandshahar

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 23812.04

Gautam Budh Nagar

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 102909.27

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 10749.37

Shahjahanpur

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 14811.98

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Shahjahanpur ₹5,50 per night

Located on the Banks of Garra river, the tourist Bungalow is a good place in the city to stay. Celebrate a quiet evening with near and dear ones in the cosy bar or on the open terrace with a view of the river.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 21154.35

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 8090.14

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 15672.03

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 2871.54

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Shravasti ₹900 per night

Tourist Bungalow's easy accessibility make it a popular choice among guests. The rooms hava a nice decor and are well-equipped with all amenities that offer a comfortable staying experience. The restaurant offers a delectable spread to savour your taste buds. Revel in comfort and convenience at one of the best hotels in Shrawasti

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 9047.41

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 18735.31

Rahi Tourist Bungalow , Neemsar Sitapur ₹600 per night

Rahi Tourist Bungalow , Neemsar Sitapur

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 6039.95

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Balrampur ₹9,50 per night

Nicely loacted in the heart of the city, the Rahi Toursit Bungalow, Balrampur is the ideal place to stay. The Restaurant serves its guests delicious food to complete the stay experience. The Tourist Bungalow has a banquet hall for gatherings as well as open lawn for bigger events.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 14146.84

Kanshiram Nagar

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 7630.46

Farrukhabad

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 7583.57

Rahi Tourist Bungalow , Sankisa, Farrukhabad ₹2,00 per night

Sankisa Road, Sankisa Basantpur, Uttar Pradesh 209652

Siddharth Nagar

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 8070.32

Maharajganj

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 8724.81

Rahi Tourist Bungalow , Sonauli Maharajganj ₹9,50 per night

Rahi Tourist Bungalow , Sonauli Maharajganj

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 12056.94

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 7906.22

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 40929.9

Rahi Gulistan Tourist Complex, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra ₹9,50 per night

The Gulistan Tourist Complex is located at a short distance from the World Heritage site of Fatehpur Sikri. The complex itself has been contructed in an unque style in red brick finish with an interesting layout. Stay immersed in the history. Stay here to witness a piece of history, an important heritage to the humankind and to pay respect at the dargah of Sufi Saint Salim Chishti. The property has a nice restaurant to serve sumptous food.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 11531.55

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 11857.74

Rahi Pathik Niwas, Kushinagar ₹9,50 per night

Pathik Niwas is the choice to stay at Kushinagar when you are exploring the path of the Lord Buddha. Located at a stone's throw from the Mahanirvana temple as well as the Japanese temple, the hotel gives its guests a feeling of being under the refuge of the Lord himself. The property has well designed rooms and a formal multi-cuisine restaurant and gardens to enjoy evenings. The hotel has ample parking space.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 17495.08

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 9928.71

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Kannauj ₹9,99 per night

Strategically laocated in the city, the Rahi Tourist Bungalow is the ideal place to stay in the city, whether you are travelling for business or to experience various facets of the Itra making, the traditional art of the city.

Lucknow Book now

Hotel Gomti is ideally located in the heart of town, close to Hazratganj. All the major cultural, historical, and shopping landmarks of the city are nearby. It has well-furnished and tastefully done-up rooms equipped with modern amenities, including wi-fi. There are various types of rooms to suit every budget. The restaurant serves great food. The hotel has a bar with a nice, lush green lawn.

Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, lies in the middle of the Heritage Arc. This bustling city, famed for its Nawabi era finesse and amazing food, is a unique mix of the ancient and the modern. It is home to extraordinary monuments depicting a fascinating blend of ancient, colonial and oriental architecture.

Area : 2.528 sq. km.
Population : 36,47,834 (2001 census)
Altitude : 123 mts. above sea level.
Season : October - March
Clothing (Summer) : Cottons
Clothing (Winter) : Woollens

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Famous Festival

Visit Places

Tour Packages

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 9231.88

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 19221.83

Sant Kabir Nagar

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 4642.66

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 13795.8

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 8370.88

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Sumer Singh Qila , Etawah ₹990 per night

Rahi Tourist Bungalow

Kanpur Nagar

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 35232.65

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Bithoor , Kanpur ₹1400 per night

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 5690.49

Hotel Saket, Ayodhya ₹9,50 per night

Hotel Saket is situated at a walking distance from the Ayodhya Railway Station making it easily accessible any time of the day. The hotel has variety of rooms to suit everyone's needs. Stay at Saket to conveniently visit the historical and religious landmarks of the city.

Kanpur Dehat

Ambedkar nagar.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 8140.46

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, DohriGhat , Mau ₹900 per night

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, DohriGhat , Mau

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 13658.51

Rahi Veerangana Tourist Bungal, Jhansi ₹775 per night

From comfortable accomodation to culinary delights and business events Hotel Veerangana offers them all, stay at Veerangana promises a hospitality that will leave guests with an experience to remember.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 11437.17

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Ghazipur ₹850 per night

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 38806.26

Rahi Ilawart Tourist Bungalow, Prayagraj ₹250 per night

Rahi Ilawart Tourist Bungalow Hotel is conveniently located near the bus station and is well connected to the railway station. It has tastefully decorated rooms to suit various budget levels. The hotel is well located to access the major tourist as well as business destinations of the city. The hotel has a well stocked bar and a restaurant to enjoy variety of liquors and sumotuous food served therein.

Rahi Triveni Darshan, Prayagraj ₹500 per night

The Hotel Triveni Darshan is located on the banks of the river Yamuna, just upstream the holy Sangam. The property has been tastefully done up. Enjoy a serene evening watching the quietly flowing Yamuna from the expansive lawn in the property. Access the Sangam for a holy dip directly from here on a boat. Watch the beautifully lit up Shastri Bridge and appreciate the piece of history while you pass

Rahi Tourist Bungalow , Varanasi ₹750 per night

Rahi Tourist Bungalow is located at a short distance from the Cantt Railway Station and offers 45 rooms of various types and ample parking space. Whether you visit the city to seek blessing of lord Kashi Vishwanath, to explore the culture of the world's longest continuously alive city.

Rahi Tourist Bungalow Sarnath, Sarnath, Varanasi ₹1600 per night

The Tourist Bungalow Sarnath is located within walking distances from the Sarnath landmarks, the Dhamek Stupa, the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Chaukhandi Stupa as well as the Archeological Museum

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 3839.81

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Chitrakoot ₹9,50 per night

Tourist Bungalow is running with the aim of providing utmost comfort and homely atmosphere to its guests and is highly desperate to give them a satisfactory and stress free stay in a spiritual and peaceful environment.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 11406.48

Hotel Jahnavi, Mirzapur ₹9,50 per night

The Hotel Jahnavi is located on the banks of the holy Ganga. It affords a nice view of the river from within the propoerty as well as from the expansive lawn. Stay at Jahnavi for a quite evening and to enjoy the serene flow the holy Ganga. Be a part of aarti at the Ma Vindhyavasini Devi temple located at Vindhyachal hills.

Sant Ravidas Nagar

Muzaffar nagar.

Tourist Bunglow (Hotel Saras), Raebareli ₹1800 per night

Strategically located on the National Highway, right at Malikmau crossing, this proporty is an ideal place to stay in Raebareli. It offers variety of rooms to suit everyone's need. Whether you are visiting the town to watch birds in Samaspur Brid Sanctuary or for business engagements in the industries and institutions located here, the Hotel Saras is the ideal choice to stay.

GSDP (In Crore Rs.) - 20810.33

Rahi Tourist Bungalow, Moradabad ₹1400 per night

The Rahi Tourist Bungalow is nicely located in the heart of the city on the National Highway adjoining the Circuit House. The property has nice spacious rooms for a comfortable stay. The Restaurant serves sumptous food. It has major landmarks of the city like the railway station, the bus station as well as traditional handicraft shopping areas nearby. The Hotel is strategically located and facilitates easy access to the reputed educational as well as business destinations of the city and around.

Happing Now in # Incredible UP

Varanasi Tourism

The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages.

Ayodhya Tourism

Ayodhya is a city situated on the banks of the holy river Saryu in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Prayagraj Tourism

Allahabad, officially known as Prayagraj and also known as Ilahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow Tourism

Lucknow, a large city in northern India, is the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Agra Tourism

Agra is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Mathura Tourism

Mathura is a sacred city in Uttar Pradesh, northern India. The deity Lord Krishna is said to have been born on the site of Sri Krishna Janma Bhoomi.

Happy Memories

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Features a travel picture gallery and photos of Uttar Pradesh, India. Explore the photo gallery of Uttar Pradesh tourism and travel destinations. ...

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Garhmukteshwar, a venerated riverside of Ganga

Ganga! As soon as we hear the pronunciation of this word; an array of rituals, people taking holy dip...

ललितपुर, बुन्देलखण्ड का शिरोमणि

बुन्देलखण्ड का इतिहास अत्यंत गौरवशाली रहा है तथा यहाँ की पौराणिक मान्यताएं भी प्रगाढ़ हैं। बुन्देलखण्ड की ऐसी विशेषताओं को[…]

प्रकृति की अद्भुत रचना – मीरजापुर

उत्तर प्रदेश के दो मुख्य जनपदों, प्रयागराज और वाराणसी के मध्य स्थित मीरजापुर जनपद कुछ खास है।

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Top 20 best places to visit in uttar pradesh.

Amalgamation of different cultures and faiths can be seen in the best possible way if you visit North India. You will see the best examples of a mélange of cultures and there are several reasons for it. However, the consequences have been quite delightful and there is no denying it. One of such North Indian states that best reflects the vivid hues by blending of cultures is Uttar Pradesh. No doubt Why? It is the land of different faiths, sages, two great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, and various religions.

It is the Land of Lord Krishna, Rama, Buddha and Taj Mahal. This state is a perfect canvas painted in different colors to bring out a picture that is loved by all. Uttar Pradesh boasts aromatic and delectable Awadhi cuisine, the fine Chicken and brass work and majestic architecture. There is just about everything that you seek on a holiday in India and how better can it get if you can find it in one place! Uttar Pradesh truly reflects the glory of Indian culture and heritage.

Come and explore these top 20 travel destinations in Uttar Pradesh-

Kapilavastu

Garhmukteshwar.

Quick Uttar Pradesh Travel & Tourism Essential Information

Popular Uttar Pradesh Tourism Packages

7 Nights 8 Days Golden Triangle Tour
2 Nights 3 Days Varanasi Sightseeing Tour
2 Nights 3 Days Agra Sightseeing Tour

The land of Taj, Agra has earned itself international fame for being a heritage hotspot in the country. Reflecting the architectural excellence of the Mughal Era, Agra stands on the bank of River Yamuna. The Mughal Empire has endowed Agra with architectural grandeurs like tombs and mausoleums; forts and palaces; gardens and mosques. A creative ground for the art lovers like Akbar, Shah Jahan and even the Lodi rulers, Agra is one such destination that alone brings a great boost in Uttar Pradesh tourism.

Top Tourist Attractions in Agra

Fatehpur Sikri
Itmad Ud Daulah
Soor Sarovar
Chausath Khamba
Roman Catholic Cemetery
Chini ka Rauza
Mariam’s Tomb
Chhatri of Raja Jaswant Singh
Guru ka Taal

How to Reach?

The best way to reach Agra would be by train if a journey is planned from other parts of the country than Delhi/Mathura/Vrindavan/Noida/Gurgaon. The Yamuna Expressway connects Delhi conveniently with Agra reducing the run between the two to 2.5hrs only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should one visit uttar pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh is the soul of Indian culture and heritage. It is a land of traditions, festivals and religious diversity. Nowhere in India you will find such an amazing place where you will witness amazing monuments, forts, temples, Ghats belonging to different dynasties at one place.

What are the must visit tourism attractions in Uttar Pradesh?

Dilkusha Garden
Dudhwa National Park

Is Uttar Pradesh a safe tourist destination?

Safety is always in the traveler's hand. Every destination has its pros and cons. However UP is a safe destination to travel but at some places you need to take care of your belongings.

Which is the best time to plan a holiday vacation in Uttar Pradesh?

October to March is the best time to plan holiday vacation in UP. The weather is good for sightseeing. Summer heat will be unbearable for exploring tourist attractions here.

How many minimum days are required to explore the best of Uttar Pradesh Tourism?

Uttar Pradesh has many districts and each has its own charm. To completely explore UP, you need at least 10 to 12 days. If one or two destinations are in your mind then you need only 2-3 days to explore. It's completely your choice.

Which are the top destinations to visit for couples in Uttar Pradesh?

Which is the best destination to visit for family vacation in uttar pradesh, what are the top activities to do in uttar pradesh for tourists.

Try different Indian Cuisines
Enjoy a Thrilling Wildlife Safaris
Boating and Evening Aartis at Ganga Ghats
Heritage Sightseeing Tour
Temple Tours

Published: 23 May, 2022

About the author

Nidhi Singh

From the Lake District, Nainital, Nidhi Singh is a travel writer whose love for mountains can be seen in her write ups. Talk about solo travelling, indulging in adventure activities, binging on good food, planning budget trips or the Aurora Borealis and you will get all her attention. It is the wanderlust that keeps her going and if at all she could get one wish granted she would love to live a life less ordinary. Follow her on Twitter , Facebook & Instagram .

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Established in 1911 the Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association is dedicated to promoting all of the tourism products and services in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Through our marketing efforts and information that we provide the consumer we allow people to plan an outstanding vacation to Michigan’s UP, one of our country’s great natural regions.

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Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is renowned for its abundance of its diverse and ever-changing natural surroundings, which will magnify the senses!

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Events In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Winter, spring summer or fall – you are sure to find something to do in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula! Have an event that is not listed on our calendar? Due to Covid-19, many events are cancelled. Please check with event coordinators on status of events before making plans to attend.

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Carden circus: the all-new spectacular extreme circus.

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Jeep the mac to drummond island.

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Michigan free orv weekend, nahma golf club 1-person scramble.

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Western UP IMMERSION INTO NATURAL BEAUTY

Copper peak world’s largest ski structure, lake of the clouds porcupine mountains, lake gogebic spans two time zones, national black river scenic byway, timber, iron ore & copper mines, bond falls scenic site.

May 11 The Go Rounds at the Orpheum Theater 426 Quincy Street Hancock, MI 49930

May 11 Theatre North presents: Listen to your Mother 825 N Lake St Ironwood, MI 49938

May 11 Young's Golf 3-Person Scramble 159 Young's Lane Iron River, MI 49935

May 12 "EXTC" - Mother's Day Special 340 6th St Calumet, MI 49913

May 13 Missoula Children's Theater Presents: "The Secret Garden" 311 N Steel St Ontonagon, MI 49953

Central UP Gorgeous Shorelines, Intriguing History

Kitch-iti-kipi the “big spring”, fayette historic state park & townsite, piersgorge whitewater rafting, pictured rocks national lakeshore, seul choix point lighthouse, glass bottom shipwreck tours.

May 11 Carden Circus: The All-New Spectacular Extreme Circus 401 East Fair Avenue Marquette, MI 49855

May 11 Dead Carp 20K Run 5K Run/Walk 501 South Lake Street Marquette, MI 49855

May 11 Escanaba Country Club Ryder Cup - 18 Holes 1800 11th Ave S Escanaba, MI 49829

May 11 Escanaba Farmers Market (Saturday) 1501 Ludington St Escanaba, MI 49829

May 11 Nahma Golf Club 1-Person Scramble 8588 Ll Rd Nahma, MI 49864

Eastern UP Let the adventures begin

The mighty mac st.ignace gateway, the soo locks an engineering marvel, tahquamenon falls state park - paradise, mackinac island state park - no cars allowed, drummond island gem of the huron, great lakes shipwreck museum.

May 11 Fort 2 Fort 5-Mile Challenge 7165 Main St Mackinac Island, MI 49757

May 11 Jeep the Mac to Drummond Island Drummond Drummond Island, MI 49726

May 11 Jeep the Yoop! St Ignace St. Ignace, MI 49781

May 11 reuse Drummond Island Drummond, MI 49726

May 12 Les Cheneaux Farmers & Artisans Market 3206 West Cedar Road Hessel, MI 49745

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Uploaded Date : 22/11/2021

Shri Narendra Modi

Hon'ble Prime Minister, India

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Hon'ble Chief Minister, U.P.

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Dr. Somendra Tomar

Hon. State Minister, Department of Additional Sources of Energy, GoUP

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If you have already registered on UP Tourism Portal before 01-06-2023 then you can directly login to Portal by clicking on Login button

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The Scheme Management module to monitor the Financial and Physical progress of Infrastructure Schemes of the UP Tourism Department.
Module to Claim Various Subsidies / Incentives under Tourism Policy 2022.

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Scheme Management Module to update Infrastructure Progress Status

New Tourism Policy 2022

Uttar Pradesh is famous for its many forts, monuments and temples that have always attracted both local and foreign tourists every year. In the light of the same, the New Tourism Policy 2022 is now out!

Important Links

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UP Tourism announces 6th edition of Uttar Pradesh Travel Mart in April

UP Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh expressed the state's ambition to become the top destination for foreign tourist arrivals, leveraging its leading position in domestic tourism. He highlighted Uttar Pradesh's safety, robust infrastructure, and rich cultural heritage, emphasising the state's readiness to showcase its tourism potential to the global audience through UPTM.

Online Bureau ,
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Updated On Mar 16, 2024 at 02:46 AM IST

Madhya Pradesh Tourism inks historic pact with MakeMyTrip & redBus

Additionally, MakeMyTrip will collaborate closely with the tourism department to spotlight pilgrimage sites and wildlife-centric travel experiences, amplifying their visibility through its platform. redBus, on the other hand, will be designated as the official "Online Bus Ticketing Partner" by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, facilitating seamless travel exploration across the state.

By Online Bureau ,
Published On Mar 15, 2024 at 02:44 PM IST

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Uttar Pradesh

Uttar pradesh is ranked first in the production of milk, honey, foodgrains, sugarcane, potato, peas, and guava..

Uttar Pradesh State Report

Introduction.

Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India with a population of nearly 200 million people. Uttar Pradesh shares its borders with Nepal on the north, the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh on the northwest, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan on the west, Madhya Pradesh on the south, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand on the southeast, and Bihar on the east.

At current prices, the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be Rs. 24.39 trillion (US$ 295.48 billion) in 2023-24. The GSDP is expected to increase at a CAGR of 9.01% from 2018-19 to 2023-24.

Uttar Pradesh is a favored tourist destination in India with Taj Mahal, one of the eight Wonders of the World, located in Agra. In 2021, domestic tourist arrivals in the state stood at 109.71 million, second-highest in the country, while foreign tourist arrivals stood at 44,737, seventh-highest in the country. The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to establish four new heliports in the state in a bid to promote tourism in the state.

As of September 2023, Uttar Pradesh had an installed power generation capacity of 30,019.85 MW. Of this, 6,808.20 MW was from state utilities, 14,466.72 MW (private utilities) and 8,744.93 MW (central utilities).

Thermal power contributed 21,417.26 MW to the state’s total installed power generation capacity, followed by 3,424.02 MW (hydropower), 289.48 MW (nuclear power) and 8,313.11 MW (renewable power), as of September 2023.

In August 2022, Uttar Pradesh revealed the draft of its Solar Energy Policy-2022, which indicates that the state has a goal of producing 16,000 MW of renewable energy by 2026–27.

Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of food grains in India and accounted for about 17.83% share in the country’s total food grain output in 2016-17. Food grain production in the state stood at 49,903.1 thousand tonnes in 2016-17 and 51,252.7 thousand tonnes in 2017-18. Major food grains produced in the state include rice, wheat, maize, millet (bajra), gram, pea and lentils.

Pulses production in the state stood at 2.56 Million tonnes in 2020-21*. Production of vegetables stood 29,940.09 thousand MT in 2021-22*.

The state offers a wide range of subsidies, policy and fiscal incentives as well as assistance for businesses under the Industrial and Service Sector Investment Policy, 2004 and Infrastructure and Industrial Investment Policy, 2012. The state has well-drafted, sector-specific policies for IT and biotechnology. The new Uttar Pradesh Civil Aviation Promotion Policy 2017 was brought to promote investment and trade in Uttar Pradesh and to promote tourism while increased road connectivity along with air connectivity will create more employment avenues.

Between October 2019-June 2023, FDI inflows in Uttar Pradesh stood at US$ 1,384.27 million. The state ranked 11th in India in terms of FDI inflows. In 2019, 147 investment intentions worth Rs. 16,799 crore (US$ 2.40 billion) were filed in Uttar Pradesh.

Merchandise exports from Uttar Pradesh reached US$ 21.03 billion in FY22 and US$ 21.68 billion in FY23.

In 2020, the state government rolled out the New Electronics Manufacturing Policy, 2020 and Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy, 2020, to promote the local manufacturing and new startups in the state.

Recent Developments in Key Sectors:

In October 2022, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, announced new projects worth Rs. 7,000 crore (US$ 8.5 billion) for Uttar Pradesh.
In October 2022, Chief Minister Mr. Yogi Adityanath said that from the following academic year, all colleges and institutions in Uttar Pradesh will offer medical and engineering programmes in Hindi.
In the State Budget 2023-24, Rs. 38,338 crore (US$ 4.66 billion) has been allocated for the development of roads and bridges. Of this, Rs. 500 crore (US$ 60.77 million) is allocated towards capital investment in public sector enterprises.
As per the State Budget 2023-24, Rs. 43,330 crore (US$ 5.27 billion) has been allocated to the energy sector. Out of this, Rs. 13,100 crore (US$ 1.59 billion) is allocated for power subsidies. Subsidy on electricity consumption of private tube-well owners will be increased from 50% to 100% in 2023-24. Rs. 1,500 crore (US$ 182.3 million) has been allocated for this purpose.
As per State Budget 2023-24, a total amount of Rs. 28,465 crore (US$ 3.46 billion) has been allocated towards Urban Development. Out of this, Rs. 2,490 crore (US$ 302.6 million) has been allocated for grants towards the creation of capital assets under PM Awas Yojana (Urban).
In the State Budget 2023-24, the state Government allocated Rs. 85,003 crore (US$ 10.3 billion) towards Education, Sports, Arts, and Culture. Out of this, Rs. 17,003 crore (US$ 2.07 billion) is allocated towards primary education under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. And, for creating digital libraries in gram panchayats and wards, Rs. 300 crore (US$ 36.4 million) has been allocated.
As per State Budget 2023-24, Rs. 47,404 crore (US$ 5.76 billion) was allocated to the health and family welfare sector.
For implementing recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, Rs. 2,521 crore (US$ 306.4 million) has been allocated towards family welfare and Rs. 409 crore (US$ 49.7 million) towards public health.
41,336 food processing units will be established/upgraded in 2022 under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme.
With the help of the state government's Food Processing Industries Policy 2017 (revised), the government has planned to set up 375 large food processing units in 2022.
In May 2022, Amity University in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, signed an MoU with the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), with the aim to train the students in the field of tourism, travel, hospitality and aviation by different campuses of Amity University, through the implementation programmes under this MoU.
Uttar Pradesh has now become home to the country’s first-ever ‘Amrit Sarovar’ which was inaugurated in Rampur district in May 2022. It is one of the 789 ponds which the Uttar Pradesh government will develop. Nearly Rs. 60 lakh (US$ 77,384.88) were spent in the creation of this water body.
The Uttar Pradesh government is all set to establish the UP Ecotourism Development board. The key objective of the initiative is to promote the state's rich legacy of forests and wetlands to increase tourist footfall while creating jobs for those living around the natural heritage.
In June 2021, Uttar Pradesh receives a record investment of Rs. 4,074 crores (US$ 554.24 million) in food processing.
The tourism administration of Uttar Pradesh is planning to develop a helicopter taxi service to connect the state's most popular locations, as of September 2021.
Uttar Pradesh has capacity to produce 4,248.76 MW of renewable energy. The state Government has set an objective of annual addition for production capacity of solar energy to 2,000 MW.
In June 2021, Greenply Industries announced that it will invest around Rs. 75 crore (US$ 10.30 million) to set up a plywood and allied products manufacturing unit at Sandila Industrial Area in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh.
In May 2021, Uttar Pradesh government announced that it would spend US$ 1 billion to buy COVID-19 vaccine.
In January 2021, the state government announced its plan to build 1,038 new Ganga aarti platforms along the river in Bijnor and Ballia districts.
Uttar Pradesh accounts for strong demand for fertilisers on account of the high availability of acreage coupled with the large size of the state.

Note: * As of 4th Advance Estimate

Geographical Area (sq km)

State language, literacy rate, key industries:, information technology, agro processing, mineral-based industries, food processing, handloom and handicrafts, sports goods, related sites, related news.

Uttar Pradesh targets a trillion-dollar economy by 2027, backed by a sizable land bank of 25,000 acres for rapid industrial allocation.

In March 2024, the electronics industry experienced a significant 154% surge in hiring compared to the previous year, as reported by Quess Corp Limited.

Retail brands are expanding into religious cities to cater to growing tourism, offering tailored experiences for pilgrims' needs.

Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi recently launched and initiated the groundwork for 112 National Highway projects worth around US$ 12.1 billion (Rs. 1 Lakh Crore) in Gurugram, Haryana.

Uttar Pradesh's GBC 4.0 showcased 14,000 projects worth US$120.5 billion, fostering 34 Lakh job opportunities, with esteemed dignitaries and investors in attendance.

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Visitors profile, revenue profile, top ecotourism destinations in uttar pradesh, dudhwa national park, katarniya ghat wildlife sanctuary, kakraha (katarniya ghat wildlife sanctuary), motipur (katarniya ghat wildlife sanctuary), chuka tiger reserve, pilibhit, plan your trip, accommodation booking with / without safari.

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Mineral Wells tourism continues to rise, chamber report shows

May 10—MINERAL WELLS — Tourism continues to rise in the Wellness Capital of Texas, a report approved Tuesday by the city council showed.

The council also on Tuesday paved the way for Airport Manager Haley Cuevas to seek bids for leasing a 19,200-square-foot hangar.

Bids on the hangar, which is in the process of being brought up to fire codes, will be accepted through June 3. Huevas, responding to a question from Mayor Regan Johnson, said interested parties know about the work to be done.

Cuevas on Tuesday also won the council's blessing to work with another tenant, Hallowed Sky, that is building a hangar on the airport's west side.

"We have a lot of development out there," she said.

The Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce's 2023 tourism report, which was approved with other items on the grouped consent agenda, showed visits to the Visit Mineral Wells Facebook page climbing substantially.

Those click-visits had gone from 2,657 in November 2018 to 9,290 this past February, the report showed.

The report also showed 5,600 requests for newly placed brochures at travel centers around the state. The chamber also had shipped 50 tourism information packets in a new offering.

Tourism Director Rose Jordan later added that moving into the old Poston's hardware building downtown has dramatically boosted in-person tourist visits.

"The move to the Poston's Dry Goods building has proven to be a game-changer, resulting in an astonishing 2,000% increase in visitation," Jordan told the Weatherford Democrat. "At the former location, we might see 20 people come through in a month for travel information (aside from others for chamber-related activities). Now, we see over 400 people most months."

The move from a drab brick headquarters on Hubbard Street also aligned the chamber more with the goal of capitalizing on Crazy Town's unique past, Jordan said.

"The revamped visitor center now stands as a beacon of our city's rich history and cultural heritage," she said. "And last year, the visitor center won Best Visitor Center, in a small market, in the state of Texas."

Tuesday's regular meeting began with librarian Kathy Spencer praising volunteer supporters.

Those included brother and sister Daniel Holland and Michelle Mills, who recently donated more than 500 books on military and historical topics.

Spencer also thanked Cathy Bohanna for a donation helping the summer reading program.

The free kids storybook sessions will be at noon on Fridays in June and July.

Spencer also announced the Summer Block Party will begin at 4 p.m. on June 7 and take place both in the parking lot and inside the Boyce-Ditto Public Library, at 2300 SE MLK Jr. St.

For more information on those or other library programs, call 940-328-7880.

Tuesday's open comments period was taken by Ward 4 Councilman Doyle Light, who was recalled from office during the previous Saturday election.

Light was one of three council members subject to recall after residents upset over water rates gathered petitions.

It is plausible Light was the only recall target to fall because the higher water bills hit his low-income ward harder than others.

"It's been a great honor and a privilege to serve with you," Light told the council, urging members to stay the course that led to higher rates to support a $200 million loan for a new water source lake. "Not only don't stop, but don't let up. There's still a lot to do."

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Volusia tourism leaders celebrate 10.1 million visitors in destination 'reset' year

DAYTONA BEACH ― Volusia County attracted 10.1 visitors in 2023, down from a record 10.6 million in 2022 , according to figures from the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The news was announced at a celebration event to mark National Travel & Tourism Week on Wednesday at Hard Rock Hotel.

Area tourism officials and other local leaders praised the strength of the area’s leading industry as they also acknowledged increasing competition for travelers as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues fade into the past tense.

“That number reflects what we have been calling a ‘reset’ year, so we’re actually very pleased,” said Lori Campbell Baker, executive director of the Daytona Beach Area CVB. “The world has reopened. International travel is booming.”

Volusia's 2023 visitor total surpassed pre-pandemic 2019

As Florida emerged as one of the first states to re-open for tourists in the wake of pandemic-era restrictions, Volusia County’s record-setting 10.6 million visitor total in 2022 was the destination’s highest annual count since logging 10.2 million in 2018.

Although the 2023 visitor total failed to match that record high, Baker pointed out that it was better than the pre-COVID 2019 total of the 9.8 million.

“As always, we’re working to bring that total up,” she said. “Everything we do is geared toward attracting overnight visitors.”

In addition to a decline in visitors, Volusia County’s tourist development tax collections for the fiscal year that concluded on Sept. 30 finished 3.51% below the year-end total for 2021-22, according to figures from the Volusia County Revenue Division.

For the previous fiscal year that concluded on Sept. 30, 2022, record-high overall tourism bed-tax collections of $33.7 million countywide were more than 20% higher than the previous year, which also set a record.

The county collects a 6% tourism tax on hotels and lodges with half of the revenues going to fund the county-run Ocean Center convention complex in Daytona Beach. The other half goes to the county’s three tourism ad authorities to market their respective areas — the Daytona Beach/Halifax area, Southeast Volusia and West Volusia — as tourist and special event destinations.

Tourism trend also evident in statewide visitor total

The trend in Volusia County also is evident in statewide numbers.

In 2023, Florida welcomed an estimated 135 million tourists according to the Visit Florida tourism marketing agency. That's down from 137.4 million the year before, but up from 131.1 million in 2019, the last full year of data before the pandemic.

At Wednesday’s event, the contributions of the area’s tourism industry were heralded by host Bob Davis, president and CEO of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County.

After nearly 60 years as a hotelier and tourism leader, Davis emphasized that connection among hotel owners, managers, small businesses, elected officials and educators was essential for success.

“It takes all of us together, working to make Volusia the No. 1 county in Florida,” Davis said. “We’re all in this together. We all have a part to play.”

That theme was echoed in presentations by leaders of the county’s three tourism advertising authorities representing the Halifax area, West Volusia and Southeast Volusia.

In case you missed it: After two record-setting years, Volusia tourism weathers downturn in 2023

There also were updates from Cyrus Callum, director of aviation and economic resources at Daytona Beach International Airport, Ocean Center Director Lynn Flanders and Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald.

Recktenwald offered thanks to county staff members and area businesses for contributing to the recovery from beach damage sustained during back-to-back tropical storms Ian and Nicole in fall 2022.

“The last 18 months touched us like never before,” said Recktenwald, adding that the future still holds the prospect of “significant investment” to ensure the condition of the area’s beaches. Yet he, too, was optimistic.

“The businesses, the hotels and the county’s environmental staff have acted swiftly to repair the damages,” he said. “Things are looking positive.”

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The Taliban are working to woo tourists to Afghanistan

Afghans work in the garden of the renovated Darul Aman Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

Afghans take selfies at the renovated Darul Aman Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

Afghans walk outside Hazara’s Sakhi Shrine in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

A general view of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

An Afghan works in the garden of the renovated Darul Aman Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

Taliban fighters take selfies by the tomb of Afghan Kind Nadir Shah in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Around 30 men are crammed into a Kabul classroom, part of the debut student cohort at a Taliban-run institute training tourism and hospitality professionals.

It’s a motley crew. One student is a model. Another is 17 and has no job history.

The students vary in age, education level and professional experience. They’re all men — Afghan women are banned from studying beyond sixth grade — and they don’t know anything about tourism or hospitality. But they are all eager to promote a different side of Afghanistan. And the Taliban are happy to help.

Afghanistan’s rulers are pariahs on the global stage, largely because of their restrictions on women and girls . The economy is struggling, infrastructure is poor, and poverty is rife .

And yet, foreigners are visiting the country, encouraged by the sharp drop in violence, increased flight connections with hubs like Dubai , and the bragging rights that come with vacationing in an unusual destination. The numbers aren’t huge — they never were — but there’s a buzz around Afghan tourism.

Afghans walk outside Hazara's Sakhi Shrine in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

In 2021, there were 691 foreign tourists. In 2022, that figure rose to 2,300. Last year, there were 7,000.

Mohammad Saeed, the head of the Tourism Directorate in Kabul, said the biggest foreign visitor market is China because of its proximity and large population. Afghanistan also has advantages over some of its neighbors.

“They’ve told me they don’t want to go to Pakistan because it’s dangerous and they get attacked . The Japanese have said this to me also,” Saeed said. “This is good for us.”

But there are disadvantages, too.

FILE - Afghan families onboard a truck head toward a border crossing point in Torkham, Pakistan, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They've retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It's harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis.(AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad, File)

Visas are difficult and expensive to access. Many countries severed ties with Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power , and no country recognizes them as the legitimate rulers of the country.

Afghan embassies either closed or suspended their operations. There’s an ongoing power struggle between Afghanistan’s embassies and consulates staffed by people from the former Western-backed administration, and those under the Taliban administration’s full control .

Saeed concedes there are obstacles for Afghan tourism to develop but said he was working with ministries to overcome them.

His ultimate aim is to have a visa on arrival for tourists, but that could be years away. There are problems with the road network, which is half-paved or non-existent in some parts of the country, and airlines largely avoid Afghan airspace .

Afghans take selfies at the renovated Darul Aman Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

The capital Kabul has the most international flights, but no Afghan airport has direct routes with major tourist markets like China, Europe, or India.

Despite the challenges, Saeed wants Afghanistan to become a tourism powerhouse, an ambition that appears to be backed by the Taliban’s top leaders.

“I have been sent to this department on the instructions of the elders (ministers). They must trust me because they’ve sent me to this important place.”

The students also have aspirations. The model, Ahmed Massoud Talash, wants to learn about Afghanistan’s picturesque spots for Instagram posts and its history for media appearances.

Business school graduate Samir Ahmadzai wants to open a hotel but thinks he should know more about tourism and hospitality first.

“They hear that Afghanistan is backwards, poverty and all about war,” said Ahmadzai. “We have 5,000 years of history. There should be a new page of Afghanistan.”

Taliban fighters take selfies by the tomb of Afghan Kind Nadir Shah in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

Classes include Afghan handicrafts and anthropology basics.

An unofficial subject is how to interact with foreign women and how their behavior or habits could clash with local customs and edicts. Examples might be women smoking or eating in public, to mixing freely with men who are not related to them by blood or marriage.

The Taliban have imposed a dress code for women and requirements for them to have a male guardian, or mahram, when they travel. Dining alone, traveling alone, and socializing with other women in public have become harder. With gyms closed to women and beauty salons banned , there are fewer places where they can meet outside the home.

In a sign that the country is preparing for more overseas visitors, the country’s only five-star hotel, the Serena, has reopened its women’s spa and salon for foreign females after a monthslong closure.

Foreigners must show their passport to access services. Women with “born in Afghanistan” on their ID are barred.

The restrictions on Afghan women and girls weigh on overseas travel companies, who say they try to focus on the positive aspect of cultural interactions by making donations, supporting local projects or only visiting family-run businesses.

Shane Horan, the founder of Rocky Road Travel, said visiting Afghanistan should not be seen as an endorsement of any particular government or political regime.

“Ultimately, the goal should be to support responsible tourism practices that contribute positively to the local economy and foster mutual respect and understanding, while also remaining cognizant of the broader political context in Afghanistan.”

A general view of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

He said there was no input from authorities about what tour groups saw or did, and that the company worked closely with a women’s rights organization in Afghanistan. A percentage of the tour cost went into supporting this organization’s programs, Horan added.

There are no women at the Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management. The students don’t mention it. But an official at the Tourism Directorate does.

“It’s a heartbreaking situation,” said the official, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. “Even female family members ask if they can study here. But there was a change in policy with the change in government. The women who were studying before (the takeover) never came back. They never graduated.”

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A river is lined with mangrove trees with their distinctive aboveground roots projecting into the water.

Watery, Peaceful, Wild: The Call of the Mangroves

On Curaçao, visitors can explore the trees’ habitat, where colorful birds roost on tangled branches and trunks, and small paths through the greenery beckon.

The Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park offers guided tours, elevated boardwalks, programs for local schoolchildren and a tiered entrance-fee system for residents and overseas visitors. Credit... Frank Meyer for The New York Times

Supported by

By Elisabeth Goodridge

Elisabeth Goodridge is the deputy editor for travel at The New York Times.

May 8, 2024

It was a sunny afternoon in February at the height of the high season on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, but my partner, Aaren, and I were far from lounging on a white-sand beach, snorkeling over a coral reef or strolling among the Easter-egg-colored buildings of Willemstad, Curaçao’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site — typical activities for travelers to this former Dutch colony.

Instead, on a kayak tour with Serlon St Jago, a guide from the Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park , we were learning about the country’s mangrove restoration, and the vital role mangrove habitats play in coastal resilience, protection for marine and bird species, and fighting the effects of climate change.

In a lush green mangrove forest, a bird roosts on a branch surrounded by aerial roots of mangrove trees.

No poisonous snakes, alligators or large predators live on Curaçao, Mr. St Jago said, reassuring information as we paddled toward a forbidding wall of mangroves lining Piscadera Bay. Up close, the trees were magnificent and cheerful. Colorful birds roosted on tangled branches and trunks, and small paths under the green and occasionally yellow leaves beckoned us to explore. With our kayaks beached, Mr. St Jago pointed out fiddler crabs and mussels, and described differences of the local mangrove species — the red, white and black — and how they adapted to live and propagate where water meets land.

“There’s so much life here,” he said with infectious enthusiasm.

We were the only tourists on the water, but getting more visitors like us interested in mangroves, perhaps even persuading them to replant some of the vital trees themselves, has been a priority of scientists, activists, park rangers and tourism operators on Curaçao in recent years.

The island isn’t alone in its efforts: Similar mangrove-focused work has started around the world, in places like Indonesia , Australia , Belize and Florida , as fragile destinations balance tourism’s growth with the conservation — and restoration — of the natural resources that captivate visitors.

“Coral reefs get all the attention. But mangroves are probably a lot more important,” said Gabby Ahmadia , a vice president with the oceans program at the World Wildlife Fund who oversees the organization’s mangrove science and restoration programs. “My favorite analogy about mangroves is that they are Swiss Army knives, because they do provide so many different benefits and they can do so many different things.”

Though these forests are one degree of separation from the sights and the activities that traditionally draw visitors to the ocean, changing perceptions might be hard. To protect the environment, mangrove kayak tours can be — as are most snorkel, fishing and bird-watching tours offered in other destinations — limited by number, and visitors must be interested in the first place. With their summer reads and beach toys, family traditions and limited vacation days, most tourists might simply agree with the old saying “Life is better at the beach.”

A foundation of life

The twisty branches, trunks and distinctive aboveground roots of mangroves are a stark, complex repudiation of how a child’s drawing portrays a common tree. The roots can arch up, pop up spikelike from the water or form stilts above and under the surface. Adapted to oxygen-poor soil, high salinity and the ebb and flow of an intertidal zone, coastal mangroves thrive where other trees and shrubs would perish. Unless they are yellow, the leaves are green, and some, if you lick them, taste salty.

Mangrove forests can appear impenetrable, muddy, smelly and swampy. For centuries, they have been cleared for firewood, farmland, urban development, aquaculture and, yes, tourism. On Curaçao, mangroves are now found on only 0.012 percent of the island. Globally, more than half of the mangrove forests have been cut down or otherwise destroyed in the past 50 years. Deforestation has slowed — but not stopped — in recent years, and rising sea levels and increased storm activity have done further damage.

But coastal mangroves — there are some 60 species worldwide — are the foundation of life above and below the water. With intricate root systems, they act as nurseries for juvenile fish and other marine life. Mangrove branches and trunks make safe feeding and nesting sites for yellow warblers , tricolored herons and other bird species, reptiles like iguanas, and insects aplenty.

Those strongly anchored roots also protect from flooding, erosion and tidal surges by slowing down seawater and trapping dirt and debris. More crucially, mangrove forests are extraordinary for decreasing the effects of global warming, by absorbing and storing carbon annually at a rate 10 times as great as tropical rainforests. Mangroves, along with other coastal wetlands, “sequester enough carbon each year to offset the burning of over one billion barrels of oil,” according to the Nature Conservancy .

Surreptitious beginnings

Ryan de Jongh, a 53-year-old Curaçao native, activist and tour guide, is the living embodiment of regenerative tourism. He’s an important reason we encountered a lush, thriving ecosystem in Piscadera Bay, and demonstrates how one person can make a difference.

Mr. de Jongh grew up swimming in the bay and watched the area’s mangroves being cleared for fuel and construction. In 2006, he surreptitiously planted the first mangrove tree — a single seedling can mature in around 15 years and lead to an entire thicket — and now, he said, more than 100,000 trees are growing. He made similarly stealthy plantings at other inlets and bays, making himself a local hero in the process.

Mr. de Jongh, who gives kayak tours himself , now works on widespread government-sanctioned restoration projects.

His aim is to eventually plant 1.3 million trees on the island. “I have to transform literally a desert back to green,” he said.

The interior of Curaçao certainly looks like a desert, with a dry, dusty landscape of cactus and other succulents. Along with its closest island neighbors, Aruba and Bonaire, Curaçao is outside the Caribbean’s hurricane belt and receives minimal rainfall. People on the island drink desalinated seawater.

The trade winds bring cooler temperatures. In the 16th century, they also brought Europeans who enslaved and deported the Indigenous population and turned Curaçao into a slaving port. The colonists also planted oranges, sugar cane and other nonnative species, with varying degrees of success, and developed giant salt pans for export, but it was the construction of an oil refinery in 1918 and growing tourism that finally brought widespread jobs. The refinery shut down in 2019 — nine years after Curaçao voted to become a semiautonomous nation from the Netherlands — an event that only emphasized tourism’s importance for Curaçao’s economy. Last year, the island, only 40 miles long, welcomed 1.3 million visitors .

Aaren and I gladly did our part to support the economy: In Willemstad, that meant eating at Plasa Bieu , the Old Market, where individual vendors cook and sell local cuisine. We fought with each other over the fried wahoo and an arepa di pampuna — pumpkin pancake — but we were warned off the cactus soup. “I live here,” said another diner, “and I don’t even eat that.” We also snapped photos, like so many other visitors, while crossing the floating Queen Emma Bridge , and watched it open and close for marine traffic.

We waited in an hourlong, locals-heavy line at De Visserij Piscadera Seafood restaurant (“slaying and filleting” since 2017), where diners choose and purchase their fish fillets before sitting down; we drank oregano punch for the first time (think mint ice tea, but oregano and oh so refreshingly delicious); and we inhaled grilled shrimp and raw fresh tuna.

Further north, we ate “williburgers” — goat burgers — at Marfa’s GoodHangout in Sint Willibrordus, which overlooks an old salt pan that, sadly, the resident flamingoes absented that day, and delighted upon coming across a coral nursery while scuba diving right off the jam-packed Kokomo Beach.

Coral reefs are crucial to Curaçao’s tourism and fishing industries and valued at more than $445 million annually, according to a 2016 economic assessment published by the nonprofit Waitt Institute. And coral reefs, which support roughly 25 percent of all marine life, are enduring cataclysmic bleaching and disease brought on or compounded by climate change.

In the last 10 years, scientists have better understood the symbiosis between coral reefs and mangroves: They don’t need each other to exist, but proximity brings benefits to both ecosystems.

“Working in this field of conservation, you might come in from one entry point and then you realize everything is connected,” said Dr. Ahmadia of the W.W.F. “We can work on coral reefs, but we should be thinking about sea grass beds and mangroves, because they are all really connected. And then of course, they are connected to the human environment.”

One morning, Aaren and I walked through the 30-acre Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park , a short stroll from the center of Willemstad and a shorter one from the island’s cruise ship terminal. Open since 2022, the park offers guided and audio tours, elevated boardwalks, programs for local schoolchildren and a tiered entrance-fee system (guilders and U.S. dollars accepted) for residents and overseas visitors. Some 17,766 people came in 2023, an increase of 14,687 from 2022.

Manfred van Veghel is the new director of the Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity Foundation, which oversees the mangrove park and five other national parks. Working with the government of Curaçao, local travel operators and activists like Mr. de Jongh, Dr. van Veghel aims to expand park access, construct an elevated bridge and add a visitor center, among other goals. The efforts are part of his desire to transform Curaçao into more of a nature-based tourist destination.

“We had a record last year and they are pushing to get more,” Dr. van Veghel said of Curaçao’s number of annual visitors. Yet, he said, the beaches are getting full. “So we need to get activities other than going to the beach — and the mangrove park is an excellent activity.”

Mark Spalding is a senior marine scientist with the Nature Conservancy and lead scientist of the Mapping Ocean Wealth initiative , an online tool that applies economic value to coastal ecosystems.

Dr. Spalding said a draw of mangrove activities, like boating and hiking, is that “without having to trek through the Amazon for hours and hours, you can get that sense of wilderness and experience, and also the peace and tranquillity very quickly and very easily.”

“It might only be two hours of your entire holiday,” he said, “but it’s the thing you take home with you — the story you tell.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this story misidentified an nongovernmental organization. It is the World Wildlife Fund, not World Wildlife Federation.

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Elisabeth is the deputy editor for the Travel Desk at The New York Times. More about Elisabeth Goodridge

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places: Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai: Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto: The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland: The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas: Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

New alcohol ban in Majorca and Ibiza marks fresh clampdown on 'excessive tourism'

Authorities have also banned party boats from sailing within one nautical mile of certain destinations and those vessels are banned from picking up and disembarking passengers in these areas, according to reports.

Friday 10 May 2024 19:08, UK

The sale of alcohol will be totally banned between 9.30pm and 8am in areas of "excessive tourism" in Majorca and Ibiza, under a new decree passed by the government of Spain's Balearic Islands.

In a bid to crack down on booze-fuelled holidays in tourist areas, the law completely prohibits late-night sales of alcohol in Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia (Magaluf) in Majorca , and San Antonio in Ibiza .

Authorities have also banned party boats from sailing within one nautical mile of any of these destinations and the vessels are banned from picking up and disembarking passengers in these areas, reported the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

But some businesses have criticised the legislation, saying tourists will just go to neighbouring resorts which are not part of the restrictions.

The bans follow the toughening up of a law passed by the Balearic government four years ago to tackle the over-consumption of alcohol.

That 2020 legislation banned happy hours, pub crawls and two-for-one drink offers, prohibited the sale of alcohol in shops between 9.30pm and 8am and stopped party boats from advertising in designated areas.

The new decree comes after the government warned rowdy tourists they could face big fines under tougher sanctions for bad behaviour.

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Foreigners Avoid China as Domestic Tourism Picks Up

Tourists visit the Mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen scenic spot in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Chin

The Chinese government celebrated heavy travel and tourism during China’s Labor Day holiday season, which ran from May 1 to May 5, as a sign the struggling economy is beginning to recover.

Foreign tourism lagged far behind domestic travel, suggesting China has a long way to go before it fully recovers from the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic and its lockdowns.

With the usual caveat that data from the authoritarian Chinese Communist regime cannot be implicitly trusted, the BBC found the Transport Ministry’s figures for Labor Day travel “staggering.” Domestic tourists made 295 million trips, an increase of 28 percent since 2019, the last year before the pandemic.

“We’ve seen very strong domestic travel demand with search volumes in hotels up 67% compared to last year, and flight volumes up 80 percent,” said Trip.com CEO Schubert Lou. Vendors at Chinese tourism hotspots anecdotally said business seemed to return to pre-pandemic levels during Labor Day 2024.

Foreign passengers wearing protective suits prepare for their flight to China at Manila’s International Airport, Philippines on Jan. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

And yet, foreign tourism remains extremely low. China only entertained 35 million foreign visitors last year, versus 98 million before the pandemic, and, of course, many of those visitors were business travelers and students rather than tourists.

Round-trip flights between America and China stand at less than a fifth of their volume in 2019, in part because U.S. airlines and their unions demand protection from “unfair competition” by China’s state-supported airlines.

Also, even with the surge of holiday travelers this year, domestic tourism spending remained very low on a per capita basis. Tourism consultant Peng Han conceded this was probably a sign of Chinese tourists spending “frugally” and looking for “good value options” because they remain nervous about the economy.

In addition to the pandemic hangover, the BBC noted that foreign travelers are much more nervous about visiting China today because they disapprove of its genocidal authoritarian government and fear being taken hostage by the state. Both the U.S. and Australia have issued travel advisories warning about “arbitrary detention” and the “harsh enforcement of local laws,” especially the draconian National Security Law imposed by China upon formerly free-wheeling Hong Kong in 2020.

Another problem is that China’s brand of high-tech totalitarianism is very unfriendly to foreign visitors. Chinese subjects are accustomed to using a plethora of smartphone apps to arrange travel and pay for their purchases, but many of those apps are only available in Chinese and many foreign visitors are understandably nervous about loading Chinese state spyware onto their phones even if they can read the language.

A growing number of Chinese vendors do not accept cash. In some cases, the only ways to pay for travel and accommodations are AliPay and WeChat, two platforms not every foreign visitor wants to get involved with.

Meanwhile, the authoritarian regime blocks access to apps that international travelers are accustomed to using — and even if those apps do work, Western banks and credit institutions sometimes regard transactions originating in China as potentially fraudulent.

People watch a video featuring Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Military Museum in Beijing on March 3, 2024. (GREG BAKER/AFP)

An online travel agency called China Highlights conducted a survey that found only 68 percent of foreign visitors could “successfully” use a Chinese mobile payment service, with about half of the rejections coming from their home credit card companies or banks. China Highlights offers extensive instructions for tourists to China, including a recommendation to use AliPay, which is relatively easy to work with and friendly to foreign banks.

Beijing has attempted to goose foreign tourism by expanding visa-free travel from a growing list of European countries. This seems to have helped a little, but not enough to outweigh the other factors depressing foreign travel.

“To attract more foreign visitors, Chinese businesses must meet the needs of both domestic and international tourists. While transitioning to a cashless society is desirable, it should not exacerbate the digital divide among Chinese citizens or alienate international visitors,” the East Asia Forum advised in April.

The South China Morning Post ( SCMP ) noted in March that visitors from the UK, U.S., Canada, and Japan must still go through a laborious and expensive process to secure visas, shelling out up to $185 in fees and paying multiple visits to consular offices.

“Payment problems, visa problems, those are long-standing issues. I don’t think the tourism thing will change until [those barriers] fully open,” University of Tasmania Asian studies professor James Chin told the SCMP.

Voice of America News (VOA) noted in January that for all of China’s talk about openness and welcoming foreign visitors, experiences with Chinese customs officers are increasingly tense.

“One difference is that China now [tacitly implies] that every foreigner, including every foreign Chinese, is a spy,” a Chinese-American living in Texas told VOA, referring to a heavy-handed “counter-espionage law” China imposed in July.

“The release of the counter-espionage law encourages Chinese citizens to report to the government the people who they consider are like the FBI,” cautioned Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) senior fellow Yanzhong Huang.

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Japan blocks overcrowded selfie spot, bans tourists from traditional areas to cope with explosion of travellers

People cross a busy intersection at night in Tokyo.

After fears that tourist numbers would never return to pre-pandemic levels, it may now be a case of too much of a good thing for Japan.

A combination of a weak yen, more affordable airfares, the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions and "revenge travel" has led to monthly visitors to Japan hitting a record high.

Over-tourism is now such a problem for one Japanese town it has erected a barrier to block snow-capped views of Mount Fuji, after locals complained about the bad behaviour of selfie-seeking visitors.

So, what measures have been implemented to curb over-tourism?

How is Japan handling over-tourism?

A woman takes a photograph of illuminated cherry blossoms in full bloom

Over-tourism happens when so many visitors are attracted to an area that life becomes unpleasant for the locals, despite any economic or other ostensible benefits.

One of Japan's busiest tourist periods of the year ended on Monday.

Golden Week — which ran from April 27 to May 5 — coincided with multiple public holidays and near-perfect spring weather.

To help deal with all the international tourists in the country during one of Japan's busiest periods, authorities have tried a range of measures.

Two women wearing kimonos and masks walk down steps.

In Kamakura, a popular temple city, English-speaking guides have been helping to direct tourists to stop them obstructing busy train stations, according to Nikkei.

Kyoto's traditional neighbourhood, Gion, recently banned visitors from its small private alleys.

Locals had complained of snap-happy tourists harassing the city's immaculately attired geisha, who had to remind them it was "not a theme park".

Authorities in Kyoto have also reportedly installed screens at the main train station showing live feeds of tourist areas so visitors can assess crowds and plan their trips better.

Many people visit the small, scenic Japanese town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, causing chaos on local streets while trying to photograph Mount Fuji.

Authorities said they had had enough of the excessive number of foreigners littering, ignoring traffic regulations and even climbing on roofs of office buildings in search of the perfect selfie spot.

Exasperated town officials eventually blocked the view of Mount Fuji with a 2.5-metre-high black barrier.

"It's regrettable we have to do this because of some tourists who can't respect rules," a town official said.

Hikers using the most popular route to climb Mount Fuji, where the climbing season begins in July, will be charged 2,000 yen ($19.50).

Numbers will be capped.

Where are Japan's visitors from?

The January earthquake in the western prefecture of Ishikawa had minimal impact on 2024 arrivals, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).

Tourist numbers have quickly rebounded, and apart from Australia, Japan has had a large influx of visitors from South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

An Asian man in a costume waves to camera at the head of a line of go karts on cherry blossom-lined street

Street Kart, which offers rides for tourists in Tokyo, Okinawa and Osaka, said most were from Australia, the US, Canada and the UK — with decent numbers from Europe and Asia.

"The demand for our activity has risen significantly [this year] in conjunction with the increase of visitors to Japan," Street Kart spokesperson Mai Ishido told the ABC.

Children smile as they walk through a colourfully painted tunnel in a tourist crowd

However, tourism from China has stayed well below pre-pandemic levels.

The JNTO said visitors from China, which had made up nearly a third of all visitors and 40 per cent of tourist spending, were slowly returning.

The April numbers aren't out yet, but in March, visitors to Japan hit a record high of 3.08 million visitors, according to the JNTO.

The previous record of 2.99 million was set in July 2019 during a year that Japan welcomed a record 31.9 million visitors.

It's a stark contrast from the early days of the pandemic, when Tokyo banned spectators from the postponed Olympics in 2021 .

Tourists have been making the most of Japan's weak yen, which fell to a three-decade low against the US dollar last month.

Even Australia's faltering currency still has buying power in Japan, with one dollar converting to almost 102 yen, up more than 10 per cent from a year ago.

A hearty dinner on Tokyo's famous Ramen Street will set you back around 1,080 yen ($10.55) while a bus ride in Kyoto costs 230 yen ($2.25) — both cheaper than Australia's capital cities.

A crowded restaurant in Tokyo with people outside in face masks

What have other countries done?

Over-tourism has also affected other popular Asian destinations, like Bali and Thailand, with international travel returning to normal after the pandemic.

A new $15 tourism tax was introduced to Bail in February, after a series of incidents involving visitors desecrating holy sites and behaving badly.

A woman wearing a blue long sleeve shirt surfs a wave on her surfboard.

In Thailand's Maya Bay, which was made famous by The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, a maximum of 375 visitors are allowed at one time.

Even though access had earlier been restricted and it was later closed for three years, an estimated 80 per cent of the coral reefs there died due to over-tourism.

While there are plenty of plans to restrict and control tourist numbers, not everyone in Japan is sick of all the foreign visitors.

Ms Ishido from Street Kart said there was no such thing as having too many tourists and that everyone was welcome.

"We hope to see many more happy smiling faces coming to and from our shops," spokeswoman Ms Ishido told the ABC.

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Qantas plane on the runway at Brisbane airport

Fed up with badly behaved tourists and obnoxious influencers, Bali has a new tax and a new list of rules

A close up of a woman holding a fringe bag wearing an orange shawl and pants.

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