The Architectural Heritage of Uttar Pradesh

Sunrise on the Ganges Ghat

Our Culture-Our Tradition……

            The State of Uttar Pradesh has seen the advent and fall of various empires in the course of its history. From the advent of Mugals till the departure of British, U.P. has seen it all. Nearly all the rulers who have ruled Uttar Pradesh in the course of history have left their marks in terms of architecture. Mugals, Nawabs of Oudh, Talukedars and British:- all of them have contributed to the architectural heritage of Uttar Pradesh. Due to their individual and collective contributions, Uttar Pradesh today boasts off some of the most marvelous monuments in entire world.

            Although, the architectural inheritance is visible in all the cities of the State and it is not possible to cover all of them in this blog, we present the pearls of architectural ornaments, mainly situated in 4 cities- Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi and Kushinagar. Every stone tells its story ………

            Talking of monuments we must start from the queen among all; The  Taj Mahal. U.P. has one of the 7 wonders of the world, in its lap.

Taj Mahal - "the epitome of love", "a monument of immeasurable beauty". The beauty of this magnificent monument is such that it is beyond the scope of words. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan got this monument constructed in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

The sublime aesthetics of buildings inside the Agra Fort that stands proudly even after 400 years from the date of its constructions.





The naqqashi works that has been done in the buildings like Dewan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas are marvelous.





Fatehpur Sikri, situated 50 kilometers off Agra, has another cluster of monuments. Buland Darwaza, the highest gateway in Asia. Salim Chisti mausoleum and Panch Mahal stand proudly in its premises.





The tomb of Akbar the Great at Sikandara is another major attraction around Agra.

For more Information click here Agra

Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh and erstwhile Oudh, has many monuments worth appreciating. The most famous among the lot is Bada Imambada. This shrine has a special relevance for the Shiite Muslims in India. The chandeliers and other glassware that decorates the inner sanctum of this place are magnificent.

Bara Imambara

Hussainabad Clock Tower

The  Hussainabad Clock Tower is truly the finest structure of British architecture in India.



Rumi Darwaza

 The Rumi Darwaza that guards the entrance of old Hussainabad in Lucknow is another monument of magnificence.

Equally good are Chhota Imambada and Shah Najaf Imambara. These buildings were constructed under food for work programs initiated by the then Nawab of Oudh who wanted to help his subjects who were suffering from famine.

Chhota Imambada





Residency

Among the buildings of British era the most notable one is the Church complex of Sardhana that was constructed by Begum Shamru who was married to a British colonel. Equally important is 'The Residency' in Lucknow that used to be the residence cum office of the Resident General of Oudh.

La Martiniere College

La Martiniere College, Baradari, Turkish Gate and Dilkusha Khoti are some of the most famous monuments in Lucknow.

Baradari

Turkish Gate

Dilkusha Khoti

For more Information click here Lucknow

Monuments at Kushinagar - Buddhist Pilgrimage in Eastern Uttar Pradesh:

Buddha Stupa

Thai Temple

Japan Buddhist Temple

Japanese Temple

For more Information click here Kushinagar

Varanasi The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These few lines by Mark Twain say it all :

Vishwanath temple

"Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". Ganges is said to have its origins in the tresses of Lord Shiva and in Varanasi. Some of the most important temples of Varanasi are Durga temple, Vishwanath temple, Sankat Mochan temple, Tulsi Manas temple and the Bharat Mata temple.

Monuments at Sarnath Varanasi

Dhamek Stupa

Chaukhandi Stupa

Mini stupas around Dhamekh Stu

Gautam Budh's Statue at Mulagandha Kuti

Sarnath Museum

For more Information click here Varanasi

These are some of the most famous monuments of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from these major historical monuments, UP also has a number of minor monuments that lay scattered in every nook and corner of the state.

Amazing Heritage - Grand Experiences ……

Sumita Kamthan

Udyog Bandhu