 Often
reffered to as the cow belt or Hindi belt, Uttar Pradesh has been the most
dominant state in Indian politics and culture since Independence, producing
nine of India's 13 prime ministers. This is partly because it's the nation's
most populous state - it has as many inhabitants as Brazil -and partly
because of the central role the region plays in the religious landscape of
Hindus.
The Ganges River, which forms the backbone of Uttar Pradesh, is the
sacred river of Hinduism, and four of the religion's seven holy towns are
in the state, including
Varanasi , the
holiest of them all. Uttar Pradesh is also a place of major importance to
Buddhists, for it was at Sarnath, just outside Varanasi, that the Buddha
first preached his message of the middle way. The general , what India is
probably known for with a lot of people, is located in
Agra . From Agra,
most people set off for a visit to the ghost town
Fatehpur Sikri
.
Most of Uttar Pradesh consists of the vast Ganges plain, an area of
awesome flatness which often floods dramatically during the monsoon. The
people of this area are predominantly poorly educated farmers, whose
unequal share in the wealth and resources enjoyed by the state's urbanites
is a matter of social concern. In stark contrast to the plains, the scenic
northwestern corner has hill stations sprinkled along the foothills of the
Himalaya, boasts excellent trekking and rises to form some of the highest
mountains in India.
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