Ancient Cities of Uttar Pradesh

Introduction

The Ganga plain has been the theater of Indian civilization and culture since ancient times. From prehistoric times to the present day, the rise and fall of many cities took place here. The second urban revolution (6th century BC) took place here. Of the six metropolitan cities mentioned in contemporary Buddhist texts, four were located in present-day Uttar Pradesh. These four are – Shravasti, Saket, Kaushambi, and Varanasi. Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

The list of ancient cities is very long, yet an attempt has been made to include some of them by dividing them from Part-I to Part-II, the details of which are given below:

Part – 1

Atranjikheda

Atranjikheda is situated on the banks of the Kali River, a tributary of the Ganga River, in the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. Hiuen Tsang calls it ‘pi-lo-sha-na’. According to legend, the foundation of this kingdom was laid by King Ben (बेण).

During the excavation of this archaeological site, 7 cultural sites have come to light, which can be divided into two categories:

One, cultural levels related to Patra tradition:

Garic pottery tradition
Kali Red Pottery Tradition
Painted Gray Ware Tradition
Northern black glazed ware tradition.

Second, cultures from 50 BC to the medieval period:

Pre-Gupta period or Kushan period (from 50 BC to 350 AD)
From the Gupta period to the Rajput period (from 350 AD to 1100 AD)
Sultanate-Mughal period (1100 AD to 1650 AD).

The remains recovered from here are mainly related to the Painted Gray Ware culture. The Painted Gray Ware tradition is linked to the Iron Age and the Later Vedic period.

Evidence of iron use, circular fire pits, and paddy cultivation has also been found here.

For details see — अतरंजीखेड़ा

Ayodhya

The ancient name of this city is Ayajsa, situated on the right bank of the Saryu River in the Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh.
It is one of the 7 Mokshadayini Saptapuris of India.
The reason for its fame is because it is the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram.
It is also the birthplace of the first, second, fourth, fifth, and fourteenth Tirthankaras of Jainism. Their names are Adinath or Rishabhdev, Ajitnath, Abhinandannath, Sumatinath, and Anantnath, respectively. The 15th Jain Tirthankara, Dharmanath, was born in Ratanpuri, located just 25 kilometers from Ayodhya.
During the Ramayana period, this city was twelve yojanas long and three yojanas wide. Evidence from the Northern Black Opdar (Polished) Ware culture until the Gupta period has been found here. During the Mahajanapada period, this (Saket) was the main city of the Kosal district and was the capital of the northern part.
Emperor Ashoka had built a stupa here. An article of Pushyamitra Shunga has also been found from here, according to which he had performed two Ashwamedha Yajnas. It was a major city even during the Gupta period. Hiuen Tsang has mentioned that there are many Buddhist temples here.
This city remained the capital of the famous Ikshvakuvanshi kings for a long time. There are many temples of Mata Sita, Lord Shri Ram, Ramdoot Hanumanji in this city. Some of the prominent ones are: Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhawan, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, Maniparvat, Sitakund, Ram ki Paidi on the banks of river Saryu, Ramkatha Museum, etc.
It is worth noting that on January 22, 2024, the child-like statue of Shri Ramchandraji was consecrated, which is the result of the continuous struggle of Indians for 5 centuries.
Bharatkund is about 10 kilometers south of Ayodhya city. During the exile of Shri Ramji, Bharatji ruled the kingdom while doing penance here.

For details see — अयोध्या

Ahichchhtra

Ahichchhtra has been identified from Ramnagar, located in Aonla tehsil of the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh. It was the capital of Northern Panchal in the later Vedic period and was a famous city during the Mahabharata and pre-Buddhist times.
This place is associated with Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religions, and it is believed that it was here that the 23rd Tirthankara, Lord Parshvanath, attained enlightenment.
Evidence from pottery culture to the post-Gupta era has been found here. Emperor Ashoka built a stupa here. Coins with the title ‘Mitra’, Kushan coins, and a statue of Yamuna from the Gupta period have been discovered here. According to archaeologists, this is an Iron Age site.

For details see — अहिच्छत्र

Alamgirpur

Alamgirpur is situated on the banks of the Hindon River near Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. The remains obtained from the excavation of Alamgirpur confirm the eastern expansion of the Indus Valley civilization. This site was also the center of the post-Harappan civilization, and evidence of cotton production has been found there.

Kapilvastu

Kapilvastu has been identified in Piprahwa, located in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
This place is situated near the Nepal border, approximately 20 kilometers from Siddharth Nagar city.
During the Buddhist period, Kapilvastu was the capital of the Shakya Republic, and Gautam Buddha’s father, Shuddhodhana, ruled here.
An ancient Buddhist stupa and a stone box containing the bones of Buddha have been discovered here. An inscription in the Brahmi script on Manjusha clearly indicates that it was built by the Shakyas. The Buddhist stupa here is one of the original eight stupas built immediately after the death of Buddha. Currently, the remains and casket of the stupa are preserved in the Lucknow Museum.
Remains from the Northern Black Opadar Pottery era have been unearthed here.
Maurya Emperor Ashoka visited this holy site, and Kushan coins have been found at the Salargarh archaeological site.
Ruins of the royal palace of King Shuddhodhan have been uncovered at the Gunwariya archaeological site.
Kapilvastu was an important center point on the Shravasti-Varanasi route and the Vaishali-Purushpur route, explaining the evidence of economic-trade activity found there. According to Mahavastu, various crafts were prevalent in Kapilvastu.

For details see — पिपरहवा अस्थि कलश अभिलेख

Lumbini (Rummindei)

Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, located in Nepal, approximately 15 kilometers from Nautanwa station in the Maharajganj district. Presently, it is called Rummindei.
Emperor Ashoka visited this place in the 20th year of his coronation and reduced taxes on the people here to 1/8th. He installed a stone pillar with inscriptions here, on top of which there was a statue of a horse, which is now destroyed.
The famous Chinese traveler Hensang also visited this site.
This place has also been mentioned in Ashvaghosha’s Buddhacharita as the birthplace of Buddha.

For details see — रुम्मिनदेई अभिलेख

Kaushambi

This ancient city was situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, approximately 60 kilometers southwest of the Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh. Ancient Kaushambi has been identified with the present Kosam village in the Kaushambi district.

According to the Puranas, King Nichakshu of Hastinapur established this city after Hastinapur was washed away in the flow of the river Ganga.

It can also be called a proto-urban site. In the Mahajanapada era, this Vatsa was the capital of the Mahajanapada district where the king was Udayan. From here, the Kushan rulers, for example, coins of Vima Kadphises and Kanishka, have also been found. It is noteworthy that this place was badly damaged during the attack of Hun ruler Toraman.

Ghoshitaram-Vihar was located here. The Prayag Pillar inscription of Ashoka and Samudra Gupta, which Akbar installed in the Prayagraj fort, were also here. It was the center of Buddhist Therapanth. The fort remains of King Udayan, the declared Ghoshitaram-Vihar remains, and the Digambar Jain temple are among the tourist attractions here. The sixth Jain Tirthankara, Padma Prabhu, was born here. The famous Jain pilgrimage Prabhasgiri (Prabhosa) is located at a distance of 10 kilometers from here. It was here that Mahavir Swami was initiated by Mata Shakti.

For details see — समुद्रगुप्त का प्रयाग प्रशस्ति
For details see — कौशाम्बी

Koil (Kol)

Koil or Kol is situated in Aligarh district. At the time of arrival of Turks in India, it was dominated by Rajputs. Qutubuddin Aibak had established control over Koil in 1192 AD. Ibn Battuta praises the splendor of the city of Koil. At the time of Sultan Bahlol Lodi, the local ruler of Koil was Isa Khan, who accepted Bahlol’s subordination.

Kada

This place is located in the Kaushambi district on the banks of the Ganga, 64 kilometers west of Prayagraj. It had economic importance due to its location on the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and the main trade route, making it an important Iqta (suba) during the Sultanate and Mughal periods.

During the time of Sultan Jalaluddin Khilji, the Subedar of Kara was Alauddin Khilji. It was from Kada that Alauddin Khilji completed his Devagiri campaign in 1296 AD. In 1296 AD, Sultan Jalaluddin Khilji was assassinated in Kara itself by Alauddin Khilji and declared himself the Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate.
Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq had established Swargadwari in the Kara area itself.
Prince Salim, son of Mughal Emperor Akbar, rebelled against Akbar in 1602 AD and took refuge in the Kara Fort.
According to the treaty in 1765 AD, Nawab of Awadh Shuja-ud-Daula had handed over the Kada area to the British Company.
The birthplace of devotee saint Malukdas is in Kada.

Kalinjar

Kalinjar, situated in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, is famous for its formidable fort. During the early medieval period, it was ruled by the Chandela dynasty Rajputs. The fort held significant strategic importance, leading various rulers to attempt its capture. Some notable incidents include:

In 1022 AD, Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked Kalinjar during the reign of Vidyadhar from the Chandela dynasty. The war ended inconclusively, resulting in a treaty between the two parties.
In 1202-03 AD, Qutubuddin Aibak defeated the Chandela ruler Paramardidev at Kalinjar.
Sher Shah Suri died in a gunpowder explosion during a military campaign at Kalinjar in 1545 AD.
Akbar established supremacy over Kalinjar by defeating its ruler, Ramchandra, in 1569 AD.

Thus, Kalinjar has always held strategic importance throughout history.

Part – 2

Kalpi

This site is situated on the banks of the river Yamuna in Jalaun district. The main facts related to Kalpi are as follows:

The rule of the Chandelas was established in Kalpi in the 10th century AD.
At the end of the twelfth century, Qutubuddin Aibak made Kalpi a part of the Delhi Sultanate.
After Firuz Shah Tughlaq, it became an independent Muslim state.
During Akbar’s time, it was a major city of the Mughal Empire.
Birbal was born here. Remains of Birbal’s theater and the Mughal mint are found here.
There are two mythological mounds here, Vyas Tila and Narasimha Tila.

Kashi (Varanasi)

It is not only in Uttar Pradesh or India but also one of the oldest cities in the world.
It is the “cultural capital” of India, also known as Varanasi because it is situated between two rivers named Varuna and Assi.
It is mentioned in Vedic texts, with its first mention found in the Arthavaveda. The Kashi state is also mentioned in the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Kashi was the main Mahajanapada among the sixteen Mahajanapadas of the sixth century BC.
There is a detailed discussion of Kashi in the texts of Buddha’s period.
According to the Mahabharata, Kashi was founded by a king named Divodas.
It has been famous since ancient times as a center of learning.
It has always been revered as a major center of Shaivism and an important religious city of the Hindu religion.
Hieun Tsang and Alberuni were fascinated by its cultural impact
Most of the portions of Hindi’s greatest epic Ramayana were composed here by Goswami Tulsidas.
The famous saint poet Kabirdas lived here.
Being a cultural center, this city was repeatedly attacked by foreign invaders. The people here were tortured, and the temples here were destroyed. Kabirdas himself was harassed by Sikandar Lodi. At present, the ‘Gyanvapi Masjid’ situated on the side of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple is shouting that it was built after demolishing the temple.
In ancient times, the craft here was in an advanced state, and the craft traders were very prosperous, who also minted their own coins. Patanjali has mentioned the silk trade here.
The main tourist places and temples here are – Vishwanath (built by Ahilyabai Holkar), Annapurna, Sankatmochan, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Vishwanath Temple of Kashi Hindu University, Adi Vishweshwar, Sakshi Vinayak, and Panchratna, among others. Among the ponds and vapis, Durga Kund, Pushkar Kund, Pishachmochan, Kapildhara, Lolark, Mansarovar, and Mandakini are notable.
There are a total of 84 ghats on the Ganga, out of which Assi, Tulsi, Harishchandra, Ahilyabai, Dashashwamedh, and Manikarnika, among others, are especially famous.
The 7th and 23rd Tirthankaras of Jainism (Suparshvanath and Parshvanath) were born here. Hence it is also a pilgrimage site for Jains. The 8th Jain Tirthankar Chandraprabhu was born at a place called Chandarpuri, located just 15 km east of Kashi, whereas the 11th Tirthankara Shreyansnath was born in Singhpur (present-day Sarnath).

For details see — काशी (वाराणसी)

Kuru

We find its discussion in Vedic literature, and its detailed description is found in the Mahabharata.
It was a famous state during the Mahabharata period, with its capital at Indraprastha.
Some areas of modern Delhi and Meerut were included in this. It was a major district even during the Mahajanapada period.

For details, see — महाजनपद काल

Khanjwa or Khajuha

Khanjwa or Khajuha is located near Prayagraj and is related to the Mughal succession war.
On January 5, 1659, Aurangzeb defeated Shah Shuja in the battle fought at this place, achieving decisive success in the succession.

Garhkundar

Garhkundar, located in the Jhansi district, was under the control of the Parmar Rajputs in the early medieval period, but later it was taken over by the Chandela Rajputs.
Prithviraj Chauhan had taken control of it after defeating the Chandelas.
Prithviraj Chauhan’s commander, Khet Singh, had established the Khangar state here.
During the time of Sultan Balban (1265-1287 AD), the Bundelas had captured Garhkundar, which remained their capital until 1531 AD.

Garhwa

Garhwa is situated in Prayagraj district.
Two inscriptions of Kumaragupta 1st and one inscription of Skandagupta have been found from here.
The date of Gupta era 98 is mentioned in the inscriptions of Kumargupta.
Information about donations to the almshouse is obtained from inscriptions.
The date of Gupta era 148 is mentioned in the inscriptions of Skandagupta.
This article gives information about donations being made for the installation and worship of the idol of Vishnu.

Kumar Gupta : गढ़वा अभिलेख

Skanda Gupta : गढ़वा अभिलेख

Chandawar

A place called Chandawar is situated in present-day Firozabad, also serving as the headquarters of Firozabad district.
In 1194 AD, Gahadwal King Jaichand of Kannauj was defeated by Muhammad Ghori in the battle fought here.

Chunar

Chunar is situated in Mirzapur district on the banks of the Ganga river in the Vindhya hill region.
This place remained famous due to its strategic importance during the medieval period, as it could control Eastern India.
It had been under the rule of Chandela rulers since the medieval period, with their rule established even in the fourteenth century.
Mughal emperor Babar captured Chunar.
In order to suppress Sher Shah Suri, Humayun laid siege to the fort of Chunar, but Sher Shah established his control over it.
There is a Bhatrihari temple built by Vikramaditya in the fort, and nearby, there is also a well temple of the Ballabh sect.

Jaunpur

Jaunpur was founded by Sultan Firozshah Tughlaq in 1358 AD in memory and honor of Muhammad Tughlaq alias Jauna Khan.
This city is situated on the banks of river Gomti.
During the decline of the Tughlaq dynasty, Jaunpur became independent under the leadership of Malik Hussain Sharqi and established the Sharqi Sultanate.
Jaunpur was renowned for its cultural activities and architecture.
The contribution of Sharqi Sultans of Jaunpur to literature, architecture (such as Atala Masjid, Lal Darwaza, and Jama Masjid), and musical art has been memorable.
Due to this specialty, Jaunpur was called ‘Shiraz-e-Hind’ or ‘Shiraz of the East’.

Jhansi

Jhansi is a medieval city.
It was established in 1631 AD by Orchha ruler Bir Singh Bundela.
After the Jaitpur battle in 1732 AD, Jhansi was handed over to Peshwa Bajirao I by the local Orchha ruler Chhatrasal, establishing Maratha dominance over Jhansi.
Rani Lakshmibai was the wife of Gangadhar Rao, the ruler of the independent state of Jhansi, who achieved heroic success in India’s freedom struggle by displaying her bravery and courage, acknowledged by the British during the great rebellion of 1857 AD.
Laxmibai’s palace, Mahadev temple, and Mehndi Bagh are famous historical monuments in Jhansi.

Devgarh

Devgarh (Fort of Gods), situated on the banks of the Betwa river in Lalitpur district, is an important place for both Hindus and Jains.
Evidence of Hindu temples and statues from the Gupta period has been found at this site. Among these, the Dashavatara temple of Vishnu is the most notable, representing a beautiful symbol of brick architecture.
There is a group of 31 Jain temples here, among which the 11th and 12th temples are especially noteworthy. Evidence of scripts engraved by Brahmi, the daughter of Jain Tirthankar Rishabhdev, and records of the Chandelas have also been found here.
Gajendra Moksha, Varaha Temple, Siddha’s Cave, Rajghati, and Naharghati are also worth seeing at this site.

Panchal

This state was situated in the land of present-day Bareilly, Badaun, and Farrukhabad districts.
During the Mahabharata period, the king here was Drupada, whose daughter was Draupadi.
During the Mahajanapada period, it was a major republic that was divided into two parts.
The capital of Northern Panchal was Ahichchhatra, and the capital of Southern Panchal was Kampilya.
It is noteworthy that the city of Kanyakubj was also within the territory of this republic.

Prayagraj

Prayagraj is situated at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and invisible Saraswati rivers.
Akbar had installed Emperor Ashoka’s pillar, located at Kaushambi, in his fort at Prayag.
The inscription of the Gupta dynasty, written by Harishena, is also engraved on the Ashoka Pillar, providing information about the military and artistic activities of Samudragupta.
It was the religious and cultural capital during the Gupta period.
After the Guptas, Prayag was under the rule of Harshvardhan, Gurjar-Pratiharas, Chandelas, and Gahadwals.
Akbar re-established Prayag and named it ‘Allahabad’ in 1574, which was changed back to Prayagraj in October 2018 after 444 years.
Harshvardhan used to organize the Mahamoksha Parishad in Prayag every fifth year, as described by Hiuen Tsang.
Presently, it is the judicial capital of Uttar Pradesh.
Prayag has the honor of being the king of all Hindu pilgrimages, hence it is called “Tirthraj Prayag”, mentioned in almost all religious texts.
The Maha Kumbh is held here every 12th year, the Ardh Kumbh every 6th year, and the Magh Mela every year.
Major religious places include Bhardwaj Muni’s Ashram, the ancient Akshayavat, Lalita-Alopshankari-Kalyani Devi Temple, Venimadhav Temple, Nag Basuki Temple, and the Ganga-Yamuna-Saraswati Sangam (Triveni).
There is a fort at the Sangam, built by Akbar, with a mythological Akshayavat inside.

Part – 3

Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is located about 40 km from Agra.
This place was given great importance by Akbar due to the birth of Jahangir and the residence of Sheikh Salim Chishti.
Emperor Akbar made Fatehpur Sikri his new capital in 1571 AD and stayed here for about 15 years, during which he constructed many buildings.
Among the magnificent architectural symbols of Fatehpur Sikri, Sheikh Salim Chishti’s Tomb, Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Jodhabai’s Palace, Diwane Khas, Birbal’s Palace, Maryam’s Palace, and Panch Mahal are famous.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Baran

Baran is situated in the Bulandshahr district.
The Rajput rulers here fought bravely against the Muslim invaders.
In 1018 AD, Mahmud Ghazni attacked Baran.
In 1193 AD, Qutubuddin Aibak defeated the ruler here and took control of it.
The famous historian Ziauddin Barani was a resident of this place.

Bhitari

It is situated in Ghazipur district.
Many remains of the Gupta period have been found here, among which the pillar inscription of Skandagupta is most prominent. This article mentions important events of Skandagupta’s reign. The pillar is made of sandstone, on top of which there was a statue of Vishnu, which is no longer there.

Bhitargaon

Bhitargaon, located in Kanpur Dehat district, is famous for the ruins of a temple built in the Gupta period style.
This temple was built during the period of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya.
The notable feature of the temple of Bhitargaon is that it has a spire and is built on a high platform.
The roof of the temple is pyramidal, its outer walls are decorated with statues of gods and goddesses.

Banskheda

It is situated on the banks of the River Ganga in Shahjahanpur district.
A copper plate from 628 AD has been found in Banskheda, providing information about Harshvardhan’s genealogy, administrative structure, etc.
This inscription describes not only the Pushyabhuti lineage but also all of Harshavardhana’s ancestors, Rajyavardhana’s military campaigns, taxes imposed on administrative units, officials, charitable villages, etc.
Additionally, a duplicate of Harsha’s signature is engraved in this inscription.

Badaun

Badaun was an important Iqta during the Sultanate period.
Before becoming Sultan, Iltutmish was the ruler of Badaun.
Sufi saint Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya was from Badaun.
Abdul Qadir Badayuni, the prominent historian of Akbar’s time, was also from Badayun.
This was the main center point of Delhi Lakhnauti route. Hence it had commercial economic importance.
Being a major area of Doab, it was also important in agricultural production.

Meerut

Rajput chieftain Hardatt built a fort in Meerut.
The ruins of a city called Hastinapur from the Mahabharata period have been found in this district.
At the end of the twelfth century, Qutubuddin Aibak made Meerut a part of the Delhi Sultanate.
Firozshah Tughlaq had the Ashoka Pillar inscription removed from Meerut and installed in Delhi.
On May 10, 1857, the great rebellion of India broke out from Meerut itself.

Mahoba

Chandela Rajputs made Mahoba their capital in 831 AD.
There is a very famous folk tale about two brothers named Alha and Udal who were from here.
The kingdom of Chandelas was famous by the name of Jejakabhukti (Jujhauti).
The architectural remains built by Chandelas reveal its historicity.
In the beginning of the thirteenth century, the dominance of the Turks was established over Mahoba. Kirat Sagar, a Chandela period monument, and the statues of 24 Jain Tirthankaras on Gokhar Hill are the main tourist places here.

Rajghat

Rajghat is a subdivision of Varanasi city from where remains of the Northern Black Ware culture have been found.

Sarnath

This ancient place associated with the Buddhist sect and Maurya art is situated 12 km north of Varanasi.
It was earlier also known as Rishipatan or Mrigadav.
After attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, the first sermon of Lord Buddha, i.e., Dharmachakra Pravartan, took place in Sarnath.
The Maurya emperor Ashoka built a lion-topped stone pillar at Sarnath. This lion head has been adopted as the coat of arms of independent India, making it an excellent example of Maurya stone art.
Fa-hien had traveled to Sarnath, and at the time of Hiuen Tsang, Sarnath was the main center of Theravada.
In the Middle Ages, Queen Kumardevi of the Gahadwal ruler had built Vihar and Sandharam here.
Shreyasnath, the 11th Jain Tirthankara, was born in Singhpuri (present-day Sarnath).
Dhamek Stupa (Gupta period), Chaukhandi Stupa (probably built by Ashoka), Moolgandh Kuti Vihar, Dharmarajika Stupa, Sadudharma Chakra Vihar (remains), Mrigadav Bird Sanctuary, Japanese-Korean-Thai-Chinese Buddhist temple, Jain temple, and Sarangnath temple are among the tourist places.

Sankisa

Sankisa (Sankashaya), located at modern Vasantpur in the present-day Etah district near Farrukhabad, finds mention in the Mahabharata, Buddhist literature, and the writings of Chinese travelers.
Hiuen Tsang has called it by the name Kapittha.
In the Mahajanapada era, it was the main city of the Panchala Mahajanapada.
According to Buddhist tradition, Lord Buddha came to earth along with Indra and Brahma in Sankisa after giving a sermon to his mother in heaven.
Sankisa is considered a great city among Buddhists, and the ashrams of this city are still safe.
The Chinese traveler Fa-hien also visited Sankisa.
Here there is a laat (yard pillar) built by Ashoka, on which the top of an elephant is carved.
Tirthankar Vimalnath attained enlightenment from here.

Part – 4

Sarai Nahar Rai

Saraya Nahar Rai is situated in Pratapgarh district.
Evidence of Mesolithic civilization has been found in the excavation here.
Near this, there are Mesolithic sites named Mahdaha and Damdama.
For a detailed description, see – मध्यपाषाण काल

Shravasti

The present place named Sahet-Mahet, situated in the Shravasti district, is identified as ancient Shravasti.
It is said that it was settled by Suryavanshi king Shravasta.
Remains from the Mahajanapada period to the post-Gupta era have been found here.
In the Mahajanapada era, it was the second capital of Kosala Mahajanapada.
Shravasti held economic, social, and political importance due to its location in the center of three major trade routes (Uttarapath, Dakshinapath, and Madhyapath).
This was the favorite city of Lord Buddha. Here he spent 21 rainy seasons.
The moneylender Anathpindak built Jetavana Vihar here and donated it to Lord Buddha.
The third Jain Tirthankar, Sambhavanath, was born here, making it a Jain pilgrimage site.
The birthplace of Makkhali Gosal, the great originator of the Ajivaka sect, was also here.
Two inscriptions of Kanishka have been found here.
Fa Hien and Hansang have mentioned Shravasti in detail in their travelogues.
Mahet consists of remains of an ancient city spread over an area of 400 acres, on which pucca and kutcha huts are situated.
Sahet is spread over an area of 32 acres, with Jetavan Vihar and many other temples and stupas located in this area.
Apart from Mahet-Sahet, Swarnagandha Kuti, Anandbodhi Tree, Angulimal Cave, Thai-Lankan-Burmese-Chinese-Korean Temple, Vishwa-Shanti-Ghanta, and Shobnach Temple, among others, are the tourist places here.
For a detailed description, see – श्रावस्ती

Sohgaura

Sohgaura is situated in Gorakhpur district.
Remains related to the Northern Black Polished Pottery culture and the post-Maurya era have been found here.
The Sohagaura inscription of the Maurya period has been found here.
Coins from the post-Maurya period have also been found here.
Kushan coins and iron objects have also been discovered.
Remains of grain storage have also been found here.

Sambhal

Sambhal is an important historical site of medieval India.
It was considered an important Iqta during the Sultanate period.
After the death of Babar, Humayun gave this Iqta to his brother Askari.
Babar built a Jama Masjid here.

Samugarh

This place is situated 16 km east of Agra.
In the battle fought here on May 29, 1658, the combined army of Aurangzeb and Murad defeated the royal army under the leadership of Dara.
After victory in the war, Aurangzeb placed Shahjahan under house arrest for life and declared himself the emperor.

Sikandara

Sikandara, located near Agra, is famous for the tomb of Mughal emperor Akbar.
Akbar had started its construction during his lifetime but it could be completed during the reign of Jahangir in 1613 AD. The influence of Buddhist architectural style is visible in this tomb.

Hulas

Hulas is situated in Saharanpur district.
Remains related to the later Harappan era have been found here.
Evidence of the Northern Black Opadar clay culture has also been discovered.
The Sungas and Kushans also had residential settlements in Hulas.

Hulaskheda

Hulaskheda is situated in Lucknow district.
Material remains from the Kushan period to the Gupta era have been found here.
The most notable among the remains of the Kushan period are a 200-meter-long road, a well-planned drainage system, the golden statue of Kartikeya, struck silver coins, and copper coins of three Kushan rulers.
Among the Gupta period remains recovered from Hulaskheda, the important ones are the ruins of the fort, copper-silver coins, some seals written in Gupta script, ivory comb (shoulder), seal impressions, and elliptical iron objects containing 17 pitchers.

Part – 5

Mathura

Mathura is counted among the seven great cities.
Madhuvan, near present-day Mathura, was earlier ruled by Madhu and his son Lavan.
Madhupuri city was established in the name of Madhu.
Shatrughan, brother of Lord Shri Ram, gave this new name to the city after killing Lavan.
Shri Krishna was born here in the Chandravansh Kshatriya clan.
In the Mahajanapada era, it was the capital of Shurasena Mahajanapada, and during the Kushan period, it was the capital of their eastern empire.
Coins of Bactrian-Greek Menander have also been found here.
In ancient times, this was the manufacturing center of a cloth called Shatak.
The craftsmanship developed here is known as Mathura art. Mathura remained the main center of the ‘Mathura Art Style’ for about 300 years.
This center has the credit of making the first statue of Lord Buddha.
In 1670 AD, Aurangzeb demolished the famous Krishna temple here (built by Veer Singh Bundela).
After rebelling against Aurangzeb, Jat leader Surajmal established the Bharatpur state and made its capital in Mathura.
Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, Dwarkadhish Temple, and Vishram Ghat are the main tourist places here.
Apart from being the place of birth and development of the Sarvastivadi ideology of Buddhism, Mathura was also an important center for Shwetambar Jains.

Vrindavan

Vrindavan is located at a distance of about 9.6 km from Mathura.
Here, Lord Krishna performed his childhood pastimes.
There are many temples here, the most famous of which are the temples of Govind Dev and Ranganath ji (Dravidian style, white stone).
Govind Dev Temple was built by Maharaj Mansingh in 1590.
Other important temples here include the temple of Bihariji, Radha Ballabh ji, Radharaman ji, Shri Gopinath ji, Shahji, and Ashtasakhi ji.
‘Nidhivan’ and ‘Girikunj’ are sacred groves of religious importance.
Vansighat, Kalidah, and Kesighat, among others, are the major ghats of Yamuna.
In 2012, a grand temple (Prem Mandir) was constructed here by Kripaluji from Italian marble.

Gokul

It is on the other side of Yamuna at a distance of 10 km from Mathura.
Vasudev ji had taken Krishna ji from Kansa’s prison to Nand ji’s place here.
Gokul Nath Temple, Nand Fort, Dauji Temple, and Thakurani Ghat are worth seeing here.
Rawal is situated a short distance from Gokul, which is considered to be the birthplace of Shri Radha ji.
At a distance of 4 km from Gokul is Mahavan, which is considered to be the cradle of Shri Krishna. Chaurasi Khambha Temple, Yogamaya Temple, Brahmanda Ghat, etc., are worth seeing here.

Nandgaon

Nandgaon is situated at the foothills of a hill, 48 km northeast of Mathura.
Nand Baba’s house was here. There is a huge temple on the upper part of the hill here.

Govardhan

It is about 100 feet high from ground level and situated at a distance of 23 km from Mathura.
The circumambulation route of Govardhan is approximately 21-22 km.
Some parts of this path fall in Rajasthan. There are many holy lakes and temples such as Mansi Ganga, Radha Kund, Shyam Kund, etc., along this route.

Dauji

This place is about 21 km from Mathura.
There is a famous temple of Lord Krishna’s elder brother Baldau (Dauji) in the center of the city.
Two fairs are held here each year. One falls on the Shashthi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada, which is called Devchhath, and the other falls on the full moon day of Agrahayana.

Barsana

Barsana village is situated 24 km north of Govardhan and 16 km south of Kosi (on the Agra-Delhi road).
The original name of Barsana was Brahmasarini. This place is adorned with temples built in honor of Ladli Ji (the local name of Radhaji).
It is situated on the slope of a hill.
The temple named Rangili Mahal, built by Kripaluji, is also famous here.
A fair is organized here every year on the occasion of Radhashtami.
Lathmar Holi is organized here every year during Holikotsav.

Bithur

Bithoor is situated on the banks of the Ganga, 24 km from Kanpur.
It was called Brahmavarta Tirtha in ancient times.
The ashram of Maharishi Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana, was situated here.
It was here that Lord Rama’s sons Luv and Kush were born.
A fair is held here on Kartik Purnima.
This place is also related to the great revolutionaries Peshwa Nana Saheb, Tantya Tope, and Rani Laxmibai.
Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi lived here in her childhood.

Vindhyachal

Located in Mirzapur district, there is a mythological temple of Maa Vindhyavasini Devi at this place.
According to a mythological story, when Mother Sati burnt her body in the Yajna being conducted by her father and Lord Shankar was carrying Sati’s body, some of her body parts fell at this place.
A fair is held here every year during both Navratri.

Sardhana

This is an ancient city located 30 km northwest of Meerut.
Here is the amazing church of South Asia. This church was built by Begum Samru.
A huge fair is held here on the second Sunday of November.

Shringirampur

There is a temple of Shringi Rishi in Shrungirampur situated on the southern bank of Ganga in Farrukhabad district.
It is said that the sage performed penance here to remove the horns on his head. The horns fell off after penance.
Every year two fairs are held at this place – one on Kartik Purnima and the other on Dussehra.

Part – 6

Shringverpur

This place is situated on the left bank of the Ganga, about 45 km from Prayagraj city.
During his exile journey, Lord Shri Ram rested here for one night at the behest of the king and friend Nishad Raj Guh. On the second day, at the request of Nishad, the boatman of Ganga Ghat, Lord Ram had his feet washed by Ganga water instead of landing and left for Prayag.
Ramchauraghat, Hanuman Temple, Shringi Temple, etc., are the tourist places here.

Naimisharanya

Naimisharanya is situated on the banks of the river Gomti, about 21 km away from the Sitapur city.
There is a popular story about this place that the Chakra given by Lord Brahma to Rishi Shaunak, while whirling, fell on the ground at this place and got absorbed into the earth.
This place is said to be the abode of 88 thousand sages and the place of 30 thousand pilgrimages.
In the month of Phalgun, people circumambulate 84 Kos here.
The main tourist places here are Chakratirtha, Bhuteshwarnath Temple, Sutgaddi, Vyas Gaddi, Chakranarayan Temple, Lalitadevi Temple, Panch Prayag, Badrinarayan Temple, Hanumangarhi, Panch Pandav Temple, Pandav Fort, Purana Temple, Misrikh-Dadhichi Kund-Hatyaharan Tirtha, and Rudravart, and Dev-Deveshwar, etc.
The Chakratirtha (circular water pond) situated here is said to be the supreme pilgrimage place on earth.
It is believed that at a place called Vyas Gaddi, Vyasji divided the Vedas into four parts and composed the Puranas.
There was a dialogue between sages like Sut Rishi and Shaunak at a place called Sut Gaddi.
It is said in a place called Hanumangarhi that Hanuman ji appeared here after freeing Ram-Lakshman from Ahiravan and breaking the underworld (Patal Loka).
Lalitadevi is the presiding deity of Naimisharanya.
There are many temples and monasteries around them. Misrikh is situated at a distance of 10 kilometers from Naimisharanya. There is a story that before donating his bones, Maharishi Dadhichi had bathed in the waters of all the pilgrimage places, due to which it got the name Mishradh or Mishrikh.
Dadhichi Kund, Maharishi Dadhichi Ashram, and Sitakund are worth seeing here.
Hatyaharan Tirtha is situated at a distance of 12 km from Naimisharanya. It is believed that here one gets freedom from the sin of murder.

Dadari

This place, situated in Ballia district, has been the penance site of Dardar Muni, the disciple of Bhriguji, the son of Brahma ji.
Every year, a fair is held at this location on Kartik Purnima, during which animals are bought and sold in large quantities.
There is also a temple of Bhrigu Rishi here.

Gola-Gokarnnath

Gola-Gokarnath, located about 35 km away from Lakhimpur Kheri in the state, boasts a vast lake and an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Gokarnath Mahadev nearby.
The temple, established by Mahayogi Gorakshanath ji at the site where Khijri Prasad (Khichadi Prasad) is distributed and serving as the Siddhapeeth of the Nath sect, is situated here.

Shakambhari Devi

The temple of Shakambhari Devi is a sacred place surrounded by hills, located at a distance of 41 km from Saharanpur.
Every year, during Navratri, a large fair is organized at this location.

Hastinapur

This city is situated 35 km away from Meerut.
Evidence from pottery cultures to the post-Mauryan era has been found in its archaeological sites.
It was founded by a king named Hastin.
It was the capital of Kauravas in the Mahabharata era.
In the post-Maurya era (Shunga period), remains, stone statues, coins of Dattavanshi rulers of Mathura, Kushans and Yaudheyas have been found here.
A big fair is held here on Kartik Purnima.
It is also a famous Jain pilgrimage.
This is Kashi for the followers of Jain religion.
The 16th, 17th and 18th Tirthankaras (Shantinath, Kunthunath and Arhanath respectively) were born and initiated here.
King Shreyansa had donated Ikshuras here to Adi Tirthankar Rishabhdev ji. That’s why it is also called ‘Danatirtha’.
There are many ancient Jain statues in Bhasuma village, located at a short distance from here.
According to Vishnu Purana, due to Hastinapur being washed away in the flow of river Ganga, Kuruvanshi king Nichakshu came from there and settled Kaushambi.

For a detailed description, see — हस्तिनापुर

Deoband

There is a famous artistic and religious Durga temple in Deoband, situated in Saharanpur. Near the temple, there is a Devi Kund which attracts a lot of devotees.
Adjacent to it is an institute related to the Arabic language called Darul Uloom.

Part – 7

Soron or Shukar Area

The Soron area, situated in Kasganj district, is one of the major pilgrimage sites in the country.
According to the Puranas, the process of world creation began with its creation.
An ancient temple in this area houses a huge statue of Lord Varaha.
Nearby, Varaha Ghat, also known as Harivadi, surrounds a large lake, bordered by temples and ghats.
Prominent among these temples and tourist attractions are the shrines of Shri Yogeshwar, Shri Sitaram, Shri Batukeshwarnath, and Akshayavat, resembling those in Prayagraj.
King Bhagiratha performed penance here to bring Ganga to earth, and there is a temple dedicated to him in this area.

Garhmukteshwar

Garhmukteshwar, situated on the right bank of the Ganga in Hapur district, 42 km from Meerut, was a locality of Hastinapur city in ancient times. There is a temple dedicated to Garhmukteshwar Shiva here.
Near the temple, there is an ancient Shivling named Jharkhandeshwar.
A fair is held here on Kartik Purnima.

Maghar

Maghar, situated in Sant Kabirnagar district, is the place where Sant Kabir breathed his last, serving as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity.
This pilgrimage site holds significance for Kabir followers.
Notably, near the tomb of Kabir Das, there is also the tomb of his son, Kamal.

Shukratal

Sitting under a banyan tree at this location in Muzaffarnagar district, Maharishi Shukdev ji narrated the Bhagwat Katha to King Parikshit.
Thousands of devotees come here for darshan on the full moon day and Ekadashi of Kartik.
Bhagwat Sapta is organized here almost every month.
There are many temples in this area.

Gorakhpur

This city in Eastern Uttar Pradesh is situated on the left bank of the Rapti river.
The main tourist attraction here is the Baba Gorakhnath Temple. This is also the place of penance of Mahayogi Gorakhnath and serves as the Siddhapeeth of the Nath sect.
India’s leading religious monthly newspaper, ‘Kalyan’, is published from here by the famous publisher of religious books, ‘Geeta Press Gorakhpur’.

Kakandi

This place is located in the southeast direction from Deoria city.
The 9th Jain Tirthankara, Pushpadanta, was born here.

Pavapuri

This place is located in the Kushinagar district.
Jain Tirthankara Mahavir Swami sacrificed his body at this location in 468 BC.
Nirvana Mahotsav is celebrated here every Kartik Purnima.

Bahraich

Here lies the Dargah of the Muslim invader Syed Salar Masood, who arrived in India with Mahmud Ghaznavi.
Maharaj Suheldev, the glorious king of Bahraich, defeated him decisively in battle.
In his injured and helpless state, he passed away, and his followers buried him at what is now known as his Dargah.
The conflict between Maharaj Suheldev and this invader is famously referred to as the ‘Bahraich War’, which occurred around 1034 AD.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq was the first Sultan to visit the shrine.
Gradually, he began to be renowned as both a Ghazi and a saint.
Currently, thousands of Muslims and Hindus visit the fair here annually to fulfill their wishes.

Chitrakoot Dham

Chitrakoot, located in the southern part of the state, is currently a district and a division.
During the period of exile, Lord Shri Ram, along with his wife Sita ji and younger brother Lakshman ji, resided here for more than 12 years.
According to folklore, Maharishi Valmiki also stayed here.
On the left bank of the Mandakini river flowing here, which is also called Payaswini, there are 24 ghats like Raghavprayag, Kailash Ghat, Ramghat, and Ghritkalp Ghat, along with many ancient temples.
Kamadgiri mountain and Kamtanath temple are about 3 km from Ramghat.
The circumambulation path of Kamadgiri mountain, spread across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, is 5.2 km long, and there are approximately 300 small and big temples on it.
Sitapur is about 3 km away from Ramghat, where the Ramayana fair is organized.
Hanuman Dhara temple is situated on the hill about 4 km east of Ramghat.
Bharatkup is about 8 km away from Ramghat.
Janaki Kund in Madhya Pradesh is approximately 2.0 km from Ramghat, Phatik Shila in Madhya Pradesh is 4 km away, Sati Anusuiya and Maharishi Atri’s Ashram, and Mandarachal Mountain in Madhya Pradesh are 6 km away.
Additionally, there is a place called Gupt Godavari in the state itself, situated 10 km away from Ramghat.
A huge fair is held here on Kartik Amavasya (Diwali).

Part – 8

Rajapur

Rajapur, the birthplace of Goswami Tulsidas, is located at a distance of 38.4 km from Chitrakoot.
A beautiful memorial has been constructed here by the Tulsi Memorial Committee.
About a dozen works of Goswami ji are known, out of which ‘Shri Ramcharitmanas’ holds its place among the epics written not only in the Hindi language but also in all the languages of the world.

Kannauj

In ancient times, it was famous by the name of Kanyakubj, and its other name is also known as Mahodaya Nagar.
Kannauj is mentioned in Patanjali’s Mahabhasya, several Puranas, Mahabharata, as well as Ptolemy’s ‘The Geography’ and travelogues of Chinese travelers (Fahien, Hansang).
Evidence of the oldest settlement in Kannauj has been found from the Black Ware era.
The prosperity and importance of Kannauj were at its peak during the time of Harshvardhan.
Hiuen Tsang greatly praised the splendor of Kannauj. At that time, Kannauj was called ‘Nagarmahodaya Shri’.
During the Harsh period, there were many Sanghalayas in Kannauj, in which about ten thousand monks lived. Apart from this, there were also temples of about two hundred gods and goddesses.
The reason for the tripartite conflict that took place in the post-Harsha era was the splendor and economic-political importance of this city. Gurjara-Pratiharas, Palas, and Rashtrakutas took part in this triangular conflict. Ultimately, Gurjara-Pratihar succeeded in this.
At the time of the invasion of Muhammad Ghori, the ruler of Kannauj was Jaichand Gahadwal.
Both Hindu and Buddhist methods of education were prevalent here.
The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang had studied and taught in the Buddhist college here. Scholars like Rajashekhar, Bhavabhuti, Vaan, etc., were associated with Kannauj.
This city was the center of power and authority in India from the sixth century to the twelfth century and was the stage of festivals.
Kannauj, the center of archaeology, art, and culture, is also famous for the fragrant smell of its perfume.
Here, thousands of years old ruins, temples, and mosques are the centers of tourist attraction. Some of these are – Kshemkali Devi Temple, Padmavati Sati Temple, Jayachandra Fort, etc.

Agra

Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna, this city was founded by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in 1504 AD. He declared it a place of strategic importance and made it a military-political center.
Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, made it his capital, which remained so until the time of Aurangzeb.
Akbar built a fort here and constructed many grand buildings.
Noor Jahan built the magnificent mausoleum of her father, Itmad-ud-Daula, in Agra.
Shahjahan built Jahangiri and Akbari palaces, the Moti Masjid, and the iconic Taj Mahal, a symbol of architectural excellence.
Agra was the main center of Muslim education during the Mughal period.
Here lies the tomb of the Shia saint Qazi Noorullah, who came from Iran during the reign of Jahangir. Therefore, Agra has become a pilgrimage place for Muslims from India, Iran, and Iraq.
The ‘Agra Master Plan 2021’ has been prepared by the Uttar Pradesh Government for the development of Agra city and has been approved under the City Planning and Development Act. Considering the archaeological and historical importance of Agra, 20,016.97 hectares of land are being used for various urban activities.
The 22nd Jain Tirthankar, Shri Neminath, was born in Shauripur, located 80 km from Agra city.

Barabanki

There are famous pilgrimage places in Barabanki like Lodheshwar Mahadev, Kunteshwar Mahadev, Kotwadham etc.
It is said that Mahadev here was established by Maharaj Yudhishthir himself.
There is Kunteshwar temple established by Queen Kunti in Kintoor village.
In village Badosarai of this district, there is the tomb of Salamat Shah, a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity.
Dewa Sharif (Barabanki) Located about 12 km away from Barabanki, there is the tomb of the famous Sufi saint Haji Waris Ali Shah in Dewa. A big fair is held in Kartik on the occasion of their annual Urs.

Bansa

It is 16 km from Barabanki city.
This place is famous for the Dargah of Sufi saint Syed Shah Abdul Razzaq.

Devipatan

Devipatan is situated in Balrampur district.
There is a famous temple of Pateshwari Devi near Tulsipur railway station.
It is said that the goddess was established here by Maharaja Vikramaditya.
A fair is held here every year.

Kampilya

It is situated in Farrukhabad district.
This city has been mentioned in various forms, contexts, and environments in the Vishnu Purana, Jataka, Ramayana, Uttaradhyayan Sutra, and many other texts.
In the Mahajanapada era, it was the capital of the Southern Panchal district.
Situated on the right bank of the Ganges, this pilgrimage place is the birthplace of the thirteenth Tirthankar Lord Vimalnath, Mahasati Draupadi, and Guru Dronacharya.
Draupadi’s swayamvara took place here.
Among the famous sites here are Raja Drupad Fort, Kapilmuni’s Ashram, Kalpeshwarnath Temple, Rameshwardham Temple, Jain Shwetambar Temple, Jain Digambar Temple, Bhedhkund, Draupadi Kund, Mughalghat (Aurangzeb), etc.

Kushinagar

Kushinagar (Kushinara) is situated about 45 km east of Gorakhpur, near the present Kasya Nagar.
The old name of this city was Baseya.
It was the capital of the Malla Republic during the Mahajanapada period.
Lord Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana (483 BC) took place here.
In ancient times, this city was the center of economic activities due to its location on the Shravasti-Varanasi road.
Emperor Ashoka built many stupas and monasteries here.
During the time of Kumargupta, Haribal also built stupas and monasteries here.
An ancient Nirvana Stupa has been found during excavation here.
The most notable temple here is the Mahaparinirvana Temple, which houses a huge 6.10-meter-long statue of Buddha in a sleeping posture from the 5th century. At present, a thin sheet of metal has been covered over it.
Near this place, another ten and a half feet high statue of Buddha is preserved, which is from the medieval period. It is called Mathakunar and is made of black stone from Gaya.
Here, the 15 m high Ramabhar Stupa (Mukut Bandhan Chaitya), Wat-Thai Temple, Government Buddhist Museum, Lankan-Chinese-Japanese-Vietnamese-Korean Temple, Birla Buddha Temple, Shiva Temple, Ram-Janaki Temple, etc., are worth seeing.
A fair is organized here on Buddha Purnima, which lasts for about one and a half months.
An ambitious ‘Maitreya Project’ is being run here with the help of Japan. Under this project, Kushinagar is being developed as an international Buddhist pilgrimage site. As part of this project, a 500 feet high statue of Buddha is to be installed here, which will be the tallest in the world.

Lucknow

There is a legend that this city was established by Lakshman, brother of Lord Shri Ram, and its ancient name was Lakshmanpuri.
There is an old mound here, which is famous by the name of Lakshman Tila.
Lucknow gained most fame during the post-Mughal period when Subedar Saadat Khan of Awadh established his independent power.
During the time of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, the capital of Awadh was moved from Faizabad to Lucknow, and from then until Wajid Ali Shah (1856 AD), it remained the center of cultural activities.
In the rebellion of 1857, the brave Begum Hazrat Mahal fought bravely against the British.
The Nawabs here constructed many buildings, doors, etc.
Asafuddaula built Rumi Darwaza, Imambara, Asafi Masjid, Daulatkhana, Residency, Bibiyapur Kothi, and Chowk Bazaar.
Ghaziuddin Haider built Shahnajaf, Motimahal, Mubarak Manzil, the tombs of Saadat Ali and Khurshidzadi, and a canal in the south of the city.
Mohammad Ali Shah built buildings like Imambara of Hussainabad, Big Jama Masjid, and Hussainabad Baradari, etc.
The famous Chhatar Manzil was built by Naseeruddin Haider, which now houses the Central Drug Research Institute.
The Martyr Memorial, Zoo, and National Botanical Garden built here in honor of the freedom fighters are also worth seeing.
This city is the main center of the Shia sect.
Here is the tomb of the famous Muslim saint Shahmina, where the annual Urs is celebrated on the first Thursday of the Muslim month ‘Rajab’. Both Hindus and Muslims are his devotees, and both participate in ‘Basant Ki Nauchandi’ organized on Basant Panchami.

उत्तर प्रदेश के प्राचीन नगर (ऐतिहासिक, धार्मिक व पर्यटक स्थल)

History, Civilization and Culture of UP