Seven Adventures of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand

 

 

Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra.

The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of
Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from
Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles.

The focus of the Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb, which stands on a square plinth consisting of a symmetrical building with an iwan, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome.

Was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658), grandson of Akbar the great, in the memory of his queen
Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled ‘Mumtaz Mahal’.


The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The
remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and
were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab and
gateway.

A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India.


 

It is in Uttarakhand, in the upper reaches of Garhwal.

Several of the flower species found here are internationally
endangered and also have many endangered medicinal plants
here.

The park is home to tahr, snow leopard, musk deer, red fox,
common langur, bharal, serow, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan brown bear, Pica (Mouse hare) and a huge variety of butterflies.

Among the important birds and Pheasant are, Himalayan Golden
Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Snow Partridge, Himalayan Snow
Cock,Himalayan Monal, Snow Pigeon, Sparrow Hawk etc.

The park is full of wild flowers in bloom from rhododendrons to
primulas to orchids, the place is a riot of colouring the monsoon.

The valley is bounded by peaks from all sides and an area of
8,950 hectares here was declared a National park in September 1982


 

Situated at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, the ghats are stretched for some 3 km along the west banks of holy river Ganges.

It is widely believed that a dip in the sacred river may bring salvation and free one from all sins.

Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions.

For thousands of years people have been thronging these
Ghats to offer their morning prayers to the rising sun.

There are more than 100 ghats along side Ganga in Varanasi.

The Ghats typify the circle of life.


 

Situated in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

The construction of the halls and the use of vaults show a strong Islamic influence.

On the top terrace, approached through a narrow flight of
steps, is an amazing set of passages designed to confuse
the most alert minds-a labyrinth of interconnected passages that seem to lead nowhere. This is called bhul bhulaiya (maze).

The great Imambara, symbol of Lucknow`s fabulous architectural heritage, was built at a time when a great famine raged through the state in 1784.


 

Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri show a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship.

Built during the second half of the 16th century by the
Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) near Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire for some 10 years.

The complex of monuments, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.


 

Sarnath is located 13 kilometres north-east of Varanasi, in
Uttar Pradesh.

Ashoka built the Sarnath pillar to commemorate the site of
the first preaching of Lord Buddha, where he taught the
Dharma to five monks.

After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha
went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first
discourse in the deer park to set in motion the `Wheel of the
Dharma`.

A Monastic tradition flourished for over 1,500 years on the site of the deer park at Sarnath.


 

It is located in Agra.

It is one of the most important and robustly built stronghold
of the Mughals, embellished with number of richly decorated buildings encompassing the imposing Mughal style of art and architecture.

The fort, semi-circular on plan, is surrounded by a 21.4 m high fortification wall.

It was re-constructed by the third Mughal emperor Akbar
on the remains of an ancient site known as Badalgarh.

Some 4000 builders daily worked on it and it was completed in 8 years.

The great Mughals Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir,
Shah Jahanand Aurangzeb lived here, and the country was governed from here.

It contained the largest state treasury and mint. It was visited by foreign ambassadors, travellers and the highest
dignitaries who participated in the making of history in
India.

 

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