History
The history of Uttar Pradesh is very ancient and interesting. It is recognised in the later Vedic Age as Brahmarshi Desha or Madhya Desha. Many great sages of the Vedic times like Bhardwaja, Gautam, Yagyavalkaya, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra and Valmiki flourished in this state. Several sacred books of the Aryans were also composed here. Two great epics of India, Ramayana and Mahabharata, appear to have been inspired by Uttar Pradesh.
In the sixth century B.C., Uttar Pradesh was associated with two new religions - Jainism and Buddhism. It was at Sarnath that Buddha preached his first sermon and laid the foundations of his order, and it was in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, where Buddha breathed his last. Several centres in Uttar Pradesh like Ayodhya, Prayag, Varanasi and Mathura became reputed centres of learning. In the medieval period, Uttar Pradesh passed under Muslim rule and led the way to new synthesis of Hindu and Islamic cultures. Ramananda and his Muslim disciple Kabir, Tulsidas, Surdas and many other intellectuals contributed to the growth of Hindi and other languages.
The Islamic invasions of the Delhi sultanate as well as those of the comparatively more powerful Mughal armies were successfully resisted by the various districts and principalities of Rajasthan, which has shaped Rajasthan into the way we see her today. Many of the stories of this Golden Age in the History of Rajasthan is kept alive even today in the minds of the people of the land, which is one of the most striking proofs of the pride that the people feel for their homeland.
Uttar Pradesh preserved its intellectual excellence even under the British administration. The British combined Agra and Oudh into one province and called it United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. The name was shortened to the United Provinces in 1935. In January 1950 the United Provinces was renamed as Uttar Pradesh.
The State is bound by Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the north, Haryana in the west, Madhya Pradesh in the South and Bihar in the east. Uttar Pradesh can be divided into two distinct regions (i) Southern Hills and (ii) Gangetic Plain.
Tourism
Establishment of Corporation : Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (UPSTDC) was established in the year 1974. At present, its Authorised Share Capital is Rs. 40 Crore and Paid-up Capital is Rs. 32.60 Crore.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Ltd is Operating 40 Tourist Bungalow/Hotels & 07 UPTOURS Division and 3 other Units for miscellaneous activities
Objectives of UPSTDC : The main objective of establishing UPSTDC is to provide tourist accommodation, restaurants, wayside amenities to the tourists and to open recreational centres and organise package tours ensuring promotion of tourism in the State through vigorous publicity.
Art & Culture
The tradition of painting in Uttar Pradesh has been going on since pre-historic times. The cave paintings of Sonbhadra and Chitrakoot depict scenes of hunting, war, festivals, dances, romantic life and animals. The golden period of painting in UP was the Mughal Era. The art of painting attained its peak during the reign of Jahangir. The Mughal style of painting remains one of the greatest achievements of Asian culture and is unique in its concept, presentation and style.
The art of painting reached the epitome of perfection in the area of Bundelkhand when the King of Orchha reconstructed the temple of Keshav Dev in Mathura. The paintings of Mathura, Gokul, Vrindavan and Govardhan depict the scenes from the life of Lord Krishna. Another major pre-modern painting tradition of UP is known as the Garhwal School which was patronized by the Kings of Garhwa
Fair & Festival
Taj Mahotsav - Taj Mahotsav in Agra is the most famous fair of art, craft, culture & cuisine organized in the month of March for a period of 10 days from 20th to 29th by Taj Mahotsav Committee. This event is aimed to promote the creative art of craftsmen and help them to showcase their respective skills, Various cultural performances by national and international famed artists make this fair a confluence of traditions and cultures.
Ayodhya comes alive during the dazzling Deepotsav festival, a night where thousands of diyas bathe the city in a warm glow. Artists dressed as divine figures like Shree Ram, Sitaji, and Lakshmana, grace the occasion, filling the air with a sense of reverence. Along the Saryu River, the gentle flicker of diyas creates a peaceful ambiance.