Culture Of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is a state in India, located in the northern part of the country. UP has a population of around 200 million residents and is the most populated state in the country. UP stands as the fifth most populated state in the world. Uttar Pradesh covers an area of 243,290 km2. It contributes 8.34% of India’s total GDP. Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, has several beautiful historical monuments such as Bara Imambara and Chhota Imambara.
Uttar Pradesh has also preserved the damaged complex of the Oudh-period British Resident's quarters, which are being restored. Important cities in Uttar Pradesh are Allahabad, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Agra, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Lucknow.
Uttar Pradesh is the birthplace of Hinduism and has various impressions within the state related to Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Vedic beliefs. The state has important sites related to Buddhism. Uttar Pradesh was divided into smaller territories throughout history and has been shelter to many empires such as the Nanda, Sunga, Gupta, Magadha, Mauryan, Gurjara, Pala, Mughal and Kushan empires. Uttar Pradesh in one of the most ancient cradles of Indian culture. While it is true that no Harappa and Mohan-Jodaro have been discovered in the State, the antiquities found in Banda (Bundelkhand), Mirzapur and Meerut link its History to early Stone Age and Harappan era. Chalk drawings or dark red drawings by primitive men are extensively found in the Vindhyan ranges of Mirzapur districts. Utensils of that age have also been discovered in Atranji-Khera, Kaushambi, Rajghat and Sonkh. Copper articles have been found in Kanpur, Unnao, Mirzapur, Mathura and advent of the Aryans in this State. It is most probable that snapped links between the Indus Valley and Vedic civilizations lie buried under the ruins of ancient sites found in this State.
