Uttar Pradesh

Information on Uttar Pradesh,India

Area :	2,38,566 square kilometers.
Capital :	Lucknow
Population :	16,60,52,859
Language :	Hindi and Urdu
Minerals :	Limestone,Dolomite,Copper,Gypsum,Glass,Sand,Marble,Fireclay,Coal,Phosphorite.
Economy :	Major crops that are cultivated include food grains,Sugarcane and oilseeds. Major Industries are Sugar Production,Handloom,Cotton & woolen textiles,leather & footwear,Distilleries & Breweries.
Climate :	The climate of the state is tropical monsoon,but variations exist because of difference in altitudes. The Himalayan region is cold. The average temperature varies in the plains from 3-4 Celcius in January to 43-45 Celcius in May and June.The winter season exists from October to February,Summer from March to Mid June and the rainy season from March to September.
History :	Many of the great states of ancient India flourished in the region now known asUttar Pradesh. Gautama Buddha travelled and preached extensively in this region. He gave his first sermon in Sarnath near Varanasi. Uttar Pradesh was ruled by various dynasties down the centuries,including the Mauryas,the Kushanas and the Guptas. Mathura emerged as the centre of power when the Kushanas under Kanishka made it their capital. Agra became the centre of power under the Mughals. Akbar the Great built his new capital city,Fatephur Sikri,near Agra. His grandson,Shahjahan,built the famous Taj Mahal in Agra on the banks of the Yamuna. After the disintegration of the Mughal empire,Awadh emerged as the centre ofpower in this region. Following the annexation of Awadh,the British created the administrative unit called the United Provinces of Agra and Awadh. Uttar Pradesh Tourism Agra Bithoor Jaunpur Jhansi Kanpur Kapilavastu Allen Forest Zoo Barua Sagar Government Museum Jain Shrines Jajmau Jhansi Fort Kanpur Memorial Church Rani Mahal Samthar Fort Shri Radhakrisna Temple Kushinagar Lucknow Sarnath Varanasi Allahabad Ayodhya Chitrakoot Fatehpur Sikri Mathura-Vrindavan

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West Bengal

Victoria Memorial in Kolkata

Kolkata, one of the many cities in the state of West Bengal has been nicknamed the City of Palaces. This comes from the numerous palatial mansions built all over the city. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout of much of the architectural variety in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and tastes imported by the British and, to a much lesser extent, the Portuguese and French. The buildings were designed and inspired by the tastes of the English gentleman around and the aspiring Bengali Babu (literally, a nouveau riche Bengali who aspired to cultivation of English etiquette, manners and custom, as such practices were favourable to monetary gains from the British). Today, many of these structures are in various stages of decay. Some of the major buildings of this period are well maintained and several buildings have been declared as heritage structures.
From historical point of view, the story of West Bengal begins from Gour and Pandua situated close to the present district town of Malda. The twin medieval cities had been sacked at least once by changing powers in the 15th century. However, ruins from the period still remain, and several architectural specimens still retain the glory and shin of those times. The Hindu architecture of Bishnupur in terracotta and laterite sandstone are renowned world over. Towards the British colonial period came the architecture of Murshidabad and Coochbehar.

Area :	88,752 square kilometers.
Capital :	Kolkata
Population :	8,02,21,171
Language :	Bengali. Other languages include Hindi,Santhali (dialect) and Nepali.
Economy :	Agriculture is the main occupation of the people. Major crops that are cultivated include Rice and Jute. West Bengal has the largest eastern Indiaoil refinery. Other important industries are shipbuilding,automobile manufacture, and chemical and fertilizer production. Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri are known for their production of high-quality tea. Darjeeling also produces oranges,apples,pineapple,ginger and cardamom.
Climate :	West Bengal has a tropical climate. The plains are hot except during the short winter season. The mountanious region in the north is cold. Humidity is high because of the altitude. There are vaguely six seasons - Spring,Summer,the rainy,Autumn,mild Winter and severe Winter. The hot season lasts from mid-March to mid-June,with the day temperature ranging from 38o C to 45 C in different parts of the state. Winter lasts about three months,is mild over the plains,the average minimum temperature not falling 15 C.
History :	The first great dynasty to rule over West Bengal were Palas who ruled till the 9th century AD. In the 7th century AD,Adimalla founded the Malla dynasty, and ruled for over a thousand years in areas of western Bengal. The Mallas built some spectacular temples in Vishnupur,their capital. In the 16th century,European traders established their trading factories in India and were attracted to Bengal but themost successful were English East India Company. In 1690,they established a factory at Sutanati,which later became modern Calcutta. In the 18th century the last independent Nawab of Bengal called Siraj ud Daulah lost to the British in the year 1757. In 1765,the British obtained the right to collect revenue from Bengal,Orissa and Bihar. In the late 19th century,Calcutta now called Kolkata became a major centre for the Indian nationalist movement. In 1905,Bengal was partitioned,to control the growing nationalist movement. But this led to huge protests,boycott of British goods and terrorist activities and in 1911,King George V revoked the partition. In 1947 after independence,Bengal was partitioned and its western half became the present state of West Bengal.

Notable site of West Bengal Cooch Behar · Cooch Behar · Darjeeling · Kalimpong · Kurseong · Dooars · Digha · Bishnupur · Malda · Mukutmanipur · Ayodhya Hills · Murshidabad · Kolkata.

Places of Worship Dakshineswar Kali Temple · Kalighat Temple · Birla temple · Belur Math · Bhoothnath · Tipu Sultan Mosque · Nakhoda Mosque · St. Paul’s Cathedral · St. John's Church · Parsi Fire Temples · Japanese Buddhist Temple · Pareshnath Jain Temple

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Uttarakhand

The Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi National Parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Uttaranchal is the 27th state of the Republic of India. It contains glaciers, snow-clad mountains, valley of flowers, skiing slopes and dense forests, and many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Char-dhams, the four most sacred and revered Hindu temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the Himalayas. Haridwar which means Gateway to God is the only place on the plains.
It holds the watershed for Gangetic River System spanning 300 km from Satluj in the west to Kali river in the east. Nanda Devi (25640 Ft) is the second highest peak in India after Kanchenjunga (28160 Ft). Dunagiri, Neelkanth, Chukhamba, Panchachuli, Trisul are other peaks above 23000 Ft. It is considered the abode of Devtas, Yakashyas, Kinners, Fairies and Sages.[citation needed] It boasts of some old hill-stations developed during British era like Mussoorie, Almora and Nainital.

Glaciers Pindari Glacier, Milam Glacier, Gangotri Glacier, Bunder Punch Glacier, Khatling Glacier, Doonagiri Glacier, Dokrani Glacier, Kaphini Glacier, Ralam Glacier

Wildlife Reserves Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park, Asan Conservation Reserve, Nanda Devi National Park, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary (Askot), Valley of Flowers

Adventure Sports Skiing at Mundali, Auli, Dayara Bagyal and Munsiyari. Trekking at Mussoorie, Uttarkashi, Joshimath, Munsiyari, Chaukori, Pauri, Almora, Nainital

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Sikkim

Kangchenjunga at Sikkim is the third highest mountain in the world.

Originally known as Suk-Heem, which in the local language means "peaceful home", Sikkim was an independent kingdom till the year 1974, when it became a part of the Republic of India. The capital of Sikkim is Gangtok, located approximately 185 kilometers from New Jalpaiguri, the nearest railway station to Sikkim. Although, an airport is under construction at Dekiling in East Sikkim, the nearest airport to Sikkim would be Bagdogra. Sikkim is considered as the land of Orchids and mystic cultures and colorful traditions. Sikkim is well known among trekkers and adventure lovers, as West Sikkim has a lot to give them.

Places near Sikkim include Darjeeling also known as the Queen of hills and Kalimpong. Darjeeling, other than its world famous "Darjeeling tea" is also famous for its refined "Prep schools" founded during the British Raj. Kalimpong is also famous for its flora cultivation and is home to many internationally known Nurseries.

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Tamil Nadu

Tourism in Tamil Nadu

Area :	130,058 square kilometers.
Capital :	Chennai ( Madras )
Population :	6,21,10,839
Language :	Tamil
Economy :	Cotton spinning and weaving are the major industries,followed by the production of automobiles,transformers,agriculturalimplements,fertilizers,cement,paper,chemicals, and electric motors. Tamil Nadu ranks second only to Kerala in the production of fish.
Minerals :	Limestone,bauxite,lignite,magnesite and iron ore.
Climate :	Typical tropical atmosphere prevails in Tamil Nadu. The temperature in summer seldom exceeds 43� C and in winter,it never falls below 18� C. Rainfall occurs during the months of October to December.
Culture :	Tamil Nadu's famous music festival is held in the month of January every year at the place called Thiruvaiyaru ( Thyagaraja's birthplace on the banks of the Kaveri ). January is rice harvest-time in Tamil Nadu and the best season to visit the state. Pongal is the major festival of Tamil Nadu when you can enjoy the sweet and savoury pongal,a rice dish, and wash it down with fragrant filter coffee. Tamil Nadu has immense temples rich in sculpture at Mahabalipuram,Tanjore,Madurai,Chidambaram and Rameswaram. These temples have towering gates known as gopurams. Madurai was developed around the famous Meenakshi temple. Tamil Nadu's famous dance form is called Bharata Natyam has a timeless appeal.
History :	Tamil Nadu was ruled by three dynasties in the history - the Cholas,the Pandyas and the Cheras. In the 5th century A.D.,another dynasty called the Pallavas,rose to power and ruled over the Tamil Nadu region till the 9th century when Aditya Chola defeated the last Pallava king and took possession of his kingdom. The Cholas ruled the region for about four centuries. The Chola presence in Southeast Asia lasted for about 50 years but in this short period Hinduism spread and took firm root and left its impress on local cultures for all time. The Chola Empire prevailed in South India till the end of the 13th century when the Pandyas pulled it down. In 1639 the British were allowed to establish a settlement at a place presently called Chennai leading to the foundation of Fort St. George. Slowly the whole region of Tamil Nadu came under British sway. In 1947,when India became independent Tamil Nadu was part of an administrative unit called the Madras Presidency. In 1956 Tamil-speaking areas of Madras Presidency united to form a separate state called Madras,which was later renamed as Tamil Nadu.  Tamil Nadu Tourism Chennai Mamaliapuram Kanchipuram Vellore Tirunamalai Dharmapuri Yercaud Hoggenakkal Vedanthangal Chidambaram Gingee Mettur Sankagiri Tiruchengodu Kumbakonam Thanjavur Tiruchirapalli Namakkal Poompuhar Nagapattinam Dharasuram Forts in Tamil Nadu Gangaikondacholapuram Salem Pudukottai Dindigul Madurai Rameshwaram Tirunelveli Kanyakumari Virudhanagar Tuticorin Courtallam Srivilliputhur Vallanadu Gulf of Munnar Kodaikanal Coonoor Udhagamandalam (Ooty) Kotagiri Mudumalai Annamalai Coimbatore

The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram is an ancient temple on the Indian Ocean, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tamil Nadu lies in the southern Indian peninsula, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Many great rulers including the Cholas, Pallavas, Pandyas and the Vijayanagara Empire ruled over parts of Tamil Nadu. The state is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture.
Attractions includeMahabalipuram, famous for its Shore Temple, Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, Auroville, an International Utopian city, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Ooty and Kodaikanal, two famous hill stations. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a Unesco World Heritage Site
Tamil Nadu lies in the southern Indian peninsula, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Many great rulers including the Cholas, Pallavas, Pandyas and the Vijayanagara Empire ruled over parts of Tamil Nadu. The state is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture.
Attractions includeMahabalipuram, famous for its Shore Temple, Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, Auroville, an International Utopian city, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Ooty and Kodaikanal, two famous hill stations. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a Unesco World Heritage Site

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Puducherry

Main article: Tourism in Puducherry

The Matrimandir, a golden metallic sphere in auroville, Puducherry

The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises four coastal regions viz- Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Puducherry is the Capital of this Union Territory and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India. Puducherry has been described by National Geographic as "a glowing highlight of subcontinental sojourn". The city has many beautiful colonial buildings, churches, temples, and statues, which, combined with the systematic town planning and the well planned French style avenues, still preserve much of the colonial ambience.

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Punjab

Information on Punjabn,India

Area :	50,362 square kilometers.
Capital :	Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.
Population :	2,02,81,969
Language :	Punjabi
People :	More than 60 per cent of the people follow Sikhism,and they are called Punjabi.
Economy :	Highly commercial agriculture and a diversity of small and medium-scale industries. With less than 2% of India's total area,Punjab produces more than 10% of India's food grain and more wheat than all other states combined.
Climate :	The three well defined seasons in the Punjab are Summer (mid-April to June-end),Rainy Season ( early-July to September-end) and winter (early-December to February-end). The highest day time temperature is recorded during the months of May and June. It is 40.4 C at Patiala,40.4 C at Amristar and 41.2 C at Ludhiana. The fall in temperature is minimum in January,when the mean temperature falls to 12oC during day time and to 5oC during the night.
History :	In the 6th century BC,during the reign of Cyrus the Great,Punjab was a part of the Persian empire. In the 4th century BC,Punjab became a part of Chandragupta Maurya's empire. Followed were Indo-Greeks,the Kushans,Sakas and the Parthians. In the 11th century a ruler of Central Asia called Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Punjab . However,his successors were overcome by Prithviraj who regained Punjab. In 1192,Muhammad Ghori's won the battle and ruled this region. Thereafter Punjab was ruled by whoever was ruling in Delhi. In the 15th Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak that became was widely accepted by the people living around there. Later Guru Arjan Dev,and Guru Gobind Singh played important roles in the evolution of Sikhism. Banda Singh Bahadur,a hermit turned military leader temporarily liberated the eastern part of the province from Mughal rule in 1709-10. By the late 18th century,Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) had built up the Punjab into a powerful kingdom. But in 1849 Punjab came under British empire. By the late 19th century,the Indian nationalist movement took hold in this province. The country saw the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amitsar in the year 1919. In 1947 after the independence,during the partition Punjab was split between India and Pakistan,and the smaller,eastern portion became part of India. Modern Punjab was established on 1st November 1966 when most of the Hindi speaking areas were separated from it and constituted into the state of Haryana. Punjab's capital,Chandigarh,became a separate union territory but still remains the capital of Haryana and Punjab. Punjab Tourism Amritsar Ludhiana Patiala Jalandhar Anandpur Sahib

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Rajasthan

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Main article: Tourism in Rajasthan

Rajasthan, literally meaning "Land of the Kings", is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Northern India. The vast sand dunes of the Thar Desert attract millions of tourists from around the globe every year.
Attractions:

• Jaipur - The capital of Rajasthan, famous for its rich history and royal architecture.
• Jodhpur - Fortress-city at the edge of the Thar Desert, famous for its blue homes and architecture.
• Udaipur - Known as the "Venice" of India.
• Jaisalmer - Famous for its golden fortress.
• Barmer - Barmer and surrounding areas offer perfect picture of typical Rajasthani villages.
• Bikaner - Famous for its medieval history as a trade route outpost.
• Mount Abu - Is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan.
• Pushkar - It has the first and one of the very Brahma temples in the world.
• Nathdwara - This town near Udaipur hosts the famous temple of Shrinathji.
• Ranthambore - Situated near Sawai Madhopur, this town has one of the largest and most famous national parks in India.

Area :	342.239 square kilometres
Capital :	Jaipur
Language :	Rajasthani,Hindi
Economy :	Mainly an agricultural state. Crops grown include Rice,Barley,Gram,Wheat,Oilseeds,Pulses,Cotton,Tobacco, Red chillies,Mustard,Cumin seeds,Fenugreek seeds and Asafoetida. Largest wool-producing state.
Minerals :	Zinc and Copper
Population :	5,64,73,122
People :	The people include the Minas,the Meos,the Banjara,who are travelling tradesmen and artisans; the Bhils,one of the oldest peoples in India, and the Rabans of Marwar who are cattle breeders. The Rajputs,famed in legend,represent only a small percentage of the population.
Climate :	In Summer Rajasthan is very hot characterized by hot winds and dust storms especially in the desert. In the winter temperatures vary from 20 C to 24.50 C.
Culture :	Rajasthan has a well-known folk dance called "ghoomar",that is performed by women on festive occasions. The folk dance called "geer" is performed by men and women,the "panihari" is a graceful dance for women, and the popular "kacchi ghori" dance involves male dancers riding dummy horses.
History :	Rajasthan was a part of Ashoka's empire in the 3rd century BC. Later in the 7th century AD the Bactrians,the Scythians,the Guptas, and Harshavardhana ruled this region. In the 7th to 11th century Rajasthan was ruled by several Rajput dynasties. Under Bhoja I (836-885),their territory stretched from the Himalayan foothills to the Narmada and from the middle Ganges Valley to Sindh. Later the Mughal invader,Babur,defeated Rana Sangram of Mewarand capitalised his region. In the 16th century the Mughal emperor Akbar tried to subdue the Rajputs through diplomacy and military action. While the strongholds of Ranthambore and Chittor were besieged and destroyed,other Rajput ruling houses were won over when Akbar married their princesses and appointed their nobles to important positions in the Mughal army. This practice of contracting matrimonial alliances with the Rajputs continued after Akbar, and both the emperors,Jahangir and Shah Jahan had Rajput mothers. After the death of the emperor Aurangzeb the last believed emperor of Mughal dynasty Maratha came into influence in the region. In the 18th century Maratha power began to decline and the British stepped in. During the freedom struggle Ajmer became the centre of political activity. After independence,the Rajput princes gradually surrendered their powers to the central government and the state of Rajasthan came into being.
Forts in Rajasthan:	Taragarh Fort Amber Fort Chittaurgarh Fort Nahargarh Fort MehrangarhFort Junagarh Fort Jaigarh Fort

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Maharashtra

Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India, famous for its architecture, shopping, gastronomy, and Bollywood. Mumbai accounts for more than 40% of all foreign tourists arrivals in India.^[11]

Maharashtra is the most visited state by foreign tourists,[11] with more than 2 million foreign tourists arrivals annually. Maharashtra boasts of a large number of popular and revered religious venues that are heavily frequented by locals as well as out-of-state visitors.
Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India, and a great place to experience modern India. Mumbai famous for Bollywood, the world's largest film industry. In addition, Mumbai is famous for its clubs, shopping, and upscale gastronomy. The city is known for its architecture, from the ancient Ajanta Caves, to the Islamic Haji Ali Mosque, to the colonial architecture of Bombay High Court and Victoria Terminus.
Maharashtra also has numerous adventure tourism destinations, including paragliding, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Maharashtra also has several pristine national parks and reserves. The Bibi Ka Maqbara at Aurangabad, the Mahalakshmi temple in Kolhapur, the city of Pune the seat of the Maratha Empire, the fantastic Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

Area :	3,07,713 square kilometers.
Capital :	Mumbai,which was earlier known as Bombay.
Population :	9,97,52,247
Language :	Marathi
People :	The diversity of physical features and geography is reflected in the people and culture of Maharashtra. The Deccan Plateau of Maharashtra is largely populated by tribal groups. The main tribal groups include the Bhils,Mahadeo Kolis,Gonds and Warlis.
Economy :	The principal food crops are rice,wheat,jowar,bajra and pulses. The important cash crops are sugarcane,cotton and tobacco.
Culture :	There are various festivals and traditions popular in the state Maharashtra. "Gokulashtami" is celebrated as the birthday of Krishna,and is marked by the formation of human pyramids in every locality. The very famous Ganapati festival is celebrated by the formation huge idols of the deity. These idols are later immersed in the sea aftertaking out a procession. Another popular festival called Gudi Padwa is celebrated by Maharashtrians as their New Year. The delicacy made during this festival is 'puranpoli' that is made of flour and jaggery.
Climate :	Maharashtra's climate is typically monsoonal in character. There are three seasons prevailing in Maharashtra hot,rainy,and winter. The months of March-April and May have maximum heat. During this season,especially in April and May thunderstorms are a common feature all over the state. Rain pours down in the months of July and August. By September the monsoonal current weakens. October is the transition period of change from the rainy season to winter. November to February there is a pleasant weather,though the eastern margins of Maharashtra receive some rainfall.
History :	Mauryan was the earliest empire that ruled Maharashtra. Among the other dynasties that ruled over this area,were the Satavahanas,the Vakatakas,the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas. In the year 1674,Shivaji who carved out the Maratha empire during the reign of Aurangzeb,the Mughal. The Marathas became strong under the Peshwas. During the 1800s,a vast region comprising several parts of northern and eastern India came under Maratha control. In the 3rd battle of Panipat in 1761 the Afghans shattered their power. In the later wars with the British,the power of the Marathas was further reduced. Later the British invaded India. The British played a role in makingMaharashtra one of the most industrialized of the Indian states. In 1947,Bombay Presidency became Bombay state. The present state ofMaharashtra came into being in 1960 Marathi-speaking areas,were separated from Gujarati-speaking areas form the two states ofMaharashtra and Gujarat. Maharashtra Tourism Ratnagiri Panhala and Vasai Malshej Ghat, Naneghat and Panchgani Ganpatipule and Pawas Ashtavinayakas in Maharashtra Forts in Maharashtra

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