FAST FACTS:

Area:                           2,94, 411 sq km

Religion:                     Hinduism and Islam

Capital:                       Lucknow

Languages:                 Hindi, Urdu, English

INTRODUCTION
 

Nourished by the Ganga and its tributaries and one of the most densely populated states of India, Uttar Pradesh lies on the foothills of Himalaya. Spread over an area of 295,000 sq km with a population of 155 million, geographically it consists of the vast Ganges plain and mighty Himalayas. High above the world where the mountains seem to touch the sky are the secret sources of India's sacred rivers. Here at a height of over 3000 m the snow melts to form the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in a deep recess of the mountains. This hallowed ground is the destination of countless pilgrims every year.

 The holiest shrines of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Deoprayag and holy cities of Rishikesh, Haridwar and Varanasi (Kashi or Banaras) all are in this fascinating state of unequal match. The state is equally popular for Buddhist pilgrims for Sarnath where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon and Kushinagar-the place where Lord Buddha died (Mahanirvana)

World famous Taj Mahal, a mausoleum of matchless beauty , the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri in Agra; the capital city of Lucknow - the erstwhile state of Nawabs; the birth place of Lord Krishna - Mathura are some of the other places of great interest. Besides, Uttar Pradesh boasts of many beautiful hill stations like Mussoorie, Nainital, Almora, Ranikhet, Pitthoragarh. Last but not least, there are wildlife sanctuaries of world fame - Corbett National Park, Dhudwa National Park and endless options for trekking, mountaineering and white water river rafting on the Ganges.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN UTTAR PRADESH

Agra: Agra is known for the beautiful Taj Mahal, but there's a lot more to this historic city. The Mughal dynasty ruled from Agra and endowed it with many fine buildings and monuments such as Agra Fort, which contains grand halls and palaces and the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, a precursor to the Taj Mahal.

Ayodhya: The city of temples is situated on the right bank of the mythical river Sarayu. It is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is known for its many famous temples and is one of the locations for the Kumbha Mela, a Hindu sacred occasion and the largest religious gathering on Earth.

Varanasi: Varanasi, or Benaras, is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi's prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrivalled. Varanasi, is also known as Kashi (Derived from the root 'Kas' - to shine) or the city of spiritual light. Varanasi is also renowned for its heritage of music, arts, crafts education and silk weaving.

Mathura: Mathura (or Brajbhoomi) is famous as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, an important Hindu deity. It is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and one of the seven sacred cities in India. The main pilgrim center in Mathura is the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. Mathura is also an important craft center. Mathura is located at a distance of around 58km from Agra.

Vrindavan: Vrindavan is a sacred destination of the Hindus and is revered for its association with the life of Lord Krishna. There are as many as 4,000 temples in Vrindavan, most of them dedicated to Lord Krishna. Vrindavan is located just 57 km from Agra.

Fatehpur Sikri: Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Emperor Akbar to symbolize the power of his empire, to represent the meaning of Allah's message to mankind and to display the wonders of the Islamic faith. Completed in 1578, Fatehpur Sikri has a grand palace where Akbar's court was based for a few years, until the shortage of water caused the city to be abandoned.

Sikandra: Located near Agra, Sikandra is the site of the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. The grand gate at Sikandra is a sight worth seeing.

Allahabad is situated at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, Allahabad or Prayag, also known as Tirtharaj known for Kumbh- Mela it is a famous pilgrim center of India.

Sarnath occupies a very important place among Buddhist shrines. After Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, the Buddha preached his first sermon here.

 MAJOR CITIES AND THEIR ATTRACTONS:

Agra Information

Location: Agra is about 204 km south of Delhi in the north India state of Uttar Pradesh.
Major Tourist Attractions : Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandara, Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Chini-ka-rauza, Jama Masjid, Dayal Bagh, Rambagh.
Festival: Taj Mahotsav (in the month of February)
Best Buy : Leather Items, Taj Mahal Replica.
Nearby Tourist Destinations: Mathura, Govardhan Hill, Vrindavan, Gokul, Fatehpur Sikri, Ferozabad, Gwalior, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Aligarh.

About Agra
Agra, commonly known as the city of Taj Mahal, is about 204 km from Delhi, the capital city of India. Agra is single most visited tourist destination in India. There are very few cities in the world that can challenge the history and heritage of Agra. Situated on the west bank of the River Yamuna, Agra is a part of the great Northern Indian plains and boasts of a tropical climate.

At Agra there is much to see and appreciate then just the Taj. The architectural splendor of the city is reflected in the glorious monuments of medieval India built by great Mughals who ruled India for more than 300 years.

Tourist Attractions in Agra

Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal, built by the 5th Mughal emperor Shahjehan in the memory of his most beloved mistress Mumtaz Mahal is a beauty to behold. This multi hued travel icon of India is the largest and the most wonderfully made symbol of love by any man on earth. Made of pure white marble, the construction of Taj Mahal took 22 years.

Agra Fort
This massive structure is another jewel studded to the rich landscape of Agra. Made of red sandstone, Agra Fort was constructed by the Mughals during 1565-1571. Three of the great Mughal emperors were engaged in the construction of Agra Fort. It was Emperor Akbar who laid the foundation of this majestic citadel in 1565, which was continued by Jehangir and completed in 1571 by Shahjahan, Akbar's grandson.

Sikandara
Named after the Afghan ruler Sikandar Lodhi is Sikandara, just 10 km from Agra. The city is visited by many tourists, not for its aesthetic value but for the tomb of Akbar, which it houses. The construction of the mausoleum was commenced by Akbar himself during his lifetime but he could not complete it. After his death, Jehangir took the task of completing the project that was left incomplete. A master creation, the structure is a perfect blend of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain motifs.

Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb
Itmad-ud-Daulah or "Baby Taj" as it is called sometimes is a highly ornate edifice and one major attraction in Agra. This mausoleum is considered as the imminent precursor of the Taj Mahal as far as elaborate carvings and inlay work are concerned. Itmad-ud daulah, one of the most amazing of Mughal tombs, stands across the river Yamuna from the Taj Mahal. It contains cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat Begum, parents of the powerful Mughal Empress Nurjahan queen of Jahangir.

Fatehpur Sikri

Lucknow Information

Location: Lucknow is located in the central part of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Major Tourist Attractions: The Bada Imambada, Rumi Darwaza, Husainabad Imambada, Residency, Jami Masjid.
Best Buys : Lucknawi chicken embroidery sarees, kurta, salwar kameez, shirts, bed sheets, and embroidered cushion covers.
Best Activity : Try the Lucknawi Cuisine.
Nearby Tourist Destinations: Allahabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, Shravasti

About Lucknow

Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, is located on the banks of the Gomti River. Lucknow could be termed the cultural center of northern India where people are too polite and have their own charming culture and tradition, difficult to find elsewhere. The beautiful city with parks, palaces, gardens and imposing architectural monuments, Lucknow became one of the most celebrated centers of Oriental opulence, music, dance, drama , poetry and scholarship during its glorious days of Nawabs (1775 AD - 1856 AD).

The exotic and highly cultured Lucknow with all its pomp and splendour is very much able to accommodate the modernity, keeping the tradition and culture alive altogether. The land of endearing 'Pahkle Aap' Tehzeeb (culture), Lucknow is also renowned for its silks, perfumes, jewelry, mouth-watering cuisines, and nawabi etiquettes.

Tourist Attractions Lucknow
The Bada Imambada
The Bada Imambada was built by Asaf-ud-Daula in the year 1784. Its construction was a part of the famine relief project, where a number of labourers were appointed to build this Imambada. It is a huge vacant hall with a length of 50 m and a height of 15 m. Close to the Imambara is the Bhul Bhulaiya - an amazing maze that might need a tourist guide to get through.

Rumi Darwaza
Rumi Darwaza was also also built as a famine relief work during the famine of 1783. Said to be a facsimile of one of the gates of Constantinople, this towering monument (60 ft high), can match any similar structure in point of beauty and splendour.

Chota Imambada
Also known as Husainabad Imambada, this Imambada was constructed by Mohammed Ali Shah in 1837. It is believed to be the mausoleum of Mohammed Ali Shah himself. The main Imambada is topped by a golden dome, which is supposed to be the tomb of Ali Shah and his mother. There also lies the incomplete watchtower called the satkhanda just opposite the tomb. There is also the tallest clock tower estimated to be 67 m high overlooking the Husainabad tank.

Jami Masjid
Jami Masjid is the largest mosque of Lucknow. The construction of this Masjid was commenced by Mohammed Shah and was completed by his wife after his death in the 1840s. There are wonderful paintings on the ceilings with the leaf and fruit bowl patterns, a luring view of the place.

Residency
The remains of Lucknow Residency presents a clear picture of the British

Mathura Information

Location : In the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Major Tourist Attractions : Shri Krishna Janma Bhoomi, Dwarkadheesh Temple, Vishram Ghat, Jamma Masjid, Archeological Museum.
Best Activity : Visiting the Temples.
Best Buys : Images of Gods & Goddesses
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Vrindavan, Agra, Delhi.

About Mathura

Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, the nucleus of Brajbhoomi, is located at a distance of 145 km south-east of Delhi and 58 km north-west of Agra, the city of Taj. Covering an area of about 3,800 sq. km., today, Brajbhoomi can be divided into two distinct units - the eastern part in the trans-Yamuna tract with places like Gokul, Mahavan, Baldeo, Mat and Bajna and the western side of the Yamuna covering the Mathura region that encompasses Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana and Nandgaon.

A long stretch of beautiful ghats - with their steps leading to the water's edge, arched gateways and temple spires extending along the right bank of the River Yamuna, enhances the sacred character of the town of Mathura. The birth place of Lord Krishna - Mathura is today an important place of pilgrimage, flocked by thousands of pilgrims daily.

Tourist Attractions in Mathura
Shri Krishna Janma Bhoomi
The birth place of Lord Krishna. It is believed that this is the place where about 5,000 years ago lord Krishna was born in the prison of King Kansa. While excavating this area, many old statues were found which are now displayed in the museum. At present this place has a beautiful temple of lord Krishna.

Dwarkadheesh Temple
The Dwarkadish Temple, built in 1814, is a popular temple in the center of town. It is the main temple of the town, during the festive days of Holi, janmashtami and Diwali. Situated on the city outskirts, the temple carving and paintings are major attraction. This is the most visited temple in Mathura. This temple is managed by followers of Vallabhacarya. Once you enter this temple from the street, it is fairly interesting architechually and there is a lot of activity inside. It is located in the eastern part of Mathura, not far from the Yamuna River.

Jamma Masjid
Built by Nabir -Khan in 1661 A.D. the Mosque has 4 lofty minarets, wit bright coloured plaster mosaic of which a few panels currently exist. Vishram Ghat

The sacred spot where Lord Krishna is believed to have rested after slaying the tyrant Kansa.

Archeological Museum
Located at Dampier Park; it has one of the finest collection of archaeological interest. Rare items from the Gupta and Kushan period (400 B.C.-1200A.D.) are on display. The museum has the richest and by far the most important collection of Mathura School of Sculptures of c. 3rd cent. B.C. to c. 12th cent. A. D. which attained the pinnacle of glory during the reign of Great Kushan and Gupta Emperors. With the most impressive quantum of plastic forms with vast and varied meaning on display, the museum provides perhaps the best material available for the study of Indian Art and Iconography.

Varanasi Information

Location: In the north India state of Uttar Pradesh, on the bank of the river Ganga.
Major Tourist Attraction : Bathing Ghats, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir, Gyanvapi Mosque, Durga Temple, New Vishwanath Temple, Alamgir Mosque, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Bharat Kala Bhawan, Maharaja Banaras Vidya Mandir Museum, Museums & Arts Galleries, Banaras Hindu University, Tulsi Manas Temple.
Best Hangouts: Ganga River Front
Best Buys: Benarasi Silk Sarees, Silk Brocades.
Nearby Tourist Attraction: Kashi, Sarnath, Prayag, Kushinagar, Allahabad.

About Varanasi

Varanasi, called Benaras by the English is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Mark Twain, the English author and literateur, who was amazed by the legend and sanctity of Benaras, once wrote: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".

Situated in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, arts, crafts and education. Standing timelessly on the north bank of Ganga, Varanasi is located midway between Delhi and Kolkata. Known as the religious and cultural capital of India, Varanasi's known history dates back to about 3500 hundred years. However, Hindus believe that the city is eternal. Also been known as Kashi, Varanasi's present name is restoration of an ancient name meaning the city between two rivers - the Varuna and Asi.

Tourist Attractions in Varanasi
Bharat Kala Bhawan, B.H.U
Established in 1950 as a university museum, Bharat Kala Bhawan is famous for its outstanding collection of miniature paintings. It has a rich collection of Rajasthani paintings, Pichhawai’s, pahari painting, Nepalese & Tibetan Thankas, company paintings as well as paintings of contemporary artists, illustrated Mrigavati, Kalpa Sutra, Chora-Panchasika, Laura-Chanda, Shah-nama and some pages of Humza-nama are the rich possessions of this museum.

Bathing Ghats
The splendid 4 km stretch of the Ghats is an unique sight at Varanasi. The Ghats of Varanasi are best viewed at dawn, as a steady stream of devotees-swelling to thousands on auspicious days –perform rituals by the Ganga. The Ghats are best approached by Dashashwamedha ghat, where boats are available on hire.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Varanasi is believed to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which shiva manifested has supremacy over others gods, broke through the Earth’s crust and flared towards the heavens. More than the Ghats and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi.

Bharat Mata Temple
This Temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936 and houses one perfect relief maps of India carved out of marble.The Temple was gifted by the nationalists Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta (Barat Ratana) and Shri Durga Prasad Khatri, leading numismatists and antiquarians. This is a must place top visit in Varanasi.

Vrindavan Information

Location: In the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Major Tourist Attractions: The Madan Mohan Temple, The Banke-Bihari Temple, Jaipur Temple, Radha Vallabh Temple.
Best Buys: Images of Gods & Goddesses
Nearby Tourist Destinations: Mathura, Agra, Aligarh, Rajasthan.

About Vrindavan

Vrindavan, just 15 km from Mathura, is another major place of pilgrimage in the state of Uttar Pradesh in the northern part of India. Vrindavan is known for its numerous Hindu temples - both ancient and modern. The name Vrindavan evokes the playfulness and lovable characteristics of Shri Krishna. This is the wood where he frolicked with the gopis and tenderly wooed Radha. This most revered destination of the Hindus is thronged by thousands of Tourists from all over the country.

Tourist Attractions in Vrindavan
The Madan Mohan Temple
The Madan Mohan Temple located near the Kali Ghat, built by Kapur Ram Das of Multan. This is the oldest existing temple in Vrindavan today. The temple is closely associated with the saint Chaitanya. The original idol of Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan for safe keeping, during Aurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica of the image is worshipped at the temple.

The Banke-Bihari Temple
Built in 1864, the Banke-Bihari Temple is the most popular shrine at Vrindavan. The image of Banke-Bihari was discovered in Nidhi Vana by Swami Haridas, the great Krishna devotee, belonging to the Nimbarka sect.

Radha Vallabh Temple
The famous Radha Vallabh Temple set up by the Radha - Vallabh sect, has the crown of Radha-Rani placed next to the Shri Krishna idol in the sanctum.

Jaipur Temple
The Jaipur Temple is a richly embellished and opulent temple in Vrindavan. The temple was built by Sawai Madhav Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1917. The fine hand - carved sandstone is of unparalleled workmanship. The temple is dedicated to Shri Radha Madhav.

The Shahji Temple
Designed and build in 1876 by a wealthy jeweller, Shah Kundan Lal of Lucknow, the Shahji Temple is another popular temple at Vrindavan. The deities at the temple are popularly known as the Chhote Radha Raman. Noted for its magnificent architecture and beautiful marble sculpture, the temple has twelve spiral columns each 15 feet high. The `Basanti Kamra' - the darbar hall is famed for its Belgian glass chandeliers and fine paintings.

 UTTAR PRADESH PILGRIMAGE

Traveling the pilgrimage sites in India has been a very popular activity among the Indians as well as among foreigners visiting India for the last many decades. For an Indian, visiting the sacred pilgrimages is something very inevitable and should be done once in lifetime. Travel to Uttar Pradesh, the most sacred land for Hindus in India, for housing innumerous ageless pilgrimages from ancient India. In fact, Uttar Pradesh is a holy place for the people of all religions, as it boasts of many sacred sites of worship representing various religions and sects. Apart from being one most sacred and age old pilgrimage destination of Hindus, Uttar Pradesh also possesses several most revered pilgrimages of Muslims, Buddhists and Jains. Visit the ancient and timeless cities of Varanasi, Mathura - Vrindavan, Allahabad, etc., and quench your spiritual thirst with our pilgrimage tours to Uttar Pradesh India. Uttar Pradesh shelters innumerous pilgrimages since the ancient times. Nowhere in the world one can find people worshipping sacred rivers, the banks of which are thronged by devotees to get purified from the worldly sins.

Uttar Pradesh has some of the popular pilgrimage centers where every year millions of pilgrims gather in order to fulfill their religious desires. Varanasi, the sacred place for the Hindus lies on the banks of the holy 'Ganges'. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has a very rich historical heritage. Pilgrims throng around the steps of Ganges to have a holy bath. The attraction of Varanasi is great to the tourists in India.

The twin cities of Mathura & Vrindavan, is also no less sacred than the other pilgrimage sites of Uttar Pradesh India. Mathura being the birth place of Lord Krishna is one of the most venerated cities of the Hindu pilgrims. The city of Allahabad is also most revered for it is the place where the three most sacred perennial rivers of the Hindu religion - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meets. Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama is the pride of the Hindus, who come here to take a glimpse of this eternal city.

Other than the Hindu pilgrimages, there are Buddhist, Jain and Muslims pilgrimages in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Sarnath and Kushinagar are the two most holy pilgrimages of the Buddhists. Travel to Uttar Pradesh and visit Sarnath, the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. Also, there are innumerous Jain Shrines which dots the topography of Uttar Pradesh. There are Jain shrines in Ayodhya, Allahabad, Agra, Kashi, etc. Besides, there are Muslim pilgrimages at several parts of Uttar Pradesh. The Jama Masjid at Agra is one of the largest mosques in India.

The pilgrimage sights of Uttar Pradesh India will pacify and mollify your inner self and make your pilgrimage tour to Uttar Pradesh India completely soothing and ethereal.

WORLD HERITAGE SITE:

THE TAJ MAHAL-A Tribute to Beauty:

Agra, once the capital of the Mughal Empire during the 16th and early 18th centuries, is one and a half hours by express train from New Delhi. Tourists from all over the world visit Agra not to see the ruins of the red sandstone fortress built by the Mughal emperors but to make a pilgrimage to Taj Mahal, India’s most famous architectural wonder, in a land where magnificent temples and edifices abound to remind visitors about the rich civilization of a country that is slowly but surely lifting itself into an industrialized society.

The postcard picture of Taj Mahal does not adequately convey the legend, the poetry and the romances that shroud what Rabindranath Tagore calls "a teardrop on the cheek of time". Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. It is best described by the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones." It is a celebration of woman built in marble and that’s the way to appreciate it.

Taj Mahal stands on the bank of River Yamuna, which otherwise serves as a wide moat defending the Great Red Fort of Agra, the center of the Mughal emperors until they moved their capital to Delhi in 1637. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 14th child. The death so crushed the emperor that all his hair and beard were said to have grown snow white in a few months.

When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor: first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary. He kept the first and second promises. Construction began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it. The material was brought in from all over India and central Asia and it took a fleet of 1000 elephants to transport it to the site. It was designed by the Iranian architect Ustad Isa and it is best appreciated when the architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it. It is a "symbol of eternal love".

The Taj rises on a high red sandstone base topped by a huge white marble terrace on which rests the famous dome flanked by four tapering minarets. Within the dome lies the jewel-inlaid cenotaph of the queen. So exquisite is the workmanship that the Taj has been described as "having been designed by giants and finished by jewellers". The only asymmetrical object in the Taj is the casket of the emperor which was built beside the queen’s as an afterthought. The emperor was deposed by his son and imprisoned in the Great Red Fort for eight years but was buried in the Taj. During his imprisonment, he had a view of the Taj.

As a tribute to a beautiful woman and as a monument for enduring love, the Taj reveals its subtleties when one visits it without being in a hurry. The rectangular base of Taj is in itself symbolic of the different sides from which to view a beautiful woman. The main gate is like a veil to a woman’s face which should be lifted delicately, gently and without haste on the wedding night. In Indian tradition the veil is lifted gently to reveal the beauty of the bride. As one stands inside the main gate of Taj, his eyes are directed to an arch which frames the Taj.

The dome is made of white marble, but the tomb is set against the plain across the river and it is this background that works its magic of colours that, through their reflection, change the view of the Taj. The colours change at different hours of the day and during different seasons. Like a jewel, the Taj sparkles in moonlight when the semi-precious stones inlaid into the white marble on the main mausoleum catch the glow of the moon. The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. These changes, they say, depict the different moods of woman.

Different people have different views of the Taj but it would be enough to say that the Taj has a life of its own that leaps out of marble, provided you understand that it is a monument of love. As an architectural masterpiece, nothing could be added or subtracted from it.

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES:

Chandra Prabha Sanctuary

Chandra Prabha Sanctuary sprawled over an area of 78 sq. kms has a rich and varied wildlife which comprises panther, chinkara, sambar, chital, partridge and peafowl. On the way to the sanctuary, a visitor can also make an excursion to Varanasi, just 65 kms away

Dudhwa National Park

Further east along the Terai, the Dudhwa National Park, which is also a Tiger Reserve, is localted in the district of Lakhimpur - Kheri, very close to the Nepal border. The 498.29 sq.km. Park has fine sal forests and extensive grasslands. Tall coarse grass sometimes forming impenetrable thickets, swampy depressions and lakes characterstics the wetlands of the Park. These are the habitat of large numbers of barasingha, the magnificnet swamp deer, noted for their multi-tined antlers (bara-12, singha-horn). These in turn support the predators-the tiger and leopard. Though the PARK has a fair population of tigers, they are rarely seen owing to the nature of the forest cover. The grasslands are also ideal terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. In an exciting project undertaken in 1984, a number of rhinos were brought here from Assam and Nepal, in an attempt to extend their habitats and to exclude the possibility of wiping out entire populations through disease and epidemics. Presently, 13 rhinos can be seen in Dhudwa. Other inhabitants include the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats- fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa has also an abundance of birds. There are spectacular painted storks, black and white necked storks, cranes and varied night birds of prey, ranging from the great Indian horned owl to the jungle owlet, Colorful woodpeckers, barbets, kingfishers, minivets, bee eaters and bulbuls flit through the forest canopy.

Hastinapur Sanctuary

 The Hastinapur Sanctuary's wildlife population includes the swamp deer, chital, nilgai, wolf, leopard, hyena, gharial and wild boar

Kaimoor Sanctuary: The Kaimoor Sanctuary was established in 1982 and sprawls over an area of 500 sq. kms. Located on the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border, the sanctuary is easily accessible by road. The wildlife population comprises leopard, blackbuck, chital, chinkara, ratel and peafowl

 Katarniaghat Sanctuary

Spread over an area of 400 sq. kms near the Nepal border, this little known sanctuary was established in 1976. Tiger, leopard, swamp deer, blackbuck, chital, barking deer, sambar, nilgai, sloth bear and wild boar are some of the inhabitants of the sanctuary. Gharial and magar can be found in the Girwa river and its tributaries

Kishanpur Sanctuary

Kishanpur Sanctuary was founded in 1972 over 227 sq. kms of terai forests and open meadows. It is home to the tiger, leopard and swamp deer.

 Mahavir Swamy Sanctuary

Located 125 kms from Jhansi, this sanctuary is spread over an area of 5.4 sq. kms. Jhansi provides for a wonderful gateway to the Bundelkhand region and has been rendered famous by the legendary Rani Laxmi Bai. Some of the key attractions of the sanctuary are the leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar

 National Chambal Sanctuary

The National Chambal Sanctuary is famous for the rare gigantic dolphin. The sanctuary was founded in 1979 and is part of a large area co-administered by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from the gangetic dolphin, the other inhabitants of the sanctuary include magar (crocodile) and gharial (alligator), chinkara, sambar, nilgai, wolf and wild boar.

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

The Nawabganj bird sanctuary is a huge marshland and shallow lake laced with mixed dry forest. It is home to several migratory and resident water-birds and is an ideal site for bird-watching and photography. The avian population of the sanctuary comprises among others the pochard, shoveller, woodpecker, parakeet, coot, purple moor hen and common teal.

Ranipur Sanctuary

The Ranipur Sanctuary spreads over an area of 230 sq. kms and abounds in wildlife. It is the natural habitat of several animals including the tiger, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, blackbuck, peafowl, spur fowl, jungle fowl, painted partridge, fishing cat and chinkara