SPONSORED: Uttar Pradesh and its great religious destination Varanasi

Which State in India is truly majestic and mystifying, has a rich history and culture and boasts of many religious and mythological sites? Unarguably it is the state of Uttar Pradesh. Which state in India gives you breathtaking chikankari, beautiful Banarasi sarees, delicate patti work? Undeniably Uttar Pradesh. Which state makes intricate woven silk carpets, hand carved wood work, magnificently carved brass work, mouth watering chaat and Banarasi paan? Undoubtedly Uttar Pradesh. Spice this up with the warmth and love of its people, the Lucknowi andaaz, tehzeeb, nazaakat and adaa. This is what makes Uttar Pradesh a truly unmatched state.

Uttar Pradesh is one of the largest states in India both in terms of geographical area and population. The state has seen many rulers and dynasties giving it a rich cultural heritage. It has many monuments of historical importance and many of its cities are highly revered by devotees belonging to different religions. The state has Hindu temples, mosques, Jain and Buddhist places of worship spread across its length and breadth. Mathura-Vrindavan-the birth place of Lord Krishna, Ayodhya-birth place of lord Rama, Prayag- the holy place of confluence of rivers Ganga Yamuna and Saraswati, Varanasi- the holy place for devotees of Lord Shiva are all an integral part of Uttar Pradesh. At Sarnath Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and is one of the four places of pilgrimage which his devout followers visit in large numbers every year. Sarnath is also the birthplace of the eleventh Jain Tirthankar of Jainism. Many mosques, forts and tombs also dot its landscape.

Agra and Fatehpur Sikri have been the Mughal Empire's seats of power. Agra boasts of the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, built by the Mughal emperor Shahjehan and attracts millions of tourists every year. Lucknow the capital of Uttar Pradesh and many of its cities have seen many rulers right from ancient India to the Mughals. Even the British Empire had seats of governance in many cities of Uttar Pradesh. The city of Meerut is the place where the First War of Indian Independence was fought. Uttar Pradesh has not only been the place where thinkers, philosophers, Kings, rulers and dynasties lived and thrived but also the place from where they spread their knowledge and wisdom, gave the state a rich cultural heritage and built many temples, mosques, forts and palaces making it a state truly amazing for tourism.

Uttar Pradesh has been an ideal destination for tourism since very long. Millions of tourists and pilgrims visit the cities of Varanasi, Mathura and Ayodhya, as these are considered to be the holiest cities in India. Varanasi, the city of Temples, is also known by the names of Kashi and Banaras. The word 'Kashi' originated from the word 'Kas' which means to shine. Kashi is mentioned repeatedly in the scriptures and is considered the place where Hinduism originated. Varanasi is one of the seven holy spots for Hindus even though the land attracts people from other faiths too and is often called the religious capital of India. Varanasi attracts hunderds and thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year who flock to this holy city to offer homage and wash away their sins.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is home to the Vishwanath Jyotirling temple, which is one of the most sacred of Hindu Temples. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has been a living embodiment of our timeless cultural traditions and highest spiritual values. It can be visited in any season but the monsoon season has religious importance. Maha Shivaratri is celebrated here with lots of gaiety and joy. The Temple has been visited by all great saints and several other spiritual personalities. Sankat Mochan Temple is the temple of the Lord Hanuman which is crowded by hundreds of monkeys. People read Hanuman Chalisa daily in front of the statue of the Lord Hanuman. Tulsi Manas Temple is the gorgeous temple of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Mata Sita, located near the Durga temple.

Varanasi is the oldest center of learning and the Banaras Hindu University here is still widely respected for its Sanskrit, Philosophy, and Arts faculties. The city has many Ghats as it lies on the banks of the river Ganges(Ganga), which adds magic to its atmosphere making it incredibly colourful and sacred. Ghats are the important places of worship where people carry out rituals related to life and death. Devotees who throng the ghats every single day come from different parts of the world. They spend a good part of their time on the ghats absorbing the sunshine and the glitter of water, seeping in the confluence of various cultures and traditions and enjoying the myriad colours that dot the ghats as people come in to bathe. People generally enjoy visiting the ghats by sitting in a boat and enjoying the ride while seeing the ghats one by one.

There are around 84 ghats at the banks of the river Ganga which make Varanasi the city of ghats. Some of the most important ghats of religious importance are Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Tulsi Ghat and Panchganga Ghat. Your trip to Varanasi is not complete if you have not seen the Ganga aarti. Ganga Arti is performed every morning and evening at the ghats. It enhances the divinity and sanctity of the place thus giving you inner peace and strength. Also the devotees have faith in the power of the Ganges to wash off their sins, provide Moksha (from the cycle of birth and re-birth) and re energise them with pure thoughts and deeds. Many pilgrims come here to take bath in Ganga on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti', as it is considered to give moksha when they die and become one with God.

Ganga mahotsav is a one of a kind festival and is a major city attraction. Celestial and soulful classical music rendered by maestros fills the ghats, making the place feel vibrant and mystical thus enlivening the atmosphere. The five-day-long Ganga Mahotsav gives a message of faith and culture and is accompanied by Dev Deepawali in which innumerable 'Diyas' or earthen lamps are left floating by the devotees on the river banks on the full moon night of Kartik. It is a beautiful and breathtaking spectacle making your visit to Varanasi truly memorable.