Uttar
Pradesh has always been a politically active state. The state has seen
the advent and fall of various empires in the course its history. From
the advent Mughal till the departure of British, UP has seen it all.
Nearly all the rulers who have ruled Uttar Pradesh in the course of
history have left their marks in terms of architecture. Moguls, Nawabs
of Oudh, Talukedars and British; all of them have contributed to the
architectural heritage of Uttar Pradesh. Due their individual and
collective contributions, Uttar Pradesh today boasts off some of the
most marvelous monuments in the entire world.Talking of monuments we must start from the queen among all; The Taj Mahal. So much have been written on The Taj by so many that there is nothing left to talk about it. Nevertheless, all of them have failed to capture the beauty of Taj in words. When someone of the caliber of Vincent Van Gough fails to put something in words then it is high time we see it by our own eyes. Taj is not to be read about; it is to be experienced and explored.
Agra, the city of Taj, has much more on its platter. You can enjoy the sublime aesthetics of buildings inside the Agra Fort that stands proudly even after 400 years from the date of its constructions. The naqqashi works that has been done in the buildings like Dewan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas are marvelous. Fatehpur Sikri that is situated 50 kilometers off Agra has another cluster of monuments. Start your day with Buland Darwaza, the highest gateway in Asia followed by a walk around Salim Chisti mausoleum and Panch Mahal that stand proudly in its premises. The tomb of Akbar the Great at Sikandara is another major attraction around Agra.
Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh and erstwhile Oudh, has many monuments worth appreciating. The most famous among the lot is Bada Imambada. This shrine has a special relevance for the Shiite Muslims in India. The chandeliers and other glassware that decorates the inner sanctum of this place are magnificent. Equally good are Chota Imambada and Shah Najaf Imambara. These buildings were constructed under food for work programs initiated by the then Nawab of Oudh who wanted to help his subjects who were suffering from famine. The Rumi Darwaza that guards the entrance of old Hussainabad in Lucknow is another monument of magnificence.
Among the buildings of British era the most notable one is the Church complex of Sardhana that was constructed by Begum Shamru who was married to a British colonel. Equally important is 'The Residency' in Lucknow that used to be the residence cum office of the Resident General of Oudh.
These are some of the most famous monuments of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from these major historical monuments, UP also has a number of minor monuments that lay scattered in every nook and corners of the state.
