Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh, with its capital at Lucknow, is known for the taj, the ghats and awadhi courts. Here are well-known places to start with, and a tip for each.

1. Taj Mahal

   The white marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan, completed around 1653. A UNESCO site.

   It is closed on Fridays; sunrise visits are quietest.

   Plan a trip to Taj MahalDirections

2. Varanasi Ghats

   Stepped riverbanks along the Ganga, known for the evening Ganga Aarti.

   Take a dawn boat ride to see the ghats wake up.

   Plan a trip to Varanasi GhatsDirections

3. Bara Imambara

   An 18th-century complex in Lucknow with a vast central hall built without beams.

   The labyrinth upstairs needs a guide.

   Plan a trip to Bara ImambaraDirections

4. Fatehpur Sikri

   A Mughal capital built by Akbar in the 1570s. A UNESCO site.

   Beware of touts at the gate.

   Plan a trip to Fatehpur SikriDirections

Near you instead? Explore places near you or plan a trip from your city.

More travel guides

• UttarakhandHimalayan peaks and the sacred Ganga
• West BengalTrams, tea hills and terracotta temples
• TripuraPalaces and quiet lakes