Interesting Facts about Uttar Pradesh

This article is all about some interesting, rare, unknown, amazing and interesting facts about Uttar Pradesh (UP).

State Symbols of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.)

• State Tree – Ashoka
• State Flower – Palash
• State Animal – Swamp Deer
• State Bird – Sarus Crane

Quick Basic Facts about Uttar Pradesh 

• Capital – Lucknow
• Official Language – Hindi
• Area – 2,43, 286 Sq Km
• Area Rank – 4th
• Population – 19,95,81,477 (2011 census)
• Population Rank – 1st
• Sex Ratio- 912 females per 1000 male
• Literacy Rate – 69.7 %
• No of Districts – 75
• Assembly and Council seats – 404 + 100 (Bicameral)
• Lok Sabha seats – 80
• Rajya Sabha seats – 31
• Main Language – Hindi
• Created on – 26 Jan, 1950
• First Chief Minister – Govind Ballabh Pant
• First Governor – Sarojini Naidu
• Highest Peak – Amsot Peak,(Shivalik Hills), 3140 mt

Historical Facts about Uttar Pradesh 

• It is home to most powerful empires of medieval and ancient times – Magadh, Nand, Maurya, Sunga, Kushan, Rashtrakut, Pal and Mughals.
• The first freedom struggle of India marked with Sepoy Mutiny started from Meerut by Mangal Pandey.
• During British Period this state was also called NWPA (North West Province of Agra and Oudh) which was renamed as United Province of Agra and Oudh in 1902. In short it was called United Provinces.
• In 1920 the capital of province shifted from Allahabad to Lucknow while the High Court continued to be at Allahabad. In present time also most of the important administrative offices are still in Allahabad.
• It was created on 1 Aril 1937 as United Province during British rule and was renamed as Uttar Pradesh in 1950.
• Uttar Pradesh was the main center during the period of independence struggle. Some important national leaders from Uttar Pradesh were Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malviya and Govind Ballabh Pant who represented Indian National Congress.

Geographical Facts about Uttar Pradesh 

• It borders along with 9 other states – Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh in north, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan in west, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in south, Bihar and Jharkhand in east.
• Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with maximum number of states of India. Uttar Pradesh touches 9 other state borders. After U.P., Assam and Chhattisgarh are two states which shares its borders with 7 other states. For details read Indian state with maximum neighbouring states.
• UP shares its international border with Nepal in north. Length of international border with Nepal is 651 Km.
•  Uttar Pradesh is 4th largest state by area and top most state by population.
• Lakhimpur Kheeri is the largest district of Uttar Pradesh by area. Agra is the largest district by population.
• The main rivers of the state are  Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, Gomti and Ghagra. All these reivers except Gomti emerge from Himalayas. Gomti emerges from Gomat taal (Fulhaar jheel) in Pilibhit district of UP.

Political Facts about Uttar Pradesh 

• On 9 Nov 2000 separate state of Uttarakhand was carved out from this state.
• UP has maximum number of Lok Sabha (80) and Rajya Sabha (31) seats.
• UP has maximum number of legislative assembly (404) and legislative council (100) seats among all Indian states.
• From starting U.P. was in center of Indian Politics. In political circles it is often called that road to delhi goes from U.P. (which means party who wins U.P. also gets center).
• U.P. provided 8 Prime Ministers to India – i) Jawaharlal Nehru from Phulpur, ii) Lal Bahadur Shastri from Allahabad, iii) Indira Gandhi from Rae Bareli, iv) Rajiv Gandhi from Amethi, v) V P Singh from Fatehpur, vi) Chandrashekhar from Ballia, vii) Atal Bihari Vajpayee from Lucknow and viii) Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

Social and Cultural Facts about Uttar Pradesh 

• Many of the great Sages of Ancient Vedic times like Bhardwaj muni, Yajnavakkya, Vasistha,  Viswamitra and Valmiki are known to be related and flourished on this land.
• Uttar Pradesh has remained the center of Sanatan Dharma and Hindu culture. The two great Epics of Ramayan and Mahabharat which were inspired by the royal family of Kosal and Hastinapur respectively are both the ancient cities of this state.
• The region of Uttar Pradesh is the land of action (Karm-bhoomi) of Gautam Buddha. He gave his first sermon at Sarnath.
• Uttar Pradesh is also called Hindi Heartland. Notable Hindi writers from ancient and Medieval times like Kabirdas, Tulsidas, Surdas, Vishnu Sharma, Malik Mohammad Jayasi;  modern writers like Prem Chand, Jaishankar Prasad, Bhartendu Harischandra, Mahadevi Verma, Harivansh Rai Bachhan, Bhagwati Charan Verma and innumerable others contributed to flourish Hindi literature.
• It is the home of premier educational institutes likes Banaras Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University, Darul Uloom Deoband.

• Varanasi (Kashi) is also called Cultural capital of India. Varanasi is the oldest continuously inhabited city of world. Ghats of Varanasi are known for Ganga Aarti.
• Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlings and considered holiest among all. The remaining other eleven jyotirlings are Somnath, Mallikarjuna Swami of Srisailam, Makaleshwar of Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar,  Aundh Nagnath of Maharashtra, Rameshwar of Tamilnadu, and Grishneswar of Rajasthan.
• Allahabad is one of the four holy pilgrimage sites where Kumbh mela is organised at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers (sangam). The other three sites where Kumbh Mela is organised are Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain. Mahakumbh is organised at every twelve years at each four locations with gap of three years between successive locations. Ardh-Kumbh mela is organised at every six years at only two locations – Allahabad and Haridwar.
• Allahabad Kumbh Mela of 2013 registered 12 Crores (120 million) human visits which holds the record of largest human gathering in world ever. This is also the largest gathering in any Kumbh mela so far.

• Construction of Taj Mahal completed in year 1632. It was built by Shah Jahan in loving memory of her persian wife Mumtaz Mahal. The chief architect of this mausoleum was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. For this construction, Shah Jahan is better called as Mughal Architect and Taj Mahal is called as best example of Mughal Archtecture. More than 3 million people visit this site along with large number of international tourists.
• Kathak is an important classical dance of Uttar Pradesh. Pandit Birju Maharaj is an important exponent of this dance form.
• Literacy rate of UP is 69.7 % which is well below the national average of 74.04 %. UP is 8th most illiterate state of India.
• The Hockey Legend Major Dhyan Chand was born in Allahabad and settled in Jhansi.
• Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University (in Chitrakoot) is the only university in world established exclusively for disabled.
• Cities of Sarnath and Kushinagar are of Buddhist importance. Goutam Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath and died at Kushinagar.
• UP stands first in domestic tourism with more than 71 million tourist arrivals.

Economic Facts about Uttar Pradesh 

• Uttar Pradesh is second largest state by economy in terms of GDP (Maharashtra is at 1st position). The economy of the state is driven mainly by agriculture and service sector. Uttar Pradesh shares 8.24 % of total India’s GDP. (as per 2014 GDP data).
• Due to huge population, GDP per capita of the state becomes very low at second last position of all Indian States (as per year 2014 GDP per capita data).
• Mineral Resources of Uttar Pradesh – Limestone, magnesite, coal, rock phosphate, dolomite, silica sand and pyrophylite.
• UP is largest producer of foodgrains and oilseeds in country. It leads all the states in production of wheat, maize, barley, gram, sugarcane and potatoes.
• The state produces one-half of total sugarcane of country due to which Uttar Pradesh is also called as Sugarcane bowl of India.
• Main Agricultural Products  – Wheat, rice, maize, barley, gram, sugarcane, potatoes, pulses, oilseeds.
• As per data from Uttar Pradesh’s Animal Husbandry department 2014-15, there are total 72 government approved slaughter houses in India. Out of these total, 38 number of slaughter houses are in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh is hence the largest meat producing, processing and exporting state of India.
• Banarasi Silk Sarees are very popular and has demand all over the world. More than 10 lakh people are employed directly or indirectly near the regions of Varanasi from this handloom industry.
• Muradabad is famous for Brass handicrafts. This city is also called Peetal Nagri. The turnover from exports only was recorded as 4000 Crores in year 2012-13.
• Firozabad is well known for Glass Industry from ancient times. Bangles (chudi), chandeliers, vases, jars are some of the chief products manufactured. More than 50 % of the manufactured items are exported.
• Kanpur Leather and Tanning Industry employs more than 1 lakh of people. Belts, shoes, bags, jackets, gloves are some of the main products.
• Main Industries of UP– Edible oil, paper, cement, aluminium, railway equipment, industrial chemicals, glassware, brass handicrafts, leather products and handlooms.