Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is the land of epics, holy rivers, and ancient cities, and the ultimate location for pilgrimage for many centuries. Uttar Pradesh is home to two Vishnu avatars, Lord Rama and Lord Krishna were born here. Due to their birthplaces, the state has been the center of culture and religion since ancient times. Prayagraj is the place where the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswathi happens and is also a site for the Kumbha Mela in India. Kashi, also known as Varanasi is a city in the state dating to the 11th century B.C. is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities and also home to 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the "Golden Temple". Varanasi is regarded as the spiritual capital of India and draws pilgrims who bathe in the Ganga River's sacred waters and perform funeral rites. The historical towns of Sarnath and Kushinagar are not far from Varanasi. Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath and died at Kushinagar; both are important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. Also at Sarnath are the Pillars of Ashoka and the Lion Capital of Ashoka, archaeological artifacts with national significance.