Luxury Holidays In Uttar Pradesh

The most populous state in India and the fourth largest in terms of area, Uttar Pradesh has to its north, Tibet and Nepal and to its southwest, Rajasthan. It is home to three of India’s most popular cities: Agra, Rishikesh and Varanasi.

Agra, of course, is a must-see on any itinerary and nothing compares with the sensation you get when you first glimpse the Taj Mahal – it is completely overwhelming.

Rishikesh, meanwhile, nestles at the foothills of the Himalayas and is not only a centre of pilgrimage for Hindus, but also a centre for Ayurveda.

Lastly, Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in India. Set on the western banks of the sacred River Ganges, it is best known for its ghats – in particular, its burning ones. This is where the dead are cremated and, even though this ritual may be considered macabre, it must be remembered that ‘The Ganges cleanses all sins and ensures a release from the Hindu cycle of rebirths: it's an instant passport to heaven’.