If you are planning to visit UP and want to know which are the top 10 places in Uttar Pradesh to explore, this blog post will help you with the right insights.
Uttar Pradesh is a land of wonders. From temples to Monasteries, mountains to beaches, Uttar Pradesh has uncountable places to visit. Which are in the list of top ten, let’s explore.
List of The Top 10 Places in Uttar Pradesh To Explore
According to the data published on the official website of the UP Tourism Department, Uttar Pradesh witnessed nearly 48 Crore tourists in the year 2023.
Here is the list of best 10 tourist places in UP –
1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kashi Vishwanath is one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the best sacred places in UP as well.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located in Varanasi, also known as Kashi and Banaras, in Uttar Pradesh.
You can start your journey to Uttar Pradesh with Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
2. Ram Mandir, Ayodhya
After the inauguration of Ram Mandir on 22nd January, 2024, it becomes one of the best tourist places in UP. Millions of people from all around the country have already been visited Ram Mandir till the date.
Whether you are an agnostic or someone who believe in lord Rama, Ram Mandir is a great place to visit and feel divinity.
3. Taj Mahal, Agra
The Taj Mahal in Agra is one of the best tourist places in Uttar Pradesh. One out of the three World Heritage Sites in Uttar Pradesh, Taj Mahal is one of the most visited place as well.
Taj Mahal is situated on the right bank of Yamuna river in district Agra of Uttar Pradesh.
4. Sarnath, Varanasi
Sarnath is a place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first speech after attaining Nirvana. There are many monuments and Buddhist temples to visit in Sarnath.
Located 10 KM. away from Varanasi, Sarnath is one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh to experience divinity and peace.
5. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
Fatehpur Sikri is one of the top travel-friendly places in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the World Heritage Sites of India along with the Taj Mahal.
Fatehpur Sikri is famous for many historical monuments and places. It is a town in Agra district. If you are planning to visit Taj Mahal, the Fatehpur Sikri should be the next option.
6. Sangam of Ganga Yamuna Saraswati, Prayagraj
Prayagraj’s Sangam is a must visit place in Uttar Pradesh. If you want to admire the beauty of confluence of three main rivers of India, The Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati, this is the best place to experience.
Prayagraj, which is one of the best 10 places to visit in Uttar Pradesh formerly known as Allahabad. The famous Kumbha Mela also take place at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj. You can visit this mesmerizing Triveni Sangam at any time.
7. Waterfalls, Mirzapur
When we discuss about best places to visit in UP, Mirzapur offers something mind-blowing to the tourists. If you are planning to explore Uttar Pradesh, Mirzapur’s waterfalls must be in your bucket list.
Mirzapur is a city and district in Uttar Pradesh which is well connected with other cities of India. You can easily reach Mirzapur by train, flight, or by road.
8. Historical Monuments, Lucknow
The historical monuments of Lucknow are one of the top 10 tourist places in Uttar Pradesh. According to the data, people love to visit Bada Imambara, Chhota Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow.
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh. You can start your journey to Uttar Pradesh from this “Nawabo Ka Shehar”.
9. Agra Fort, Agra
Agra Fort is the third World Heritage Site in Uttar Pradesh. It is also known as Agra’s Red fort which is in the list of up’s best tourist places.
Agra Fort is in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. You can visit Agra Fort along with the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri.
10. Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
If you are devotee of Shri Krishna and looking for the best tourist places in Uttar Pradesh, Prem Mandir should be on the top.
Prem Mandir, a temple dedicated to lord Krishna is located in Vrindavan. Vrindavan is a city in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. It is a beautifully constructed Krishna temple.
Every year millions of people visit Prem Mandir, especially during the Krishna Janmotasav.
So, above are the top tourist places in Uttar Pradesh.
Top Cities to Visit in Uttar Pradesh in 2024
After getting insights about Places To See In Uttar Pradesh, Now let’s know the top cities of Uttar Pradesh, to experience the heritage, culture, divinity and peace.
1. Varanasi (Kashi/Banaras)
Varanasi is on the top in the list of best travel friendly places in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the oldest cities in the World. Varanasi has many temples including the most famous one Kashi Vishwanath and historical places to explore.
Every year billions of people visit Varanasi. Whether you may belong to any religion, Varanasi has something for everyone. There are numerous Hindu temples, Mosques, Buddhist places, Gurudwaras to visit in Varanasi.
2. Agra
The district and city Agra in Uttar Pradesh has many places to Explore. Agra is one of the most visited cities in Uttar Pradesh having three World Heritage Sites.
Agra fort, Taj Mahal, Mehtab Bagh, these are the famous tourist spots in Agra.
3. Ayodhya
Ayodhya, the birthplace of lord Rama, is the third highest visited city in Uttar Pradesh. In Ayodhya, the Centre attraction for tourists is recently inaugurated Ram Mandir.
Ayodhya is situated on the banks of the river Sarayu. Along with the Ram Mandir, tourists can visit Shri Hanuman Garhi Mandir, Kanak Bhawan, Shri Nageshwarnath Temple, Guptar Ghat, and many more famous and historical spots during their Ayodhya visit.
4. Prayagraj
If you are planning to explore UP, Prayagraj can be a good option. The oldest name of Prayagraj is Allahabad. It is a famous city and district in Uttar Pradesh.
There are many tourist attractions in Prayagraj. The Triveni (Ganga-Yamuna-Sarasvati) Sangam, Anand Bhawan, The New Yamuna Bridge, Khushro Bagh are some of the famous places in Prayagraj.
5. Lucknow
Being a Capital city, Lucknow is one of the most visited cities in Uttar Pradesh. Known for its rich cultural heritage, it’s often referred to as the “City of Nawabs” due to its historical association with the Nawabs of Awadh.
Lucknow is one of the safe places to visit in Uttar Pradesh. The cuisine, language, the buildings, everything is so beautiful and well organized here. You can visit the famous Rumi Gate, Bada Imambara, Chhota Imambara, Ghanta ghar during your Lucknow tour.
6. Mathura
The Krishna Janmabhoomi Mathura is one of the safe places for tourists in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the most sacred cities as well. Mathura is home to many temples, including the Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, which is built around the believed birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Prem Mandir, Shri Krishna Janambhoomi, Shri Krishna Balram Mandir, Vishram Ghat, Shree Dwarkadhish Temple are some famous attractions for tourists and pilgrimages in Mathura.
7. Bareilly
In 2023, Bareilly was at number five in the category of most visited cities in UP. Located along the Delhi-Lucknow Highway, Bareilly is approximately 150 kilometers away from Nainital.
The city has many famous places to visit including Dargah-e-Aala Hazrat, Fun City, Shri Trivati Nath Mandir, Shree Baba Alakhnath Ji Mandir, Ramganga Bridge, Shri Baba Bankhandi Nath ji Temple, Gandhi Udhyan Park, Kargil Chock, Collectorate Building, and Amusement Park.
8. Sonbhadra
Sonbhadra, also known as “Energy Capital of India”, is a beautiful City to explore in Uttar Pradesh. Lies between the Kaimur and Vindhya range of mountains, it is one of the hill stations in Uttar Pradesh.
As referred as “Switzerland of India” by the first Prime Minister of India, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Sonbhadra is a city of Waterfalls, Fossils Park, Dams, Wildlife Sanctuary and Some Historical Forts.
9. Meerut
Meerut is a famous city and district in Western Uttar Pradesh. It is the land of worriers. The first war of independence was witnessed here in Meerut.
The city Meerut was one of the most visited places in UP in 2023. Places like Augarnath Mandir, Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir, Shaheed Smarak, Fantasy World, Suraj Kund Park, Gandhi Bagh are some of the famous tourist attractions in Meerut.
10. Jhansi
Formerly known as Balwant Nagar, Jhansi is a historic city in Uttar Pradesh. The famous freedom fighter Rani Lakshmi Bai was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi.”Khoob Ladi Mardani Wo To Jhansi Wali Rani Thi” this slogan was written for Rani Lakshmi Bai.
Jhansi is well connected with other cities of Uttar Pradesh. You can visit Rani Lakshmi Bai Ka Mahal, Jhansi Ka Kila, Garhmau Lake, Sati Pillar Memorial, Kedareshwar Mandir, Jhansi Fort, Orchha Fort, Chaturbhuj Temple during your Jhansi tour.
9 Most Visited Places in Uttar Pradesh in 2023
After getting insights about the Top Places and Cities to visit in Uttar Pradesh, let’s take a look at the list of the most visited cities in Uttar Pradesh in the year 2023.
| S.No | Cities | Total Tourists |
| 1. | Varanasi | 12,94,05,720 |
| 2. | Agra | 10,50,30,099 |
| 3. | Ayodhya | 6,30,10,176 |
| 4. | Prayagraj | 5,39,35,319 |
| 5. | Bareilly | 3,70,30,764 |
| 3. | Jhansi | 3,16,19,341 |
| 7. | Meerut | 2,45,34,984 |
| 8. | Lucknow | 2,31,87,898 |
| 9. | Gorakhpur | 1,16,59,609 |
We tried to cover the all top places to travel in Uttar Pradesh in this blog post. If you thought we skipped something, please write us in the comment box below.