UP History

UP GK · UP इतिहास · 18 facts

Maurya Empire had major centers in UP — Pataliputra connected to Varanasi and Prayagraj trade routes

Ashoka's rock edicts and pillars found at Sarnath (Varanasi) and Kaushambi (near Prayagraj)

Sarnath, near Varanasi, is where Buddha gave his first sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) after enlightenment

Gupta Empire, the Golden Age of India, had strong influence over UP — Prayagraj was a key region

Kannauj was the most coveted kingdom in early medieval India — Harsha ruled from here in 7th century

Delhi Sultanate was founded after Battle of Tarain (1192); Meerut and Agra came under Sultanate control

Agra became the capital of Mughal Empire under Akbar (1558) and remained central under Shah Jahan

Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri (1569) near Agra as his new capital, named after victory over Gujarat

Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in Agra (1632–1653) in memory of Mumtaz Mahal — UNESCO World Heritage Site

Awadh Nawabs established Lucknow as cultural capital — Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula built Bara Imambara (1784)

First War of Independence (1857 Revolt) started in Meerut on 10 May 1857 and spread across UP

Lucknow Residency Siege (1857): British garrison besieged for 87 days during the revolt

Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi fought the British in 1857 and is celebrated as a symbol of resistance

United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (established 1902) was renamed Uttar Pradesh on 26 January 1950

Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas in Varanasi (16th century), a landmark work of Hindi/Awadhi literature

Ayodhya, Mathura, Varanasi, and Prayagraj are among the oldest living cities in the world, all in UP

Allahabad (Prayagraj) was renamed in 2018; it is the site of Triveni Sangam and Kumbh Mela

Kanpur was a major British garrison town and industrial center during colonial rule — known as Manchester of India