Uttar Pradesh
India's most populous state, home to the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Ganges ghats of Varanasi and Lucknow's Awadhi cooking.
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Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, in the north, bordering Nepal. Most travelers come for three places: the Taj Mahal in Agra, the temples and riverside ghats of Varanasi on the Ganges, and Lucknow, the state capital, where Awadhi cooking and Mughal-era buildings draw visitors.
Most trips usually run by train from Delhi to Agra, then on to Varanasi, with Lucknow as an add-on. Fatehpur Sikri, a Mughal city that was abandoned not long after it was built, is a short trip from Agra. Vrindavan, a temple town tied to the Hindu god Krishna, is also close to Agra. Plan at least three to four days for the core route, and more if you want to see Varanasi at dawn and spend time in Lucknow. October to March is the cooler season and the best time to go. Winter fog can delay trains, so leave slack in your schedule. The monsoon, from July to September, brings heavy rain.
Uttar Pradesh in five
- Link Delhi, Agra and Varanasi by train or flightThe classic route is Delhi, Agra and Varanasi, with Lucknow as an optional fourth stop. Trains are cheap but long, and short flights between Delhi and Varanasi save a day.Agra travel guide
- Build a buffer for winter fogDecember and January fog delays trains across the plains. Do not plan a tight onward connection or flight after a long rail leg in those months.Getting around India
- Pick one holy city, not threeVaranasi is the great pilgrimage city, with Vrindavan and Mathura nearby for Krishna temples. Short trips usually do Varanasi alone, with Sarnath on the side.Varanasi travel guide
- Add Lucknow for food and architectureLucknow is known for its Awadhi cooking and old imambaras. It is less visited than Agra, calmer and easy to reach by train from Delhi or Varanasi.Lucknow travel guide
- Go in the cool seasonOctober to March is the comfortable window. April to June is intensely hot, and the monsoon from about July to September brings humidity and flooded rivers.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Uttar Pradesh, the full guide
Varanasi
Stone ghats, dawn boat rides and evening fire ceremonies on the Ganges, in a city that is holy to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.
Lucknow
Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is known for Nawabi palaces, slow-cooked Awadhi food and chikankari embroidery.
Agra
Agra is a city in Uttar Pradesh best known for the Taj Mahal, with Agra Fort and the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri nearby.
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a ruined Mughal capital about 37 km from Agra. Emperor Akbar built it in 1571, and it was empty by 1610.
Things to do in Uttar Pradesh
See all attractions in Uttar Pradesh
Need to know
- Getting there
- Delhi airport for most visitors; direct flights to Varanasi and Lucknow
- Getting around
- Trains between cities; taxis and autos in each city
- Best base
- Agra, Varanasi and Lucknow, one night to three each
- Time needed
- 7 to 10 days for three cities
- Season
- October to March; fog on the plains in December and January
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear3 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Cool, fogJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, fog
- FebruaryClear2 rainy daysHigh26°Low14°Mild, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low19°WarmMarchClear
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- AprilClear2 rainy daysHigh39°Low25°HotAprilClear
Poor
- High
- 39°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- MayClear5 rainy daysHigh40°Low28°Very hotMayClear
Poor
- High
- 40°
- Low
- 28°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JuneClear11 rainy daysHigh39°Low30°Hot, pre-rainJuneClear
Poor
- High
- 39°
- Low
- 30°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, pre-rain
- JulyRain25 rainy daysHigh34°Low28°MonsoonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 28°
- Precipitation
- 395 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- AugustRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low27°MonsoonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 324 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Monsoon
- SeptemberRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low26°HumidSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 245 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Humid
- OctoberClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Clear, warmOctoberClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, warm
- NovemberClear0 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°Cool, clearNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, clear
- DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh24°Low12°Cool, fogDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, fog
Average daily high and low in Lucknow, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Uttar Pradesh
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 67%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Uttar Pradesh
04:09 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°19°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed29°18°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 29°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu29°17°0%Thursday: Clear. High 29°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri29°17°0%Friday: Clear. High 29°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat29°17°0%Saturday: Clear. High 29°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun28°17°0%Sunday: Clear. High 28°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Mon28°16°0%Monday: Clear. High 28°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 03:03 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Agra and the Taj Mahalabout 2 to 3 hours from Delhi by road or trainThe Taj and the fort fit one long day or an easy overnight.Read the guide
- Fatehpur Sikriabout 1 hour from Agra by roadAn abandoned Mughal capital in red sandstone, best early.Read the guide
- Vrindavanabout 1.5 hours from Agra by roadKrishna temples and ashrams, quieter on weekdays.Read the guide
Before you go to Uttar Pradesh
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Rules for Uttar Pradesh, checked
- Most foreign visitors need an Indian e-Visa or another valid entry permit; apply on the official portal before you travel.Source
- Hotels ask foreign guests for passport details at check-in, so carry your passport when you book and arrive.Source
- Remove your shoes before entering temples and mosques, and cover shoulders and knees at religious sites.
- Do not photograph cremations at the Varanasi burning ghats.Source
Plan around Uttar Pradesh
Visas, trains and seasons, country-wide
Read the guideVaranasi travel guideGhats, aarti and the Ganges at dawn
Read the guideAgra travel guideThe Taj Mahal and the Mughal fort
Read the guideLucknow travel guideAwadhi food and old imambaras
Read the guideVrindavan travel guideKrishna temples near Mathura
Read the guideIndia e-Visa guideApply online before you fly in
Read the guideUttar Pradesh FAQ
How many days do you need in Uttar Pradesh?
Seven to ten days covers Agra, Varanasi and one more stop at an unhurried pace. A shorter trip works if you pick Agra and Varanasi only, with a flight or sleeper train between them.
What is the best time to visit Uttar Pradesh?
October to March is the dry, cool window. December and January bring fog and train delays, so do not schedule tight connections. April to June is very hot, and the monsoon is humid.
What is Uttar Pradesh famous for?
The Taj Mahal in Agra, Varanasi's ghats on the Ganges, the Krishna temples of Vrindavan and Mathura, Lucknow's Awadhi cuisine and the Buddhist site of Sarnath.
Is Uttar Pradesh good for a first trip to India?
Yes for the classic sights, but it is intense. Crowds, touts and long train legs wear people down, so go with a flexible plan and a balance of busy and quiet days.
Can you get from Agra to Varanasi easily?
By overnight train or by flights with a change, the trip takes about a day or an evening plus a night. Reserve trains well ahead and plan a buffer for fog in winter.