Uttar Pradesh
Situated in the northern part of India, Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state of India. In terms of area, it is the fourth largest among all the states. It is bound by Nepal on the north, and is surrounded by the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Often referred to as the "cow belt" or "Hindi belt", Uttar Pradesh has been the most dominant state in Indian politics and culture since Independence, producing over half of India's prime ministers.
The Ganges River forms the backbone of Uttar Pradesh, and most of the state consists of the vast Ganges plain. The Ganges is the sacred river of Hinduism, and four of the religion's seven holy towns are in the state, including Varanasi, the holiest of them all. Uttar Pradesh is also a place of major importance to Buddhists, for it was at Sarnath, just outside Varanasi, that the Buddha first preached his message of the middle way.
There's more to Uttar Pradesh than just religion, though. The scenic north-western corner has hill stations sprinkled along the foothills of the Himalayas, boasts excellent trekking and rises to form some of the highest mountains in India.
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