Northern India Travel Guide

Northern India can be divided into two regions: the Himalayan North and the Plains. The Himalayan region is mountainous whereas the Plains is known as India’s breadbasket.

Many of the events that shaped India’s history took place in this region. What unites Northern India as a single unit is the use of a common language Hindi and its many dialects.

To read more on the Himalayan region, please read our Himalayan North Travel Guide.

The Indian Plains

The Plains are mainly agricultural regions watered by the holy rivers Ganges and Yamuna. Some of India’s most visited religious places are also here, such as Allahabad, Mathura, Varanasi, and Bodh Gaya.

Furthermore, the region also features the country’s capital, New Delhi, and the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The Plains contains 6 Indian States. They are:

• Delhi
• Punjab
• Haryana
• Uttar Pradesh
• Bihar
• Madhya Pradesh

Big Cities

Below is the list of top 11 most notable cities in Northern India:

• New Delhi — the capital of India
• Gurgaon – well developed IT and tech hub
• Noida – well planned and developed city in the National Capital Region (NCR) region
• Ghaziabad – another developed region in the NCR region
• Agra — home of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
• Chandigarh — the capital city of both the Punjab and Haryana, which was designed by Le Corbusier
• Amritsar — contains the Golden Temple, the most important center of pilgrimage for Sikhs
• Varanasi — a sacred Hindu city on the banks of the Ganges
• Lucknow — the Golden City of the East
• Patna — the gateway to the Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centers and capital of Bihar
• Bhopal — the capital of Madhya Pradesh and hub of education and industry

National Parks

Below is the list of most popular National Parks in the Indian Plains.

Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh is an expanse of approximately 811 sq km of marshes, grasslands and dense forests representing a very rich ecosystem. It is also part of the Dudhwas Tiger Reserve.

Satpura National Park

Satpura National Park is located in the rugged terrain of the Satpura hills in Madhya Pradesh. This park habitat for a large diversity of animals such as the tiger, leopard, wild dog, chital, wild boar and a wide variety of birds. On rare occasions, elephants, lions and water buffalo have visited the park.

Sultanpur National Park

Sultanpur National Park and Bird Sanctuary is in Haryana. This park provides habitat and feeding grounds for many migratory birds such as the Siberian crane as well as the many resident bird species found here.

Valmiki National Park

Valmiki National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is in Bihar. This pristine forest, grassland, and wilderness is part of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.

Harike Wetland

Harike Wetland is in Punjab. This has a diversity of wetland animals and plants. It was Harike Pattan Bird Sanctuary and is known for its many species of migratory birds. It is habitat for several endangered species such as the Testudines Turtle and Smooth Indian Otter.

Northern India States

Mughals (descendants of Mongols) made their capital in the heart of India. Since then, the capital has remained in the Central Region. For visitors who prefer to know about the rich history of India; Central India is the place to go.

Most of the country’s major landmarks are in the heart of the land. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, plus the capital city are in this region.

Bihar

Bihar is a significant location for Buddhism. Bodh Gaya, a city in Bihar, is the place where Buddha gained enlightenment. Patna, the capital city, was once the capital of the Mauryan Empire. Plus, this city has several temples and palaces worth visiting.

For example, Nalanda (ancient Buddhist university), plus Vaishali and Rajgir (important places for Jainism) have a sacred ambiance.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is the vintage destination in India. Opulent palaces and holy rivers abound in this land. Varanasi defines the sacred history of India. Furthermore, Agra is home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Lucknow has royal palaces from ancient times. You must taste the mouth-watering kebabs in Lucknow.

Madhya Pradesh

Tourists mostly ignore Madhya Pradesh. However, it has dense forests, national parks, and historical tokens to be visited. If you want to go off the beaten path in India, you can do so here. Satpura National Park, Kanha National Park, and many more parks are waiting. Also, do not miss the grand monuments at Khajuraho.

Delhi

The capital city of Delhi is the economic, political, entertainment and fashion capital. Stroll through the Mughal forts of Diwan-i-Khas, Khas Mahal, Mumtaz Mahal, and Dawaat Khana. Plus, the Lal Kila, aka Red Fort, is a major attraction.

While there, you can capture a beautiful picture of the red colored building. In addition, Humayun’s Tomb is the mausoleum where you can find the tomb of Babur, Iza Khan and Humayun who are some of the great rulers of India. The lamp of India Gate never extinguishes as it is the symbol of the sacrifice of martyrs.

Moreover, there are a plethora of monuments and places to discover in Central India. You just need to buckle up for the exciting ride.

May 25, 2018 11:20 am Published by Staff Writer