facts about Uttar Pradesh
1. If Uttar Pradesh were to be a separate country, it would be world’s fifth most populous country.
2. Pradesh preserved its intellectual excellence even under the British administration. The British combined Agra and Oudh into one province and called it United Province of Agra and Oudh. The name was shortened to the United Provinces in 1935. In January 1950 the United Province was renamed as Uttar Pradesh
3. There is a village called “SnapDeal.com Nagar” in Muzaffarnagar district. The old name of this village is Shiv Nagar. SnapDeal – the Indian e-commerce company had installed 15 hand pumps, so villagers no longer have to walk for miles to fetch drinking water. There was no source of potable water in the village before. The villagers voted to name their hamlet after Snapdeal to express their gratitude.
4. Karmnasa, This is a river unlike any other in India. As its Hindi name suggests, it is the only cursed river and it is believed that touching its water would ruin one’s plans. There’s hardly any development along this river. People around this river just eat dry fruits because cooking food would require water!
5. Shahjahanpur, Even decades after Independence, the streets of Shahjahanpur witness a strange and crude convention. On the day of Holi, the festival of colours, people of the town parade a randomly chosen man, almost naked and wearing a garland of shoes, while beating him with brooms. This happens in the presence of senior district officials and even the High Court is aware of it, but somehow it has escaped a ban.
6. Muzaffarnagar, The Jat-dominated district in western Uttar Pradesh has the highest per capita income in the state. One of its blocks, Shamli, is said to have the highest LIC premiums in the country.
7. The Parijat Tree, Roughly 40 km away from Lucknow, stands the Parijat tree, which is supposed to be the only one of its kind in the world. It is known for its flower, which changes colour during the day. Legend has it that the parijat plant was brought down from heaven by Lord Krishna for his second wife, Satyabhama.
8. Jalesar, The next time you see those lovely small cast bells hung around the necks of cows in Switzerland, be sure to ask where it comes from. You’d be surprised by the answer. Jalesar, a small town with a population of around 40,000 in Utah district is known for casting brass bells and exporting it around the world.
