Uttar Pradesh is known as the heart of India; it is the land of epics, holy rivers and ancient cities. Since the times of Rama, Lord Krishna and Gautam Buddha the state was the centre of cultural and intellectual brilliance. The stories of India’s two great Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata have strong connections to Uttar Pradesh, as the state was the central setting for both epics and played a role in their composition and preservation.
The state has a rich history spanning ancient times, where it was known as "Madhya Desh" and home to several Mahapadas, through the Mughal and British periods, until it was officially named Uttar Pradesh in 1950. In the British era, the region was called the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, a name shortened to United Provinces in 1935, before the final renaming after India's independence.
Uttar Pradesh is called the “Heart of India” because it shares borders with nine states — Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar. Being connected to so many states makes UP the true center of India and gives it a strategic heartbeat, playing a vital role in the country’s politics, culture, and economy.
The state’s unique geographical position and rich history and spiritual sites like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Varanasi and Ayodhya has made it a delight for tourists, both domestic and international. The state recorded its highest ever tourist footfall of 649 million in 2024, a significant increase of about 480 million in 2023. The state greeted over 23 lakh foreign visitors in 2024, which was over 25% more than 2023. the state is on track to surpass one billion tourist visits, generating INR3 lakh crore in economic activity. According to the government the state is on track to surpass one billion tourist visits, generating
INR 3 lakh crore in economic activity soon.
State is emerging as a growth driver
Uttar Pradesh is one of India's largest states and also one of the poorest. The dichotomy is palpable but not surprising as the state’s economy has remained largely agrarian. The state’s high reliance on traditional agriculture with small, vulnerable farms, poor human development infrastructure like schools and healthcare, issues with governance and the law and order situation have often worked against its economic prosperity.
Uttar Pradesh although is the most populous state and is the fourth largest state India in terms of area with extensive fertile land and early industrial establishments, it has not grown to its potential and has remained as one of the poorest states in the country.
