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| IMPORTANT STATE GOVERMENT LINK |
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR (UT):
* The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of the seven union territories of India, are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.
ANDHRA PRADESH:
*Andhra Pradesh is a state bordering India's south-eastern coast.
* Major cultural landmarks include Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple, an ornate hilltop shrine to Hindus Vishnu, in the southern part of the state.
* It is visited by tens of millions of pilgrims annually.
ASSAM:
* Assam is a state in north-eastern India known for its wildlife, archaeological sites and tea plantations.
* In the west, Guwahati, Assams largest city, features silk bazaars and the hilltop Kamakhya Temple.
* Umananda Temple sits on Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra river. The state capital, Dispur, is a suburb of Guwahati.
* The ancient pilgrimage site of Hajo and Madan Kamdev, the ruins of a temple complex, lie nearby.
BIHAR:
* Bihar is a state in East India, bordering Nepal.
* It is divided by the River Ganges, which floods its fertile plains.
* Important Buddhist pilgrimage sites include the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Temple, under which the Buddha allegedly meditated.
* In the state capital Patna, Mahavir Mandir temple is revered by Hindus, while Sikhs worship at the domed, riverside Gurdwara of Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji.
CHANDIGARH (UT):
* Chandigarh, the capital of the northern Indian states Punjab and Haryana, was designed by the Swiss-French modernist architect, Le Corbusier.
* His buildings include the Capitol Complex with its High Court, Secretariat and Legislative Assembly, as well as the giant Open Hand Monument.
* The nearby Rock Garden is a park featuring sculptures made of stones, recycled ceramics and industrial relics.
CHHATTISGARH:
* Chhattisgarh is a heavily forested state in central India known for its temples and waterfalls.
* Near the capital Raipur, the town of sirpur on the Mahanadi River is home to the red-brick Lakshmana (Laxman) Temple, decorated with carvings from Indian mythology.
* In the south, the city of Jagdalpur hosts the Sanjay Market on Sundays, a bartering place for local tribes. The huge Chitrakoot Falls lie to the northwest.
DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI:
* Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a union territory in Western India.
* It is composed of two separate geographical entities: Nagar Haveli, Wedged between Maharastra and Gujarat and 1 km to the northwest, the smaller enclave of Dadra, which is surrounded by Gujarat. Silvassa is the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
DAMAN AND DIU:
* Daman and Diu is a union territory in Western India. With an area of 112 km2, it is the smallest federal division of India on the mainland.
* The territory comprises two distinct regions Daman and Diu, geographically separated by the Gulf of Khambhat.
* The state of Gujarat and the Arabian Sea border the territory.
DELHI:
* Delhi, India's capital territory is a massive metropolitan area in the country's north.
* In old Delhi, a neighborhood dating to the 1600s, stands the imposing Mughal-era Red Fort, a symbol of India, and the sprawling Jama Masjid mosque, whose courtyard accommodates 25,000 people. Nearby is Chandni Chowk, a vibrant bazaar filled with food carts, sweets shops, and spice stalls.
GOA:
* Goa is a state in western India with coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea.
* Its long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 is evident in its preserved 17th-century churches and the area's tropical spice plantations.
* Goa is also known for its beaches, ranging from popular stretches at Baga and Palolem to those in laid-back fishing villages such as Agonda.
GUJARAT:
* Gujarat, India's westernmost state, has varied terrain and numerous sacred sites.
* In its urban center of Ahmedabad is the Calico Museum of Textiles, displaying antique and modern Indian fabrics.
* Spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi's base from 1917-1930 was Sabarmati Ashram, Where his living quarters remain on view.
* The Jama Majid ( Friday Mosque), built in the 15th Century, has a huge courtyard and a columned design.
HARYANA:
* Haryana is a North Indian State surrounding New Delhi on 3 sides.
* The Yamuna River runs along its eastern border with Uttar Pradesh. Shared with Punjab, the state capital Chandigarh is known for its modernist buildings and gridlike street plan designed by Swiss architect, Le Corbusier. The Zakir Hussain Rose Garden features 1,600 species, while its Rock Garden showcases sculptures made with recycled materials.
HIMACHAL PRADESH:
* Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state in the Himalayas.
* It is home to scenic mountain towns and resorts such as Dalhousie.
* Host to the Dalai Lama, Himachal Pradesh has a strong Tibetan presence.
* This is reflected in its Buddhist temples and monasteries, as well as its vibrant Tibetan New Year celebrations.
* The region is also well known for its trekking, climbing, and skiing areas.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR:
* Jammu and Kashmir is a state in northern India, often denoted by its acronym, J&K.
* It is located mostly in the Himalayan mountains and shares borders with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south.
JHARKHAND:
* Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It is known for its waterfalls, the elegant Jain temples of Parasnath Hill, and the elephants and tigers of Betla National Park.
* The state capital of Ranchi is a gateway to the park.
* It features the 17th-century Jagannath Temple, a Hindu shrine, and the Jharkhand War memorial.
* Tagore Hill is a monument honoring Nobel Prize-winning author Rabindranath Tagore.
KARNATAKA:
* Karnataka is a state in southwest India with Arabian Sea coastlines.
* The capital Bengaluru ( formerly Bangalore), is a high-tech hub known for its shopping and nightlife.
* To the southwest, Mysore is home to lavish temples including Mysore Palace, the former seat of the region's maharajas. Hampi, once the medieval Vijayanagara empire's capital, contains ruins of Hindu temples, elephant stables, and a stone chariot.
KERALA:
* Kerala, a state on Indias tropical Malabar Coast, has nearly 600km of Arabian Sea shoreline.
* It is known for its palm-lined beaches and backwaters, a network of canals. Inland are the Western Ghats, mountains whose slopes support tea, coffee, and spice plantations as well as wildlife.
National parks like Eravikulam and Periyar, plus Wayanad and other sanctuaries, are home to elephants, langur monkeys, and tigers.
LAKSHADWEEP (UT):
* Lakshadweep is a tropical archipelago of 36 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala, India.
* Not all of the islands are inhabited, and only a few are open to visitors ( permits required).
* Kavaratti, one of the more developed islands, is home to dozens of mosques, including the ornately decorated Ujra Mosque, as well as Kavaratti Aquarium, showcasing regional fish, shark, and coral species.
MADHYA PRADESH:
* Madhya Pradesh, a large state in central India, retains landmarks from eras throughout Indian history.
* Begun in the 10th century, its Hindu and Jain temples at Khajuraho are renowned for their carvings of erotic scenes, most prominently Kandariya Mahadeva, a temple with more than 800 culptures. The eastern Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks, noted Bengal tiger sanctuaries, offer guided safaris.
MAHARASHTRA:
* Maharashtra, a state spanning west-central India, is best known for its fast-paced capital, Mumbai formerly Bombay).
* This sprawling metropolis is the seat of the Bollywood film industry. It also has sites like the British Raj-era Gateway of India monument and cave temples at Elephant Island.
* To the south is the rustic, beach-lined Konkan Coast. In the city of Pune, Aga Khan Palace is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
MANIPUR:
* Manipur is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital.
* It is bounded by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south, and Assam to the west, Burma lies to its east.
MEGHALAYA:
* Meghalaya is a state in Northeast India.
* The name means the abode of clouds in Sanskrit.
* The population of Meghalaya as of 2016 is estimated to be 3, 211, 474
MIZORAM:
* Mizoram is a state in Northeast India, with Aizawl as its capital city.
* The name is derived from Mizo, the name of the native inhabitants, and Ram, which means land, and thus Mizoram means land of the Mizos.
NAGALAND:
* Nagaland is a mountainous state in northeast India, bordering Myanmar.
* It is home to diverse indigenous tribes, with festivals and markets celebrating the different tribe's cultures.
* Its capital city of Kohima suffered heavy fighting in World War II, commemorated by memorials at the Kohima War Cemetery.
* The Nagaland State Museum exhibits ancient weaponry, a ceremonial drum, and other traditional Naga cultural artifacts.
ORISSA:
* Odisha ((formerly orrisa), an eastern Indian state on the Bay of Bengal, is known for its tribal cultures and its many ancient Hindu temples.
* The capital, Bhubaneswar, is home to hundreds of temples, notably the intricately-carved Mukteshvara.
* The Lingaraj Temple Complex dating to the 11th century, is set around sacred Bindusagar Lake.
* The Odisha State Museum is focused on the history and environment of the area.
PONDICHERRY (UT):
* Puducherry, formerly known as Pondicherry, is a union territory of India.
* It was formed out of four exclaves of former French India, namely Pondicherry, Karikal, Mahe, and Yanaon.
* It is named after the largest district, Puducherry.
PUNJAB:
* Punjab, a state bordering Pakistan, is the heart of India's Sikh Community.
* The city of Amritsar, founded in the 1570s by Sikh Guru Ram Das, is the site of Harmandir Sahib, the holiest gurdwara ( Sikh place of Worship).
* Known in English as the Golden Temple, and surrounded by the Pool of Nectar, it is a major pilgrimage site.
* Also in Amritsar is Durgiana Temple, a Hindu shrine famed for its engraved silver doors.
RAJASTHAN:
* Rajasthan is a northern Indian state bordering Pakistan.
* Its palaces and forts are reminders of the many kingdoms that historically vied for the region.
* In its capital, Jaipur ( the Pink City), are the 18th-century City Palace and Hawa Mahal, a former cloister for royal women, fronted by a 5-story pink- sandstone Screen.
* Amer Fort, atop a nearby hill, was built by a Rajput prince in the early 1600s.
TRIPURA:
* Tripura is a hilly state in northeast India, bordered on 3 sides by Bangladesh, and home to a diverse mix of tribal cultures and religious groups.
* In the capital Agartala, the imposing Ujjayanta Palace is set among Mughal gardens, and Gedu Mias Mosque has white marble domes and towers.
* South of the city, Neermahal summer palace sits in the middle of Lake Rudrasagar and blends Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.
UTTAR PRADESH:
* Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India.
* Its city of Agra is home to the iconic Taj Mahal monument, a colossal, domed, white-marble mausoleum honoring the wife of 17th-century Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
* Nearby are the red-brick walls of Agra Fort, a fortified palace dating to the 16th and 17th centuries.
* Capital Lucknow has Muslim memorial shrines Bara Imambara and calligraphy adorned Chota Imambara.
UTTRANCHAL:
* Uttarakhand, a state in northern India crossed by the Himalayas, is known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites.
* Rishikesh, a major center for yoga study, was made famous by the Beatles' 1968 visit.
* The city hosts the evening Ganga Aarti, a spiritual gathering on the sacred Ganges River.
* The states forested Jim Corbett National Park Shelters and other Native wildlife.
WEST BENGAL:
* West Bengal is a state in eastern India, between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.
* Its capital, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), retains architectural and cultural remnants of its past as an East India Company trading post and capital of the British Raj.
* The city's colonial landmarks include the government buildings around B.B.D. Bagh Square, and the iconic Victoria Memorial, dedicated to Britain's queen.
SIKKIM:
* Sikkim is a state in northeast India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal. Part of the Himalayas, the area has a dramatic landscape that includes Indias highest mountain, 8,586km Kanchanjunga.
* Sikkim is also home to glaciers, alpine meadows, and thousands of varieties of wildflowers. Steep paths lead to hilltop Buddhist monasteries such as Pemayangtse, which dates to the early 1700s.
TAMIL NADU:
* Tamil Nadu, a South Indian state, is farmed for its Dravidian-Style Hindu temples.
* In Madurai, Meenakshi Amma Temple has high gopuram towers ornamented with colorful figures.
* On Pamban Island, Ramanathaswamy Temple is a pilgrimage site. The town of Kanyakumari, at India's southernmost tip, is the site of ritual sunrises.
