Part XI — District-Wise Profiles
Free study material · concepts, shortcuts & solved questions
Chapter 12: Major Districts of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh's 75 districts are grouped into 18 divisions. The following quick-reference profiles cover major districts frequently tested in state-level examinations.
Lucknow — The state capital, seat of government, historically the capital of Awadh under the Nawabs; known for Chikankari embroidery, Bara Imambara, and Rumi Darwaza.
Kanpur — UP's largest city by population; a historic industrial and leather-manufacturing centre, informally called the "Manchester of the East."
Varanasi — One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, a major Hindu pilgrimage centre on the Ganga; renowned for Banarasi silk and as parliamentary constituency of the Prime Minister since 2014.
Agra — Home to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri nearby; a former Mughal imperial capital.
Prayagraj (Allahabad) — Site of the Sangam (confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati), venue of the Kumbh Mela; historically an important administrative and educational centre.
Mathura — Traditionally regarded as Lord Krishna's birthplace; a major pilgrimage centre alongside neighbouring Vrindavan.
Ayodhya — Traditionally regarded as Lord Rama's birthplace; site of the Ram Mandir consecrated in January 2024, a major focus of religious tourism development.
Meerut — Historically significant as the starting point of the 1857 Revolt.
Jhansi — Associated with Rani Lakshmibai's leadership during the 1857 Revolt; part of the Bundelkhand region.
Aligarh — Home to Aligarh Muslim University, a major centre of higher education.
Bareilly — A major commercial centre in the Rohilkhand region, known for its perfume and furniture industries.
Gorakhpur — Home to the Gorakhnath Temple; associated with the state's current Chief Minister, who heads the temple's monastic order.
Noida and Greater Noida (Gautam Buddh Nagar) — Planned industrial and IT/electronics manufacturing hubs adjoining Delhi-NCR.
Firozabad — Renowned for its glass and bangle manufacturing industry.
Moradabad — Known for brassware/metal handicrafts, sometimes called the "Brass City."
Bhadohi — Renowned for its carpet-weaving industry and GI-tagged carpets.
Kannauj — Historically an ancient imperial capital (Harshavardhana's capital); today renowned for perfume (Ittar) production.
Sarnath (near Varanasi) — Site of the Buddha's first sermon, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Kaushambi — An ancient Vatsa Mahajanapada capital with archaeological and Buddhist significance.
Jaunpur — Historically the seat of the Sharqi Sultanate, known for the Atala Masjid.
Chitrakoot — A pilgrimage site with Ramayana associations, part of the Bundelkhand region.
Bundelkhand region districts (including Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur, Mahoba) — A drought-prone region receiving special development focus, including the Bundelkhand Expressway.
Practice Set — Districts of Uttar Pradesh (25 MCQs)
- UP's largest city by population is:
(a) Kanpur (b) Lucknow (c) Agra (d) Varanasi - Which city has historically been called the "Manchester of the East"?
(a) Kanpur (b) Lucknow (c) Agra (d) Meerut - The Taj Mahal is located in:
(a) Agra (b) Lucknow (c) Varanasi (d) Kanpur - The Kumbh Mela is prominently held at the Sangam in:
(a) Prayagraj (b) Varanasi (c) Mathura (d) Ayodhya - Mathura is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of:
(a) Lord Krishna (b) Lord Rama (c) Lord Shiva (d) Lord Ganesha - Ayodhya is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of:
(a) Lord Rama (b) Lord Krishna (c) Gautam Buddha (d) Mahavira - The Ram Mandir at Ayodhya was consecrated in:
(a) January 2024 (b) 2019 (c) 2000 (d) 1992 - The 1857 Revolt is traditionally said to have started at:
(a) Meerut (b) Lucknow (c) Jhansi (d) Kanpur - Rani Lakshmibai's leadership during 1857 is closely associated with:
(a) Jhansi (b) Meerut (c) Agra (d) Varanasi - Aligarh Muslim University is located in:
(a) Aligarh (b) Lucknow (c) Kanpur (d) Agra - The Gorakhnath Temple, associated with the state's Chief Minister's monastic order, is located in:
(a) Gorakhpur (b) Ayodhya (c) Mathura (d) Varanasi - Noida and Greater Noida fall under which district?
(a) Gautam Buddh Nagar (b) Meerut (c) Bareilly (d) Aligarh - Firozabad is particularly renowned for its industry in:
(a) Glass and bangles (b) Carpets (c) Brassware (d) Perfume - Moradabad is sometimes referred to as the:
(a) Brass City (b) Glass City (c) Silk City (d) Perfume City - Bhadohi is renowned for its:
(a) Carpet-weaving industry (b) Glass industry (c) Brass industry (d) Perfume industry - Kannauj today is particularly renowned for its production of:
(a) Perfume (Ittar) (b) Carpets (c) Glassware (d) Brassware - Kannauj historically served as the capital of which ruler?
(a) Harshavardhana (b) Ashoka (c) Akbar (d) Sher Shah Suri - Sarnath, near Varanasi, is significant as the site of:
(a) The Buddha's first sermon (b) Krishna's birth (c) Rama's birth (d) Mahavira's Nirvana - Kaushambi was the ancient capital of which Mahajanapada?
(a) Vatsa (b) Kosala (c) Kashi (d) Magadha - Jaunpur was historically the seat of which regional sultanate?
(a) The Sharqi Sultanate (b) The Bahmani Sultanate (c) The Adil Shahi Sultanate (d) The Qutb Shahi Sultanate - Chitrakoot is significant for its association with which epic?
(a) The Ramayana (b) The Mahabharata (c) The Puranas exclusively (d) No epic association - The Bundelkhand region, known for drought-proneness, includes districts such as Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur, and:
(a) Chitrakoot (b) Varanasi (c) Lucknow (d) Agra - The Bundelkhand Expressway primarily aims to:
(a) Improve connectivity and spur development in the Bundelkhand region (b) Connect only Delhi and Mumbai (c) Serve no development purpose (d) Replace all existing roads nationwide - Fatehpur Sikri, a former Mughal capital, lies near which major city?
(a) Agra (b) Lucknow (c) Kanpur (d) Varanasi - Bareilly, a major Rohilkhand commercial centre, is particularly known for its industries in:
(a) Perfume and furniture (b) Steel and shipbuilding (c) Automobile manufacturing (d) Aerospace components
Answer Key
1.(a)
2.(a)
3.(a)
4.(a)
5.(a)
6.(a)
7.(a)
8.(a)
9.(a)
10.(a)
11.(a)
12.(a)
13.(a)
14.(a)
15.(a)
16.(a)
17.(a)
18.(a)
19.(a)
20.(a)
21.(a)
22.(a)
23.(a)
24.(a) 25.(a)