Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, is the heartland of the Ganges plain and home to the Taj Mahal in Agra, the ghats of Varanasi, the Buddhist site of Sarnath and the Nawabi culture of Lucknow. Its cities hold some of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, Mughal-era monuments, major Hindu pilgrimage towns such as Ayodhya and Mathura, and a distinctive food tradition of kebabs, chaat and sweets.
Top spas
Curated picks for treatments and day spas.
Kaya Kalp - The Royal Spa (ITC Mughal)
The ITC Mughal's spa offers Ayurvedic and international treatments in a Mughal-inspired setting.
Jiva Spa (Taj Hotel and Convention Centre, Agra)
The Taj group's Jiva Spa offers Indian healing massage rituals.
Spa at Taj Nadesar Palace
A palace-hotel spa in Varanasi offering Ayurvedic and Western massage.
Ayurveda Department, Banaras Hindu University Hospital
The university hospital's Ayurveda department offers consultation and panchakarma at modest cost.
Wellness retreats
Multi-day immersive experiences.
Assi Ghat yoga schools
Assi Ghat has several independent yoga teachers offering riverfront morning sessions.
Where: Varanasi
Sarnath Buddhist meditation centres
Monasteries and Buddhist centres near Sarnath, site of the Buddha's first sermon, offer meditation sessions and retreats.
Where: Sarnath, Varanasi
Signature treatments
Local specialties worth seeking out.
Massage
Abhyanga full-body oil massage from ₹2,500 (approx $26); hotel spa signature massages from ₹4,000 (approx $41)
Ayurveda
Panchakarma programs from ₹3,000 per day (approx $31) at specialist centres
Body
Ubtan or herbal scrubs from ₹2,500 (approx $26)
Facial
Herbal facials from ₹1,500 (approx $16)
Yoga & meditation
Studios, classes, and meditation centres.
Dawn yoga at Assi Ghat
Daily riverfront yoga by independent teachers in Varanasi, suitable for beginners.
Art of Living Centre, Lucknow
Meditation and yoga programs, including Sudarshan Kriya, in Lucknow.
Wellness travel tips
Get the most from your wellness experience.
Ayurvedic treatments should start with a dosha consultation; centers offering treatment without any assessment are best avoided.
Bathing in or swallowing Ganga water is not advisable for travelers with sensitive stomachs.
Riverfront yoga at Assi Ghat is most pleasant between 5:30 and 7:30 AM from October to March.
University Ayurveda hospitals such as BHU offer inexpensive, credentialed consultation.
Hotel spas often need 24 hours' advance booking in peak season (October to March).