Gorakhpur
Encyclopedia
Gorakhpur is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India, near the border with Nepal
. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur District
and Gorakhpur Division
. Gorakhpur is one of the proposed capitals of the Purvanchal state which is yet to be formed. Gorakhpur is famous as a religious centre: the city was home to Buddhist
, Hindu
, Muslim
, Jain and Sikh
saints and is named after the medieval saint Gorakshanath
. Gorakhnath Temple
is still the seat of the Nath
sect. It is also the birthplace of Paramhansa Yogananda, Chandragupta Maurya
. The city is also home to many historic Buddhist sites, Imambara, an 18th century dargah
, and the Gita Press
, a publisher of Hindu
religious texts.
In the 20th century, Gorakhpur was a focal point in the Indian independence movement
. Today, the city is also a business centre, hosting the headquarters of the North Eastern Railways
, previously known as Bengal Nagpur Railways, and an industrial area, GIDA (Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority) 15 km from the old town.
saint, Gorakshanath
, the chief disciple of the yogi
Matsyendranath
. Together, Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath founded the Nath
Sampradaya line of saints. Gorakhnath Temple
is said to stand on the spot where Gorakshanath practiced Hatha Yoga
to develop self-control.
, and comprises a large stretch of country lying to the north of the river Rapti
, the deep stream of which forms its southern boundary with the Azamgarh district
. On the west, the boundary marches along Basti and on the east adjoins Deoria and the Chhoti Gandak Nadi and further south the Jharna Nala forms the dividing line. To the north lies Nepal
.Gorakhpur has also a lake Ramgartal.It's vast and provides home to various types of fishes.
that sometimes causes severe floods. The Rapti is interconnected through many other small rivers following meandering courses across the Gangetic Plain.
The district presents characteristics distinct from natural features of the western districts of Uttar Pradesh. This difference is due primarily to the relative proximity of the Himalayas
, the outermost foothills of which are only a few kilometres from the northern borders. The peak of Dhaulagiri
, some 8,230 meters above sea-level, is visible under favourable climatic conditions as far south as Gorakhpur itself.
Below the outer hills is a dry boulder-strewn tract, corresponding to the Bhabar
of Kumaun and Garhwal
and here the bulk of the moisture contributed by the rainfall and the small streams is absorbed by the soil, to reappear through seepage in the damp and unhealthy tract, known as the terai
. The latter comprises a belt some 16 km. in width, running along the northern borders of Maharajganj
tahsil. It is extensively cultivated.
This soil is suitable for Sugarcane and Rice cultivation.
, Kushinagar
, Azamgarh
. According to Vedic writings, the earliest known monarch ruling over this region with his capital at Ayodhya was Iksvaku, founder of the Solar dynasty. The solar dynasty produced a number of kings; Rama
of the Ramayana
is most well-known. The entire region was an important centre of Aryan
culture and civilization, a part of the famous kingdoms of Koshala and Malla
, two of the sixteen Mahajanapadas
(states) in 6th century BCE India.
Gorakhpur is also birth place of great king Chandra Gupta Maurya, Chandragupta belonged to Moriyas, a Kshatriya clan of a little ancient republic of Pippalivana ("Piparahiyan" in modern day it falls into administrative range of Chauri Chaura tehsil in Gorakhpur) located between Rummindei in the Nepali Terai and Kasia in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
Gautama Buddha
, founder of Buddhism, who was born at Kapilvastu in Nepal, renounced his princely clothing at the confluence of the rivers Rapti
and Rohini
, near Gorakhpur, before setting out on his quest of truth in 600 BCE. Later he died in the courtyard of Mall King Sastipal Mall at his capital Kushinara which is now known as Kushinagar, there is a monument to this effect at Kushinagar even today. The city is also associated with the travels of Lord Buddha's contemporary Lord Mahavira
, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism
. Lord Mahavira was born at a place not very far from Gorakhpur. Later he took his mahaparinirvan at his maternal uncle's palace at Pava which is about 15 kilometers from Kushinagar(Pavapuri and Kushinara were the twin capital of Mall dynasty which was part 16 Mahajanpads of ancient India). Malla
dynasty was following democratic way of governance from their Santhagara
and thus Gorakhpur is also the part of ancient Gana sangha
.There is a mention in epic Mahabharata that Prince Bhim, the younger brother of King Yudhistr had visited Gorakhpur to invite saint Gorakhnath to attend his Rajsuuya Yagna.
After the Iksvaku dynasty was conquered by Magadha's Nanda Dynasty
in the 4th century BC, Gorakhpur became in turn part of the Maurya, Shunga
, Kushana, Gupta
and Harsha
empires. The great emperor of India Chandragupta maurya belonged to Moriyas, a Kshatriya (warrior) clan of a little ancient republic of Pippalivana located between Rummindei in the Nepali Tarai and Kasia in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
In the 10th century, the Tharu king Mausen of Madan Singh ruled over Gorakhpur city and the adjoining area. Gorakhpur was also birth place of King Vikas Sankrityayan.
In the 12th century, the Gorakhpur region, as much of northern India, was conquered by the Muslim
ruler Muhammad Ghori. The region remained under the influence of Muslim rulers, such as Qutb-ud-din Aybak
and Bahadur Shah
, for some centuries. In the early 16th century, the mystic poet and famous saint Kabir
lived and worked in Maghar
, a village 20 km from Gorakhpur, where his burial place still attracts many pilgrims.
On Akbar's reorganisation of the empire in the 16th century, Gorakhpur gave its name to one of the five Sarkars
(administrative units) in the province of Awadh
.
Imambara, an 18th century dargah
, is located about 2 km from the railway station in Gorakhpur. Imambara is the dargah of Roshan Ali Shah, a Sufi saint. It preserves a dhuni (smoke fire), and is famous for its gold and silver Tazia.
, and later played a major role in the Indian independence movement
.
Gorakhpur district was the scene of the Chauri Chaura
incident of February 4, 1922, which was a turning point in the history of India's freedom struggle
. Enraged by police atrocities, a crowd of 2,000 people burnt down the Chauri-Chaura Police Station, killing nineteen policemen. In response to this violence, Mahatma Gandhi
called off the Non-Cooperation Movement
that he had launched in 1920 and fasted for 21 days, until he was satisfied that all Non-Cooperation Movement activities had ceased.
city of Uttar Pradesh, Ram Prasad Bismil
was a great revolutionary and believed in armed struggle against the British rulers. As the main accused in the famous Kakori conspiracy case of 1925 he was hanged to death in Gorakhpur District Jail on 19 December 1927. From the condemned cell of this historic jail
he wrote his autobiography
which was banned by the British Government. From the gallows of Gorakhpur jail he spoke his last will – " I wish the downfall of the British Empire
" which became true after 20 years. His martyrdom at prime age inspired the people of Gorakhpur particularly and the nation to advance the freedom struggle to its logical end. His last rites were performed at Rajghat
on the bank of Rapti
river where about 1.5 lacs of people were present.
Two other important events in the district took place in 1942, shortly after the famous Quit India Resolution
was proclaimed on August 8. On August 9, Jawaharlal Nehru
was arrested and tried in this district; he spent the next three years in prison. At village Doharia kala (Pali block in Sahjanwa Tehsil) on August 23, a protest meeting was held against the British Government. Government forces opened fire unprovoked, killing nine and injuring hundreds. A Shaheed Smarak memorial stands on the spot today.
As a basic administration unit the district, has assumed a greater development and regulatory role consequent to emphasis on decentralised planning. It is divided into seven Tehsils ( Revenue Sub- Divisions) presided over by a Sub Divisional Magistrate. Tehsils are further subdivided into nineteen Development Blocks, Blocks into 191 Nyay Panchayat and these Nyay Panchayats into 1233 Gram Sabhas which consists of 3319 Revenue villages. The District Administrative unit is shown as :
Division of District into Tehsils and Blocks is shown below :
The sitting MLAs are as follows
(Eastern U.P) migrate to the city for education, medical and other facilities which are better than those found in rural areas.
There are branches of all major nationalized banks as well as of private banks in the city, most of which are found along Bank Road, named as it was the location of Garakhpur's first bank, the Kayastha Bank, which was opened in 1906. Later on at this place a branch of Imperial Bank of India was opened in 1923. The Imperial Bank of India was converted into State Bank of India by an act of parliament (State Bank of India Act 1955). The main branch of State Bank of India still exists here along with other business process re-engineering units like SARC (Stressed Assets Recovery Centre), CCPC (Centralised Clearing Processing Cell).
The city also offers best health services in the whole area of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Western Bihar and Nepal.B R D Medical College, Civil Hospital,L N M Railway Hospital, Hanuman Prasad Poddar Cancer Hospital, Kushth Sewa Ashram, Agrawal are some of the hospitals in the city.
Another major attraction of the city is Arogya Mandir, which is a wellness center and rejuvenation camp.In this health rejuvenation camp body and mind related ailments are treated following natural curative methods and yoga in their original form. This wellness center induces a natural healing process in the body which gives boost to self-curative forces and enable in healing and acquiring health. It endeavors to give lessons to and treat you to enjoy a sound natural life only in 10 days. The main and the only aim of this health center is to provide you with happy and fit life
The central business district
of the city, Golghar, located near the geographical centre includes several major shops, hotels and restaurants, as well as the Rapti Complex, Baldev Plaza, Mangalam Tower and City shopping malls. The Rapti Complex, built in 1987, is the oldest complex in the area. Here one can find all the of all major brands of apparel, jewellary, shoes, cosmetics and electronics goods.
The Buxipur area is the location for one of the biggest book markets in North Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Books for various competitive exams viz. IAS,IES,IITJEE,AIEEE,State Engineering Entrance Exams, AIIPMT,CPMT etc. can be found very easily here.
Hathkargha and Terracotta Industry
The city is famous for hathkargha (a type of hand operated loom) industry.The beautiful horse and elephant terracotta figures, originally meant for dedicating to village deities on special occasions, have found an appreciative national and international market. Some is the case with the products of the very widespread handloom cottage industry of Gorakhpur which comprises about 30,000 looms, the towels, bed-sheets, bed-covers, table cloths, pillow covers and curtains are among the very best produced by Indian handlooms.But due to cut throat competition from mechanised loom industry and lack of government support and subsidy,the industry is loosing its charm and people are switching over to other industries to earn their bread and butter. Same is the case with terracotta industry.
Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA)
The city also boasts of an Industrial area called "Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority" or "GIDA". To revolutionise the industrialisation in this economically backward area,the state government has established this industrial area in 1989 with the objective of establishing on integrated model township which will have Industrial Facilities, for setting up of various large/medium and small scale industries, residential facilities, commercial areas, spaces for institutions of national importance as well as office complexes. The city is proposed to be developed with the state of the art technology in engineering as well as the most modern architecture. Emphasis is also being laid on developing it as a green city to ensure a pollution free environment.
Based on the NOIDA pattern, the proposed industrial city at Gorakhpur is ideally located for Industrial Development. Excellent potential exists in GIDA as 320 Entrepreneurs have been allotted industrial plots, out of which 120 units have already gone in production and 80 units are under construction.
Since Gorakhpur and near-by areas have abundance of agro based raw material,it is an ideal place for starting following industries: Fruit Processing, Modern Rice Mill Mushroom, Cultivation and Processing, Activated Carbon Beer Plant, Texturised Soya Protein Nuggets, Herbal Resource Based Industry, Bone Meal/ Cattle and Poultry feed, Paper and Paper Pulp Unit, Electronics Jute Viscose Fine Yarn, Power Generation Refined Oil, Shoe and Leather Goods, Frozen vegetable & Fruits, Mineral Water Pet Bottles, Woolen Worsted Knitting Yarn, Leather Foam, Knit Wear and Computerized Flat Bed Knitting Power loom and shuttle less looms, Decorative Laminate,Hi-Fashion Hosiery & Knitwear.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries,Govt. of India is also setting up a Food Park in GIDA to provide facilities such as cold storage, Quality laboratory, Effluent Treatment Plant, infrastructure facilities such as development of road, drainage system etc. at the cost of Rs. 1471.00 Lacs after realizing the need for centralized facilities for agro based and food processing activities.
Sugar Industry
Gorakhpur is also known for its sugar industry as the eastern belt of Uttar Pradesh has been very rich in its resources of cane cultivation.The sugar mill(capacity-6000TCD) and distillery(49500 KL per annum) of Saraya industries limited is located in Sardar Nagar,Gorakhpur. Saraya Distillery is one of the leading suppliers of Cheap Branded Liquor in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Besides, it is one of the leading suppliers of Extra Neutral Alcohol / Rectified Spirit in the country today.
Saraya Distillery has an established long relationship with McDowells & Company Limited for a number of years. There is also a bottling plant of McDowell’s & Company products internally for supply in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Gorakhpur stands in the top 100 leadings producing cities of sugar.
North Eastern Railway Head Quarters and Mechanical Workshop
Gorakhpur is also the headquarters of North Eastern Railways. The mechanical workshop, NER, Gorakhpur was established in 1903. Steam engines were maintained here for a long time, but now diesel engines, coaches, and wagons are the main subjects of maintainance here.
'Air Force Station, Gorakhpur'
The air force station, Gorakhpur which is extremely vital for the Defence of the eastern part of the country is equipped with the latest and most sophisticated fighter and bomber planes and equipments and it comes under the Central Air Command (CAC) head-quartered at Bamrauli,Allahabad.It was established in 1963 and has Jaguar fighter planes.It also has a jaguar training center.The second oldest helicopter unit of Indian Air Force (NO. 105 Helicopter Unit) moved to Air Force Station Gorakhpur in August 1987. Immediately after moving to Gorakhpur the unit carried out extensive flood relief operation in Bihar. Again in 1991 unit carried out flood relief operations in Orissa Ex-Bhubaneswar. Recently this unit carried out Ex-Frog i.e. Flood Relief a rescue Operations in Gorakhpur and Bihar.
Gorakha Recruitment Depot
Gorkha Recruitment depot,one of the selection centers of Gorkha soldiers for Indian army is situated in Gorakhpur. This gorkha Recruitment Depot is the only one of its kind in the country.It recruits the Gorkhas of Nepalese origin from the Anchals of Mahakali, Seti, Bheri, Rapti, Karnali, Dhaulagiri, Lumbini and Gandaki of Nepal.It was established in 1886.
Media
Gorakhpur has all India radio and Doordarshan broadcasting and relay centres of its own.
A lot of Hindi Newspapers including Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, Amar Ujala, Aaj, Rashtriya Sahara are printed in the city. Various English Newspapers including the The Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Economic Times (published from either Lucknow or Varanasi) can also be found here.
The FM radio station, Radio Mantra (91.9 MHz) from Jagran Group also operates in the city.
kabobs in Oudh and fish. Meat is generally available in the villages and even in the towns the cost makes it a luxury item,but now a day's the growing income of the area made it easy. Wheat, rice, gram, maize, and pulses along with curd, milk, vegetables, ghee and vegetable oils, constitute the items of daily food, rice being the staple food of the people. Coarse grains like jowar, makka, bajra, barley, kodon, madua and sawan, once formed the staple diet of the poor,are not grown these days. Among villagers, sattu, flour of parched gram and barley mixes, and chabena (parched grain) are quite popular. Finely ground sattu is used in the towns also. People generally eat two meals per day, one at around midday and another in the evening. Roti, chapati or rice is eaten with a bowl of pulses or with cooked vegetables, pickles, curd, or only salt jaggery or onion. Tea is a common drink while milk is available every where. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are used. Efforts are being made by various food departments to change the food habits of the people and to induce them to grow and eat more vegetables, eggs, etc., but these have had limited impact so far.
and the kajari
during the rainy and winter nights, and the Phaag during Holi
. Songs are normally accompanied by instruments such as the harmonium, dholak, and manjira. Some of the most popular folk-dances are saved for occasions like festivals, fairs, and weddings.
, dhoti
or pyjamas. When going out they generally put on trousers with a coat, shirt, etc., which has become the dress of working class. On formal occasions, men wear sherwani
or achkan
and churidar
.Men generally don't wear jewellery except sometimes a gold neck chain.
Women mainly wear sari
and blouse . The Punjabi women wear salwar, kurta and dupatta
. Some Muslim women still wear churidar pyjamas with kurta and dupatta. In the town of Gorakhpur young girls are also seen wearing skirt and slacks, salwar, garara or sharara with kurta and dupatta and recently now bell-bottomed pyjamas with kamiz have in vogue. The use of the lehanga (full long skirt) still persists among the women of the villages or on ceremonial occasions in Hindu families. Women usually cover their head with dupatta or sari. Gold, silver or nickel jewellery is worn according to means and taste. Costume jewellery is also popular now in all communities. Bunda and jhumki(ear ring), kara for hands and feet both, lachcha, payal (anklets), keel and nath (nose-stud and nose-ring); hansuli (tight neck-lace), anguthi (ring), and panchhaila (wristlet) are all commonly worn. Silver bichhia i.e.toe-ring is a must for every married Hindu women.
(indigenous open-air dramatic performances), bhajan
and qawwali
programmes, and mushaira
are also arranged at different places from time to time. Ramlila
and Krishnalila provide alternative entertainment. There are also 2 screen multiplex cinema in Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur also has a plethora of well-maintained parks including-
Vinod Van is one of the biggest zoos of East Uttar Pradesh.It is situated in the lush and green forest of Kushmi Jungle. There are large no. of animals here like deers, antelopes, cheetal, monkeys, Neelgay, snakes, rabbits,crocodiles. It also has an aviary that has a variety of species of birds.
The city also has a Rail museum where the history and antique locomotives of Indian Railways can be seen.The museum also have a toy train for children. There is an A.C food plaza in the museum also.The Rail museum is situated near the headquarters of North Eastern Railway.
There is a buddhist museum called Lord Buddha sangrahalay near Taramandal which attracts thousands of tourists from East and South-East Asian countries every year. The museum houses a lot of things related to Lord Buddha and his life.
City Mall,V Mart, Spencers-Hyper,Cross Road The Mall (located on A D Chowk Buxipur),Baldev Plaza and Mangalam Tower are considered to be a shoppers' paradise and great hang-outs.City Mall and Multiplex, situated in the Golghar Market, is a 5 storey mall that accommodates all top brands of apparel, jewelleries, electronic gizmos, accessories, souvenirs, home products and departmental stores. It offers a convenient reach to the shoppers from around the city along with great architecture, rich aesthetics and great ambience.It houses a 3-Screen multiplex,run by SRS cinemas.
The city also boasts of a state of the art planetarium at Taramandal. It has become new destination for students who want to explore about the planets and the universe.
casts viz. – Yadav
, Kayasth, Bhumihar(Rai) Brahmin
, Rajput
, Sainthwar Kshatriya, along with Muslim
, Sikh and Christian
. In recent times people from Bihar
have started settling in Gorakhpur.
The primary language of Gorakhpur is Hindi
, followed by Bhojpuri.
Raghvendra Rao (original name), born in pune, a staunch patriot and an eminent social worker is popularly known as the Gandhi of Poorvanchal. He aroused cultural and national feelings, spread out education, served the poorest / lepers and sacrificed his life for the socio-economic betterment of the people of Purvanchal. In recognition to his service the medical college is named after him. Also for the shelter of leprosy, Kushth Sewa Ashram was set up by him in 1951 at Gorakhpur. This noble saint and philosopher left for his heavenly abode on 15 January 1958.
Babu Bandhu Singh
The first great freedom fighter of Gorakhpur, waged Guerilla War with the Britishers, was at last arrested through an informer and hanged at Alinagar Chowk, Gorakhpur on 12th Aug. 1857. His supreme sacrifice remained a perpetual source of inspiration for the people of Gorakhpur till the attainment of freedom.
Firaq Gorakhpuri
Original name Raghupati Sahay, a noted Urdu poet, recipient of Gyanpeeth Award belonged to Gorakhpur.
Prem Chand
Original name dhanpat Rai, World famous Hindi Writer, was born in Varanasi but Gorakhpur was his work-place. As a writer he got recognition from Gorakhpur during his stay as an Asst. teacher and Hostel Superintendent (1916–1921).
Hanuman Prasad Poddar
Hanuman Prasad Poddar, lovingly called as Bhaijee, a multifacent personality, an editor of famous religious magazine Kalyan is remembered for his untiring efforts to propagate and disseminate Hindu religion across the world.
Mahant Digvijai Nath
One of the famous founder of the Hindu Maha Sabha, a great nationalist and follower of yogi Gorakhnath, was closely associated with the famous Gorakhnath temple and established a number of educational institutions in the city. His contribution to the establishment of Gorakhpur University is significant.
Pt. S.N.M. Tripathi
Pt. Surti Narayan Mani Tripathi was the First ICS of UP State.H e has held many important posts including the post of District Magistrate – Gorakhpur. That was the time when Pt. S.N.M. Tripathi took a vow to build a University in Gorakhpur. He was the Founder President of the Gorakhpur University. Other personalities like Mahant Digvijaynath, Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Sardar Majithia were also members of the foundation team.
Pt. Dashrath Prasad Dwivedi
An editor of Swadesh is known for his patriotic writings-editing who published the autobiography of Ram Prasad Bismil serially in his news paper without any fear.
Vir Bahadur Singh
Vir Bahadur Singh, real son of the soil, ex. Chief Minister of U.P. and Central Cabinet Minister of Communication, is widely remembered as an architect of modern Gorakhpur. The city is indebted to him for ushering a series of developmental activities, the prominent being upgradation of the city Gorakhpur to B class and Nagar Nigam, creation of Gorakhpur Development Authority, construction of residential colonies, openeing of Sports College, Mahila I.T.I. and Navodaya Vidhyalaya, ambitous Ramgarh Project, Entertainment and Amusement Parks and widening of Roads.
Ram Ashray Yadav, Chandra Vijay Singh & Janardan Yadav
Wrestlers, represented India Railways Team as well as Indian Team. All are Yash Bharti Awardee.
Sir Surjit Singh Majithia
An Industrialist, founder of Sardar Nagar Sugar Mill and others. Sports loving and known for his charitable works.
Dr. Vidya Niwas Mishra
Eminent Scholar of Hindi, Sanskrit Literature resident of Gola Tehsil of Gorakhpur District. Padmeshree Awardee.
Smt. Janaki Devi
An Illiterate activist who reformed the people of many villages and is popular for her Social Activities. Resident of a Village of Pipraich Block, District Magistrate of Gorakhpur felicitated her along with other officials and public personalities.
Daler Mehndi
Popular Punjabi Singer, started his carrier from Gorakhpur District.
Jafar Gorakhpuri
Popular Filmy Song Writer known for his song "Bada Lutfa tha jab .....", belongs to Gorakhpur.
Syed Modi
An ace badminton player of Gorakhpur, eight times national champion(1980–87), recipient of Arjuna Award, winner of Gold Medal in Common Wealth Games(1982), bronze medalist of Asian games (1982), took participation in several international tournaments. He was known as the great stroke player both on forehand and backhand. Unfortunately, his promising life was cut short by the cruel assassin's bullet on 28 June. 1988.
Narendra Hirwani
Narendra Hirwani, born and brought up in Gorakhpur but played Ranji for M.P. State, is the youngest cricket test player and became crickecters of the year (1988). National record of taking maximum number of wickets (16 for 136) in test match( against west Indies at Madras) goes to his credit.
Prem Maya
Hockey Player, represented and captained Indian Women Hockey team. Arjun Awardee.
Late Shri. Janardan Singh
Bharat Bhim and famous wrestler from Gorakhpur.
Panne Lal Yadav
India Fame Wrestler, represented India, in India and abroad. Yash Bahrti Awardee.
Other famous personalities are as follows
(1880–1936), one of India's great Hindi novelists, lived in Gorakhpur. The house where he lived and wrote still stands in a park named Munshi Premchand Park.
Firaq Gorakhpuri
(1896–1982) (Raghupati Sahay), the famous Urdu
poet, grew up in Gorakhpur, where his childhood home still stands. He later moved to Allahabad
where he was a professor of English at Allahabad University
.
}socialisty party from bansgaon
Poet and critic, Majnoon Gorakhpuri, is also from Gorakhpur,
Renowned Urdu poet Mohammad Umar Khan 'Umar' aka Umar Gorakhpuri, a disciple of legendary poet Dagh Dehelvi, also belonged to Gorakhpur. A collection of his selected poetry entitled "Bada-i-Kuhna" (The Old Wine) has recently been published.
Geeta Press
One of the biggest attractions to visit when in Gorakhpur is the prestigious Gita Press. It is the world's largest publishers of Hindu religious texts. The Gita Press was founded around year 1923 by the great Brahmalina Shri Jayadayalji Goyandka. Selling over 370 million copies of various Hindu religious texts the Gita Press is extremely impressive. The building itself is a work of art. A beautiful gold shimmery temple like building that quickly catches your eye.The entrance to the press is an impressive blend of Indian temple architecture—while the pillars are inspired from the cave temples of Ellora, the gopuram is influenced by the Meenakshi temple in Madurai.The Gita Press from the outside looks nothing like most modern publishing houses that exist today. It has an art gallery inside with 648 exquisite paintings by famous artists from different time periods.The Gita Press archives contain over 3,500 manuscripts including over 100 interpretations of the Gita.[2]
The press publishes two magazines namely
The Geeta Press publishes following texts
It has a small Bhagavath Gita which costs Rs.4/- which is very popular. These texts are published in Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Oriya and other languages of India.
The Press was the first to publish the text as a book; prior to this the Gita existed solely in the oral tradition
of the Brahmin
.Gita press holds a place in the Guinness book of world reecords as the largest publisher of religious books in the world in terms of volume. The publishing company is located in a building with marble
walls inscribed with the 18 chapters of the Gita, and hung with paintings depicting the lives of Rama
and Krishna
.
, Agra
, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain
, Jaipur
, Ahmedabad
, Trivandrum, Mumbai
, Bangalore
, Delhi
, Kolkata
, Lucknow
, Kanpur Central
, Kanpur Anwarganj
, Govindpuri, Unnao
, Varanasi
, Amritsar
, Jammu
, Pune
, Guwahati
, Nagpur
and other distant parts of the nation. The station offers Class A railway station facilities.
http://gorakhpur.nic.in/railway.jpg
The city is served by seven Railway stations-
road project that enhances Gorakhpur's road connectivity.There are two bus station in gorakhpur One named railway bus stand which is nearest to railway station, and the other one is at Civil lines.
traffic. A small number of domestic airlines operate civil aviation services to Delhi, Mumbai and elsewhere. Gorakhpur is also host to many tourists who use it as a hub to travel to Lord Buddha
's pilgrimage sites. Actually gorakhpur airport is INDIAN AIR FORCE base. It,s main constituents are two squadrons of spectat jaguar jet fighter planes.Gorakhpur airport is also known as kasiya airport.It mainly serves for IAF planes and some private planes to some extent.Here security is very high.Entrance to the airport except the passengers is very difficult.
It is not only a peeth of the Nath sect but an example of Indian sculpture. In the garbh grih of the temple, Guru Gorakhnath is depicted as an incarnation of Lord Shiva in deep meditation. His charan paduka has been kept near his meditation site.
The sacred pond (Mansarover) situated in the east has been now converted into a boating place by the temple thorities.
The temple literature reveals that the temple structure and shape was changed from time to tme. It is also said that several attempts were made to demolish the temple during Mughal period. The present form of the teple was conceptualised by late Mahant Digvijaynath and present head priest of the temple Mahant Aveiydyanath.
Though large number of devotees of guru Gorakhnath visits the temple every day but their number increase many folds on every Tuesday and Saturday. Thousands od devotees assemble in the temple premises during the famous Khichari mela (January 14 onwards) which is the main festival of the temple.
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/35375832.jpg
Also a must see is the lovely statue of Lord Krishna on a chariot delivering a semron to Arjun. Situated in the old city, Gita press is not only a press for publishing books but a mission conceived by late Jayadajaliji Goyanka, a spiritual inclined person. It is said that he was inspired by Lord Krishna during his sadhana to live Gita, to propagate it, broadcast nishkama karmayoga and inspire people to adopt it as philosophy of life.
Satyamvad, Dharamamchar(speak truth and practice dharma)is the inscription at the main gate of Gita press which was inaugurated by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India on April 29, 1955.
Raja Pahalwan Singh of Satari donateed mauza Kusmahi along with the jungles in 1793 for Niyaz Imam Saheb. Nawab Asif-ud-Daulah, the Shia ruler of Oudh, offer a grant of 16 villages, Rs. 10,000 cash and a silver Tazia in 1796 to Roshan Ali Shah. With rhis grant Shah built a pucca enclosure around the central Imambara and added other edifices to it.
of Saraswati Shishu Mandir group of schools.It was opened in 1952 at Pakkibagh,Gorakhpur. There are a lot of degree colleges here. The city also boasts of a state university,an autonomous government engineering college,a government medical college. Apart from this, there are numerous private engineering colleges, dental colleges, pharma colleges and institutes for MBA in the city,the details of which are as follows:
Madan Mohan Malviya Engineering College was founded in 1962 to provide engineering and technical education for the development of the backward districts of eastern U.P. The college runs Under Graduate Programme in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics & Communication and Computer Science. In addition to regular courses, it also runs part time Post Graduate Diploma Courses ( evening ) in Computer Application called P.G.D.C.A. and Computer Hardware Maintenance & Networking. Besides teaching & research facilities, the college provides technical know how and consultancy to various industries of this area.
Established in the year 1969, Baba Raghav Das Medical College
is 6th Medical College in Uttar Pradesh. It is named after the prominent Social Worker Baba Raghav Das, a devoted freedom fighter and Sarvadaya Leader of this area. The College is situated 8 km from the Gorakhpur Railway Station. Professor P.L. Shukla, was the founder Principal and Professor of Anatomy. This institution is affiliated ; with Gorakhpur University.
The teaching hospital complex 'Nehru Chikitsalaya' came into existence in 1974. It has got 650 indoor beds and out patient departments for various disciplines of medical services.
Since 1980, the College is running Post Graduate training programme also, for the degree of M.S. & M.D. in Anatomy, Surgery, orthopaedics, Obst.& Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Anaesthesiology, Pediatrics, Medicine, Skin & V.D. etc. In addition to these courses, it also runs diploma courses, of the above listed departments.
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University
, Gorakhpur with its many affiliated colleges, caters the educational needs of many thousands of students in the following streams
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in India, near the border with Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur District
Gorakhpur District
Gorakhpur district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Gorakhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:The district was ceded by the Nawab of Awadh to the British East India Company in 1801. With this cession, Gorakhpur was raised to the status of a district. The...
and Gorakhpur Division
Gorakhpur Division
Gorakhpur division is an administrative geographical unit of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Gorakhpur is the administrative headquarters of the division. Currently , the division consists of districts of Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deorria, and Maharajganj....
. Gorakhpur is one of the proposed capitals of the Purvanchal state which is yet to be formed. Gorakhpur is famous as a religious centre: the city was home to Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, Jain and Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
saints and is named after the medieval saint Gorakshanath
Gorakshanath
Gorakshanath was an 11th to 12th century Hindu Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. There are varying records of the spiritual descent of Gorakshanath. All name Adinath and Matsyendranath as two teachers preceding...
. Gorakhnath Temple
Gorakhnath Temple
The Gorakhnath Math is a Hindu monastic groupin the Nath tradition. The name Gorakhnath derives from the medieval saint, Gorakshanath , a famous yogi who travelled widely across India and authored a number of texts that form part of the canon of the Nath sampradaya...
is still the seat of the Nath
Nath
The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a Hindu initiatory tradition and the word itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge"...
sect. It is also the birthplace of Paramhansa Yogananda, Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya , was the founder of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta succeeded in conquering most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta is considered the first unifier of India and its first genuine emperor...
. The city is also home to many historic Buddhist sites, Imambara, an 18th century dargah
Dargah
A Dargah is a Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint. Local Muslims visit the shrine known as . Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, known as khanqah...
, and the Gita Press
Gita Press
The Gita Press is one of the world's largest publishers of Hindu religious texts. It is located in Gorakhpur city of India's Uttar Pradesh state. It was founded in 1923 by Jaya Dayal Goyandka for promoting the principles of Sanatana Dharma. Hanuman Prasad Poddar was the founding and the lifetime...
, a publisher of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religious texts.
In the 20th century, Gorakhpur was a focal point in the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
. Today, the city is also a business centre, hosting the headquarters of the North Eastern Railways
North Eastern Railway (India)
The North Eastern Railway is one of the sixteen railway zones in India. It is headquartered at Gorakhpur and comprises Lucknow and Varanasi divisions as well as reorganized Izzatnagar division....
, previously known as Bengal Nagpur Railways, and an industrial area, GIDA (Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority) 15 km from the old town.
District statistics
- Geographical Area 3,483.8 km2
- Total Population(2009) 1,061,428
- Sex Ratio (2001) 1000 /959
- Rural Population ( 69.40% ) (2001) 3,030,865
- Urban Population ( 30.60% ) (2001) 738,591
- Total Literates ( 70.89% ) (2011) 8,44,632 approx.
Origin of name
The city and district of Gorakhpur are named after a renowned asceticAsceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
saint, Gorakshanath
Gorakshanath
Gorakshanath was an 11th to 12th century Hindu Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. There are varying records of the spiritual descent of Gorakshanath. All name Adinath and Matsyendranath as two teachers preceding...
, the chief disciple of the yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
Matsyendranath
Matsyendranath
Matsyendranatha or Machindranath was one of the eighty-four Mahasiddhas. He was the guru of Gorakshanath, with whom he founded the school of Hatha yoga. He is considered as the author of the Kaulajñānanirṇaya , one of the earliest texts on Hatha Yoga in Sanskrit...
. Together, Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath founded the Nath
Nath
The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a Hindu initiatory tradition and the word itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge"...
Sampradaya line of saints. Gorakhnath Temple
Gorakhnath Temple
The Gorakhnath Math is a Hindu monastic groupin the Nath tradition. The name Gorakhnath derives from the medieval saint, Gorakshanath , a famous yogi who travelled widely across India and authored a number of texts that form part of the canon of the Nath sampradaya...
is said to stand on the spot where Gorakshanath practiced Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
to develop self-control.
Location
The district of Gorakhpur lies between Lat. 26º 13' N and 27º 29' N and Long. 83º 05' E and 83º 56' E. The district occupies the north-eastern corner of the state along with the district of DeoriaDeoria District
Deoria district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Deoria town is the district headquarters. Deoria district is a part of Gorakhpur division.-Ancient:...
, and comprises a large stretch of country lying to the north of the river Rapti
West Rapti River
Not to be confused with the East Rapti in Chitwan Valley some to the east, this Rapti drains Rapti Zone in Mid-Western Region, Nepal, then Awadh and Purvanchal regions of Uttar Pradesh state, India before joining the Ghaghara a major left bank tributary of the Ganges.The West Rapti is notable for...
, the deep stream of which forms its southern boundary with the Azamgarh district
Azamgarh district
Azamgarh district is one of the three districts of Azamgarh Division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Etymology:The district is named after its headquarters town, Azamgarh. Azam, son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit a descendant of Gautam Rajputs of Mehnagar in pargana...
. On the west, the boundary marches along Basti and on the east adjoins Deoria and the Chhoti Gandak Nadi and further south the Jharna Nala forms the dividing line. To the north lies Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
.Gorakhpur has also a lake Ramgartal.It's vast and provides home to various types of fishes.
Geography
It is located on the bank of river Rapti and Rohani, a Ganges tributary originating in NepalNepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
that sometimes causes severe floods. The Rapti is interconnected through many other small rivers following meandering courses across the Gangetic Plain.
The district presents characteristics distinct from natural features of the western districts of Uttar Pradesh. This difference is due primarily to the relative proximity of the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
, the outermost foothills of which are only a few kilometres from the northern borders. The peak of Dhaulagiri
Dhaulagiri
Dhaulagiri is Earth's seventh highest mountain at ; one of fourteen over eight thousand metres. Dhaulagiri was first climbed May 13, 1960 by a Swiss/Austrian expedition....
, some 8,230 meters above sea-level, is visible under favourable climatic conditions as far south as Gorakhpur itself.
Below the outer hills is a dry boulder-strewn tract, corresponding to the Bhabar
Indo-Gangetic plain
The northern Plains also known as the Indo - Gangetic Plain and The North Indian River Plain is a large and fertile plain encompassing most of northern and eastern India, the most populous parts of Pakistan, parts of southern Nepal and virtually all of Bangladesh...
of Kumaun and Garhwal
Garhwal District
Garhwal lies in the northern region of India. It is a part of the state Uttrakhand and is bounded on four sides by Tibet , Uttar Pradesh, Kumaon region and Himachal Pradesh....
and here the bulk of the moisture contributed by the rainfall and the small streams is absorbed by the soil, to reappear through seepage in the damp and unhealthy tract, known as the terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
. The latter comprises a belt some 16 km. in width, running along the northern borders of Maharajganj
Maharajganj
Maharajganj is a town and a notified area in Siwan district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Geography:Maharajganj is located at . It has an average elevation of 66 metres .-Demographics:...
tahsil. It is extensively cultivated.
Geology
The geology of the district exposes nothing beyond ordinary river borne alluvium which is not old. The mineral products are few and unimportant. The minerals of commercial value are the nodular limestone conglomerate known as kankar, brick and saltpetre. The last occurs principally in the south and south-east and is manufactured in a crude state in considerable quantities most of it being exported to markets of Bihar. In the Bansgaon tahsil kankar is most abundant and quarries are seen at many places. It is also extracted from some places in Mahrajganj tahsil. Lime is obtained by burning kankar. Brick clay is abundant everywhere and bricks are made all over the district. The soil in the district is light sandy or dense clay of yellowish brown colour. The sand found in the rivers is medium to coarse grained, greyish white to brownish in colour and is suitable for constructionThis soil is suitable for Sugarcane and Rice cultivation.
Ancient History
In ancient times the geographical area of Gorakhpur included the modern districts of Basti, DeoriaDeoria District
Deoria district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Deoria town is the district headquarters. Deoria district is a part of Gorakhpur division.-Ancient:...
, Kushinagar
Kushinagar District
Kushinagar District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Padarauna is the district headquarters. The district is named for Kushinagar, a Buddhist pilgrimage site where Gautama Buddha attained parinirvana in the 6th or 5th centuries BCE....
, Azamgarh
Azamgarh district
Azamgarh district is one of the three districts of Azamgarh Division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Etymology:The district is named after its headquarters town, Azamgarh. Azam, son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit a descendant of Gautam Rajputs of Mehnagar in pargana...
. According to Vedic writings, the earliest known monarch ruling over this region with his capital at Ayodhya was Iksvaku, founder of the Solar dynasty. The solar dynasty produced a number of kings; Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
of the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
is most well-known. The entire region was an important centre of Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
culture and civilization, a part of the famous kingdoms of Koshala and Malla
Malla (India)
Malla was one of the solasa mahajanapadas of ancient India mentioned in the Anguttara Nikaya. It was named after the ruling clan of the same name. The Mahabharata mentions the territory as the Mallarashtra . The Malla mahajanapada was situated north of Magadha. It was a small mahajanapada...
, two of the sixteen Mahajanapadas
Mahajanapadas
Mahājanapadas , literally "great realms", were ancient Indian kingdoms or countries...
(states) in 6th century BCE India.
Gorakhpur is also birth place of great king Chandra Gupta Maurya, Chandragupta belonged to Moriyas, a Kshatriya clan of a little ancient republic of Pippalivana ("Piparahiyan" in modern day it falls into administrative range of Chauri Chaura tehsil in Gorakhpur) located between Rummindei in the Nepali Terai and Kasia in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
Gautama Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
, founder of Buddhism, who was born at Kapilvastu in Nepal, renounced his princely clothing at the confluence of the rivers Rapti
West Rapti River
Not to be confused with the East Rapti in Chitwan Valley some to the east, this Rapti drains Rapti Zone in Mid-Western Region, Nepal, then Awadh and Purvanchal regions of Uttar Pradesh state, India before joining the Ghaghara a major left bank tributary of the Ganges.The West Rapti is notable for...
and Rohini
Rohni River
The Rohni or Rohini River rises in the Chure or Siwalik Hills in Kapilvastu and Rupandehi Districts of Nepal's Lumbini Zone and flows south into Uttar Pradesh state, India...
, near Gorakhpur, before setting out on his quest of truth in 600 BCE. Later he died in the courtyard of Mall King Sastipal Mall at his capital Kushinara which is now known as Kushinagar, there is a monument to this effect at Kushinagar even today. The city is also associated with the travels of Lord Buddha's contemporary Lord Mahavira
Mahavira
Mahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
. Lord Mahavira was born at a place not very far from Gorakhpur. Later he took his mahaparinirvan at his maternal uncle's palace at Pava which is about 15 kilometers from Kushinagar(Pavapuri and Kushinara were the twin capital of Mall dynasty which was part 16 Mahajanpads of ancient India). Malla
Malla (India)
Malla was one of the solasa mahajanapadas of ancient India mentioned in the Anguttara Nikaya. It was named after the ruling clan of the same name. The Mahabharata mentions the territory as the Mallarashtra . The Malla mahajanapada was situated north of Magadha. It was a small mahajanapada...
dynasty was following democratic way of governance from their Santhagara
Santhagara
Santhagara is a pali word derived from combination of Santha or Sanstha in Sanskrit and Agara and was used for the general assembly hall of a particular Ga%E1%B9%87a_sangha kshatriya clan of ancient northern India where the old and younger of the same clan meets to decide on the general and state...
and thus Gorakhpur is also the part of ancient Gana sangha
Gaṇa sangha
Gana-Sangha , or Gana-Rajya , refers to a type of republic or oligarchy in ancient India.-History:During the Iron Age in India, the fertile Ganges plain slowly urbanised, with cities forming and trade developing. Like ancient Greece, India during this Vedic period, power lay in many city states...
.There is a mention in epic Mahabharata that Prince Bhim, the younger brother of King Yudhistr had visited Gorakhpur to invite saint Gorakhnath to attend his Rajsuuya Yagna.
Nanda Dynasty
The Nanda Empire originated from the region of Magadha in Ancient India during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. At its greatest extent, the Nanda Empire extended from Bengal in the east, to Punjab in the west and as far south as the Vindhya Range...
in the 4th century BC, Gorakhpur became in turn part of the Maurya, Shunga
Shunga
' is a Japanese term for erotic art. Most shunga are a type of ukiyo-e, usually executed in woodblock print format. While rare, there are extant erotic painted handscrolls which predate the Ukiyo-e movement...
, Kushana, Gupta
Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed approximately from 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the...
and Harsha
Harsha
Harsha or Harsha Vardhana or Harshvardhan was an Indian emperor who ruled northern India from 606 to 647 AD. He was the son of Prabhakara Vardhana and younger brother of Rajya Vardhana, a king of Thanesar, Haryana...
empires. The great emperor of India Chandragupta maurya belonged to Moriyas, a Kshatriya (warrior) clan of a little ancient republic of Pippalivana located between Rummindei in the Nepali Tarai and Kasia in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
In the 10th century, the Tharu king Mausen of Madan Singh ruled over Gorakhpur city and the adjoining area. Gorakhpur was also birth place of King Vikas Sankrityayan.
Medieval History
In medieval times, the city was home to the medieval Hindu saint Gorakshanath, who gave the city its name. The date of Gorakshanath's birth has not yet been settled, but he probably lived in the twelfth century. The site of his samādhi (ecstasy) at Gorakhpur attracts a large number of pilgrims every year.In the 12th century, the Gorakhpur region, as much of northern India, was conquered by the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
ruler Muhammad Ghori. The region remained under the influence of Muslim rulers, such as Qutb-ud-din Aybak
Qutb-ud-din Aybak
Qutb-ud-din Aibak was a Turkic king of Northwest India who ruled from his capital in Delhi where he built the Qutub Minar and the Quwwat Al Islam mosque. He was of Turkic descent from central Asia, the first Sultan of Delhi and founder of the Slave dynasty of India. He ruled for only four years,...
and Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah may refer to*Bahadur Shah of Gujarat *Bahadur Shah I , Mughal Emperor*Bahadur Shah II , the last Mughal Emperor and final ruler of the Timurid dynasty...
, for some centuries. In the early 16th century, the mystic poet and famous saint Kabir
Kabir
Kabīr was a mystic poet and saint of India, whose writings have greatly influenced the Bhakti movement...
lived and worked in Maghar
Maghar, India
Maghar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Sant Kabir Nagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Kabir, the 15th Century mystic poet, is buried in Maghar.-Geography:...
, a village 20 km from Gorakhpur, where his burial place still attracts many pilgrims.
On Akbar's reorganisation of the empire in the 16th century, Gorakhpur gave its name to one of the five Sarkars
Sarkar (country subdivision)
Sarkar is an historic administrative unit, used mostly in the Muslim states of the South Asia. It was a territorial division of a Suba or province. A Sarkar was further divided into territorial divisions for the administrative purpose which were called Mahallas or Parganas. The Mahallas or...
(administrative units) in the province of Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
.
Imambara, an 18th century dargah
Dargah
A Dargah is a Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint. Local Muslims visit the shrine known as . Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, known as khanqah...
, is located about 2 km from the railway station in Gorakhpur. Imambara is the dargah of Roshan Ali Shah, a Sufi saint. It preserves a dhuni (smoke fire), and is famous for its gold and silver Tazia.
Modern History
Gorakhpur came under direct British control in 1803. It was one of the major centers of the 1857 uprisingIndian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
, and later played a major role in the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
.
Gorakhpur district was the scene of the Chauri Chaura
Chauri Chaura
Chauri Chaura is a town near Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The town is known most for an event in February 1922 during the British Raj when a police chowki was set on fire by a mob of angry citizens, killing 23 policemen inside.-Background:In the early 1920s, Indians, led by Mahatma Gandhi,...
incident of February 4, 1922, which was a turning point in the history of India's freedom struggle
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
. Enraged by police atrocities, a crowd of 2,000 people burnt down the Chauri-Chaura Police Station, killing nineteen policemen. In response to this violence, Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
called off the Non-Cooperation Movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
that he had launched in 1920 and fasted for 21 days, until he was satisfied that all Non-Cooperation Movement activities had ceased.
Martyrdom of Ram Prasad Bismil
Born at ShahjahanpurShahjahanpur
Shahjahanpur is a municipal board, town and district headquarters of Shahjahanpur District in Uttar Pradesh, India.-History:During the reign of Shahjahan, Mughal forces demolished the city of Kant...
city of Uttar Pradesh, Ram Prasad Bismil
Ram Prasad Bismil
Ram Prasad Bismil Ram Prasad Bismil Ram Prasad Bismil (Hindi: राम प्रसाद 'बिस्मिल', Gujarati: રામપ્રસાદ બિસ્મિલ, (Malayalam: രാം പ്രസാദ് ബിസ്മിൽ, Tamil: ராம் பிரசாத் பிஸ்மில், Born: 11 June 1897, Executed: 19 December 1927) was an Indian revolutionary who participated in Mainpuri Shadyantra of...
was a great revolutionary and believed in armed struggle against the British rulers. As the main accused in the famous Kakori conspiracy case of 1925 he was hanged to death in Gorakhpur District Jail on 19 December 1927. From the condemned cell of this historic jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
he wrote his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
which was banned by the British Government. From the gallows of Gorakhpur jail he spoke his last will – " I wish the downfall of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
" which became true after 20 years. His martyrdom at prime age inspired the people of Gorakhpur particularly and the nation to advance the freedom struggle to its logical end. His last rites were performed at Rajghat
Rajghat
Rajghat Dam is an Inter-state Dam project of the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh being constructed on Betwa River about 14 km from Historical place Chanderi, dist Ashoknagar in Madhya Pradesh and 22 km from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh, India...
on the bank of Rapti
Rapti
Rapti may refer to:* East Rapti River, a small river draining the Chitwan valley in Nepal, flowing west to join the Narayani River a short distance north of the Indian border...
river where about 1.5 lacs of people were present.
Other incidents
In 1934, an earthquake (8.1 on the Richter scale) caused much damage in the city.Two other important events in the district took place in 1942, shortly after the famous Quit India Resolution
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
was proclaimed on August 8. On August 9, Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
was arrested and tried in this district; he spent the next three years in prison. At village Doharia kala (Pali block in Sahjanwa Tehsil) on August 23, a protest meeting was held against the British Government. Government forces opened fire unprovoked, killing nine and injuring hundreds. A Shaheed Smarak memorial stands on the spot today.
Administrative Structure
Gorakhpur is the headquarters of Gorakhpur Division and District. Gorakhpur division comprises four districts, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Mahrajganj and Kushinagar.As a basic administration unit the district, has assumed a greater development and regulatory role consequent to emphasis on decentralised planning. It is divided into seven Tehsils ( Revenue Sub- Divisions) presided over by a Sub Divisional Magistrate. Tehsils are further subdivided into nineteen Development Blocks, Blocks into 191 Nyay Panchayat and these Nyay Panchayats into 1233 Gram Sabhas which consists of 3319 Revenue villages. The District Administrative unit is shown as :
| Unit | No. |
|---|---|
| Number of Tehsil | 7 |
| Number of Blocks | 19 |
| Number of Nyay Panchayat | 191 |
| Number of Gram sabha | 1233 |
| Number of Villages | 3319 |
Division of District into Tehsils and Blocks is shown below :
| Name of Tehsil | Name of Block |
|---|---|
| Sadar | Jungle Kaudia, Chargawa, Bhathat, Khorabar, Pipraich |
| Chauri Chaura | Sardarnagar, Brahmpur |
| Sahjanawa | Pali, Piprauli, Sahjanwa |
| Khajni | Khajni, Belghat |
| Campierganj | Campierganj |
| Bansgaon | Bansgaon, Kauriram, Gagaha |
| Gola | Gola, Barhalganj, Uruwa |
Political Representation
There are two Loksabha constituencies and nine assembly seats in the district of Gorakhpur.The sitting MPs are as follows| S No. | Name of Constituency | Name of Member | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 64-Gorakhpur | Adityanath | BJP |
| 2 | Bansgaon | Kamlesh Paswan | BJP |
The sitting MLAs are as follows
| S No. | Name of Constituency | Name of Member | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 163-Bansgaon | Sadal Prasad | BSP |
| 2 | 164-Dhuriapar | Rajendra Singh | SP |
| 3 | 165-Chillupar | Rajesh Tripathi | BSP |
| 4 | Kauriram | Ambika | BSP |
| 5 | 167-Mundera Bazar | Madho Prasad | INC |
| 6 | 168-Pipraich | Jamuna Nishad | BSP |
| 7 | 169-Gorakhpur | R M D Agarwal | BJP |
| 8 | 170-Maniram | Vijay Bahadur Yadav | BJP |
| 9 | 171-Sahjanwan | Yashpal Singh Rawat | IND |
Economy
The economy of Gorakhpur Mahanagar is primarily based on the service industry.People from all over PurvanchalPurvanchal
Purvanchal is a geographic region of north-central India, which comprises the eastern end of Uttar Pradesh state...
(Eastern U.P) migrate to the city for education, medical and other facilities which are better than those found in rural areas.
There are branches of all major nationalized banks as well as of private banks in the city, most of which are found along Bank Road, named as it was the location of Garakhpur's first bank, the Kayastha Bank, which was opened in 1906. Later on at this place a branch of Imperial Bank of India was opened in 1923. The Imperial Bank of India was converted into State Bank of India by an act of parliament (State Bank of India Act 1955). The main branch of State Bank of India still exists here along with other business process re-engineering units like SARC (Stressed Assets Recovery Centre), CCPC (Centralised Clearing Processing Cell).
The city also offers best health services in the whole area of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Western Bihar and Nepal.B R D Medical College, Civil Hospital,L N M Railway Hospital, Hanuman Prasad Poddar Cancer Hospital, Kushth Sewa Ashram, Agrawal are some of the hospitals in the city.
Another major attraction of the city is Arogya Mandir, which is a wellness center and rejuvenation camp.In this health rejuvenation camp body and mind related ailments are treated following natural curative methods and yoga in their original form. This wellness center induces a natural healing process in the body which gives boost to self-curative forces and enable in healing and acquiring health. It endeavors to give lessons to and treat you to enjoy a sound natural life only in 10 days. The main and the only aim of this health center is to provide you with happy and fit life
The central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of the city, Golghar, located near the geographical centre includes several major shops, hotels and restaurants, as well as the Rapti Complex, Baldev Plaza, Mangalam Tower and City shopping malls. The Rapti Complex, built in 1987, is the oldest complex in the area. Here one can find all the of all major brands of apparel, jewellary, shoes, cosmetics and electronics goods.
The Buxipur area is the location for one of the biggest book markets in North Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Books for various competitive exams viz. IAS,IES,IITJEE,AIEEE,State Engineering Entrance Exams, AIIPMT,CPMT etc. can be found very easily here.
Hathkargha and Terracotta Industry
The city is famous for hathkargha (a type of hand operated loom) industry.The beautiful horse and elephant terracotta figures, originally meant for dedicating to village deities on special occasions, have found an appreciative national and international market. Some is the case with the products of the very widespread handloom cottage industry of Gorakhpur which comprises about 30,000 looms, the towels, bed-sheets, bed-covers, table cloths, pillow covers and curtains are among the very best produced by Indian handlooms.But due to cut throat competition from mechanised loom industry and lack of government support and subsidy,the industry is loosing its charm and people are switching over to other industries to earn their bread and butter. Same is the case with terracotta industry.
Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA)
The city also boasts of an Industrial area called "Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority" or "GIDA". To revolutionise the industrialisation in this economically backward area,the state government has established this industrial area in 1989 with the objective of establishing on integrated model township which will have Industrial Facilities, for setting up of various large/medium and small scale industries, residential facilities, commercial areas, spaces for institutions of national importance as well as office complexes. The city is proposed to be developed with the state of the art technology in engineering as well as the most modern architecture. Emphasis is also being laid on developing it as a green city to ensure a pollution free environment.
Based on the NOIDA pattern, the proposed industrial city at Gorakhpur is ideally located for Industrial Development. Excellent potential exists in GIDA as 320 Entrepreneurs have been allotted industrial plots, out of which 120 units have already gone in production and 80 units are under construction.
Since Gorakhpur and near-by areas have abundance of agro based raw material,it is an ideal place for starting following industries: Fruit Processing, Modern Rice Mill Mushroom, Cultivation and Processing, Activated Carbon Beer Plant, Texturised Soya Protein Nuggets, Herbal Resource Based Industry, Bone Meal/ Cattle and Poultry feed, Paper and Paper Pulp Unit, Electronics Jute Viscose Fine Yarn, Power Generation Refined Oil, Shoe and Leather Goods, Frozen vegetable & Fruits, Mineral Water Pet Bottles, Woolen Worsted Knitting Yarn, Leather Foam, Knit Wear and Computerized Flat Bed Knitting Power loom and shuttle less looms, Decorative Laminate,Hi-Fashion Hosiery & Knitwear.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries,Govt. of India is also setting up a Food Park in GIDA to provide facilities such as cold storage, Quality laboratory, Effluent Treatment Plant, infrastructure facilities such as development of road, drainage system etc. at the cost of Rs. 1471.00 Lacs after realizing the need for centralized facilities for agro based and food processing activities.
Sugar Industry
Gorakhpur is also known for its sugar industry as the eastern belt of Uttar Pradesh has been very rich in its resources of cane cultivation.The sugar mill(capacity-6000TCD) and distillery(49500 KL per annum) of Saraya industries limited is located in Sardar Nagar,Gorakhpur. Saraya Distillery is one of the leading suppliers of Cheap Branded Liquor in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Besides, it is one of the leading suppliers of Extra Neutral Alcohol / Rectified Spirit in the country today.
Saraya Distillery has an established long relationship with McDowells & Company Limited for a number of years. There is also a bottling plant of McDowell’s & Company products internally for supply in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Gorakhpur stands in the top 100 leadings producing cities of sugar.
North Eastern Railway Head Quarters and Mechanical Workshop
Gorakhpur is also the headquarters of North Eastern Railways. The mechanical workshop, NER, Gorakhpur was established in 1903. Steam engines were maintained here for a long time, but now diesel engines, coaches, and wagons are the main subjects of maintainance here.
'Air Force Station, Gorakhpur'
The air force station, Gorakhpur which is extremely vital for the Defence of the eastern part of the country is equipped with the latest and most sophisticated fighter and bomber planes and equipments and it comes under the Central Air Command (CAC) head-quartered at Bamrauli,Allahabad.It was established in 1963 and has Jaguar fighter planes.It also has a jaguar training center.The second oldest helicopter unit of Indian Air Force (NO. 105 Helicopter Unit) moved to Air Force Station Gorakhpur in August 1987. Immediately after moving to Gorakhpur the unit carried out extensive flood relief operation in Bihar. Again in 1991 unit carried out flood relief operations in Orissa Ex-Bhubaneswar. Recently this unit carried out Ex-Frog i.e. Flood Relief a rescue Operations in Gorakhpur and Bihar.
Gorakha Recruitment Depot
Gorkha Recruitment depot,one of the selection centers of Gorkha soldiers for Indian army is situated in Gorakhpur. This gorkha Recruitment Depot is the only one of its kind in the country.It recruits the Gorkhas of Nepalese origin from the Anchals of Mahakali, Seti, Bheri, Rapti, Karnali, Dhaulagiri, Lumbini and Gandaki of Nepal.It was established in 1886.
Media
Gorakhpur has all India radio and Doordarshan broadcasting and relay centres of its own.
A lot of Hindi Newspapers including Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, Amar Ujala, Aaj, Rashtriya Sahara are printed in the city. Various English Newspapers including the The Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Economic Times (published from either Lucknow or Varanasi) can also be found here.
The FM radio station, Radio Mantra (91.9 MHz) from Jagran Group also operates in the city.
Cuisine
Traditional cuisine includes platters of Galawati and KakoriKakori
Kakori is a town and a nagar panchayat in Lucknow district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated 14 km north of Lucknow. More widely known for its kebabs, Zardozi work and Dasheri mangoes, Kakori is also the centre of once flourishing Urdu poetry, literature and the Qadiriya...
kabobs in Oudh and fish. Meat is generally available in the villages and even in the towns the cost makes it a luxury item,but now a day's the growing income of the area made it easy. Wheat, rice, gram, maize, and pulses along with curd, milk, vegetables, ghee and vegetable oils, constitute the items of daily food, rice being the staple food of the people. Coarse grains like jowar, makka, bajra, barley, kodon, madua and sawan, once formed the staple diet of the poor,are not grown these days. Among villagers, sattu, flour of parched gram and barley mixes, and chabena (parched grain) are quite popular. Finely ground sattu is used in the towns also. People generally eat two meals per day, one at around midday and another in the evening. Roti, chapati or rice is eaten with a bowl of pulses or with cooked vegetables, pickles, curd, or only salt jaggery or onion. Tea is a common drink while milk is available every where. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are used. Efforts are being made by various food departments to change the food habits of the people and to induce them to grow and eat more vegetables, eggs, etc., but these have had limited impact so far.
Art
Wood carvery is popular with carved designs on doors and sills echoing stonemasonry images of gods and goddesses that adorn the local temples and shrines.Music
One of the main features of Gorakhpur's culture is a tradition of folk-songs and folk-dances. At the end of a working day, unwinding with singing and dancing is a popular pastime. This is particularly true during the rainy season between agriculture operations, and on winter nights, when there is little work and much time to fill. Folk-songs are also performed at various festivals during the year. The kaharwa is sung at Deepawali, the AlhaAlha
Alha of Banaphar Rajput clan was the famous general of great Chandela King Paramdidev or Parmal who fought Prithviraj Chauhan in 1182 CE.Alha's mother Devaki was Ahir...
and the kajari
Kajari
Kajari , derived from the Hindi word Kajra, or Kohl, is a genre of semi-classical singing, popular in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar . It is often used to describe the longing of a maiden for her lover as the black monsoon cloud come hanging in the summer skies, and the style is notably sung during the...
during the rainy and winter nights, and the Phaag during Holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
. Songs are normally accompanied by instruments such as the harmonium, dholak, and manjira. Some of the most popular folk-dances are saved for occasions like festivals, fairs, and weddings.
Dress
The normal dress at home of the men – both Hindu and Muslim – is the kurtaKurta
A kurta is a traditional item of clothing worn in Afghanistan, Pakistan , Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. It is a loose shirt falling either just above or somewhere below the knees of the wearer, and is worn by both men and women...
, dhoti
Dhoti
The dhoti or pancha is the traditional men's garment in the in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. A similar garment is worn in some rural areas of Punjab province in Pakistan, but the use is fast declining...
or pyjamas. When going out they generally put on trousers with a coat, shirt, etc., which has become the dress of working class. On formal occasions, men wear sherwani
Sherwani
Sherwani is a long coat-like garment worn in South Asia, very similar to an Achkan or doublet, and is traditionally associated with the Muslim aristocracy of the northern Indian subcontinent....
or achkan
Achkan
Achkan is a long jacket worn in South Asia, and together with the Sherwani, is traditionally associated with the Northern Indian aristocracy.-History:...
and churidar
Churidar
Churidars , or more properly churidar pyjamas , are tightly fitting trousers worn by both men and women in South Asia and Central Asia. Churidars are a variant of the common salwar pants. Salwars are cut wide at the top and narrow at the ankle. Churidars narrow more quickly, so that contours of the...
.Men generally don't wear jewellery except sometimes a gold neck chain.
Women mainly wear sari
Sari
A sari or sareeThe name of the garment in various regional languages include: , , , , , , , , , , , , , is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by females, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. It is popular in India, Bangladesh, Nepal,...
and blouse . The Punjabi women wear salwar, kurta and dupatta
Dupatta
Dupatta Dupatta(Urdu: دوپٹا, Hindi: दुपट्टा, Bengali: ওড়না, Sindhi: پوتي, Tamil:துப்பட்ட) Dupatta(Urdu: دوپٹا, Hindi: दुपट्टा, Bengali: ওড়না, Sindhi: پوتي, Tamil:துப்பட்ட) (alternative names include chadar (in Pakistan), orni/odhni, chunri, chunni, orna, and pacheri, is a long,...
. Some Muslim women still wear churidar pyjamas with kurta and dupatta. In the town of Gorakhpur young girls are also seen wearing skirt and slacks, salwar, garara or sharara with kurta and dupatta and recently now bell-bottomed pyjamas with kamiz have in vogue. The use of the lehanga (full long skirt) still persists among the women of the villages or on ceremonial occasions in Hindu families. Women usually cover their head with dupatta or sari. Gold, silver or nickel jewellery is worn according to means and taste. Costume jewellery is also popular now in all communities. Bunda and jhumki(ear ring), kara for hands and feet both, lachcha, payal (anklets), keel and nath (nose-stud and nose-ring); hansuli (tight neck-lace), anguthi (ring), and panchhaila (wristlet) are all commonly worn. Silver bichhia i.e.toe-ring is a must for every married Hindu women.
Entertainment
As elsewhere in India, cinema is most popular means of entertainment in Gorakhphur. There are ten cinemas in the district with a combined capacity of six thousand seats. Documentaries and mobile cinema cater for the rural areas of the district. Dramatic societies and circuses also visit the district. Dangal (wrestling matches), nautankiNautanki
Nautanki is one of the most popular folk operatic theater performance traditions of South Asia, particularly in northern India. Before the advent of Bollywood , Nautanki was the single most popular form of entertainment in the villages and towns of northern India...
(indigenous open-air dramatic performances), bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
and qawwali
Qawwali
Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia, particularly in the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan, Hyderabad, Delhi, and other parts of northern India...
programmes, and mushaira
Mushaira
Mushaira is a poetic symposium. Its a term in Urdu used to describe an event where poets gather to perform their works. A mushaira is a beloved part of the culture of Pakistan and North India, and it is greatly admired by participants as a forum for free self-expression.-Forms:A mushaira can take...
are also arranged at different places from time to time. Ramlila
Ramlila
Ramlila is a dramatic folk re-enactment of the life of Lord Ram, ending up in ten day battle between Lord Ram and Ravan, as described in the Hindu religious epic, the Ramayana...
and Krishnalila provide alternative entertainment. There are also 2 screen multiplex cinema in Gorakhpur
Hang-outs and Parks
Gorakhpur has a world-class amusement park located at Ramgarh Tal lake. Neer Nikunj water park is the most famous hang-out for most of the people of the City and nearby areas. The Ramgarh Tal lake is itself a place for hang out that provides a panoramic and scenic view and one can get rid of the hustle and bustle of the busy city life here.It covers approx. 723 hectares of area. At present the embankment of this lake is about 18 km long which is really unique in its nature. Ramgarh tal has its own specific ecosystem and people adjacent to its bank are closely related. Government’s indifference, heavy garbage dumping and encroachment along the taal has deteriorated not only its water quality but also its morphology too. Several researches indicate that every year 5 cm of sediment is being deposited on the bed of the taal. Now due to rising level of eutrophication, the level of biodiversity of the taal is also gradually declining.Gorakhpur also has a plethora of well-maintained parks including-
- Prem Chand Park
- Whee Park
- Lal Diggi Park
- Indira Bal Vihar, Golghar
- Vinod Van(Located in Area Of IAF)
- Champa Devi Park
- Ambedkar Park
- Panth Park
- Gorakhpur university Grounds
Vinod Van is one of the biggest zoos of East Uttar Pradesh.It is situated in the lush and green forest of Kushmi Jungle. There are large no. of animals here like deers, antelopes, cheetal, monkeys, Neelgay, snakes, rabbits,crocodiles. It also has an aviary that has a variety of species of birds.
The city also has a Rail museum where the history and antique locomotives of Indian Railways can be seen.The museum also have a toy train for children. There is an A.C food plaza in the museum also.The Rail museum is situated near the headquarters of North Eastern Railway.
There is a buddhist museum called Lord Buddha sangrahalay near Taramandal which attracts thousands of tourists from East and South-East Asian countries every year. The museum houses a lot of things related to Lord Buddha and his life.
City Mall,V Mart, Spencers-Hyper,Cross Road The Mall (located on A D Chowk Buxipur),Baldev Plaza and Mangalam Tower are considered to be a shoppers' paradise and great hang-outs.City Mall and Multiplex, situated in the Golghar Market, is a 5 storey mall that accommodates all top brands of apparel, jewelleries, electronic gizmos, accessories, souvenirs, home products and departmental stores. It offers a convenient reach to the shoppers from around the city along with great architecture, rich aesthetics and great ambience.It houses a 3-Screen multiplex,run by SRS cinemas.
The city also boasts of a state of the art planetarium at Taramandal. It has become new destination for students who want to explore about the planets and the universe.
People
The major composition of population includes HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
casts viz. – Yadav
Yadav
Yādav refers to an umbrella group of traditionally non-elite pastoral communities, or castes, in India and Nepal which since the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has claimed descent from the mythological King Yadu as a part of a movement of social and political resurgence.The term 'Yadav' now...
, Kayasth, Bhumihar(Rai) Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
, Sainthwar Kshatriya, along with Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, Sikh and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. In recent times people from Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
have started settling in Gorakhpur.
The primary language of Gorakhpur is Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, followed by Bhojpuri.
Eminent personalities
Baba Raghav DasRaghvendra Rao (original name), born in pune, a staunch patriot and an eminent social worker is popularly known as the Gandhi of Poorvanchal. He aroused cultural and national feelings, spread out education, served the poorest / lepers and sacrificed his life for the socio-economic betterment of the people of Purvanchal. In recognition to his service the medical college is named after him. Also for the shelter of leprosy, Kushth Sewa Ashram was set up by him in 1951 at Gorakhpur. This noble saint and philosopher left for his heavenly abode on 15 January 1958.
Babu Bandhu Singh
The first great freedom fighter of Gorakhpur, waged Guerilla War with the Britishers, was at last arrested through an informer and hanged at Alinagar Chowk, Gorakhpur on 12th Aug. 1857. His supreme sacrifice remained a perpetual source of inspiration for the people of Gorakhpur till the attainment of freedom.
Firaq Gorakhpuri
Original name Raghupati Sahay, a noted Urdu poet, recipient of Gyanpeeth Award belonged to Gorakhpur.
Prem Chand
Original name dhanpat Rai, World famous Hindi Writer, was born in Varanasi but Gorakhpur was his work-place. As a writer he got recognition from Gorakhpur during his stay as an Asst. teacher and Hostel Superintendent (1916–1921).
Hanuman Prasad Poddar
Hanuman Prasad Poddar, lovingly called as Bhaijee, a multifacent personality, an editor of famous religious magazine Kalyan is remembered for his untiring efforts to propagate and disseminate Hindu religion across the world.
Mahant Digvijai Nath
One of the famous founder of the Hindu Maha Sabha, a great nationalist and follower of yogi Gorakhnath, was closely associated with the famous Gorakhnath temple and established a number of educational institutions in the city. His contribution to the establishment of Gorakhpur University is significant.
Pt. S.N.M. Tripathi
Pt. Surti Narayan Mani Tripathi was the First ICS of UP State.H e has held many important posts including the post of District Magistrate – Gorakhpur. That was the time when Pt. S.N.M. Tripathi took a vow to build a University in Gorakhpur. He was the Founder President of the Gorakhpur University. Other personalities like Mahant Digvijaynath, Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Sardar Majithia were also members of the foundation team.
Pt. Dashrath Prasad Dwivedi
An editor of Swadesh is known for his patriotic writings-editing who published the autobiography of Ram Prasad Bismil serially in his news paper without any fear.
Vir Bahadur Singh
Vir Bahadur Singh, real son of the soil, ex. Chief Minister of U.P. and Central Cabinet Minister of Communication, is widely remembered as an architect of modern Gorakhpur. The city is indebted to him for ushering a series of developmental activities, the prominent being upgradation of the city Gorakhpur to B class and Nagar Nigam, creation of Gorakhpur Development Authority, construction of residential colonies, openeing of Sports College, Mahila I.T.I. and Navodaya Vidhyalaya, ambitous Ramgarh Project, Entertainment and Amusement Parks and widening of Roads.
Ram Ashray Yadav, Chandra Vijay Singh & Janardan Yadav
Wrestlers, represented India Railways Team as well as Indian Team. All are Yash Bharti Awardee.
Sir Surjit Singh Majithia
An Industrialist, founder of Sardar Nagar Sugar Mill and others. Sports loving and known for his charitable works.
Dr. Vidya Niwas Mishra
Eminent Scholar of Hindi, Sanskrit Literature resident of Gola Tehsil of Gorakhpur District. Padmeshree Awardee.
Smt. Janaki Devi
An Illiterate activist who reformed the people of many villages and is popular for her Social Activities. Resident of a Village of Pipraich Block, District Magistrate of Gorakhpur felicitated her along with other officials and public personalities.
Daler Mehndi
Popular Punjabi Singer, started his carrier from Gorakhpur District.
Jafar Gorakhpuri
Popular Filmy Song Writer known for his song "Bada Lutfa tha jab .....", belongs to Gorakhpur.
Syed Modi
An ace badminton player of Gorakhpur, eight times national champion(1980–87), recipient of Arjuna Award, winner of Gold Medal in Common Wealth Games(1982), bronze medalist of Asian games (1982), took participation in several international tournaments. He was known as the great stroke player both on forehand and backhand. Unfortunately, his promising life was cut short by the cruel assassin's bullet on 28 June. 1988.
Narendra Hirwani
Narendra Hirwani, born and brought up in Gorakhpur but played Ranji for M.P. State, is the youngest cricket test player and became crickecters of the year (1988). National record of taking maximum number of wickets (16 for 136) in test match( against west Indies at Madras) goes to his credit.
Prem Maya
Hockey Player, represented and captained Indian Women Hockey team. Arjun Awardee.
Late Shri. Janardan Singh
Bharat Bhim and famous wrestler from Gorakhpur.
Panne Lal Yadav
India Fame Wrestler, represented India, in India and abroad. Yash Bahrti Awardee.
Other famous personalities are as follows
- Prem Maya SonirPrem Maya SonirPrem Maya Bachchan Sonir is currently serving as Assistant Sport Officer of North Eastern Railways Headquarters Gorakhpur. She was a member of the women's hockey team of India which won the gold medal in the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi.She also serves as the coach of the Indian Railways...
, hockey player - Anurag KashyapAnurag Kashyap (director)Anurag Singh Kashyap is an Indian film director and screenwriter. As a director, he is known for Black Friday , a controversial and award-winning Hindi film about the 1993 Bombay bombings, followed by No Smoking , Dev D and Gulaal...
, film director and screenwriter. - Jimmy ShergillJimmy ShergillJasjit Singh Gill , popularly known as Jimmy Shergill , is an Indian actor.-Early life:Shergill was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Gorakhpur, India and studied there till 5th Grade in St. Paul's School. Then, his family shifted to Patiala...
, actor - Raj ShankarRaj ShankarRaj Shankar , was an Indian biochemist. His main fields of specialization were neurobiochemistry and clinical biochemistry...
, biochemist - Shakir Ali (barrister)Shakir Ali (barrister)Shakir Ali Barrister was an Indian lawyer and politician.Shakir Ali was born in a respectable Abbasi family of Kakori, a small town about 20 miles from Lucknow, the capital of United Provinces during British rule. His ancestors acted as Quazi during the Mughal regime.He completed his early...
- Leo Amery, politician and journalist
- Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Bollywood composer duo
- Billy Arjan SinghBilly Arjan SinghKunwar "Billy" Arjan Singh was an Indian hunter turned conservationist and author. He was the first who tried to reintroduce tigers and leopards from captivity into the wild....
, hunter turned conservationist, author - Raza MuradRaza MuradRaza Murad is an Indian actor working primarily in Hindi films. He has acted in over 200 Bollywood films.He is the son of renowned Bollywood character actor Murad. He is also the first cousin of Zeenat Aman, his uncle being Amanullah Khan, writer of Mughal-e-Azam and Pakeezah. His niece Sonam was...
, actor - Amrita Sher-GilAmrita Sher-GilAmrita Sher-Gil , was an eminent Indian painter, sometimes known as India's Frida Kahlo, and today considered an important woman painter of 20th century India, whose legacy stands at par with that of the Masters of Bengal Renaissance; she is also the 'most expensive' woman painter of India.-Early...
, painter - Vaibhav SaxenaVaibhav SaxenaVaibhav Saxena is a music director. He was born on 13 Dec 1986 at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India .- Albums :ShabadTimes Music releases SHABAD, a devotional album rendered by Mr. Pankaj Udhas and music directed by Vaibhav Saxena and Gunjan Jha...
, Bollywood music director - Chunky PandeyChunky PandeySuyash 'Chunky' Pandey is an Indian film actor who has appeared in various Bollywood films. He has appeared in over 55 movies in a career that has spanned over two decades and has been nominated once for his supportive role in Tezaab...
, Bollywood actor - Saurabh ShuklaSaurabh Shukla-Early life:Shukla's family left Gorakhpur for Delhi when he was two years old. After completing his schooling, he did his graduation from Khalsa College, Delhi...
, film and television actor, director and screenwriter
Literature
Munshi PremchandMunshi Premchand
Munshi Premchand , was a famous writer of modern Hindi-Urdu literature. He is generally recognized in India as the foremost Hindi-Urdu writer of the early twentieth century...
(1880–1936), one of India's great Hindi novelists, lived in Gorakhpur. The house where he lived and wrote still stands in a park named Munshi Premchand Park.
Firaq Gorakhpuri
Firaq Gorakhpuri
Raghupati Sahay , better known under his pen name Firaq Gorakhpuri , was a writer, critic, and one of the most noted contemporary Urdu poets from India...
(1896–1982) (Raghupati Sahay), the famous Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
poet, grew up in Gorakhpur, where his childhood home still stands. He later moved to Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
where he was a professor of English at Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
.
}socialisty party from bansgaon
Poet and critic, Majnoon Gorakhpuri, is also from Gorakhpur,
Renowned Urdu poet Mohammad Umar Khan 'Umar' aka Umar Gorakhpuri, a disciple of legendary poet Dagh Dehelvi, also belonged to Gorakhpur. A collection of his selected poetry entitled "Bada-i-Kuhna" (The Old Wine) has recently been published.
Geeta Press
One of the biggest attractions to visit when in Gorakhpur is the prestigious Gita Press. It is the world's largest publishers of Hindu religious texts. The Gita Press was founded around year 1923 by the great Brahmalina Shri Jayadayalji Goyandka. Selling over 370 million copies of various Hindu religious texts the Gita Press is extremely impressive. The building itself is a work of art. A beautiful gold shimmery temple like building that quickly catches your eye.The entrance to the press is an impressive blend of Indian temple architecture—while the pillars are inspired from the cave temples of Ellora, the gopuram is influenced by the Meenakshi temple in Madurai.The Gita Press from the outside looks nothing like most modern publishing houses that exist today. It has an art gallery inside with 648 exquisite paintings by famous artists from different time periods.The Gita Press archives contain over 3,500 manuscripts including over 100 interpretations of the Gita.[2]
The press publishes two magazines namely
- Kalyan (in Hindi) is a monthly magazine being published since 1927. It has articles devoted to various religious topics promoting uplifting thought and good deeds. Writings by Indian saints and scholars are regularly published in the magazine.
- Kalyana-Kalpataru (in English) is also a monthly and has been published since 1934. Its contents are similar to Kalyan. Neither of these magazines runs any advertisements.
The Geeta Press publishes following texts
- Shrimad Bhagvad Gita (several formats)
- The Mahabharata
- Shri Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas (several formats), Telugu version (2002) [3]
- Other works by Tulsidas
- Valmiki Ramayana (several formats)
- Scriptures (Puranas, Upanishads and others)
- Works by Soordas
It has a small Bhagavath Gita which costs Rs.4/- which is very popular. These texts are published in Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Oriya and other languages of India.
The Press was the first to publish the text as a book; prior to this the Gita existed solely in the oral tradition
Oral tradition
Oral tradition and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another. The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants...
of the Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
.Gita press holds a place in the Guinness book of world reecords as the largest publisher of religious books in the world in terms of volume. The publishing company is located in a building with marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
walls inscribed with the 18 chapters of the Gita, and hung with paintings depicting the lives of Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
and Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
.
Railways
Gorakhpur railway station is the headquarters of India's North Eastern Railway. It connects to almost every major city in India. Direct trains connect to Hyderabad, ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain
Ujjain
Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
, Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
, Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, Trivandrum, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, Kanpur Central
Kanpur Central
Kanpur Central is the major intercity rail station and a commuter rail hub in the Indian city of Kanpur. It falls is one of the most busiest stations in India. The Kanpur Central Railway Station is on the main Howrah - Delhi route broad gauge in Uttar Pradesh...
, Kanpur Anwarganj
Kanpur Anwarganj
Kanpur Anwarganj is a railway station in Kanpur. It is second big station in Kanpur after Kanpur Central. It has three platforms. It was constructed during by the British Raj. It has one big clock on its main building. It is on Farrukhabad-Kanpur line. Till 2006 it was meter gaze Railway Station...
, Govindpuri, Unnao
Unnao
The town of Unnao is the headquarters of Unnao District in Uttar Pradesh, India between Kanpur and Lucknow. It is approximately 18 km from Kanpur & 60 km from Lucknow . It is connected to these two cities by roadway as well as by railway. The nearest airport is at Amausi about...
, Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
, Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
, Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
and other distant parts of the nation. The station offers Class A railway station facilities.
http://gorakhpur.nic.in/railway.jpg
The city is served by seven Railway stations-
- Gorakhpur Junction
- Gorakhpur Cantt.
- Domingarh
- Sahjanwan (for GIDA)
- Nakaha Jungle
- Chauri Chaura
- Sardar nagar
Roadways
Major national highways intersect at Gorakhpur, including NH 28 and 29. Some important distances are: Kushinagar 50 km, Kanpur 359 km,Lucknow 276 km, Varanasi 231 km, Allahabad 339 km, Agra 624 km, Delhi 783 km, Kolkata 770 km, Gwalior 730 km, Bhopal 922 km and Mumbai 1690 km. Frequent bus services are available for most of these cities. Considerable improvement in this aspect is expected after the completion of the east-west corridorEast-West Corridor
The East-West Corridor is the built-up area of north Trinidad stretching from the capital, Port of Spain, 15 miles east to Arima. The term was coined by economist and political philosopher Lloyd Best, after gleaning the works of a technocrat named Lynette Attwell. The Corridor includes such towns...
road project that enhances Gorakhpur's road connectivity.There are two bus station in gorakhpur One named railway bus stand which is nearest to railway station, and the other one is at Civil lines.
Airlines
Gorakhpur is served by an airport located 6 km east from the city centre. It caters primarily to Indian Air ForceIndian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
traffic. A small number of domestic airlines operate civil aviation services to Delhi, Mumbai and elsewhere. Gorakhpur is also host to many tourists who use it as a hub to travel to Lord Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
's pilgrimage sites. Actually gorakhpur airport is INDIAN AIR FORCE base. It,s main constituents are two squadrons of spectat jaguar jet fighter planes.Gorakhpur airport is also known as kasiya airport.It mainly serves for IAF planes and some private planes to some extent.Here security is very high.Entrance to the airport except the passengers is very difficult.
Gorakhnath Temple
Gorakhnath is a symbol of the identity of the city. The city itself was named after Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath. According to popular belief Guru Gorakhnath did tapasya in Treta Yug at the place where the magnificent temple stands today.The temple is built on 52 acre of land in the heart of the city on Gorakhpur-Sonauli state highway.It is not only a peeth of the Nath sect but an example of Indian sculpture. In the garbh grih of the temple, Guru Gorakhnath is depicted as an incarnation of Lord Shiva in deep meditation. His charan paduka has been kept near his meditation site.
The sacred pond (Mansarover) situated in the east has been now converted into a boating place by the temple thorities.
The temple literature reveals that the temple structure and shape was changed from time to tme. It is also said that several attempts were made to demolish the temple during Mughal period. The present form of the teple was conceptualised by late Mahant Digvijaynath and present head priest of the temple Mahant Aveiydyanath.
Though large number of devotees of guru Gorakhnath visits the temple every day but their number increase many folds on every Tuesday and Saturday. Thousands od devotees assemble in the temple premises during the famous Khichari mela (January 14 onwards) which is the main festival of the temple.
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/35375832.jpg
Leela Chitra Mandir, Geeta Press
Leela Chitra Mandir situated in a magnificent hall in the premises of Geeta Press exhibits the pictorial are trend of the country from time to time. There are approximately 700 pictures (including paintings) related to earthy sojourn and pastimes of Lord Rama and Krishna. During the Gita Jayanti week this Chitra Mandir is decorated tastefully.Also a must see is the lovely statue of Lord Krishna on a chariot delivering a semron to Arjun. Situated in the old city, Gita press is not only a press for publishing books but a mission conceived by late Jayadajaliji Goyanka, a spiritual inclined person. It is said that he was inspired by Lord Krishna during his sadhana to live Gita, to propagate it, broadcast nishkama karmayoga and inspire people to adopt it as philosophy of life.
Satyamvad, Dharamamchar(speak truth and practice dharma)is the inscription at the main gate of Gita press which was inaugurated by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India on April 29, 1955.
Geeta Vatika
Gita Vatika is situated in the northern part of the city where founder editor of Kalyan, Hanuman Prasad Poddar lived for 45 years (1927–1971). Spread in a area of 5.2 acre, Gita Vatika has a magnificent temple of Sri Radha Krishna. In the temple premises samadhi of Hanuman Prasad Poddar, his wife and Radha Baba is located. Radha Baba has established "Giriraj" in the temple premises. On the day after Diwali devotees worship Giriraj and offer "Annakoot".Vishnu Mandir
The famous temple associated with a large Idol of God Vishnu made in 12th Century "PAL KALIN KALIN KASAUTI" Stone. Ramleela is organized on the eve of Festival Dussehera here and the procession is so grand and in a very traditional that it fetches the tourist visit in the season.Arogya Mandir
Arogya Mandir, established by Late Sri. Bitthal Das Modi in 1940. The new and beautiful building was completed in 1961. It is approximately 2 km away from Gorakhpur city and 4 km from Rly. Station. It is made in an open area and covered with hundreds of eucalyptus and mango trees. The concept of treatment is Naturopathy.Buddha Museum
The Govt. Buddha Museum was established on the bank of Ramgarh lake in 1987. The present building came into existence in 1997. The magnificent building of the museum constructed in Buddhist architectural style contains more than 3,500 antiques, thanka paintings and relics of Gautam Buddha displayed in four galaeries. The idea behind establishing Buddha museum was to collect, preserve, document and exhibit cultural property.Ramgarh Taal
The cool soothing breeze all over the city may be attributed to the centrally located water body. It can hardly be defined as a 'Pond' for its regular flow and extended surface area. Adding to this is the availability of fresh water round the year unlike other water resources. Its beauty is attributed with Tara Mandal at its Southern bank. The tourists are comforted with Circuit house located near it. Buddha Museum near it offers the tourist to know and learn about Lord Buddha.Teracotta Town
Situated AT 17 CMS from Gorakhpur `BHATHAT' a small village, which is famous for its earth(MUD) made handicrafts. Famous as Terracotta products, the products range is quite large. Being highly exported to several countries, most of the villagers are engaged in manufacturing terracotta handicrafts. Several National and International Awards have already been won by the Artists.Chauri Chaura Sahid Smarak
February 4, 1922 the fire of infuriation engulfed foreign made clothes and textiles at Chauri-Chaura. The police force resorted to 'Lathi Charge' on the conggetion in vain. The police force fired on innocent public, which resulted to death and violence. The violent mob chased the police force; the police personnel's ran for their lives and locked themselves inside the police st ation. The infuriated mob set fire to the police station and as a result, 19 policemen were burnt alive. British government took repressive measures and 172 persons involved in Chauri-Chaura incidence were sentenced death and 14 were to be sent to Kalapani, Andman Nicobar prison cells. Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya fought against the British law and converted the punishment to death sentence of 19 and imprison for the rest of all. The shahid smarak build up in memory of the freedom fighters is situated near the railway station Chauri Chaura.Tarkulha Devi
Enriched with natural beauty, pond, Sahid Smark and shaktijeet, Tarkulaha Devi Temple is a famous place for devotees of Hindu religion. Tarkulaha Devi was the Ishta Devi of freedom fighter Senani Babu Bandhu Singh. On the eve of Chatra Ramnavmi a one month'large fair is organized every year.Maghar
Sant Kabir a mystic poet & a well-known saint left his mortal coil here. The great personality taught the lesson of brotherhood after death too. When the town was panic stricken with the news of death of the deity, some naughty ailments tried to make it a issue of religious conflict. But the great sole still cared for his people and in the due course of discussion between Hindus & Muslims that he will be buried or burnt, the body disappeared replaced by heap of flowers. The flowers were then divided into half and Muslims buried it whereas Hindus burnt it. Hindus built Samadhi Mandir at the very place where they burnt their flowers & Muslims made Makbara at the very place where they buried there part of flowers. This unique example of co-existence of Hindu-Muslim harmony and peace is visible today in Maghar. Behind the Samadhi-Makbara there is a cave in which Sant Kabir used to perform his deep 'Tapasya'. The present façade and shape of cave is restored by earthwork for about hundred years ago. 'Kabir-Dhuni' and 'Gorakh talaiya' are located about 1 km away from Samadhi near Kasarwal village on National Highway.Lehra Devi Temple
It is believed that while wandering in the forest for 14 years, Pandavas lived a year in disguise. They visited the Lehra town and were offered shelter by Lehra Devi. Once Maa came to the town as a beautiful girl and wanted to cross the river. She hired a boat and started the journey but in middle of the river the boatman grew interested in her splendid beauty and went off track. As soon as Devi understood his intention she disappeared with the boat. In the Kalyug she was seen with the boat to her followers who made a temple at the very place. It is believed that if a person visits the temple for regular 5 Tuesdays, his wishes are fulfilled.Imambara
The Imambara—abode of imams—is a well known landmark of Gorakhpur. Its history begins with the advent of Syed Roshan Ali Shah in Gorakhpur in 1774. His father Syed Ghulam Ashraf, a native of Bakhara, had come to Delhi during the reign of Modammad Shah. He fled from Delhi during one of the invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali. He finally settled at Shahpur. His son Syed Roshan Ali Shah left him and came to Gorakhpur where he inherited a sizable land from his maternal grandfather in mohalla Daud Chak (now Mian Bazzar). He decided to build an Imambara on his land and changed the name of Daud Chak to Imamganj.Raja Pahalwan Singh of Satari donateed mauza Kusmahi along with the jungles in 1793 for Niyaz Imam Saheb. Nawab Asif-ud-Daulah, the Shia ruler of Oudh, offer a grant of 16 villages, Rs. 10,000 cash and a silver Tazia in 1796 to Roshan Ali Shah. With rhis grant Shah built a pucca enclosure around the central Imambara and added other edifices to it.
Budhia mai Temple
The famous Budhiya Mai temple is situated in the lush and green milieu of Kushmi Jungle in front of Vinod van. Thousands of devotees throng it to offer their prayer everyday during navrati.Kali Mandir
The very famous Kali Mandir is situated in Golghar area of the city. Although the temple is not not very big but it is the blessings of the supreme goddess and the spiritual atomosphere of the garbhgrih of the temple that fetch thousands of devotees everydaV Park
Called as V-Park, the grand green park is situated inside the town in the east near University Area, A paradise for morning walkers, the park is governed and maintained by the administration and consist of natural trees, several fruit trees, plants etc. Plants of several varieties are also available for sale. The park also develops motherbirds of Roses of several Colours and varieties.Education
Gorakhpur is the educational hub of North Eastern Uttar Pradesh. It has some best schools in the region.It is also worth mentioning here that Gorakhpur is the birth place of famous Saraswati Shishu MandirSaraswati Shishu Mandir
Saraswati Sishu Mandir are a group of schools run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. “Saraswati” is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and other creative arts. In Sanskrit “sishu” means children and “mandir” means temple....
of Saraswati Shishu Mandir group of schools.It was opened in 1952 at Pakkibagh,Gorakhpur. There are a lot of degree colleges here. The city also boasts of a state university,an autonomous government engineering college,a government medical college. Apart from this, there are numerous private engineering colleges, dental colleges, pharma colleges and institutes for MBA in the city,the details of which are as follows:
Schools
- Air Force School (www.afsgkp.com)
- Mahatma Gandhi Inter College
- N E R Senior Secondary School
- Murari Children's Academy
- Govt. Jublee Inter College
- Carmel's Girls Inter College
- A D Govt. Girls inter College
- Little Flower School
- St. Joseph School
- St. Paul's School
- Central Academy
- Springer Loretto Girls Public School
- N E R Boys Inter College
- N E R Girls Inter College
- G.N.National Public School
- H.P Children's Academy
- Saraswati Shishu Mandir Sr. Secondary School
- St Xaviers Public School
- Springer Public School
- Pillar's Public School
- Sanskriti Public School
- Gandhi Shatabdi Inter College
- Maharana Pratap Inter College
- Nehru Inter College
- Rashtriya Inter College
- Abhay Nandan Inter College
- St. Anthony School
- Bright Land School*opex public school
- Ram Narayan Girls Inter College
- Maharana Pratap Inter College
- Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1,Air Force Station
- Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2,FCI
- Army School
- Divine Public Schol
- Vikas Bharti Public school
- Neena Thapa GRD High School
- Central Hindu School
- ABC Public School
- Blossom Sr. Secondary School
- Oxford Public School
- Naval's National Academy
- Netaji Defense academy
- Oxford Public School
- Maharshi Vidya Mandir
- Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
- Gorakhpur Public School
- G N National Public school
- Don Bosco School
- Woodland Academy
- S.N.S High School
- Empirical Academy Doudpur
Degree colleges
- Arya Mahila Post Graduate College, Gorakhpur
- Bhawani Prasad Pandey Mahavidyalaya, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Islamia College of Commerce Near Jubilee Talkies, Gorakhpur
- St. Andrew's Degree College, Civil lines, Gorakhpur
- Digvijay Nath Degree College
- Saraswati Vidya Mandir Mahila Degree College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Imambara Degree college
- Deen Dayal Upadyaay Govt Degree College Sahjanwa
- M.G. Post Graduate College
- Marwar Business college, near jhankar cinema, Ghazi Rauza
- Shyameswar Degree College, Sikariganj, Gorakhpur
- Veer Bahadur Singh Degree college, Harnahi, Gorakhpur
- Chandra Kanti Ramavati Arya Mahila P.G. College, Gorakhpur
- Bapu Degree College peppeganj, Gorakhpur.
- V.S.A.V. Degree College, Gola Bazar Gorakhpur
- Smt. Draupadi devi Tripathi PG College, Rudrapur, khajani, Gorakhpur
- J.B. Mahajan Degree College, Chauri Chaura
- Gangotri Devi Mahila Degree College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Jawad Ali Shah Imambara Girls Post Graduate College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- St Josephs College For Women, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Veer Bahadur Memorial Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
Engineering colleges
- Madan Mohan Malaviya Engineering CollegeMadan Mohan Malaviya Engineering CollegeMadan Mohan Malaviya Engineering College, , is a state funded autonomous engineering institute in the city of Gorakhpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India...
Madan Mohan Malviya Engineering College was founded in 1962 to provide engineering and technical education for the development of the backward districts of eastern U.P. The college runs Under Graduate Programme in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics & Communication and Computer Science. In addition to regular courses, it also runs part time Post Graduate Diploma Courses ( evening ) in Computer Application called P.G.D.C.A. and Computer Hardware Maintenance & Networking. Besides teaching & research facilities, the college provides technical know how and consultancy to various industries of this area.
- Institute of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (IAME),Gorakhpur
- Institute of Technology and Management, Gida.
- Institute of Technology and Management for Women, Gida.
- Buddha Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Suyash Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Kailash Institute of Pharmacy and Management
- Maharana Pratap Mangla Devi Insititute of Computer Science, Technology and Management, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- KIPM College of Management
- Manyawar Kanshiram Engineering College of Information Technology
- Dr BR Ambedkar Pooja College of Pharmacy, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Swami Vivekanand Institute Of Information and Technology, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- DOEACC Society Gorakhpur
Polytechnic institutes
- Govt Polytechnic college
- Govt ITI college
- ICM college
- M.P. Polytechnic
Medical/dental colleges
- BRD Medical College
Established in the year 1969, Baba Raghav Das Medical College
Baba Raghav Das Medical College
Baba Raghav Das Medical College is a Medical College in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.It was established in 1969 and is affiliated to Gorakhpur University-External links:* *...
is 6th Medical College in Uttar Pradesh. It is named after the prominent Social Worker Baba Raghav Das, a devoted freedom fighter and Sarvadaya Leader of this area. The College is situated 8 km from the Gorakhpur Railway Station. Professor P.L. Shukla, was the founder Principal and Professor of Anatomy. This institution is affiliated ; with Gorakhpur University.
The teaching hospital complex 'Nehru Chikitsalaya' came into existence in 1974. It has got 650 indoor beds and out patient departments for various disciplines of medical services.
Since 1980, the College is running Post Graduate training programme also, for the degree of M.S. & M.D. in Anatomy, Surgery, orthopaedics, Obst.& Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Anaesthesiology, Pediatrics, Medicine, Skin & V.D. etc. In addition to these courses, it also runs diploma courses, of the above listed departments.
- Gorakhpur School of Natural Therapeutics
- Purvanchal Institute of dental sciences
- Guru Shri Gorakshnath School of Nursing
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University
Setup in 1957, 25 thousand students at present, are enrolled with approximately 320 teachers. Apart from the general courses, the University offers courses in Bio-Technology, Bio-Chemistry, Computer, Journalism, fine Arts & Music and MBA . It is also the centre of Academic Staff College (under UGC) and Indira Gandhi National Open University( IGNOU). It produced two chief ministers of the State, Shri. Vir Bahadur Singh and Shri. Raj Nath Singh Number of faculty members have held the post of Vice Chancellor, in different Universities with dignity. The prominent Vice Chancellor of Gorakhpur University were Prof. R.P. Rastogi (BHU), Prof. Nagendra (Lucknow), Prof. U.P. Singh (Purvanchal Univ.), Dr. Vidya Niwas Misra (Kashi Vidya Peeth), Prof. V.S. Pathak, Prof. Radhe Mohan& Mishra, Prof. Revati Raman etc. It also gave Directors of Higher Education Commission, Rajarshi Tondon Open University, Secondary Education CommissionDeen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University or simply Gorakhpur University is located in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.-Slogan:आ नो भद्राः क्र्तवो यन्तु विश्वतः Aa no Bhadrah Kritvo Yantu Vishvatah...
, Gorakhpur with its many affiliated colleges, caters the educational needs of many thousands of students in the following streams