Gorakhpur district General information
Gorakhpur District is a District of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Gorakhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.
The district covers an area of 3483.8 km². It is bounded by Maharajganj District to the north, Kushinagar and Deoria districts in the east, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, and Mau districts to the south, and Sant Kabir Nagar District to the west. The district is part of Gorakhpur Division.
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 first district collector was Mr. Routledge. In 1829, Gorakhpur was made the headquarters of Gorakhpur Division, comprising the districts of Gorakhpur, Ghazipur and Azamgarh. Mr. R.M. Biad was first appointed Commissioner.
Origin Of Name
The district Gorakhpur takes its name and fame from renowned, ascetic 'Gorakshnath', who was an eminent profounder saint of 'Nath Sampradaya'. A famous shrine 'Gorakhnath' was built in his honour on the same spot where he practised austerities.
History
The ancient Gorakhpur, in addition to modern, comprised the districts of Basti, Deoria, Azamgarh and parts of Nepal tarai. These region, which may be called as Gorakhpur Janpad, had been an important centre of Aryan culture and civilization.
Gorakhpur was a part of the famous kingdom of Koshal, one of sixteen mahajanpadas in 6th Century B.C. The earliest known monarch ruling over this region with his capital at Ayodhya was IKSVAKU, who founded the solar dynasty of Kshatriya. It produced a number of illustratious kings till the accession of Ram, who was the greatest ruler of this dynasty. Since then, it remained an integral part of the erstwhile empires of Maurya, Shunga, Kushana , Gupta and Harsha dynasties. According to tradition, the Tharu king, Mausen of Madan Singh (900-950 A.D.) ruled over Gorakhpur city and the adjoining area.
In medieval period, when the entire northern India lay prostrate before the Muslim ruler, Mohammad Ghori, the Gorakhpur region was not left out. For a longer period it remained under the sway of the muslim rulers, from Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak to Bahadur Shah.Tradition has it that Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296-1316) ordered the conversion of old shrine of Goraksha ( a popular deity ) of Gorakhpur into a mosque. However, on Akbar's reorganisation of the empire, Gorakhpur gave its name to one of the five Sirkars comprising the province of Avadh.
Modern period was marked by the transfer of this region by the Nawab of Avadh to the East India Company in 1801. With this cession, Gorakhpur was raised to the status of a 'DISTRICT. The first collector was Mr. Routledge. In 1829, Gorakhpur was made the headquarters of a Division of the same name, comprising the districts of Gorakhpur, Ghazipur and Azamgarh. Mr. R.M. Biad was first appointed Commissioner.
In 1865, new district Basti was carved out from Gorakhpur. The latter was further split up in 1946 to form new district Deoria. The third division of Gorakhpur led to the creation of district Mahrajganj in 1989.
Location, Area and Boundaries
The present district of Gorakhpur, 265 Kms east of capital Lucknow, on National Highway -28 lies between Latitude 26° 46´ N and Longitude 83° 22´ E, covers the geographical area of 3483.8 Sq. km. It is bounded by districts Mahrajganj in the north, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh and Mau in the south, Kushinagar and Deoria in the east and Sant Kabirnagar in the west.
Tourist Place
Gorakhpur has been the land of ancient glory and medieval mysticism. It is endowed with magnificent monuments / temples of attraction.
Goraknath Temple
Gorakhnath temple is 4 Kms. from Gorakhpur Railway Station on Nepal Road dedicated to great yogi Gorakhnath. It is one of the most prominent and magnificent temples of this area. A month-long 'Makar Sankranti Mela' is held every year commencing on 14th of january. Several Lakhsof pilgrims and tourists visit the temple especially during the Mela.
Vishnu Temple
The famous temple associated with a large statue of Lord Vishnu, made of Kasauti (Black) stone, belongs to the Pal dynasty of 12th Century A.D. Ram lila is organised here on the Dusshera festival. The procession is so grand that it fetches the tourist to visit in the season.
Geeta Vatika
Geeta Vatika is situated on Pipraich road, 3 km. from Railway station., is probably the only place where non-stop 24 hours prayers are offered for goddess 'RADHA' the divine love of Lord Krishna. Grand temple of lord Radha - Krishna is the centre of attraction.
Arogya Mandir
Established by Late Bitthal Das Modi in 1940, it is being visited for Naturopathy. The patients are given natural treatment.
Beautiful building and its green lustre premises are also worth seeing.
Imambara
Built by Hajrat saint Roshan Ali Shah in 1717 AD. It is famous for gold and silver Tajia. A DHUNI (smoke fire) is maintained continuously after sufi Saint death.
Ramgarh Taal
Ramgarh Tal is a huge and natural lake spread in ramgarh1.JPG (45324 bytes)1700 acres. Its beauty is attributed with Tara Mandal at its southern bank. Other attractions of this place are Water Sports Complex, Buddha Museum, Planetarium, Tourist Bunglow, Champa Vihar Park and Circuit House.
Gita Press
Gita Press is 4 km. from Railway Station on gitapress.JPG (63145 bytes)Reti Chowk. All 18 parts of "SHREE MAHABHAGWAT GITA" is written on marble - walls. Other wall hangings and paintings reveal the events of life of Lord Rama & Krishna. All sorts of Hindu religious books and handloom-textiles are sold here on subsidised rates.
Kushinagar
51 Km east of Gorakhpur on National Highway no. 28, Kushinagar is an international tourist place closely associated with legend Lord Buddha, Founder of Buddhism . It is one of the four sacred places of Lord Buddha. Buddha delivered his last sermon, attained Nirvana Statue of Gautam Buddha
Mahaparinirvana (salvation) in 483 BC and was cremated at Rambhar Stupa.
The reclining nirvana statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is 6.10 mt. long and is made of monolith red-sand stone of the 5th century A.D. It represents the 'Dieing-Buddha' reclining on his right side with his face towards the west. Being the death- place of Lord Buddha, it is holy place for pilgrimage. Indo-Japanese Temple, Burmeses Temple, chinese Temple, Thai Temple, Korean, SriLankan, Tibettan temples, 15 Acres Meditation Park, Museum are the other attractions at Kushinagar.
Lumbini
Lumbini is the birth place of Lord Buddha, situated across the border in Ashokan Pillar at Lumbini, Nepal Nepal, 124 Km. north west of Gorakhpur. Here stands the Ashoka Pillar which bears the inscriptions 'The shakyamuni born here ' in Prakrit language, commemorating the emperor's visit to this place in the 20th year his coronation.Temple of Lord Buddha's mother, Mahamaya, is of importance. New monastries of different countries are coming up. Relics of Buddha found during excavation at
Kapilvastu
Kapilvastu is now being developed as an International Buddhist Pilgrimage Centre. Here, Lord Buddha spent 29 years of his early life. There is big stupa, from where the relics of Buddha were discovered during excavations. Ruins of monastries & palaces can be seen at Ganvaria. Also, there are some other historical religious places of worship, the shivling, Narahi, Kubernath and Palta Devi are temples of attraction. Narahi temple is dedicated to Surya, the Sun god and built on the pattern of Konark Style.
Chauri Chaura Shaheed SmarakChauri Chaura (SHAHEED SMARAK)
25 Km. from Gorakhpur, it is the place of historical importance. Here was the famous chauri-chaura incidence of the 4th Feb.1922 took place. Shaheed Smarak, Park and Museaum are of great attractions.
Maghar
Situated on National Highway -28, it is 27 Km. west of Gorakhpur in District Sant Kabir Nagar. It is the death place of great saint and social reformer of the medieval ages, SANT KABIR DAS . The 'Mazaar' and 'Samadhi Sthal' of Kabir Das stand side by side as a living symbol of communal harmony. On Makar Sankranti, a five-days festival of communal harmony is held here every year.
Pawa nagar
It is a 'Nirvana' place of Lord Mahavir, 24th tirthankar, 72 km. away, east of Gorakhpur on the National Highway -28 . Followers of Jain sect organise a festival here on the next day of Deepawali every year, when lord Mahavir hasd attained salvation. Tarkulha Devi, the local deity is closely associated with the great freedom fighter Bandhu Singh. A one-month long mela is held every year on the occasion of 'Chaitra Ram Navami'