Gorakhpur
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Gorakhpur(Devanāgarī:गोरखपुर) is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur District and Gorakhpur Division
Gorakhpur district shares a border with Nepal. It is famous for the Gita Press, a publisher of Hindu religious texts. Gorakhpur is also a religious center with the seat of the Nath sect (Gorakhnath Temple, many historic Buddhist sites (Kushinagar) are nearby. The city also has the headquarters of the North Eastern Railways.
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[edit] Population
2001 census: 1324,570
[edit] Origin of name
The district of Gorakhpur is named after a renowned ascetic Guru Gorakshnath. He is a saint of a Hindu religious group known *as Nath Sampradaya. Gorakhnath Temple exists on the same spot where he practised austerities.
[edit] History
The district was earlier known as Muazzamabad. In ancient times the geographical area of Gorakhpur included the modern districts of Basti, Deoria, Azamgarh and parts of Nepal. The entire region had been an important centre of Aryan culture and civilization. In ancient times Gorakhpur was a part of the famous kingdom of Koshal, one of sixteen Mahajanapadas (states) existing in India in 6th century BCE. As per Vedic history, the earliest known monarch ruling over this region with his capital at Ayodhya was Iksvaku. He founded a solar dynasty of rulers. The solar dynasty produced a number of kings. Rama was probably the greatest ruler of this dynasty. In more recent ancient history, Gorakhpur remained an integral part of the empires of Maurya, Shunga, Kushana, Gupta and Harsha dynasties. In the 10th century, the Tharu king Mausen of Madan Singh ruled over Gorakhpur city and the adjoining area.
In the medieval period, when northern India fell before the Muslim ruler, Muhammad Ghori, the Gorakhpur region was not left out. For a longer period it remained under the influence of the muslim rulers, from Qutb-ud-din Aybak 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 Awadh.
[edit] Cultural and historical importance
The city of Gorakhpur has left an indelible mark on the religious history of the world. The city has close ties with two major world religions: Buddhism and Hinduism. It is also associated with Jain and Sikh religion.
Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism, renounced his princely costumes at the confluence of rivers Rapti & Rohini and proceeded further in the quest of truth in 600 BCE. It is also associated with Lord Mahavira, 24th tirthankar, founder of Jainism.
The next event of importance was the association of Gorakhpur with Gorakhnath. The date and place of his birth have not yet been settled, but it was probably lived in the twelfth century. His samadhi at Gorakhpur attracts a large number of pilgrims every year. The most significant event in the medieval period, however, was the coming of mystic poet and famous saint Kabir to Maghar. Born in Varanasi, his workplace was Maghar where most of his beautiful poems were composed. It was here that he gave the message to his countrymen to live in peace and religious harmony. The co-existence of 'Samadhi' and 'Makbara' at his burial place in Maghar attracts a large number of followers.
Gorakhpur is also identified with the Gita Press, the world famous publisher of Hindu religious books. The most famous publication is 'Kalyan' magazine. All 18 parts of Shree Bhagwat Gita is written on its marble-walls. Other wall hangings and paintings reveal the events of life of Lord Ram and Krishna. The Gita Press is forefront in dissemination of religious and spiritual consciousness across the country.
Gorakhpur is also the birth place of King Vikas Sankrityayan Ji.
Gorakhpur rose to great eminence due to the historic 'Chauri Chaura' incident of 4 February 1922, which was a turning-point in the history of India's freedom struggle. Enraged at the inhuman barbaric atrocities of the police, the volunteers burnt down the Chauri-Chaura Police Station, killing nineteen policemen. With this violence, Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement launched in 1920. Another important event took place at Doharia kala ( In Sahjanwa Tehsil ) on 23 August 1942. In response to the famous Quit India Movement of 1942, a meeting was held to register its protest against the British Government at Doharia but the latter responded with unprovoked firing, killing nine and injuring hundreds. A Shaheed Smarak, in their memory, stands there which still today keeps their memory alive. The trial of Jawaharlal Nehru took place in this district in 1940. Here he was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of 4 years.
[edit] The city
GolGhar forms one of the major activity center in the city. As the name implies, it is almost in the geographical center of the city. Several major shops, hotels, banks, and restaurents can be found in golghar.
Gita Press supplies the religious books across the world like Geeta, Ramayana & Mahabhrata at very cheap rates .
The shopping mall, Baldev Plaza is also in Golghar and houses some of the best shops in Gorakhpur.
Following are some of the major hotels in the gorakhpur:
- Hotel Ambar, Golghar, Gorakhpur
- Hotel Bobina, Jatashankar Road, Near Tarang Talkies.
- Hotel President, Golghar.
- Hotel Ganesh, Golghar.
- Hotel Upvan, Jatashankar Road, Near Tarang Talkies.
- Hotel Park Regency, Mohadipur.
Some good Restaurants:
- Bobies,Golghar.
- Queens, Hotel President, Golghar.
- Hotel Ganges, Tarang Chowk.
- Oasis,Hotel Park Regency, Mohadipur.
- Richi Rich, Golghar
- Sip-n-Bite, Golghar
- Bake-n-Roll,Basharatpur
Some Good Movie Theaters:
- Jubilee Theater, Jubilee Chowk.
- Vijay Theater, Vijay Chowk
- Raj Talkies, Cinema Road
- Menka Talkies, Cinema Road
- Maya Theater, Reti ChowkИ
- Indralok Talkies, Cinema Road
- Manas talkies,Charan Lal Chwok
- United talkies,cinema road
Good gift shop: Lovely Gift Golghar
[edit] College
Maha Rana Pratap Inter college, Golghar, Gorakhpur
DAV Inter College, Buxipur,Gorakhpur
Madan Mohan Malaviya Engineering College(http://www.mmmer.org) (http://www.mmmec.net)
Institute of Technology & Managament(ITM) Gida sector-4 Gorakhpur SARASWATI VIDYA MANDIR, ARYANAGAR, GORAKHPUR SARASWATI SHISHU MANDIR,PAKKIBAG,DURGABANI, GORAKHPUR SARASWATI SHISHU MANDIR Hr. Sec. SCHOOL, SURYAKUND, GORAKHPUR-273015 Little Flower School, Basharatpur, Gorakhpur Saint Andreuse College, Betihata, Gorakhpur Hallmark School, Medical College Road, Gorakhpur Carmal Girls Inter College, Gorakhpur, IIHT Tarang Plaza Gorakhpur #9235410440, email-gkp_iiht@yahoo.co.in
[edit] Ground transportation
Cycle Rickshaw, a three wheeled human powered cycle, is the major mode of transport in the city. The charges are nominal and can be bargained. Usually a ride of 4-5 km would cost around 15 Rupees.
Auto Rickshaws are easily available for travelling to some parts in the city.
Taxicabs can also be hired for a fixed time duration as desired by the user.
Gorakhpur railway station connects to the major cities of India. Direct trains connect it to Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and other cities.
Gorakhpur falls on NH 28 and 29. The roadways network connects Gorakhpur to the cities of Uttar Pradesh and to other cities of India. Some important distances are: Lucknow 276 km, Varanasi 231 km, Allahabad 339 km, Agra 624 km, Delhi 783 km and Mumbai 1690 km.
[edit] Air transportation
Gorakhpur civil airport is 8 km from city centre. It has flights on regular basis to Delhi and Lucknow.
