Balrampur district

Balrampur district is one of the 1 districts of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and is a part of Devipatan division as well as the historic Awadh regions. Located on the banks of the West Rapti River, Balrampur town is the district headquarter. Balrampur is known for the temple of Pateshwari Devi, a Shakti Pitha, and for the ruins of the nearby ancient city of Sravasti, now a pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Jains. The nearest airport is Shravasti airport 23.3 kilometres (14.5 mi) from the town but it is not an international and regular airport; the nearest international and regular airport is Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, 177.1 kilometres (110.0 mi) away. Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh and is 162 kilometres (101 mi) from Balrampur district headquarters.

Administration

The creation of Balrampur District was done by G.D.No. 1428/1-5/97/172/85-R-5 Lucknow dated May 25, 1997 by the division of District Gonda. Siddharth Nagar, Shrawasti, Gonda District, are situated in the east-west and south sides respectively and Nepal State are Situated in its northern side. The area of the district is 336917 Hectares. In which the agriculture irrigated area is 221432 Hectares. In the north of the district is situated the Shivalics ranges of the Himalayas which is called Tarai Region.

Balrampur

Balrampur is a city and a municipal board in Balrampur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is situated on the bank of river Rapti and is the district headquarters of Balarampur district. Balrampur was a state in India. It is divided in 1748 and a part of U.P.

Demographics

Balrampur had population as of 2011 census is 90000.

Historical significance

Balrampur city is in close vicinity of Shravasti where Lord Gautam Buddha is considered to have displayed his supernatural powers in the spiritual transformation of Angulimala, a famous dacoit who wore a necklace (mala) of fingers (anguli).

In the Mughal era Balrampur was the seat of Balrampur Estate, a Taluqdari of Oudh.

Geography

Balrampur is located at 27°26′N 82°11′E / 27.43°N 82.18°E / 27.43; 82.18. It has an average elevation of 105 metres (344 ft).

Archaeological sites

Two prominent archaeological sites, Jetavana and Savatthi, or Saheth and Maheth, as they are locally known, are located in the vicinity of Balrampur city. Alexander Cunningham used the ancient (6th century CE) accounts of Chinese pilgrim-monks to determine that Saheth-Maheth actually referred to Jetavana and Savatthi.