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Gorakhpur

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This article is about the city in Uttar Pradesh. For other uses, see Gorakhpur (disambiguation).
Gorakhpur
गोरखपुर
گورکھپور
Gorakhnath Math, Taramandal, Geeta Press
Gorakhpur is located in Uttar Pradesh
Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur
Coordinates: 26°45′32″N 83°22′11″E / 26.7588°N 83.3697°E / 26.7588; 83.3697Coordinates: 26°45′32″N 83°22′11″E / 26.7588°N 83.3697°E / 26.7588; 83.3697
Country India
State Uttar Pradesh
District Gorakhpur
Government
 • Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency) Yogi Adityanath (BJP)
Area
 • Metropolitan 5,484 km2 (2,117 sq mi)
Elevation 84 m (276 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 673,446[1]
Languages
 • Official Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 2730xx
Telephone code +91-551
Vehicle registration UP 53
Sex ratio 1000/944 /
Avg. annual temperature 26 °C (79 °F)
Avg. summer temperature 40 °C (104 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 18 °C (64 °F)
Website gorakhpur.nic.in

Gorakhpur is a city located along the banks of Rapti river in the north-eastern parts of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located near the Nepal border, 273 kilometres east of the state capital Lucknow. It is the administrative headquarter of Gorakhpur District and Gorakhpur Division. The city is home to the Gorakshanath Temple (Gorakhnath Math).

Etymology

The name "Gorakhpur" comes from the Sanskrit Gorakshapuram, which means abode of Gorakshanath, a renowned ascetic who was a prominent saint of the Nath Sampradaya.[2][3]

Geography

Gorakhpur is one of the most flood-prone districts in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Data over the past 100 years show a considerable increase in the intensity and frequency of floods, with extreme events occurring every three to four years. Roughly 20% of the population is affected by floods, which are an annual occurrence in some areas, causing huge loss of life, health and livelihoods for the poor inhabitants, as well as damage to public and private property.[4]

Research from the Climate and Development Knowledge shows that measures are in place to mitigate disaster risk in the form of the Gorakhpur District Disaster Management Plan. However, this plan focuses on how agencies can co-ordinate following floods and lacks a systematic approach to identifying weather-related hazards and vulnerability.[5]

Climate

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).[6]

Climate data for Gorakhpur
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 23.2
(73.8)
26.5
(79.7)
32.7
(90.9)
37.9
(100.2)
39.5
(103.1)
37.2
(99)
33.2
(91.8)
32.7
(90.9)
33.1
(91.6)
32.6
(90.7)
29.3
(84.7)
24.6
(76.3)
31.9
(89.4)
Average low °C (°F) 9.5
(49.1)
12.0
(53.6)
16.9
(62.4)
22.3
(72.1)
25.2
(77.4)
26.2
(79.2)
25.7
(78.3)
25.5
(77.9)
24.7
(76.5)
21.2
(70.2)
15.0
(59)
10.6
(51.1)
19.6
(67.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 21.7
(0.854)
11.4
(0.449)
10.2
(0.402)
13.7
(0.539)
27.4
(1.079)
163.6
(6.441)
322.3
(12.689)
349.5
(13.76)
213.9
(8.421)
83.8
(3.299)
4.5
(0.177)
6.1
(0.24)
1,228.1
(48.35)
Source: IMD

Transport

Railways

Gorakhpur Junction railway station

Gorakhpur is well connected to through rail network and Gorakhpur railway station one of the important stations in the area as it serves as the headquarters of North Eastern zone of the Indian Railways.

The station offers Class A railway station facilities. On 6 October 2013, Gorakhpur became the world's Longest Railway platform, after inauguration of the remodelled Gorakhpur Yard, with a stretch of around 1.35 kilometres (0.84 mi).[7][8][9][10]

Gorakhpur is the headquarters of North Eastern Railways.[11]

Air Force Station

An air force station in Gorakhpur was established in 1963 as Gorakhpur Airport.[12] Air India and Jet Airways flights connect Gorakhpur to Delhi.[13]

Education

Gorakhpur has 2 universities named Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University and Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology, a medical college named Baba Raghav Das Medical College and a sports college named Beer Bahadur Singh Sports College.

Notable residents

Geographic location

See also

References

External links