Balrampur district

This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Balrampur. For disambiguation, see Balarampur.
Balrampur District district
बलरामपुर जिला
District of Uttar Pradesh

Location of Balrampur District district in Uttar Pradesh
Country India
State Uttar Pradesh
Administrative division Devipatan
Headquarters Balrampur
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituencies Shravasti
Area
 • Total 3,457 km2 (1,335 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 2,149,066
 • Density 620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy 51.76 per cent
 • Sex ratio 922/1000
Major highways 0
Website Official website

Balrampur district is one of the 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.[1]

According to Government of India, the district Balrampur is one of the Minority Concentrated District in India on the basis of the 2001 census data on population, socio-economic indicators and basic amenities indicators.

Etymology

The district is named after the erstwhile princely estate (Taluqdari) and its capital, Balrampur. The name of this estate was derived from its founder Balram Das, who founded it in c. 1600 CE.

History

The territory which the present Balrampur district covers was a part of the ancient Kosala kingdom.

Ancient period

Sravasti was the capital of Uttara (North) Kosala. The ruins of Sahet, ancient Sravasti, spread over an area of 400 acres (1.6 km2). Towards the Rapti River, a little north of Sahet, lies the ancient city of Mahet. The fortified entrance to Mahet is made of mud, constructed in a crescent shape. The Sobhnath temple houses the great Stupas. These Stupas reflect the Buddhist tradition and boast of the history of the monasteries in Balrampur.

Jeetavana monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the country, is said to be one of the favorite sites of Gautam Buddha. It contains the 12th century inscriptions. There is also a sacred tree of Peepal nearby. It is said that the tree was grown from a sapling from the original Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya.

Gautam Buddha spent 21 rainy season under the sacred Peepal tree. The famous incident of Angulimal happened in the forest of Sravasti, where the dacoit who used to kill people and wear a garland of their fingers, was enlightened by Gautam Buddha.

Another site of religious importance in the city is Sravasti. It is said that Mahavira Jain, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, 'influenced' this place. It houses the Shwetambar temple.

Medieval period

The area covered by the district was a part of Bahraich Sarkar of Awadh Subah during the Mughal rule. Later, it came under the control of the ruler of Awadh till its annexation in February, 1856 by the British government. British government separated Gonda from Bahraich and it became a part of Gonda.

British and the post-independence period

During the British rule a commissionary was constituted for the administration of this area with its headquarters at Gonda and military command at Sakraura Colonelganj. During this period Balrampur was an Estate (Taluqdari) in Utraula tehsil of Gonda district, which consisted 3 tehsils, Gonda Sadar, Tarabganj and Utraula. After independence, Balrampur estate was merged with Utraula tehsil of Gonda district. On 1 July 1953 the tehsil of Utraula was bifurcated into two tehsils, Balrampur and Utraula. In 1987 three new tehsils were created from Gonda Sadar tehsil, namely, Tulsipur, Mankapur and Colonelganj. Later, in 1997 Gonda district was bifurcated into two parts and a new district, Balrampur was born consisting of three tehsils of the northern part of the erstwhile Gonda district, Balrampur, Utraula, and Tulsipur.

Geography

The district's northern border with Nepal's Dang Deukhuri District follows the southern edge of the Dudhwa Range of the Siwaliks. To the northeast lies Kapilvastu District, Nepal. The rest of Balrampur is surrounded by Uttar Pradesh: on the east by Siddarthnagar, Basti on the south, Gonda on the southwest, and Shravasti on the west. Balrampur's area is 3,457 km2.

Economy

Balrampur town is known for Balrampur Chini Mills, one of the largest sugar manufacturing industry in the country. In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Balrampur one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[2] It is one of the 34 districts in Uttar Pradesh currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[2]

Divisions

Hanuman Garhi in Tulsipur is the tallest structure in district.

The district comprises 3 tehsils, Balrampur, Tulsipur and Utraula, which are further divided into 9 blocks: Balrampur, Gaindas bujurg, Gaisri, Harya satgharwa, Pachpedwa, Rehera bazar, Shriduttganj, Tulsipur and Utraula. Sadullaah Nagar

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Balrampur district has a population of 2,149,066,[3] roughly equal to the nation of Namibia[4] or the US state of New Mexico.[5] This gives it a ranking of 213th in India (out of a total of 640).[3] The district has a population density of 642 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,660/sq mi) .[3] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 27.74%.[3] Balrampur has a sex ratio of 922 females for every 1000 males,[3] and a literacy rate of 51.76%.[3]

The Khanzada community form the largest ethnic group in the district.

Educational Institutes

Starwards Public School is an ICSE Board affiliated school in Tulsipur, Balrampur District.

Notable People

Ali Sardar Jafri

Bekal Utsahi

Afroz Ahmad

Media

The popular Hindi dailies such as "North India Times" 'Shri Times,Dainik Hindustan, Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala , Jansatta are available in the district. English dailies include The Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Economic Times, The Business Line, The New Indian Express, The Hans India. Usual Cellular providers such as Airtel, Aircell, BSNL, Idea Cellular, Reliance Mobile, Tata Docomo, Vodafone provide service in the district.

References

  1. ↑ http://balrampur.nic.in/default.htm
  2. 1 2 Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  4. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 2011-10-01. Namibia 2,147,585
  5. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved 2011-09-30. New Mexico - 2,059,179


External links

    Nepal
Shrawasti district Siddharthnagar district
   Balrampur district  
Gonda district

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