Gorakhpur


Gorakhpur is a city along the banks of the Rapti river in the north-eastern part or the Purvanchal region of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated 273 kilometres north-east of the state capital Lucknow. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur district, North Eastern Railway Zone and Gorakhpur division. With an area of 3483.8 km2, the city is home to the Gorakhnath Math, a Gorakhnath temple. The city also has an Indian Air Force station, since 1963. The city also has Gita Press, Gorakhpur which since 1923 has been propagating spirituality through its literature throughout the world.

Etymology

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

Geography

Gorakhpur is situated about 100 km from the Nepal border, 193 km from Varanasi, 260 km from Patna and 273 km from Lucknow. It is one of the flood vulnerable 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.

Climate

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa".

Demographics

As of 2011 Indian Census, Gorakhpur had a total population of 673,446, of which 353,907 were males and 319,539 were females. It has a sex ratio of 903 females per 1000 males. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 69,596. Gorakhpur had a literary rate of 75.2%, of which male literacy was 79.4% and female literacy was 70.6%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Bahraich was 83.9%, of which male literacy rate was 88.7% and female literacy rate was 78.6%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 62,728 and 2,929 respectively. Gorakhpur had 112,237 households in 2011.

Transport

Railways

Gorakhpur is connected through rail network and Gorakhpur railway station.
The station offers Class A-1 railway station facilities. On 6 October 2013, Gorakhpur has the world's Longest Railway platform, after inauguration of the remodelled Gorakhpur Yard, with a stretch of around.
Gorakhpur is the headquarters of North Eastern Railways.

Air

An Air Force station of Indian Air Force was established in Gorakhpur in 1963 and extended for public transport. Named Mahayogi Gorakhnath Airport.

Metro

The proposed Gorakhpur metro system will consist of two corridors, Shyam Nagar-Suba Bazar and Gularhia- Kachehri chauraha. Both will cover a distance of and both corridor will have 27 metro station.

Education

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

Sports