Gorakhpur () is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, along the banks of the Rapti river in the Purvanchal region. It is situated 272 kilometres east of the state capital, Lucknow. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur district, North Eastern Railway Zone and Gorakhpur division. The city is home to the Gorakhnath Math, a Gorakhnath temple. The city also has had an Indian Air Force station since 1963. Gita Press, the world's largest publisher of Hindu religious texts like Ramayana and Mahabharata, has been established here since 1926.
Etymology The name "Gorakhpur" comes from the Sanskrit Gorakshapuram, which means abode of Gorakshanatha, a renowned ascetic who was a prominent saint of the Nath Sampradaya.
History The earliest forerunners of the settlement at Gorakhpur were probably "considerably to the north of the present town" because the course of the Rapti was then more to the north and east than it is today; it would have flowed through the present-day city and gone through what is now the Ramgarh Tal. Farmers digging wells in the 1800s/early 1900s would sometimes encounter pieces of old boats, which is indicative of the river's shift in course. The site of Gorakhpur would have been desirable for a human settlement because of its secure location — it is protected on the south and west by the Rapti and Rohin rivers, and in the past there were dense forests on the north and east, offering protection on those sides as well.
The earliest event described in local tradition is the legendary construction of the Mansarowar and Kauladah tanks, in the area now called Purana Gorakhpur, in the 10th century. They are said to have been built by a married couple — Mansarowar is attributed to the husband, the prince Man Sen, while Kauladah is attributed to the wife, Kaulavati. Sometime after that, the area is said to have been ruled by a group known as the Domkatars Bhumihars, who built the Domingarh fort at the confluence of the Rapti and Rohin rivers. Still later, Gorakhpur is said to have been ruled by the Shrinet Rajputss of Satasi. Sometime around 1400, a family dispute is said to have prompted one branch of the Satasi dynasty to leave the old stronghold, on the shore of Ramgarh Tal, and move to a new location in what is now Purana Gorakhpur, near the shrine of the renowned ascetic Gorakhnath.
Mughal period In any case, Gorakhpur had become a large town by the time of Akbar, in the late 1500s. The earliest contemporary reference to a Mughal garrison at Gorakhpur is in 1572, when it was governed by Payanda Khan on behalf of Munim Khan, then subahdar of Jaunpur. Gorakhpur was for a long time the main Muslim garrison north of the Ghaghra, which may explain why it has such a prominent Muslim presence compared to other parts of the district.
In the Ain-i-Akbari ( 1595), Gorakhpur is listed as the capital of a sarkar in the subah of Awadh. Sarkar Gorakhpur was divided into 24 mahals, and Gorakhpur itself was one of them. The mahal of Gorakhpur was listed with an assessed revenue of 567,385 dams and was expected to supply 200 infantry and 40 cavalry to the Mughal army. It was described as having a brick fort on the Rapti.
Gorakhpur also had a mint under Akbar, issuing copper coins only. By the time of Aurangzeb, the Gorakhpur mint was also issuing silver coins. During the 1600s, based on Jean-Baptiste Tavernier's account of his travels in India, Gorakhpur played an important role as a centre for trade with the northern mountain regions.
In the late 1600s, Gorakhpur was officially renamed Mu'azzamabad in honour of Prince Mu'azzam (the later Bahadur Shah I), and this name was used in official documents until the British takeover in 1801. After Emperor Bahadur Shah's ascension in 1707, Chin Qulich Khan was appointed faujdar of Gorakhpur but resigned in 1710 due to a loss of favour. From this time, local Rajput chiefs, known as rajas, exercised de facto control over the region, assigning lands and titles, with minimal intervention from the Mughal imperial officers.
Awadh Period In 1722, Saadat Khan was appointed subahdar of Avadh, which included Gorakhpur. By 1724, he established himself as the independent ruler of Avadh, although he remained nominally under the Mughal emperor. His early efforts focused on reducing the power of powerful local rajas in the southern parts of the region, while his authority was weaker in the northern areas. The Gorakhpur region experienced significant lawlessness in the north, with marauding Banjaras under the leadership of Tilak Sen of Butwal causing destruction. Saadat Khan sent forces to suppress these activities, though the Banjaras would often return to plunder once the Nawab's army withdrew.
Saadat Khan's death in 1739 saw his nephew, Safdar Jang, take control. During Safdar Jang's reign, a Muslim garrison stationed at Gorakhpur mutinied, which was quelled by a large army sent by the Nawab. The region remained under the control of the Nawabi administration, but local rulers still held considerable sway. Agriculture flourished, and essential goods like rice became abundant, though the Banjaras continued to raid the area.
In 1754, Shuja-ud-Daula succeeded Safdar Jang. His reign saw continued agricultural prosperity, and in 1769-70, he visited Gorakhpur on a hunting trip where he encountered wild elephants in the forest. Shuja-ud-Daula's rule was followed by that of his son Asaf-ud-Daula. During Asaf-ud-Daula's time, Colonel Hannay, a British officer, was appointed to oversee the district's military and revenue affairs. His harsh methods caused significant suffering, with many cultivators abandoning their lands. The Banjaras also played a disruptive role in the local politics.
In 1801, following financial difficulties, Nawab Saadat Ali Khan ceded Gorakhpur to the East India Company through the Treaty of 10 November 1801, bringing an end to the control of the Nawab of Awadh over the region.
British Period In the early 19th century, the British East India Company took control of Gorakhpur and its surrounding territories following the Treaty of 1801, marking the beginning of British rule in the region. Owing to the proximity of this region to Nepal, the British started to station troops in the area to resist Nepalese incursions. A cantonment was set up in the eastern part of the city, and the region played a role in the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816). Although General Wood’s campaign from Gorakhpur to Butwal was unsuccessful, the Treaty of Sugauli (1815), which concluded the conflict, ensured that the region remained under British control. After the war, Gorakhpur underwent various administrative changes. In 1829, it was made the headquarters of a division, and over the following decades, it was restructured several times as part of British administrative reforms.
In the 1840s, the British implemented land revenue settlements in the region. These policies were designed to standardise revenue collection, but they led to growing dissatisfaction among local zamindars and peasants. The area also suffered from natural disasters, including the drought of 1837 and the famine of 1873-74, which contributed to the region’s economic difficulties. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Gorakhpur witnessed local participation in the uprising. Muhammad Hasan, a local leader, declared himself the ruler of Gorakhpur and forced the British to retreat temporarily. However, the British reasserted control by August 1858 with the help of Gurkha forces. Following the reoccupation, the British confiscated estates and executed or exiled several key figures involved in the revolt. They also established the Moti Jail in Gorakhpur, where many of the rebels were imprisoned.
Municipal governance in Gorakhpur began to take shape in the late 19th century. A local committee was formed on 7 September 1869, and the municipal committee was officially established on 4 December 1873 under the North-Western Provinces and Oudh Municipalities Act. It became a municipal board in 1884. The municipality managed local taxation and civic services, with revenue derived from octroi, livestock taxes, and market fees.
In the early 20th century, Gorakhpur became a center of political activity. The region gained national attention during the Chauri Chaura incident in February 1922, when a violent confrontation between police and protestors led to the deaths of 22 policemen. This event resulted in the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement by Mahatma Gandhi. In the years that followed, Gorakhpur remained an important site for nationalist movements, including the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement. The region saw visits from leaders such as Madan Mohan Malaviya, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sarojini Naidu, who supported the anti-colonial protests. During the Quit India Movement, Gorakhpur experienced widespread protests, arrests, and repression by the British authorities. Local fighters from Gorakhpur also participated in the Indian National Army’s struggle against British rule. In 1947, India gained independence, and Gorakhpur became part of the newly formed state of Uttar Pradesh.
Geography Gorakhpur city is located in the north-easterrn part of Uttar Pradesh, India, within the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The city's geographical coordinates are 26.7663° N latitude and 83.3689° E longitude, with an altitude of 69 metres (229 feet) above sea level. Gorakhpur is situated about 100 km from the Nepal border, 193 km from Varanasi, 260 km from Patna and 270 km from Lucknow. Gorakhpur has been ranked 4th best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India.
Topography
Gorakhpur lies within the Indo-Gangetic Plain, characterised by its flat and low-lying terrain. This plain, composed of fertile alluvial soil, is a result of centuries of sediment deposition by the region’s rivers. The city itself, at an altitude of 69 metres (229 feet), is situated in this expansive landscape, which is predominantly flat with minimal elevation changes. This vast alluvial plains around the city provides fertile soil for agriculture.
Gorakhpur is situated at the confluence of Rohni with Rapti river, which is a tributary of the Ghaghara river. The Rapti River is the primary watercourse that flows through Gorakhpur, significantly influencing the city’s topography. The river's course once shifted, leading to the formation of Ramgarh Tal Lake, located in the eastern part of the city. This lake, originally covering an area of 723 hectares (1,790 acres) in 1970, now spans around 678 hectares (1,680 acres). The Bakhira Sanctuary, located 44 km west of Gorakhpur, is the largest natural floodplain wetland in India, covering 29 sq km. It serves as an important habitat for migratory birds and is recognised as a Ramsar site. Another notable aquatic feature is the Maheshra Tal lake, located to the north of the city, which supports a rich ecosystem of phytoplankton and zooplankton.
Gorakhpur 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.Integrating climate change concerns into disaster management planning: The case of Gorakhpur, India by Shiraz A. Wajih and Shashikant Chopde, the Climate and Environment Knowledge Network, 2014
Climate