HISTRY OF GHAZIPUR:
The word Ghazipur does not figure as such in ancient Indian History, but according to some historians Raja Ghadhi father of Maharsi Jamdagni was from this place. During that period this place was covered with dense forests and in it many Ashrams were situated viz. Yamdagni (father of Parasuram) Ashram, Parsuram Ashram, Madan Van etc. The Maharshi Gautam's Ashram was near Ghaz
ipur town some 16 Kms. Sarnath, where Lord Buddha got Bodhisatva or enlightenment in 6th century B.C is about 65 km. west from this district headquarter and falls in Varanasi district. Thus it became a center of Budha's preachings during his time This town was an important centre during Buddhist period. The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang mentions this locality as "Chanchu" meaning the soil of battlefields which is signified by many important battles fought here. Ghazipur (Hindi: ग़ाज़ीपुर, Urdu: غازیپور), or Ghazipur City is a city/town and a municipal corporation and headquarter of Ghazipur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Ghazipur Division and Sub-division. Back to the past, it was a place of administration under Guptas dynasty too than earlier as described in Hindu Mythology, as kingdom of King Vishwamitra, who later changed into saint and popularly known as Maharshi Vishwamitra.Vishwamitra was the son of Gaadhi. Ghazipur is famous for its o***m factory, which is the largest legal o***m factory in the world, started by British East India Company in 1820. It is home to handloom weaving and a perfume industry. The town is an important agricultural market. Lord Cornwallis, governor-general of British India, died in Ghazipur and is buried there. The town is very close to the UP-Bihar border. The local language at the place is Bhojpuri. Ghazipur borders the important religious city of Varanasi and is situated about 70 km East of Varanasi. History
Ghazipur was covered with dense forest during the Vedic era and it was a place for ashrams of saints during that period. The place is related to the Ramayana period. Maharshi Jamadagni, the father of Maharshi Parashurama, is said to have resided here. The famous Gautama Maharishi and Chyavana were given teaching and sermon here in ancient period. Lord Buddha gave his first sermon in Sarnath, which is not far from the here. The Aurihar region of Ghazipur became the main centre of teachings of Lord Buddha. Many stupas and pillars are the main evidence of that period. Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang visited this area and has described this place as Chanchu "Kingdom of the Lord of battles." The first scientific society of India was established here in 1862 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for propagating modern Western knowledge of science, technology and industry. It was a departure from the past in the sense that education made a paradigm shift from traditional humanities and related disciplines to the new field of science and agriculture which ultimately paved the necessary background for the establishment of present Technical Education and Research Institute (TERI), a post-graduate college, in the city. The area is home to many well known freedom fighters. The hero of first war of independence (which is also referred as Sepoy Mutiny) Mangal Pandey belonged to this area (now part of Ballia). The famous Raju Baxi revolt is also associated with this place where the farmers revolted against the British and set fire to several indigo godowns. This place has played a significant role in the Indian National movement. During the Home Rule movement and the Quit India movement people of Ghazipur took part courageously and fearlessly. During Quit India movement, Birpur is historical place of India where many warrier born. Geography
Ghazipur is located at 25.58°N 83.57°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 62 metres (203 feet). The city of Ghazipur is located in the middleGanges valley of North India, in the Eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, along the left is bank of the Ganges river. It is the headquarters of the Ghazipur district. The city nearly stretches parallel to the river Ganges. Its neighbouring cities are Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ballia, Mau, Chandauli and Azamgarh. Initially Ballia and Mau were part of Ghazipur district but latter were made separate districts. Being located in the plains of the Ganges, the soil is alluvial type and is fertile because of low level floods continually replenish the soil. This makes agriculture the most important profession of the people. The town is predominantly agrarian and so is the economy. The district is divided into four major sub parts. Ghazipur has a humid subtropical climate with large variations between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with intervening monsoon seasons. Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from December to February. The temperature ranges between 32°C – 46°C (90°F – 115°F) in the summers, and 5°C – 15°C (41°F – 59°F) in the winters.[17] The average annual rainfall is 1110 mm (44 in).[18]. Fog is common in the winters, while hot dry winds, called loo, blow in the summers. The city is relatively free from air pollution.[citation needed]. Through a combination of water pollution, new constructions of upstream dams, and increase in the local temperature, the water level of the Ganges has recently gone down significantly, and small islands have become visible in the middle of the river.M
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[2] Ghazipur city had a population of 1,05,243 whereas district constitutes more than 31,00,000 people. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ghazipur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 62%. In Ghazipur, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. A larger percentage of the population lives in the rural area. The Municipal Area is small as compared to other cities nearby. It is poorly developed despite being a very important city under British rule. when it was a strategic river port. A military cantonment built by the British now houses a college and a colony for administrative officers and their subordinates. The o***m factory located in the city was established by the British and continues to be a major source of o***m production in India. It is the largest of its kind in the country. It is guarded under high security, and not easily accessible to the general public. The factory has its own residential accommodation for the employees, and is situated across the banks of river Ganges. There is also an important office of the narcotics department of Indian government in the city. The airport of Ghazipur was a commanding airport of most of the eastern part of the upper and western part of Bihar in those days, but now it remains vacant and is used when for VIP arrivals to Ghazipur or nearby areas. It is situated on the outer side of the city and is poorly maintained. Ghazipur has sixteen development blocks. The district is divided into five tehsils and another is proposed. Ghazipur has two members for Lok Sabha, and eight seats to UP Vidhan Sabha. The O***M factory is largest in Asia. Largest Village of Asia is in GHAZIPUR named as Gahmar. It is 35 KM from Ghazipur City. Lok Sabha Parliamentary constituencies and the Vidhan Sabha Legislative Assembly constituencies after delimitation. 75-Ghazipur Lok Sabha and 74- Ballia Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha-373 Jakhania, 374 Saidpur (SC), 375 Ghazipur Sadar,376 Jangipur (SC), 379 Zamania, Mohammadabad and Zahoorabad. The latter two are shifted to Ballia Lok sabha. Earlier Saidpur, (Ghazipur) Lok sabha seat, Dildarnagar and Sadat seat of vidhan Sabha were also in existence, but they are demolished under new parameters. Rails, roads, waterways and airport
Ghazipur is the major railhead of North Eastern Railways, Varanasi Division.Ghazipur City station serves as major railway station of city. Ghazipur Ghat is a halt station situated 7 km from city. Tari Ghat station of ECR, Danapur Division near city approx. 10 km byroad connects Ghazipur to Mughalsarai by a routine passenger train. Dildarnagar ECR on Delhi-Patna-Howrah route and Aunrihar Jn (N.E. Railway) on Varanasi-Ghazipur and Varanasi-Gorakhpur route are important Junctions. Ghazipur is directly connected by Lucknow, New Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Amritsar, Chennai by routine trains. Pawan Express, Ganga Kaveri Express, Dibrugarh Express, Harihar Express, Sadbhawna Express, Swatantra Senani and Sarnath Express are some important trains from Ghazipur City Station. Railway Station--Ghazipur City Railway Station is the most important station in district. Dildarnagar Jn, Zamania and Aunrihar Jn also serves as good stations. Yusufpur, Sadat, Dullahpur, Jakhania and Ghazipur Ghat are others small stations which serves for a mass of population. Saidpur, Karimuddinpur, Gahmar, Nandganj are also some stations connected by routine trains between Varanasi-Ghazipur-Chappra route and Mughalsarai-Patna route. In view of roads, it is well connected by important cities by means of national highways and state highways. National Highway 29 starts from Varanasi to Gorakhpur passes from here. National Highway 19 starts from here and terminates in Patna. National Highway 97 starts from here and terminated in Saiyedraja Distt. Chandauli, UP in order to join N.H.2 (Kolkatta-Delhi highway) to Ghazipur. Some major state highways starts from here which joins Lucknow, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Buxar, Sultanpur, and Deoria. Andhau Airport in Andhau, 9 km from City Railway Station serves as airport for city. But, it is not a public airport. arrivals only. Yet, Babatpur Airport, Varanasi Airport, 90 km from here is airport which serves Ghazipur. Shahbaaz Kuli Airport in Shahbaaz Kuli, 13 km from City Railway Station. But, it is not working nowadays. It was constructed for government use in world war - II. It is not be able to use in any way due to lack of proper maintenance. Industrial condition
The city has sound agriculture base and reasonably good infrastructure, yet the industrial potential is low. The lack of enterprise and technical knowledge of local people may be the major constraints in industrial growth. Ghazipur has long been famous for the manufacture of perfumes especially rose water (Ghazipuri Gulabjal )and Attar of roses (Rose oil). A local firm was awarded a medal for the quality of product in British empire exhibition in London in the last century. Now this industry is facing gradual decline due to the shrinkage of cultivation of perfume bearing plants. Sugar industry was important to this region but now there are few factories left. The manufacturing of saltpeter is done in Saidpur. Cloth weaving is centered in Bahariabad. There are 47 registered factory under section 1948. But scenario have change from last decade, a multi productive agro manufacturing unit M/s Sukhbhir Agro, an alcohol manufacturing unit M/s Lords Distillery, a Polythene Manufacturing unit M/s Bryplast Private Limited, a Homoeopathic Medicines Manufacturing unit M/s M.D.Homoeo Lab. Ltd., Maharajganj, Ghazipur worked successfully in district. These companies provide many employment opportunities. The manufacture of rice, agriculture goods, furniture, leather, footwear, utensils, steel trunk, almirah, khandsari, candles and handlooms are the main small scale industry of the city. Village and cottage industry include mostly the handicraft handed down from generation to generation like gur making, village oil industry, Leather tanning, pottery etc. O***m and Alkaloid Works, a Government of India enterprise, specializes in manufacture of excise o***m and export o***m. Places/
Ganges Ghats
Different Ghats along holy river Ganges makes an it a visiting place in City. Some of Ghats are Dadarighat, Collectorghat, Steamerghat, Chitnath Ghat, Rameshwar ghat, Pakka Ghat, Kankadiya Ghat, Mahadeva Ghat, andSikandarpur Ghat. Tomb of Lord Cornwallis
The Tomb of Lord Cornwallis at Ghazipur. Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis was a British military commander and a colonial era governor general. In the United States he is best remembered as a leading British officer in the American Revolutionary War. His 1781 defeat by a combined American-French troop is considered the end of hostilities in North America in that war. After the defeat he returned to Britain, and in 1786 he was appointed governor general and commander-in-chief in India. He instituted land reforms and reorganised the British East India Company. In 1792 he defeated Tipu Sultan and nearly captured his capital city Srirangapatna, paving way for British dominance in South India. He was given the title of Marquis in the same year and returned to Britain. His time in India did much to burnish his reputation. He was reappointed governor general of India in 1805, but died on October 5 of the same year, soon after arrival, in the city of Ghazipur. In his memory the British built a large tomb in the city, using stones brought from England. The tomb located in the outer corner of the city near the old British cantonment is well maintained by the Ministry of Tourism. It is the major tourist attraction in the city. Each year a large crowd gathers at the tomb to celebrate new year but the rest of the year it remains free of crowds. Bada Mahadev
In the South of the city is situated Bada Mahadev in Pirnagar area, which serves as the biggest Shiva Temple in the city. Pavhari Baba's Ashram
On the bank of Ganges in Kurtha,3-4 KM from city border
Sankat Mochan
Temple of Shri Lord Hanumana situated in Dadrighat, which is the biggest temple of its kind in the city. Budhe Hanuman
In the Chitnath area of the city, a temple of Hanumana, supposed to have been built in the time of Maharasi Viswamitra, the most popular place of worship for Hindus. Kamakhya Dham Gahmar
Situated 40 KM from the city, under Gahmar police station ,Ma Kamkhya Temple, an Hindu Goddess Temple is situated, an subsidiary of Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati. The temple lies in Gadaipur Village. For the protection and safety of pilgrims a police booth has been established there. Well connected by road. It is old myth about the temple that whatever you wish the Goddess Kamakhya blesses you with that wish. There is lot of gathering in the months of Ramanavmi. Mahahar Dham
Situated about 30 km from the city under Kasimabad Region, it is the biggest worship place in the city. Here supposed that, on Mahashivratri, Kashi Vishwanath arrives here and take bath in Kund located here.near by pachauri and karahia and hathauri near by railway line and khamaya dham mata mandir and there is ma durga mundir is also situated. Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid located in Vishweswarganj area of city is the biggest mosque in district. Nehru Stadium
The city of Ghazipur has a single stadium called Nehru Stadium, named after India's first prime minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru. It is a small, government owned to accommodate both indoor and outdoor games. It also has a gymnasium. The stadium is generally used for various district level sports competitions. Ramlila Maidan
Ramlila maidan also popularly know as Lanka maidan is a playground located in the middle of the city. It is walled on all sides with two large gates and is well maintained. It has a small pond inside its boundary. Every year on Vijaydashmi day, Ravana's statue is burned here. Ramaleela is performed here during this period. This ground also serves as the venue for political campaigns during elections and as a location for circuses and local exhibitions. When it is not in use otherwise it serves as a playground. here a mairrage hall is also situated which was made by erstwhile Lok Sabha member Mr. Manoj Sinha (BJP). A small park is also available here for jogging and various exercises made by RITU MAHESHWARI(erstwhile D.M. of Ghazipur).
