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Gorakhpur Railway Station |
The city was once part of the famous Koshla kingdom of Lord Rama, during the Vedic period. In the ancient period, the city has remained under the rule of Sishunaga, Nanda, Maurya and Sunga dynasties. The city rose to prominence in 12th century, when it became the centre of famous Hindu Tantrik and Ascetic, Baba Gorakhnath. He has influenced generations of Hindus that follow his sect.
The city Gorakhpur, once it was also known as mini hill city, located at the confluence of the river Rapti ( old known as Achirawati) and river Rohin (Rohini), both forming the western boundary of the city.To the southeast of the city lies a large lake, named Ramgarh Tal and on the east lies an extensive forest tract named- Ramgarh Reserved Forest (popularly known as Kusmhi Jungle). Gorakhpur is an important junction for all Indian & foreigner tourists intending to go to Nepal. It is well connected by rail, road and airways to different parts of the country.
It is one of the fastest growing cities in the Mid –Gangatic Plain. Over the decades, the morphology of the city has undergone rapid change. At present the city has westernized shopping malls, well established educational institutes, health care facilities, commercial centres, recreational sites, administrative buildings, multistoried houses, and many more. But during the process of development, our hastiness, short vision thoughts, lack of responsible citizenship has erected many setbacks.
The climatic aberration (more rainfall in fewer days and temperature anomalies) has added new dimension of risks viz. flooding, water logging, epidemic, pollution, excessive use of fossil fuel, traffic congestion before the city. Due to increasing population pressure, the capacity of natural, social, institutional and infrastructure system to serve the citizen is diminishing. It is high time for us to retrospect our development in light of climate change. Otherwise the existing challenges will be greatly exacerbated directly or indirectly.
Gorakhpur and its surrounding areas have been a land of primeval grandeur and medieval mysticisms. It is endowed with splendid monuments and temples and entertainment opportunities. Gorakhnath Temple, Gita Press, Vishnu Temple, Gita Vatika, Arogya Mandir, Imambara and Ramgarh Tal are the major attractions of the city and a must see for all those visiting the place.
Gorakhpur has been associated with great literary figures like Munshi Premchand and Firaq Gorakhpuri. Premchand, the famous Hindi novelist and story-writer, spent many years here, during the early days of his life, teaching at the local Normal School, a beautiful park, "Munshi Premchand Memorial Park" popularly known as Premchand Park, has been built near this school and houses a library and statue of the writer. Raghupati Sahai Firaq, the internationally acclaimed exponent of Urdu poetry, was born & brought up at Gorakhpur.
Gorakhpur has produced many revolutionaries, patriots and freedom fighters. Noted among these are Amar Shaheed Ram Prasad Bismil, 'Swatantrata Senani' Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Baba Raghav Das and Shaheed Bandhu Singh. Ram Prasad Bismil was jailed and hanged at Gorakhpur district jail, where cell No. 8, his hanging site stands even today as a mute testimony to an infamous act of a cruel ruler.
At present, city is developing and expanding very fast in two directions - the east and North & North- East because in south and west direction there is limited scope of development due to River Rapti in west and depression and water logging area in south.
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