Gorakhpur

The district has derived its name from its headquarters town Gorakhpur which was named after Gorakhnath, a Kanphata Yogi who came to this place from the Punjab and erected a shrine of Goraksha, a deity of great renown in Nepal. In course of time, he became an eminent religious figure and is said to have founded the city of Gorakhpur.

Situated on the banks of the river Rapti and Rohini, the geographical shape of the Gorakhpur city appears to be that of a bowl. Its location gives the place a sense of peace with cool breeze blowing over it almost throughout the year. The famous Gita Press headquarters also resides in this place.

An important centre of Eastern U.P., Gorakhpur is headquartering the North-Eastern Railways. Known as Ramgram in the earlier times, it was the capital of Koiliyas in the ancient days. Founded is c. 1400, it was named Gorakhpur much later after the Yogi Gorakhnath. His shrine at Gorakhpur attracts many pilgrims to visit the place every year. You can also do it on our Tour packages for Gorakhpur.

Gorakhpur is an important junction for all Indians tourists intending to go Nepal. Well connected by rail, road and airways, Gorakhpur is an important agricultural and industrial centre having textile factories, sugar mills and railway workshops.

Gorakhpur has been a land of primeval grandeur and medieval mysticism. It is endowed with splendid monuments and temples of attraction. Among other things, the Gorakhnath temple, the Vishnu Temple, the Gita Vatika, Arogya Mandir, Imambara and Ramgarh Taal are major attractions of the city and a must see for all those visiting the place.

Fauna
The proximity of Nepaland the wide extent of forests are responsible for presence of large number of wide animals in the district. The peculiar situation of the forests where they are nowhere more than 10 km. away from the village habitation makes the wild life prone to destruction. In the northern forests of Gorakhpur forest division tigers (Panthera tigris) are found in Nichlaul range.The population of tigers has of late increased in the division. Panthers (panthera pardus) are found in every range of the northern forests. Besides these cheetal (Axis axis), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), sambhar (Cervusnicolor), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) wild pig (Sussecrofa) and jackal (Canis aureus) are found in these forests.

In the southern forests of this division,which include Tilkonia, Banki, Pharenda and Pakri forest range, Jackal, wild pig, nilgai, cheetal, hare (Lepus ruficandatus) and squirrel (Funamubulus palamrus) etc. are found while cheetal and pig are quite common in Pakri range, they are not so in Tilkonia range where the wild life is getting a carce. The wild life in Doma block across the Narayani canal consists of Tiger, very few cheetal, para and nilgai. The other animals which are found in these forests are jungle cat (Feels chaos), leopard cat (Felis bangalinsis), monkey (Macaca radiata), and common red fox (Valpes vulpes).

Birds
The birds of the district are similar to those of the adjoining districts. The chief game birds found are of several varieties of ducks, partridges and pigeons. Besides these the other varieties of birds which are commonly found in the district are peacock (pavo cristatus), quail (Coturnix coturnix), jungle fowl (Gallus soneratti), snipe (Cappella gallinago), parrot (Psittaculaeupatria), kite (Milvus migrans govinda), crow (Corvus splendens splendens), vulture (Gyps bengalensis), bulbul (Molpaster cafer), mynah (Acridotheres tristis), baya (Ploceus philippinus philippinus) or the weaver bird, sparrow (passer domesticus indicus) and bagula (Eqret alva modesta).

Reptiles
Different varieties of the snakes and other reptiles are found everywhere in the districts especially in the rural areas. Some snakes are deadly e.g. the cobra (Naja naja), karait (Bengarus caeruleus) and ratsnake (Ptyas mucesus). The majority of snakes is non-poisonous, a few people die of snake bite almost every year. The other reptiles found in the district are crocodile (Gavialis gangetieus), moniter lizard (Varanus bengalensis) and other variety of lizard and python (Python molurus).

Fish
Fish are found in the rivers, lakes and ponds of the district. The species which are commonly found in the district are rohu (Labeo rohita), karounch (Labeo calbasu), bata (Labeo bata), khursa (Labeo gonious), bhakur (Catla catla), nain (Cirrihina mirgala), raiya (Cirrihina reba), darhi (Barbus sarana), putia (Barbus stigma), parhan (Wailagonia attu), tengra (Mystus aor), tingan (Mystus vitatus), cheagna (Ophicephalaus straitus), girai (Ophicephalaus gachuwa), patra (Notopeternus notopeternus), Moi (Notopeternus chitala), mangur (Clarias mangur), singhi (Heteropneustes fossils), chelwa (chela bacaila), belgagra (Rita rita), and gonch (Bagarius bagarius).

Game-Laws
The game-law applicable to the district were governed by the wild birds and Animal protection (U.P. Amendment) Act 1934. It has been replaced by the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 which made game-laws more stringent with a view to conserving wild life and preventing the extinction of certain species. The wolf, crocodile, gharial and peafowl have been declared protected species while certain restriction have been placed on shooting og wild pigs, nilgai and some other species. The punishment for infringement of the laws has been made more deterrent.

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