Gorakhpur is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India,
near the border with Nepal. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur
District and Gorakhpur Division. Gorakhpur is famous as a religious centre: the
city was home to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jain and Sikh saints and is named after
the medieval saint Gorakshanath. Gorakhnath Temple is still the seat of the Nath sect.
It is also the birthplace of Paramhansa Yogananda. The city is also home to many
historic Buddhist sites, Imambara, an 18th century dargah, and the Gita Press, a
publisher of Hindu religious texts.
In the 20th century, Gorakhpur was a focal point in the Indian independence movement.
Today, the city is also a business centre, hosting the headquarters of the North Eastern
Railways, previously known as Bengal Nagpur Railways, and an industrial area,
GIDA (Gorakhpur Development Authority) 15 km from the old town.
Origin of name
The city and district of Gorakhpur are named after a renowned ascetic saint, Gorakshanath,
the chief disciple of the yogi Matsyendranath. Together, Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath
founded the Nath Sampradaya line of saints. Gorakhnath Temple is said to stand on the spot
where Gorakshanath practiced Hatha Yoga to develop self-control.
Location
The district of Gorakhpur lies between Lat. 26º 13' N and 27º 29' N and Long. 83º 05' E and 83º 56' E.
The district occupies the north-eastern corner of the state along with the
district of Deoria, and comprises a large stretch of country lying to the north of the
river Rapti, the deep stream of which forms its southern boundary with the Azamgarh
district. On the west, the boundary marches along Basti and on the east adjoins Deoria
and the Chhoti Gandak Nadi and further south the Jharna Nala forms the dividing line.
To the north lies Nepal.
Geology
The geology of the district exposes nothing beyond ordinary river borne alluvium which is not old.
The mineral products are few and unimportant. The minerals of commercial value are the nodular
limestone conglomerate known as kankar, brick and saltpetre. The last occurs principally in the
south and south-east and is manufactured in a crude state in considerable quantities most of it
being exported to markets of Bihar. In the Bansgaon tahsil kankar is most abundant and quarries are
seen at many places. It is also extracted from some places in Mahrajganj tahsil. Lime is obtained
by burning kankar. Brick clay is abundant everywhere and bricks are made all over the district.
The soil in the district is light sandy or dense clay of yellowish brown colour.
The sand found in the rivers is medium to coarse grained, greyish white to brownish in colour and
is suitable for construction.
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