Barabanki

Barabanki is a district in the State of Uttar Pradesh in India. The district lies between Latitudes 26° 30' North and 27° 19' North and Longitudes 80° 58' East and 81° 55' East. It is surrounded by district Faizabad in the East, districts Gonda and Bahraich in the North East, district Sitapur in the North West, district Lucknow in the West, district Rae Bareli in the South and district Sultanpur in the South East. The river Ghaghra forms the North Eastern Boundary separating Barabanki from Bahraich and Gonda.

The area of the district was 3894.5 sq kms in 2001. The area is liable to vary from year to year due to the slightest change in the coarse of the river Ghaghra, because this slight variation makes a noticeable change in the overall area of the district.

Population of the district was 1416.92 thousand as per census 2001.

There are six tehsils, 15 development blocks, 136 nyay panchayats, 1002 gram panchayats, and 1841 villages (21 are uninhabited).

History

Barabanki found mention in ancient Indian literature. It has been associated with numerous saints and ascetics who undertaken penance.

There are several ancient sayings to the naming of this district. The most popular among them is that this place derived its name from reincarnation of 'Bhagwan BAARAH' on this land and therefore the place came to be known as 'BAANHANYA' which in course of time got corrupted to Barabanki.

The headquarters of the district was at Dariyabad until 1858 AD, which was later shifted to Nawabganj in 1859 AD the other popular name of Barabanki.

It is said that Guru Vashisht preached and taught the young royal princes of Ayodhya at Satrikh, initially known as Saptrishi.

During the Mahabharat era, it was part of the 'Gaurav Rajya' and this part of land was known by the name Kurukshetra. Pandav along with their mother Kunti had spent some time on the banks of river Ghaghra during their exile.

As per the historical documentation available, in 1030 AD this region was attacked by Sayyed Salar Masood, brother of Mahmood of Ghazni. In the same century Qutubuddin Gaha of Madina annexed the Hindu princely states, thereby establishing the Muslim dominance then on. During the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar this district was dividedly under the sirkars of Awadh and Manikpur.

Many kings and princes opposed the expansion of British rule into this district by waging wars against them. The last battle of the First War of Indian Independence was fought in December 1858 AD here in this district.

District Barabanki was known as Dariyabad with its headquarters at Dariyabad town established by an officer in the army of Mohammed Shah Shariqi by the name Dariab Khan. It remained the district headquarter till 1858 AD. The district headquarter was shifted to Nawabganj in 1859 AD now known as Barabanki. This was done during the expansion of the district by the British, when Kursi from district Lucknow and Haidergarh from district Rae Bareli were added to the, then Dariyabad district.

Politics

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation order of 2008

266 Kursi Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 1-Fatehpur, 2-Vishunpur, 3-Kursi, Fatehpur NP, PCs 63-Bhatuwamau, 64-Kaitha, 65-Belhara, 66-Sademau, 67-Ujarwara, 68-Loharpur, 69-Para, 70-Chheda, 71-Bindauradharthariya, 72-Basaree, 76-Mohammadpurkhala, 77-Alhemau, 79-Jagatpur, 80-Surjanpur & 81-Raipur of 4-Mohammadpur KC of 4-Fatehpur Tehsil.

267 Ram Nagar Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh - 2-Ram Nagar Tehsil; KC 1-Sirauligauspur of 3-Sirauligauspur Tehsil; PCs 73-Daulatpur, 74-Ballopur, 75-Piparee & 78-Jiganee of 1-Mohammadpur KC of 4-Fatehpur Tehsil.

268 Barabanki Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 4-Nawabganj, 5-Dewa North, 6-Dewa South, Nawabganj NPP, Banki NP & Dewa NP of 7-Nawabganj Tehsil.

269 Zaidpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - KC 3-Siddhaur & Sidhhaur NP of 5-Haidergarh Tehsil; KCs 1-Pratapganj, 2-Jaidpur, 3-Satrikh, Satrikh NP & Jaidpur NP of 7-Nawabganj Tehsil.

270 Dariyabad Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 2-Dariyabad, 3-Surpur, PCs 6-Tahsipur, 7-Asena, 8-Kashipur, 9-Bavela Narainpur, 10-Dharauli, 11-Pahrupur, 12-Beekapur, 13-Patulaki, 14-Belhree, 15-Sarai Shahalam, 16-Rasoolpurkala, 17-Khetasarai, 18-Khajuree, 19-Dhema, 20-Koilawar, 21-Khamauli, 22-Barhuwa, 23-Chamrauli of 1-Banikodar KC & Dariyabad NP of 6-Ram Sanehi Ghat Tehsil; KC 2-Tikait Nagar & Tikait Nagar NP of 3-Sirauligauspur Tehsil.

271 Rudauli Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1-Rudauli Tehsil; PCs 1-Amhiya, 2-Bathauli, 3-Asarfpur, 4-Akohree & 5-Dhema of 1-Banikodar KC of 6-Ram Sanehi Ghat Tehsil.

272 Haidergarh Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - KCs 1-Trivediganj, 2-Haidergarh, 4-Subeha, 5-Kothi & Haidergarh NP of 5-Haidergarh Tehsil.

Places of interest
Lodheshwar temple, Dewa Sharif shrine, Parijaat tree of Kintur, Siddhaur, Badosarai, Kintur, Satrikh, Bhitauli, Masauli