Basti

Basti is a district in the State of Uttar Pradesh in India. It lies between the parallels of 26° 23' and 27° 30' North and Latitude and 82° 17' and 83° 20' East longitude. The district derives its name from its headquarter town of the same name.

The district lies between district Sant Kabir Nagar on the east and Gonda on the west On the south, the Ghaghra river separates it from the Faizabad and district Ambedkar Nagar. While on the North it is bounded by district Sidharth Nagar.

It covers an area of 7,309 sq. km. Owing to the changing course of the Ghaghra, the area of the district is subjected to frequent alterations.

Basti district has a population of 2,461,056 as per census 2011.

Basti district is formed of 3 Tehsils: Basti, Harriya and Sonaha Bhanpur, 13 Development Blocks, 139 Nyay Panchayats, and 10 Gram Sabhas.

History

It is probably in sixteenth century the Kalhan Raja selected this place as a seat of his Raj. From that time onward this place is known as Basti, because it was an habitation of humans in the midst of jungle all around. This theory of origin of its name is, however, rejected by many who say that this place was known even in during Ram. This area was known for Ashram of Vashishth and was known as Vashishthi which, in course of time became Basti.

With the passage of time, the place prospered and in 1801 it became the Tehsil headquarter and was chosen as the district headquarter of the newly established district in 1865.

Politics

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

307 Harraiya Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 1-Sikandar Pur, 2-Vikramjote, 3-Parashurampur, 7-Harraiya Sadar, 8-Vishesarganj & Harraiya NP of 1-Harraiya Tehsil.

308 Kaptanganj Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 4-Gaur, 5-Paikoliya, 6-Kaptanganj, 9-Chilma of 1-Harraiya Tehsil ; PCs 64-Ajgaiwa Jangal, 65-Sivpur, 66-Tinich Shukla and 67-Betouha of KC 3-Sonaha of 4-Bhanpur Tehsil.

309 Rudhauli Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 2-Rudhauli Tehsil; KCs 1-Ramnagar, 2-Sagara, 4-Dasia, PCs 51-Amma, 52-Mahnowa, 53-Banarjijangal, 54-Padaree, 55-Hasanpur, 56-Dumaree, 57-Ourjangal, 58-Amrouli Sumali, 59-Pitout, 60-Pachanoo, 61-Delpar Khurd, 62-Basthanwa, 63-Majhouwa Khurd, 66-Jagatpur, 69-Pakaree Bhikhi, 70-Chamraha & 71-Sakroula of KC 3-Sonaha of 4-Bhanpur Tehsil.

310 Basti Sadar Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 1-Sadar, 2-Munderawa, 7-Sanughat & Basti MB of 3-Basti Sadar Tehsil.

311 Mahadewa Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - KCs 3-Mahadewa, 4-Nagar, 5-Gayghat & 6-Kudraha of 3-Basti Sadar Tehsil.

Places of interest
Parashurampur, Sukhna wildlife sanctuary, Bamboo Valley, Chando Tal, Bhadeshwar Nath, Tilakpur, Chhapiya, Ganeshpur, Dewariya Mahpi, Tameshwar Nath