Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, is a historic city named after the medieval saint Gorakhnath, the great yogi of the Nath Sampradaya. The Gorakhnath Math, which developed around his teachings, became the spiritual heart of the region and shaped the city’s identity for centuries. The area, however, has far older roots—archaeological finds from nearby sites show links to ancient cultures of the Ganga plains.

In ancient times, Gorakhpur lay within the realms of the Kosala and Malla mahajanapadas. Buddhist texts mention nearby Kushinagar, while Hindu traditions connect the region to various sages and legends. During the early medieval period, Gorakhpur grew as an important centre for the Nath yogis, attracting followers across North India.

Under the Mughals, the region remained a strategic administrative zone. Later, in the 18th century, the area came under the influence of the Nawabs of Awadh until it passed to the British East India Company in 1801. The British made Gorakhpur a district headquarters in 1803, developing it as a trading centre linked by river and later by rail.

In the 20th century, Gorakhpur played a role in India’s freedom movement—most notably through the peasant uprising led by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1921 at nearby Chauri Chaura.

Today, Gorakhpur is known for the Gorakhnath temple, education hubs, culture, and its growing role in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s development.