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Bareilly

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Bareilly is a major metropolis in northern India.

City bus bareilly
City bus bareilly

It sits within the state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is a central hub for the Bareilly division. It also serves as the heart of the historical Rohilkhand region. Bareilly is located in the vast Indo-Gangetic Plains. It lies northwest of Lucknow, the state capital. It is also positioned east of New Delhi, the national capital. With a 2011 population of 903,668, it is a significant urban center.

Bareilly Junction
Bareilly Junction

It ranks as the eighth most populous city in Uttar Pradesh. It is also the 17th most populous city in northern India. Globally, it is ranked 54th in India.

The geography of Bareilly is defined by its water and fertile soil. The city is situated on the left bank of the Ramganga River.

Akshar vihar Bareilly
Akshar vihar Bareilly

This river is a vital waterway for the region. The Ramganga Barrage was built here to provide canal irrigation. Several minor tributaries flow through the city. These include the Deoranian, Nakatiya, and Shankha rivers. To the north, the landscape includes the tarai. This is a rain forest area containing tigers, bears, deer, and wild pigs. The terrain is level and slopes toward the south. This flat land features fertile soil and many groves of trees.

The climate in Bareilly is classified as humid subtropical. This means the city experiences hot summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature is approximately 25 °C. June is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 32.8 °C. January is the coolest month, averaging 15 °C. Precipitation is significant, totaling 1038.9 mm annually. July is the wettest month, receiving 307.3 mm of rain.

Uttrayani Bareilly 2023 02
Uttrayani Bareilly 2023 02

Conversely, November is the driest month with only 5.1 mm of rain. On average, the city sees 37.7 days of precipitation per year.

Bareilly has deep roots reaching back to ancient times. The region of Panchala is mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata. It is said to be the birthplace of Draupadi. Near the district lies the ancient capital of Northern Panchala, known as Ahichchhatra.

Ahichchhatra Fort Temple Bareilly
Ahichchhatra Fort Temple Bareilly

Excavations at Ahichchhatra revealed painted grey ware from the Iron Age. These finds help archaeologists understand the cultural sequence from 2000 BC to 1100 AD. The site is also famous for its massive yield of terracotta art.

Ahichchhatra Shwethambar Tirth (3)
Ahichchhatra Shwethambar Tirth (3)

Thousands of coins from before the Gupta period were also discovered here.

The modern history of the city began in 1537. A local chieftain named Jagat Singh Katehriya established the first settlement. He named the site 'Bans-Bareli' after his sons, Bansaldev and Bareldev. The Mughal Empire took control of the area in 1569. In 1657, the Mughal governor Mukrand Rai laid the foundation for the modern city. Bareilly later became a major center for the Kingdom of Rohilkhand. Following the First Rohilla War in 1774, the Oudh State took control. The British East India Company later acquired the territory in 1801.

The mausoleum of Hafiz Rahmat Khan at Bareilly, 1814-15
The mausoleum of Hafiz Rahmat Khan at Bareilly, 1814-15

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the city was briefly freed by rebels. Khan Bahadur Khan ruled independently until the British re-annexed the area in 1858.

Today, Bareilly is a vital economic and religious center. It is a hub for furniture manufacturing. The city also engages in the trade of cotton, cereal, and sugar.

Factories in Parsakhera Bareilly
Factories in Parsakhera Bareilly

It is recognized as one of the 100 Smart Cities being developed in India. It also serves as a counter magnet city for the National Capital Region. The city is known as Nath Nagri due to its many ancient Shiva temples. It is also called Jumka City. Religiously, it is the birthplace of the Barelvi movement. This Sunni Islamic movement was formed by scholar Ahmad Raza Khan. Millions of followers visit his shrine during the Urs-e-Razavi.

Infrastructure supports the city's large population and industry. Bareilly is served by an airport with direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The Bareilly Junction is a major railway hub. It is among the top 100 booking stations for Indian Railways.

Izzatnagar station 04
Izzatnagar station 04

Additionally, Izzatnagar serves as a divisional headquarters for the North Eastern Railways. The city continues to expand, particularly toward the north. This growth connects older areas with newer industrial and residential zones.

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🖼️ Images & Media (28)
File:Ahichchhatra_Fort_Temple_Bareilly.jpg
Ahichchhatra_Fort_Temple_Bareilly.jpg
File:The mausoleum of Hafiz Rahmat Khan at Bareilly, 1814-15.jpg
The mausoleum of Hafiz Rahmat Khan at...
File:Land of the Veda - India Theological Seminary at Bareilly.jpg
Land of the Veda - India Theological...
File:United Provinces 1903.gif
United Provinces 1903.gif
File:Akshar vihar Bareilly.jpg
Akshar vihar Bareilly.jpg
File:Company Garden Bareilly.jpg
Company Garden Bareilly.jpg
File:Ramayan vatika.jpg
Ramayan vatika.jpg
File:Santosh Kumar Gangwar oath as Minister.jpg
Santosh Kumar Gangwar oath as Minister.jpg
File:UP Police Zones.png
UP Police Zones.png
File:Factories in Parsakhera Bareilly.jpg
Factories in Parsakhera Bareilly.jpg
File:Rubber Factory Fatehganj Bareilly.jpg
Rubber Factory Fatehganj Bareilly.jpg
File:Aonla(2).jpg
Aonla(2).jpg

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