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{{About|the city in Uttar Pradesh, India|}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{other uses}}
| name = Ghazipur
{{Multiple issues|
| native_name =
{{refimprove|date=March 2009}}
| native_name_lang =
{{peacock|date=March 2009}}
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Tomb of Lord Cornwallis.jpg
| image_alt = yes
| image_caption = The Tomb of Lord ], Governor-General of Bengal
| pushpin_map = India Uttar Pradesh#India3
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|25.58|N|83.57|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_type2 = ]
| subdivision_name1 = ]
| subdivision_name2 = ]
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 350–400 BCE
| founder = Sayyid Masud Ghazi<ref>{{cite book | title=Ghazipur Gazetteer: Being Volume XXIX of the District Gazetteers of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh | year=1909 | publisher=United Provinces Government | url=https://indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/ghazipur-gazetteer-being-volume-xxix-district-gazetteers-united-provinces-agra-and-oudh | access-date=2024-12-18}}</ref>
| named_for =
| government_type = Municipal Council
| governing_body = Ghazipur Municipal Council
| leader_title = Chairperson
| leader_name = Sarita Agarwal
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 36.6
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 110587<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 census of India.|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_density_km2 =
| population_est =
| pop_est_as_of =
| population_urban =
| population_urban_footnotes =
| population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_density_urban_sq_mi =
| population_rural =
| population_rural_footnotes =
| population_density_rural_km2 =
| population_density_rural_sq_mi =
| population_metro =
| population_metro_footnotes =
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_rank = 391
| population_density_rank =
| population_blank1_title = ]
| population_blank1 = 902 ]/1000]
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
| population_blank2_title =
| population_blank2 =
| population_density_blank2_km2 =
| population_density_blank2_sq_mi =
| population_demonym = Ghazipuria or Ghadhipur
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = ]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = ]
| postal_code = 233001
| area_code = 91-548
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| registration_plate = UP-61
| blank1_name_sec1 =
| blank1_info_sec1 =
| website = {{URL|www.ghazipur.nic.in/}}
| population_density =
| demographics1_info1 = ]
| demographics1_title2 = Regional
| demographics1_info2 = ]
| official_name =
| image_map1 =
| other_name =
| nickname = City of Martyrs
| established_title1 = Founded
| established_date1 = 1330
| established_title2 = ]
| established_date2 = 1820
}} }}
'''Ghazipur''', originally '''Gadhipur''', is a city in the state of ], India. Ghazipur city is the administrative headquarters of the ], one of the four districts that form the ] of Uttar Pradesh. It is located on the Ganges (Ganga) River near the border with Bihar state, about 40 miles (65&nbsp;km) northeast of Varanasi (Benares).
The city of Ghazipur also constitutes one of the seven distinct ], or subdivisions, of the Ghazipur district.<ref>","</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ghazipur, a city established during Tughlaqs|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ghazipur-India}}</ref>


Ghazipur is well known for its ] factory, established by the ] in 1820 and still the biggest legal opium factory in the world, producing the drug for the global pharmaceutical industry.<ref name=Paxman>{{cite book|author-link=Jeremy Paxman|first=Jeremy|last=Paxman|title=Empire:What Ruling the World Did to the British|year=2011|publisher=]|place=London|chapter=Chapter 3}}</ref> Ghazipur lies close to the Uttar Pradesh-] border, about {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}} east of ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Sayed Ahmad Khan{{!}}Books|url=http://www.sirsyedtoday.org/books/?cid=33}}</ref>
{{redirect-distinguish|Gauspur|Gaspur}}


==History==
<!-- See ] for details -->
As per verbal and folk history,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ghazipur.nic.in/history.htm |title=Ghazipur That is known as Gadhipuri |publisher=Ghazipur.nic.in |access-date=8 April 2012}}</ref> Ghazipur was covered with dense forest during the ] and it was a place for the ashrams of saints during that period. The place is related to the ] period. ], the father of ], is said to have resided here.<ref name="(India)1982">{{cite book|author=Uttar Pradesh (India)|title=Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Ghazipur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UnAbAAAAIAAJ|year=1982|publisher=Government of Uttar Pradesh|pages=15–16}}</ref> ] and ] are believed to have taught and delivered sermons here in the ancient period. ] gave his first sermon in ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_up_sarnath.asp |title=Sarnath Buddhist Pilgrimage – Ticketed Monument – Archaeological Survey of India |publisher=Asi.nic.in |access-date=8 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416091701/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_up_sarnath.asp |archive-date=16 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which is not far from here.<ref name="PlacesOfInterest">{{cite web|url=http://ghazipur.nic.in/placeofinterest.htm |title=Places of Interest of District Ghazipur |publisher=Ghazipur.nic.in |access-date=8 April 2012}}</ref> Some sources state that the original name was Gadhipur, which was renamed around 1330 after ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ghazipur-India|title = Ghazipur &#124; India &#124; Britannica}}</ref>
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ghazipur
| native_name = गाज़ीपुर<br>{{nastaliq|غازیپور}}
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Tomb of Lord Cornwallis.jpg
| image_alt = yes
| image_caption = The Tomb of Lord Cornwallis, Governor-General of British India
| pushpin_map = India Uttar Pradesh
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
| latd = 25.58
| latm =
| lats =
| latNS = N
| longd = 83.57
| longm =
| longs =
| longEW = E
| coordinates_display = inline,title
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = ]
| subdivision_type2 = ]
| subdivision_name2 = ]
| established_title = <!-- Established -->
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = Municipal Council
| governing_body = Ghazipur Municipal Council
| leader_title = Chairman
| leader_name = Vinod Kumar Agrawal
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 20
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 121,136
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank = 391
| population_density_km2 = 6056
| population_district = 3,622,727 |district_area_sq_km2 = 3365| population_density_person_per_sq_km2 = 1,072| population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | population_urban_footnotes = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_rural_footnotes = | population_rural = | population_density_rural_km2 = | population_density_rural_sq_mi = | population_metro_footnotes = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_density = | population_density_rank = | population_blank1_title =] | population_blank1 =902 ]/] | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi= | population_blank2_title = | population_blank2 = | population_density_blank2_km2 = | population_density_blank2_sq_mi= | population_demonym = Ghazipuri | population_note
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = ]
| timezone1 = ]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = ]
| postal_code = 233001
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 91-548
| registration_plate = UP 61
| blank1_name_sec1 =
| blank1_info_sec1 =
| website = {{URL|http://www.ghazipur.nic.in/}}
| facebook page = {{URL|https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ghazipur-City/557004824370917}}
| footnotes = Famous for Ghats, Opium Factory and Flower Business
}}


A 30&nbsp;ft. high Ashoka Pillar is situated in ], a village 30&nbsp;km away from the city near Zamania Tehsil is a symbol of Mauryan Empire. It was declared a monument of national importance and protected by the archeological survey of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_uttarpradesh_patna.asp |title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Patna - Archaeological Survey of India |access-date=3 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508064601/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_uttarpradesh_patna.asp |archive-date=8 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the report of tours in that area of 1871–72 ] wrote, "The village receives its name from a stone lat, or monolith".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/p/019pho000001003u00683000.html|title=Pillar with lion capital at Latiya, Ghazipur District|access-date=3 March 2017|archive-date=4 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304035342/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/p/019pho000001003u00683000.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
'''Ghazipur''' ({{lang-hi|ग़ाज़ीपुर}}, {{lang-ur|{{nastaliq|غازیپور}}}}, previously spelled '''Ghazeepore''', '''Gauspur''', and '''Ghazipour'''), is a city and ] in the state of ], India. Ghazipur city is the administrative headquarters of the ], one of the four districts that form the ] of Uttar Pradesh. The city of Ghazipur also constitutes one of the five distinct ], or subdivisions, of the Ghazipur district. Hindu tradition associates Ghazipur with a Raja ], father of ], the great ] regarded as a ], but although the area was an administrative center since the ], Ghazipur probably derives its name from the sayyid Masud, given the title Ghazi, who defeated the local Raja and established a town around 1330 CE. Located by the ], Ghazipur was a strategically important river port during the British rule of India.


===Prehistory and legendary founding===
Ghazipur is well known for its ] factory, established by the ] in 1820 and still the biggest legal opium factory in the world, producing the drug for the global pharmaceutical industry.<ref name=Paxman>{{cite book|authorlink=Jeremy Paxman|first=Jeremy|last=Paxman|title=Empire:What Ruling the World Did to the British|year=2011|publisher=]|place=London|chapter=Chapter 3}}</ref> The city's perfume industry, especially its production of rose oil and attar of roses has also long been famous. A Ghazipur firm won a medal for these products at the ], and the perfume industry remains important. Other important constituents of the city's commercial life include handloom weaving factories, and Ghazipur's role as the market town for its surrounding rural and farming areas.
According to tradition, Ghazipur was founded in 1330, but the place is probably older.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 158, 96 --> The local tradition that the city was once called "Gadhipura" after a legendary king named Gadhi is probably spurious, but old building fragments found along the riverbank point to the existence of a settlement here, and a mound may represent the site of an old fort.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 196 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909">{{cite book |editor1-last=Nevill |editor1-first=H. R. |title=Ghazipur: A Gazetteer, Being Volume XXIX of the District Gazetteers of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh |date=1909 |publisher=Government Press |location=Allahabad |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.2954 |access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref>{{rp|158, 196}}


The legend behind Ghazipur's foundation in 1330 is that Raja Mandhata, a descendant of the ] ], had founded a fort at nearby ] and ruled a small kingdom from there.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 157 --> His nephew, who was the heir to the throne, abducted a local Muslim young woman, and her mother pleaded for help to the ].<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 157 --> As a result, 40 '']''s led by one Sayyid Masud set out to attack Kathot.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 157 --> They took the place by surprise and ended up killing Raja Mandhata.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 157 --> The nephew mustered an army and fought two battles against the ghazis, but was defeated in both.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 157 --> The first battle took place on the bank of the Besu and the other was at the site of Ghazipur.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 157 --> Sayyid Masud, who was now given the title Malik us-Sadat Ghazi, founded a city on the site of the second battle and called it Ghazipur.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 157-8 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|157–8}}
Sights in the city include several monuments built by Nawab Shaikh Abdulla, or Abdullah Khan, a governor of Ghazipur during the ] in the eighteenth century, and his son. These include the palace known as Chihal Satun, or "forty pillars", which retains a very impressive gateway although the palace is in ruins, and the large garden with a ] and a tomb called the Nawab-ki-Chahar-diwari.<ref name="PlacesOfInterest" /><ref name="Hunter">{{cite book |last = Hunter | first = William Wilson | authorlink = William Wilson Hunter | year = 1908 | title = The Imperial Gazetteer of India | volume = XII | publisher = Clarendon Press | place = Oxford | pages = 230–231}}</ref> The mosque near this tomb was probably originally a Hindu building.<ref name="Fuhrer">{{cite book |last = Führer | first = Alois Anton | authorlink = Anton Alois Führer | year = 1891 | title = Archaeological Survey of India: The Monumental Antiquities and Inscriptions in the North-Western Province and Oudh | volume = XII | publisher = Superintendent, Government Press | place = Allahabad | page = 231}}</ref> The road that starts at the Nawab-ki-Chahar-diwari tomb and runs past the mosque leads, after 10&nbsp;km, to a ] devoted to ].<ref name="PlacesOfInterest" /> The tank and tomb of Pahar Khan, ] of the city in 1580, and the plain but ancient tombs of the founder, Masud, and his son are also in Ghazipur, as is the tomb of ], one of the major figures of Indian and British history.<ref name="Fuhrer" /> Cornwallis is famous for his role in the ], and then for ], being said to have laid the true foundation of British rule. He was later Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, there suppressing the ] and establishing the ]. He died in Ghazipur in 1805, soon after his returning to India for his second appointment as Governor-General. His tomb, overlooking the Ganges, is a heavy dome supported on 12 Doric columns above a cenotaph carved by ].<ref name="Hunter" /> The remains of an ancient mud fort also overlook the river, while there are many beautiful or impressive ]s leading to the Ganges, the oldest of which is the ChitNath Ghat.<ref name="PlacesOfInterest" /><ref name="Fuhrer" />


===Early recorded history: 1400s and 1500s===
Ghazipur is nearest to the UP-Bihar border. The home tongue at the place is ]. Ghazipur UP borders the important spiritual city of Varanasi and is located about 80&nbsp;km east of ] UP and 50&nbsp;km from Buxar which is the entry point of Bihar state.
Legends aside, Ghazipur's first mention in contemporary sources is {{circa}} 1494, when ] appointed Nasir Khan Lohani as the city's governor.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 159-60 --> Ghazipur flourished during Nasir Khan's long tenure.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --> A new fort is said to have been built under his rule, replacing an older one at Hamzapur.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --> A wave of immigration from Muslim settlers also began at this point and lasted until the late 1500s.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --> New '']''s were built to house them.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|159–60}}


After Sikandar Lodi died, there was a rival claimant named Muhammad Shah (son of ], the former governor of ]).<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --> At first, Nasir Khan stayed loyal to Sikandar's son ], but he was defeated by an army led by one Mian Mustafa, which then looted Ghazipur.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --> At this point, Nasir Khan sided with Muhammad Shah, who restored him as governor.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --> In 1527, ] led a force to Ghazipur while the main Mughal army under ] was at ]; Nasir Khan fled, and Humayun occupied Ghazipur without resistance.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --> He was recalled to assist Babur soon after, though, and Nasir Khan resumed control over Ghazipur.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160 --> Nasir Khan submitted to Babur in person in 1528, after Babur took ], but Babur did not keep him as governor of Ghazipur.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 160-1 --> Instead, he gave the city to Muhammad Khan Lohani Ghazipuri, a relative of Nasir Khan who had joined Babur's side earlier.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 161 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|160–1}}
==History==
] and ] made in 1561,from ]]]
]
During ]'s early rule, Ghazipur was held by ], who also founded the nearby town of ].<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 162 --> Ghazipur does not seem to have been affected by Khan Zaman's first rebellion against Akbar in 1565.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 163 --> During his second revolt, Mughal forces under Jafar Khan Turkman attacked Ghazipur, but Khan Zaman fled.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 163 --> After Khan Zaman's death in battle in 1567, Akbar put Ghazipur under ]'s control. Quttul Khan a native ,was made the ]dar of large part of the sarkar taluka to ], he was also a ] of ], and later to his cousin Daud Khan of ] after his death, during the rule of ].<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 163 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|162–3}}
As per the verbal and folk history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ghazipur.nic.in/history.htm |title=Ghazipur That is known as Gadhipuri |publisher=Ghazipur.nic.in |date= |accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref> Ghazipur was covered with dense forest during the Vedic era and it was a place for ashrams of saints during that period. The place is related to the ] period. Maharshi ], the father of Maharshi ], is said to have resided here.<ref>{{cite web|author=Yann Picand, Dominique Dutoit |url=http://dictionary.sensagent.com/ghazipur/en-en/ |title=Ghazipur : definition of ghazipur and synonym of ghazipur (English) |publisher=Dictionary.sensagent.com |date= |accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref> The famous ] and ] were given teaching and sermon here in ancient period. ] gave his first sermon in ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_up_sarnath.asp |title=Sarnath Buddhist Pilgrimage - Ticketed Monument - Archaeological Survey of India |publisher=Asi.nic.in |date= |accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref> which is not far from the here.<ref name="PlacesOfInterest">{{cite web|url=http://ghazipur.nic.in/placeofinterest.htm |title=Places of Interest of District Ghazipur |publisher=Ghazipur.nic.in |date= |accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref> The Aurihar region of Ghazipur became the main centre of teachings of Lord Buddha. Many stupas and pillars are the main evidence of that period. Chinese traveller ] visited this area and has described this place as Chanchu "Kingdom of the Lord of battles."


In the '']'', Ghazipur was the capital of a ] in ].<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 164 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|164}}
The region has been active in India Independence Movement. The celebrated hero of ] (which is also referred as Sepoy Mutiny) ] belonged to that time of ] area (now part of ]). The famous Raju Baxi revolt is also associated with this place where the farmers revolted against the British and set fire to several indigo godowns. This place has played a significant role in the Indian National movement. During the Home Rule movement and the Quit India movement people of Ghazipur took part courageously and fearlessly. During Quit India movement, ] is historical place of India where many warriors were born. On 18 August 1942 a group of freedom fighters of Sherpur Village under the leadership of Dr Shiv Pujan Rai hoisted the Tricoloure at ] Tehsil.

===Later Mughals===
After the Mughals solidified their control over Bengal, Ghazipur lost most of its political importance, and later sources mention it less.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 166 --> Under ], as well as during ]'s early reign, Nawab Sufi Bahadur was governor of Ghazipur, he also build the jama masjid at ]..<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 166 --> He was succeeded by Nawab Atiqullah Khan, a native of Ghazipur who remained governor until Aurangzeb's death.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 166 --> Ghazipur does not seem to have been affected by the war between Aurangzeb and ] in 1567, or by the civil wars following Aurangzeb's death.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 166 --> At some point after ]'s death in 1719, ''sarkar'' Ghazipur was part of a large territory granted to one ] as a '']''.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 166-7 --> In 1727, Murtaza Khan in turn leased this territory to ], the first ].<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 167 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|166–7}}

===Nawabs of Awadh & Ghazipur ===
At first, ] sub-leased these territories (Ghazipur, ], ], and ]) to his friend Rustam Ali Khan.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 167 --> Rustam Ali Khan had no interest in managing the territories himself, and someone named ] ended up becoming the actual administrator.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 167 --> In 1738, Rustam Ali Khan retired from office.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 167 --> Ghazipur was given to ], son of Muhammad Qasim a ] of ], while the remainder was given to Mansa Ram.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 167 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|167}} ] and his son ], both were the ]s of Ghazipur and buld many monuments here ,at their time the Ghazipur ] consisted of present day ], ] & ] ]s. there family was historicaly in power in the region ], and ruled over ] while later, its capital being at ]. Sheikh Abdullah also established the town of ], after his father name and his death in 1739. He also build a fort at Qasimabad known as ]. ]]]

]
Sheikh Abdullah left several monuments in Ghazipur: the Chihal Satun palace, a mosque and ], a masonry tank, and a large garden known as the Nawab's Bagh.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 168 --> Abdullah died in 1744 and was buried in a tomb by the garden.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 168 --> His oldest son, Fazl Ali, was away, so a younger brother named Karam-ullah was installed as governor instead.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 168 --> Fazl Ali appealed to Nawab Safdar Jung as became the Nawab of Ghazipur,. <!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 168 --> Fazl Ali was removed from office in 1747 following complaints of "oppression and misgovernment", and Karam-ullah (his younger brother )was restored, but he died a year later and ] became governor again.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 168 --> In 1754, after ] succeeded ] as ], Fazl Ali was removed from his position due to revenue shortfalls, and Muhammad Ali Khan was appointed in his place. Muhammad Ali Khan, however, faced difficulties maintaining order in the region, and Fazl Ali was reappointed as governor. His jurisdiction was expanded to include ].<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 168-9 -->in 1757, and ], son of Mansa Ram, got the control of Ghazipur instead. Although one of Sheikh Abdullah's descendants, Azmi Ali Khan , grandson of Sheikh Abdullah and a nephew of Fazl Ali, was successful in getting the control of their ansistoral ] of ], with a pention of rupees 1 lakh, in 1788.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 169 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|168–9}}] at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Coloured etching by William Hodges, 1785.]]

Ghazipur remained under Balwant Singh's son and successor ], but the British deposed him in 1781.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 170 --> His successor, ], was essentially stripped of all administrative powers by the British, who established Ghazipur district in 1818.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 171 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|170–1}}

There were also quite a lot of ]s in the area as well as ]s.<ref name="indianculture.gov.in">{{cite web | url=https://indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/ghazipur-gazetteer-being-volume-xxix-district-gazetteers-united-provinces-agra-and-oudh | title=Ghazipur: A Gazetteer, being Volume XXIX of the District Gazetteers of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh }}</ref>
Specifically in ], a notable family would be the Ansari sheiks who had held such offices from the 1500s all the way till the late 20th century.<ref name="indianculture.gov.in"/> Some notables would be ], Mushir Haider Ansari, Qazi Nizamul Haq Ansari, Khalid Mustafa Ansari and world famous crime master Mukhtar Ansari also is a well known part of this family.<ref name="indianculture.gov.in"/>

===Scientific Society of Ghazipur===
In 1862, ] established the ] (which was later transferred to ]), the first of its kind in India, to propagate modern Western knowledge of science, technology and industry. It was a departure from the past in the sense that education made a paradigm shift from traditional humanities and related disciplines to the new field of science and agriculture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sirsyedtoday.org/books/?cid=33 |title=Sir Syed Ahmad Khan &#124; Books |publisher=Sirsyedtoday.org |access-date=8 April 2012}}</ref> Some current institution like Technical Education and Research Institute (TERI),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://teripgc.com/about_us.html |title=Technical Education & Research Institute |publisher=Teripgc.com |access-date=8 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409202046/http://www.teripgc.com/about_us.html |archive-date=9 April 2012}}</ref> part of post-graduate college ], in the city, takes their inspiration from that first Society.

===Ghazipur at the turn of the 20th century===
At the turn of the 20th century, Ghazipur was described as forming "a narrow belt" along the bank of the Ganges.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 196 --> Ghazipur proper extended for about 5.5&nbsp;km along the river, from Khudaipura in the east to Pirnagar in the west; and about 1.5&nbsp;km on the other axis, away from the river.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 196 --> West of Pirnagar was the large former ] area, which extended for another 4&nbsp;km along the river.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 196 --> The main business quarter was along the riverfront, while most houses were away from the river.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 196 --> The town was described as generally rather poor, and its streets were winding and narrow.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 196 --> The riverfront, on the other hand, was described as "picturesque", with a number of masonry ]s.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 196 --> On the west was Amghat, where the opium factory was located; other ghats further downstream included Collector Ghat, Pakka Ghat, Mahaul Ghat, Gola Ghat, Chitnath Ghat, Natkha Ghat, Khirki Ghat, and Pushta Ghat.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 199-200 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|196–200}}

The main road was the one coming in from Varanasi to the west.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 199 --> It went due east for about 1&nbsp;km after entering the city, and this stretch was flanked by houses and shops on both sides.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 199 --> Near the entrance, it passed the tank and tomb of Pahar Khan; then the Bishesharganj marketplace; then the Qila Kohna, or old fort; and then the ], which was built in 1881 atop an old mound that may represent an even earlier fort.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 196, 9 --> Beyond this, the road passed through the Lal Darwaza neighbourhood, past the town's '']'', and past the town hall (built in 1878) and adjoining mosque.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 199-200 --> Past this was the police station, and after that was Martinganj, a marketplace named after a former British official.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 200 --> After this point, the road bent sharply to the left, away from the river, for about 200&nbsp;m.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 200 --> It then bent to the east to run parallel with the river.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 200 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|196–200}}

In this area was a major triple junction at Ghazi Mian, where the Varanasi road met with two others: one coming from ] and ] to the east and another coming from ] and ] in the north.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 195, 9 --> From Ghazi Mian, a wide highway went south to the riverbank at Pushta Ghat, where a ferry crossed over to Tari Ghat on the other side.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 195, 9 --> The ] was also near Ghazi Mian.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 195 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|195, 9}}

The main landmark along the main road in the Ghazi Mian area was the Chihal Satun, or "hall of forty pillars", which was built by Abdullah Khan in the mid-1700s.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 200 --> The main road continued east through Razaganj and Begampur to the ] on the eastern city limit.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 200 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|200}}

Meanwhile, across from the Chihal Satun, another major road split off toward the northeast, passing the ] and "the Nawab's garden, tank, and tomb" before joining the Korantadih and Ballia road, which then marked the city's northern boundary.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 200 --> Near this point were the garden of Karimullah and the tank of Dharam Chand.<!-- Gazetteer 1909, p. 200 --><ref name="Gazetteer 1909"/>{{rp|200}}

'''Polpulation'''

The current estimate population of Ghazipur city in 2024 is 155,000 , while Ghazipur metro population is estimated at 169,000 . The last census was conducted in 2011 and the schedule census for Ghazipur city in 2021 was postponed due to Covid. The current estimates of Ghazipur city are based on past growth rate. Once govt conducts census for Ghazipur city, we will update the same here in 2024. As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Ghazipur in 2011 is 110,587. Although Ghazipur city has population of 110,587; its urban / metropolitan population is 121,020.


==Geography== ==Geography==
Ghazipur is located at {{Coord|25.58|N|83.57|E|}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Ghazipur.html |title=Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Ghazipur |publisher=Fallingrain.com |date= |accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref> It has an average elevation of 62&nbsp;metres (203&nbsp;feet). The city of Ghazipur is located in the middle ] valley of North India, in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, along the left is bank of the Ganges river. It is the headquarters of the Ghazipur district. The city nearly stretches parallel to the river Ganges. Its neighbouring cities are Varanasi, Jaunpur, Buxar in Bihar, Ballia, Mau, Chandauli and Azamgarh. Initially Ballia and Mau were part of Ghazipur district but latter were made separate districts. Being located in the plains of the Ganges, the soil is alluvial type and is fertile because of low level floods continually replenish the soil. This makes agriculture the most important profession of the people. The town is predominantly agrarian and so is the economy. The district is divided into four major sub parts. Ghazipur is located at {{Coord|25.58|N|83.57|E|}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Ghazipur.html |title=Falling Rain Genomics, Inc Ghazipur |publisher=Fallingrain.com |access-date=8 April 2012}}</ref> It has an average elevation of 62&nbsp;metres (203&nbsp;feet).
Ghazipur has a humid subtropical climate with large variations between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with intervening monsoon seasons. Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from December to February. The temperature ranges between 32&nbsp;°C–46&nbsp;°C (90&nbsp;°F–115&nbsp;°F) in the summers, and 2&nbsp;°C–15&nbsp;°C (41&nbsp;°F–59&nbsp;°F) in the winters. The average annual rainfall is 1110&nbsp;mm (44&nbsp;in).. Fog is common in the winters, while hot dry winds, called loo, blow in the summer.


Rivers in the district include the ], ], ], Beson, ], ], ] and ].
==Demographics==
As per provisional data of 2011 census, Ghazipur urban agglomeration had a population of 121,136, out of which males were 63,689 and females were 57,447. Males constituted 52.57% of the population while females constituted 47.43% of the population. The literacy rate of Ghazipur urban agglomeration was 84.97% (higher than the national average of 74.04%) of which male literacy was 90.23% and female literacy was 79.17%.Sex ratio of Ghazipur urban agglomeration was found to be 902. Ghazipur urban agglomeration consist of Ghazipur, Kapoorpur, Mishrolia Madhopur, and Razdepur.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | title = Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above |work= Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011 | publisher = |accessdate = 2012-07-07 }}</ref>


==Demographics==
{{see also|List of cities in Uttar Pradesh}} {{see also|List of cities in Uttar Pradesh}}


{{As of|2011}} India census,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archivedate=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|accessdate=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Ghazipur city had a population of 1,10,698, out of which males were 58,126 and females were 52,572. Males constituted 52.5% of the population and females constituted 47.5% of the population. Ghazipur has an average literacy rate of 85.46% (higher than the national average of 74.04%) of which male literacy is 90.61% and female literacy is 79.79%. 11.46% of the population is under 6 years of age and the sex ratio is 904. {{As of|2011}} India census,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=1 November 2008|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Ghazipur city had a population of 231607, out of which males were 121467 and females were 110140 Males constituted 52.445% of the population and females constituted 47.554% of the population. Ghazipur has an average literacy rate of 85.46% (higher than the national average of 74.04%) of which male literacy is 90.61% and female literacy is 79.79%. 11.46% of the population is under 6 years of age and the sex ratio is 904.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title="Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above"|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2011 Census of India|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2011 Census of India|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/|access-date=|website=}}</ref>


{{bar box {{bar box
|title=Religions in Ghazipur City (2011)<ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2011 Ghazipur|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/151-ghazipur.html|website=Census 2011|access-date=7 July 2017}}</ref>
|title=Religions in Ghazipur
|titlebar=#Fcd116 |titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion |left1=Religion
Line 105: Line 161:
|float=right |float=right
|bars= |bars=
{{bar percent|]|orange|75}} {{bar percent|]|darkorange|72.33}}
{{bar percent|]|green|22.2}} {{bar percent|]|green|26.77}}
{{bar percent|]|pink|1.4}} {{bar percent|]|blue|0.32}}
{{bar percent|Others†|black|0.6}} {{bar percent|]|yellow|0.11}}
{{bar percent|Others†|black|0.47}}
|caption=Distribution of religions<br /> |caption=Distribution of religions<br />
†<small>Includes ]s (0.2%), ] (<0.2%).</small> †<small>Includes ] (<0.2%).</small>
}} }}


==Literature and Celebs== ==Places of interest==
Sights in the city include several monuments built by ], or Abdullah Khan, a ] of Ghazipur during the ] in the eighteenth century, and his son ]. These include the palace known as Chihal Satun, or "forty pillars", which retains a very impressive gateway although the palace is in ruins, and the large garden with a ] and a tomb called the Nawab-ki-Chahar-diwari.<ref name="PlacesOfInterest" /><ref name="Hunter">{{cite book |last = Hunter | first = William Wilson | author-link = William Wilson Hunter | year = 1908 | title = The Imperial Gazetteer of India | volume = XII | publisher = Clarendon Press | place = Oxford | pages = 230–231}}</ref> The road that starts at the Nawab-ki-Chahar-diwari tomb and runs past the mosque leads, after 10&nbsp;km, to a ] devoted to ].<ref name="PlacesOfInterest" /> The tank and tomb of Pahar Khan, ] of the city in 1580, and the plain but ancient tombs of the founder, Masud, and his son are also in Ghazipur, as is the tomb of ], one of the major figures of Indian and British history.<ref name="Fuhrer">{{cite book |last = Führer | first = Alois Anton | author-link = Anton Alois Führer | year = 1891 | title = Archaeological Survey of India: The Monumental Antiquities and Inscriptions in the North-Western Province and Oudh | volume = XII | publisher = Superintendent, Government Press | place = Allahabad | page = 231}}</ref>
Ghazipur is one of the most eastern district of Uttar Pradesh in India. The place has been notably famous for its literary contribution to India and to the world as a whole, in the field of literature. Major names include Dr. Raahi Masoom Raza, Dr. Kuber Nath Rai, Dr. Viveki Rai, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Uday Shankar, Zafar, Satara Devi, Nazir Hussain.


Cornwallis is famous for his role in the ], and then for ], being said to have laid the true foundation of British rule. He was later Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, there suppressing the ] and establishing the ]. He died in Ghazipur in 1805, soon after his returning to India for his second appointment as Governor-General. His tomb, overlooking the Ganges, is a heavy dome supported on 12 Doric columns above a cenotaph carved by ].<ref name="Hunter" />
Amongst the people stated above, Dr. Raahi Masoom Raza is famous for being the dialogue writer of the first Mahabharata aired on Doordarshan. He also authored 'Neem Ka Ped', another serial on DD National. Gopal Ram Gahmari- Born in 1856 in Village Gahmar was a famous detective novel writer of the district. He also wrote other types of novel Chatura Chanchla, Madhvi, Kankara, Bhanumati.


The remains of an ancient mud fort also overlook the river, while there are ]s leading to the Ganges, the oldest of which is the ChitNath Ghat.<ref name="PlacesOfInterest" /><ref name="Fuhrer" />
==Trade and Industries==
Close to ChitNath Ghat, ] ashram<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/ghazipur/51539279751-ghazipur-news|title = गाजीपुर के दो आश्रम आध्यात्मिक सर्किट में शामिल}}</ref> is a place of interest for ] followers. This ashram is further from the original ] underground ] caves, and is somewhat less explored by tourists. Those are the caves where ], whom ] considered only 2nd to his guru Ramkrishna,<ref>https://www.yousigma.com/biographies/CompleteWorksOfSwamiVivekanandaVolume9.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> used to meditate, sometimes, as the folklores go, feeding only on air (hence the name Pavhari Baba).


===Ghazipur opium factory===
A larger percentage of the population lives in the rural area. The Municipal Area is small as compared to other cities nearby. It is poorly developed despite being a very important city which was also a Port City under British rule. A military cantonment built by the British now houses a college and a colony for administrative officers and their subordinates.
The opium factory located in the city was established by the British and continues to be a major source of opium production in India. It is known as the Opium Factory Ghazipur or, more formally, the Government ]. It is the largest factory of its kind in the country and indeed the world.<ref name="ghosh">{{cite news|work=]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7460682.stm|title=Opium financed British rule in India (interview with Amitav Ghosh)|date=23 June 2008|access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref> The factory was initially run by the ] and was used by the British during the ] and ]s with China.<ref name="Paxman" /> The factory as such was founded in 1820 though the British had been trading Ghazipur opium before that. Nowadays its output is controlled by the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act and Rules (1985) and administratively by the Indian government ], overseen by a committee and a ].<ref name="bihartimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.bihartimes.in/articles/amarnath/opium.html |title=A Visit to Gazipur Factory...A sea of surprise |work=] |access-date=26 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325064212/http://www.bihartimes.in/articles/amarnath/opium.html |archive-date=25 March 2013}}</ref> The factory's output serves the global pharmaceutical industry. Until 1943 the factory only produced raw opium extracts from ], but nowadays it also produces many alkaloids, having first begun alkaloid production during World War II to meet military medical needs.<ref name="bihartimes" /> Its annual turnover is in the region of 2&nbsp;billion rupees (approximately 36 or 37 million US dollars), for a profit of about 80&nbsp;million rupees (1.5&nbsp;million dollars).<ref name="bihartimes" /> It has been profitable every year since 1820, but the alkaloid production currently makes a loss, while the opium production makes a profit. The typical annual opium export from the factory to the US, for example, would be about 360 tonnes of opium.<ref name="bihartimes" />
As well as the opium and alkaloid production, the factory also has a significant R&D program, employing up to 50 research chemists.<ref name="bihartimes" /> It also serves the unusual role of being the secure repository for illegal opium seizures in India—and correspondingly, an important office of the ] of India is located in Ghazipur.<ref name="bihartimes" /> Overall employment in the factory is about 900. Because it is a government industry, the factory is administered from New Delhi but a general manager oversees operations in Ghazipur.<ref name="bihartimes" />
In keeping with the sensitive nature of its production, the factory is guarded under high security (by the ]), and not easily accessible to the general public.<ref name="bihartimes" /> The factory has its own residential accommodation for its employees, and is situated across the banks of river Ganges from the main city of Ghazipur. It is surrounded by high walls topped with barbed wire. Its products are taken by high security rail to Mumbai or New Delhi for further export.<ref name="bihartimes" />


The factory covers about 43 acres and much of its architecture is in red brick, dating from colonial times. Within the grounds of the factory there is a temple to ] and a ], both said to predate the factory.<ref name="bihartimes" /> There is also a solar clock, installed by the British opium agent Hopkins Esor from 1911 to 1913.<ref name="bihartimes" /> ], who was familiar with opium both medicinally and recreationally,<ref name=kipling>{{cite web|url=http://www.kipling.org.uk/rg_opium1.htm|access-date=26 March 2013|title=In an Opium Factory|first=David|last=Page|date = 5 July 2008|publisher=The New Readers' Guide to the works of Rudyard Kipling|editor=John Radcliffe}}</ref> visited the Ghazipur factory in 1888 and published a description of its workings in '']'' on 16 April 1888.<ref name="kipling" /> The text, ''In an Opium Factory'' is freely available from Adelaide University's ebook library.<ref name=adelaide>{{cite web|url=https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/k/kipling/rudyard/opium/complete.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309092008/http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/k/kipling/rudyard/opium/complete.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2011|publisher=eBooks@Adelaide, The University of Adelaide|date=21 October 2012|access-date=26 March 2013|first=Rudyard|last=Kipling|title=In an Opium Factory|editor=Steve Thomas}}</ref>
The airport of Ghazipur was a commanding airport of most of the eastern part of the upper and western part of Bihar in those days, but now it remains vacant and is used when for VIP arrivals to Ghazipur or nearby areas. It is situated on the outer side of the city and is poorly maintained. Although being centrally located and near to Varansi, Ghazipur is lying quite low in terms of standard of living and education along with employment. People are either working as farmers or trying to go to Gulf countries, there is not any scope for them apart from migrating from their native places. The Government must start taking some urgent initiatives to stop the migration and provide proper oppurtunites to its people.


]'s novel '']'' deals with the British opium trade in India and much of Ghosh's story is based on his research of the Ghazipur factory. In interview, Ghosh stresses how much of the wealth of the British Empire stemmed from the often unsavoury opium trade, with Ghazipur as one of its centers, but he is also amazed at the scale of the present-day operation.<ref name="ghosh" />
===Ghazipur Opium Factory===
The opium factory located in the city was established by the British and continues to be a major source of opium production in India. It is known as the Opium Factory Ghazipur or, more formally, the Government Opium and Alkaloid Works. It is the largest factory of its kind in the country and indeed the world.<ref name="ghosh">{{cite web|publisher=]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7460682.stm|title=Opium financed British rule in India (interview with Amitav Ghosh)|first=|last=|date=23 June 2008|accessdate=26 March 2013}}</ref> The factory was initially run by the ] and was used by the British during the ] and ]s with China.<ref name="Paxman" /> The factory as such was founded in 1820 though the British had been trading Ghazipur opium before that. Nowadays its output is entirely above board, controlled legally by the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act and Rules (1985) and administratively by the Indian government ], overseen by a committee and a ].<ref name="bihartimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.bihartimes.in/articles/amarnath/opium.html|title=A Visit to Gazipur Factory...A sea of surprise|publisher=]|accessdate=26 March 2013}}</ref> The factory's output serves the global pharmaceutical industry. Until 1943 the factory only produced raw opium extracts from .


The Ghazipur Opium Factory may have one more claim to fame, for a rather unusual problem it has. It is infested with monkeys, but these are too narcotic-addled to be a real problem and workers drag them out of the way by their tails.<ref name="Paxman" /><ref name="ghosh" /><ref name="photoessay">{{cite book|first=Pablo|last=Bartholomew|title=Photo Essay on Cultivation of Opium in India|chapter=The Opium Trail|publisher=The Indian Economy Overview}}</ref>
==Constituencies==


==Climate==
] Parliamentary constituencies and the Vidhan Sabha ] constituencies after ]. 75-Ghazipur ] and 74- Ballia ], Vidhan Sabha-373 ], 374 ] (SC), 375 ], 376 ] (SC), 379 ], ] and ]. The latter two are shifted to ] ]. Earlier ], (Ghazipur) Lok sabha seat, ] & ] seat of vidhan Sabha were also in existence, but they are demolished under new parameters.
{{Weather box

| location = Ghazipur (1991–2020, extremes 1978–present)
==Rails, roads, waterways and airport==
| metric first = yes

| single line = yes
Ghazipur is the major railhead of the ], Varanasi Division. Ghazipur City station serves as major railway station of city. Ghazipur Ghat is a halt station situated 7&nbsp;km from city. Tari Ghat station of ECR, ] Division near city approx. 10&nbsp;km byroad connects Ghazipur to ] by a routine passenger train. ] ] on Delhi-Patna-Howrah route and ] Jn (N.E. Railway) on Varanasi-Ghazipur and Varanasi-Gorakhpur route are important Junctions.
| Jan record high C = 30.6

| Feb record high C = 34.1
Ghazipur is directly connected by ], New Delhi, ], ], ], ] by routine trains. Pawan Express, ], Dibrugarh Express, Harihar Express, Sadbhawna Express, Swatantra Senani and Sarnath Express are some important trains from Ghazipur City Station. Railway Station--] is the most important station in district. ] Jn, ] and ] Jn also serves as good stations. Yusufpur, ], Dullahpur, ] and Ghazipur Ghat are others small stations which serves for a mass of population. Saidpur, Karimuddinpur, ], Nandganj are also some stations connected by routine trains between ]-Ghazipur-] route and ]-] route.
| Mar record high C = 40.1
There is no major railway station in the district and mostly people are forced to go to nearby Buxar station. If the government can make the existing stations a bit more modern and major trains start having stoppages in them then it would become quite convenient for the local people.
| Apr record high C = 45.1

| May record high C = 46.1
== Waterways ==
| Jun record high C = 46.4
{{Main|National Waterway 1 (India)}}
| Jul record high C = 43.2
Ghazipur is an important waterway port on river Ganges between ] to ].
| Aug record high C = 37.2
| Sep record high C = 37.6
| Oct record high C = 36.0
| Nov record high C = 34.0
| Dec record high C = 30.8
|year record high C = 46.4
| Jan high C = 20.9
| Feb high C = 25.7
| Mar high C = 31.5
| Apr high C = 37.8
| May high C = 39.0
| Jun high C = 37.2
| Jul high C = 33.6
| Aug high C = 32.5
| Sep high C = 32.3
| Oct high C = 31.3
| Nov high C = 28.3
| Dec high C = 23.1
|year high C = 31.3
| Jan low C = 7.2
| Feb low C = 10.2
| Mar low C = 14.5
| Apr low C = 20.1
| May low C = 23.6
| Jun low C = 25.2
| Jul low C = 24.6
| Aug low C = 24.2
| Sep low C = 23.3
| Oct low C = 19.3
| Nov low C = 13.5
| Dec low C = 8.8
|year low C = 17.8
| Jan record low C = -1.0
| Feb record low C = 3.5
| Mar record low C = 6.2
| Apr record low C = 11.0
| May record low C = 16.0
| Jun record low C = 19.5
| Jul record low C = 20.0
| Aug record low C = 19.0
| Sep record low C = 18.2
| Oct record low C = 10.0
| Nov record low C = 5.7
| Dec record low C = 1.5
|year record low C = -0.5
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 13.3
| Feb rain mm = 14.5
| Mar rain mm = 8.7
| Apr rain mm = 9.3
| May rain mm = 26.3
| Jun rain mm = 123.6
| Jul rain mm = 260.2
| Aug rain mm = 277.9
| Sep rain mm = 204.9
| Oct rain mm = 33.5
| Nov rain mm = 7.0
| Dec rain mm = 4.5
|year rain mm = 983.7
| Jan rain days = 1.4
| Feb rain days = 1.2
| Mar rain days = 0.9
| Apr rain days = 0.8
| May rain days = 1.7
| Jun rain days = 6.1
| Jul rain days = 11.6
| Aug rain days = 12.4
| Sep rain days = 8.2
| Oct rain days = 1.8
| Nov rain days = 0.4
| Dec rain days = 0.3
|year rain days = 46.8
|time day = 17:30 ]
| Jan humidity = 71
| Feb humidity = 61
| Mar humidity = 46
| Apr humidity = 31
| May humidity = 39
| Jun humidity = 55
| Jul humidity = 75
| Aug humidity = 79
| Sep humidity = 79
| Oct humidity = 73
| Nov humidity = 67
| Dec humidity = 70
|year humidity = 62
|source 1 = ]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = ]
| access-date = April 8, 2024
}}</ref><ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Gazipur Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 287–288
| access-date = 6 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M215
| access-date = 6 May 2020}}</ref>
}}


==Transport== ==Transport==
] is situated in Ghazipur city. The airport is on the Ghazipur-Mau Road. ] (AAI) is the operator of this Airport.
In city, mainly ] and ]s are primary mode of transport. Taxis are even also available on railway stations. Earlier RTO was planning for City Buses, but it fails because of narrow roads. In old city, auto-rickshaws are not permitted during certain time interval, so, Rickshaws serves as most primary transport mode. No other means of transport available in city region.
Still, in city, city buses are proposed and needs permission to start after clearance from State Government.

For District areas, taxis, buses and ] are always available from Lanka, Shastrinagar,MahuaBaag,Rauza, Rajdepur, City Railway Station, Gorabazar and RTI square.
Airport-Andhaun airport.


==Notable people== ==Notable people==
<!-- Please do not add people to this section unless they have their own Misplaced Pages article --> <!--♦♦♦ Do not add people to this section unless they have their own Misplaced Pages article ♦♦♦-->
<!--♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦-->
* ]
* ], was ]
* ]
* ], Declared absconder by Court, Indian politician
* ]
* ], Indian politician, Member of Parliament 2004–2009, 2019–2023 convicted and sentenced to 4 years under Gangster Act. He has also been disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha on account of his conviction.
* ]
* ], convicted and jailed criminal turned Indian politician, 5 times MLA from Mau Sadar
* Dr. ], Novelist
* ], ]
* ], colonial administrator of North America, Ireland, and India died here
* ], recipient of ], India's highest military award.
* ], Bollywood actor and father of Bhojpuri cinema
* ], mathematics professor at ] at Chapel Hill
* ], cricketer
* ] Governor of Rajasthan
* ], Member of Parliament, Minister for Skills Development
* ], first hero sepoy, who raised the spark of freedom in India
* ], ]
* ], actor
* ], mathematics professor at ] – Mumbai
* ], mathematics professor at ] at Ann Arbor
* ], professor, former Vice chancellor and advisor to Planning Commission (Education)
* ] 5 times MLA from ] and former Minister in the state government.
* ] 1970 Batch IAS Officer,
* ],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Himanshu Rai: I am glad I got a chance to do 'Mere Sai' - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/himanshu-rai-i-am-glad-i-got-a-chance-to-do-mere-sai/articleshow/74204939.cms|access-date=3 May 2021|website=The Times of India|date=19 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Himanshu Rai talks about working with Tushar Dalvi: His unbiased assessment helps me groom my acting skills in Mere Sai - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/himanshu-rai-talks-about-working-with-tushar-dalvi-his-unbiased-assessment-helps-me-groom-my-acting-skills-in-mere-sai/articleshow/81527311.cms|access-date=3 May 2021|website=The Times of India|date=16 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Indian television actor.
* ], writer and literary scholar
* ], ] recipient
* ], freedom fighter, 1942
* ], ] recipient
* ], writer
* ], Vice Chancellor Delhi University and Co. Founder & ] ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158713|title = We need a sustainable framework that synthesizes human and environmental elements of security: Vice President}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/JNUNewsArchives/JNUNewsJuly_Aug_2007/Alumni.htm |title=Alumni |access-date=8 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206203716/http://www.jnu.ac.in/JNUNewsArchives/JNUNewsJuly_Aug_2007/Alumni.htm |archive-date=6 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ], author and poet<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abhivyakti-hindi.org/sansmaran/2001/meriyadon.htm|title=मेरी यादों के पयाले में भरो फिर कोई मय- प्रो. कुँवरपाल सिंह का आलेख}}</ref>
* ], ascetic and leader
* ], ] recipient
* ], ] ], Ex Member of Parliament, former State Minister of Communications and Minister of State for Railways in the Union Cabinet, Government of India<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/manoj-sinha|title=People &#124; IndiaToday|access-date=28 December 2018|archive-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228180243/https://www.indiatoday.in/manoj-sinha|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ], Journalist former Director at RSTV
* ], singer and actor & MP
* ], Former Minister and MLC, folk singer
* ], MLA from Jangipur.
* ], Indian T20 Captain.
<!--♦♦♦ Do not add people to this section unless they have their own Misplaced Pages article ♦♦♦-->
<!--♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦-->


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]
* ]


== References == ==References==
{{reflist|30em}} {{reflist|30em}}


{{Ghazipur district}} {{Ghazipur district}}
{{Authority control}}


]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 10:37, 27 December 2024

This article is about the city in Uttar Pradesh, India. For other uses, see Ghazipur (disambiguation).

City in Uttar Pradesh, India
Ghazipur
City
yesThe Tomb of Lord Cornwallis, Governor-General of Bengal
Nickname: City of Martyrs
Ghazipur is located in Uttar PradeshGhazipurGhazipurLocation in Uttar Pradesh, IndiaShow map of Uttar PradeshGhazipur is located in IndiaGhazipurGhazipurGhazipur (India)Show map of India
Coordinates: 25°35′N 83°34′E / 25.58°N 83.57°E / 25.58; 83.57
Country India
StateUttar Pradesh
DistrictGhazipur (gadhipur)
Settled350–400 BCE
Founded1330
Officially Incorporated1820
Founded bySayyid Masud Ghazi
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Council
 • BodyGhazipur Municipal Council
 • ChairpersonSarita Agarwal
Area
 • Total36.6 km (14.1 sq mi)
Population
 • Total110,587
 • Rank391
 • Sex ratio902 /1,000
DemonymGhazipuria or Ghadhipur
Languages
 • OfficialHindi & Urdu
 • RegionalBhojpuri
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN233001
Telephone code91-548
Vehicle registrationUP-61
Websitewww.ghazipur.nic.in

Ghazipur, originally Gadhipur, is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ghazipur city is the administrative headquarters of the Ghazipur district, one of the four districts that form the Varanasi division of Uttar Pradesh. It is located on the Ganges (Ganga) River near the border with Bihar state, about 40 miles (65 km) northeast of Varanasi (Benares). The city of Ghazipur also constitutes one of the seven distinct tehsils, or subdivisions, of the Ghazipur district.

Ghazipur is well known for its opium factory, established by the British East India Company in 1820 and still the biggest legal opium factory in the world, producing the drug for the global pharmaceutical industry. Ghazipur lies close to the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border, about 80 km (50 mi) east of Varanasi.

History

As per verbal and folk history, Ghazipur was covered with dense forest during the Vedic era and it was a place for the ashrams of saints during that period. The place is related to the Ramayana period. Jamadagni, the father of Parashurama, is said to have resided here. Gautama Maharishi and Chyavana are believed to have taught and delivered sermons here in the ancient period. Buddha gave his first sermon in Sarnath, which is not far from here. Some sources state that the original name was Gadhipur, which was renamed around 1330 after Ghazi Malik.

A 30 ft. high Ashoka Pillar is situated in Latiya, a village 30 km away from the city near Zamania Tehsil is a symbol of Mauryan Empire. It was declared a monument of national importance and protected by the archeological survey of India. In the report of tours in that area of 1871–72 Alexander Cunningham wrote, "The village receives its name from a stone lat, or monolith".

Prehistory and legendary founding

According to tradition, Ghazipur was founded in 1330, but the place is probably older. The local tradition that the city was once called "Gadhipura" after a legendary king named Gadhi is probably spurious, but old building fragments found along the riverbank point to the existence of a settlement here, and a mound may represent the site of an old fort.

The legend behind Ghazipur's foundation in 1330 is that Raja Mandhata, a descendant of the Chauhan Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan III, had founded a fort at nearby Kathot and ruled a small kingdom from there. His nephew, who was the heir to the throne, abducted a local Muslim young woman, and her mother pleaded for help to the Muslim sultan of Delhi. As a result, 40 ghazis led by one Sayyid Masud set out to attack Kathot. They took the place by surprise and ended up killing Raja Mandhata. The nephew mustered an army and fought two battles against the ghazis, but was defeated in both. The first battle took place on the bank of the Besu and the other was at the site of Ghazipur. Sayyid Masud, who was now given the title Malik us-Sadat Ghazi, founded a city on the site of the second battle and called it Ghazipur.

Early recorded history: 1400s and 1500s

Legends aside, Ghazipur's first mention in contemporary sources is c. 1494, when Sikandar Lodi appointed Nasir Khan Lohani as the city's governor. Ghazipur flourished during Nasir Khan's long tenure. A new fort is said to have been built under his rule, replacing an older one at Hamzapur. A wave of immigration from Muslim settlers also began at this point and lasted until the late 1500s. New muhallas were built to house them.

After Sikandar Lodi died, there was a rival claimant named Muhammad Shah (son of Darya Khan Lodi, the former governor of Bihar). At first, Nasir Khan stayed loyal to Sikandar's son Ibrahim Lodi, but he was defeated by an army led by one Mian Mustafa, which then looted Ghazipur. At this point, Nasir Khan sided with Muhammad Shah, who restored him as governor. In 1527, Humayun led a force to Ghazipur while the main Mughal army under Babur was at Jaunpur; Nasir Khan fled, and Humayun occupied Ghazipur without resistance. He was recalled to assist Babur soon after, though, and Nasir Khan resumed control over Ghazipur. Nasir Khan submitted to Babur in person in 1528, after Babur took Gwalior, but Babur did not keep him as governor of Ghazipur. Instead, he gave the city to Muhammad Khan Lohani Ghazipuri, a relative of Nasir Khan who had joined Babur's side earlier.

A painting of Ali Quli Khan and Bahadur Khan made in 1561,from Akbarnama

During Akbar's early rule, Ghazipur was held by Ali Quli Khan Zaman, who also founded the nearby town of Zamania. Ghazipur does not seem to have been affected by Khan Zaman's first rebellion against Akbar in 1565. During his second revolt, Mughal forces under Jafar Khan Turkman attacked Ghazipur, but Khan Zaman fled. After Khan Zaman's death in battle in 1567, Akbar put Ghazipur under Munim Khan's control. Quttul Khan a native ,was made the jagirdar of large part of the sarkar taluka to Seorai, he was also a Dewan of Bihar, and later to his cousin Daud Khan of Dewaitha after his death, during the rule of Jahangir.

In the Ain-i Akbari, Ghazipur was the capital of a sarkar in Allahabad Subah.

Later Mughals

After the Mughals solidified their control over Bengal, Ghazipur lost most of its political importance, and later sources mention it less. Under Shah Jahan, as well as during Aurangzeb's early reign, Nawab Sufi Bahadur was governor of Ghazipur, he also build the jama masjid at Nawali.. He was succeeded by Nawab Atiqullah Khan, a native of Ghazipur who remained governor until Aurangzeb's death. Ghazipur does not seem to have been affected by the war between Aurangzeb and Shah Shuja in 1567, or by the civil wars following Aurangzeb's death. At some point after Farrukhsiyar's death in 1719, sarkar Ghazipur was part of a large territory granted to one Murtaza Khan as a jagir. In 1727, Murtaza Khan in turn leased this territory to Saadat Ali Khan I, the first Nawab of Awadh.

Nawabs of Awadh & Ghazipur

At first, Saadaat Ali Khan sub-leased these territories (Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Banaras, and Chunar) to his friend Rustam Ali Khan. Rustam Ali Khan had no interest in managing the territories himself, and someone named Mansa Ram ended up becoming the actual administrator. In 1738, Rustam Ali Khan retired from office. Ghazipur was given to Nawab Sheikh Abdullah, son of Muhammad Qasim a zamindar of Dharwar, while the remainder was given to Mansa Ram. Sheikh Abdullah and his son Nawab Fazal Ali Khan, both were the nawabs of Ghazipur and buld many monuments here ,at their time the Ghazipur Sarkar consisted of present day Ballia, Mau & Azamgarh districts. there family was historicaly in power in the region Zahurabad, and ruled over Qasimabad estate while later, its capital being at Bahadurganj. Sheikh Abdullah also established the town of Qasimabad, after his father name and his death in 1739. He also build a fort at Qasimabad known as Qasimabad fort.

a painting of 1784 showing the view of Nawabganj Palace built by Sheikh Abdullah in 1736
A painting of Nawabganj palace made by a British painter
A picture of the runies of Sheikh Abdullah's tomb built by Fazal Ali after his father's death in 1744, many of his family members including his father Muhammad Qasim is buried here. Although it is not well maintained.
Drawing of a mosque in Ghazipur, 1781

Sheikh Abdullah left several monuments in Ghazipur: the Chihal Satun palace, a mosque and imambara, a masonry tank, and a large garden known as the Nawab's Bagh. Abdullah died in 1744 and was buried in a tomb by the garden. His oldest son, Fazl Ali, was away, so a younger brother named Karam-ullah was installed as governor instead. Fazl Ali appealed to Nawab Safdar Jung as became the Nawab of Ghazipur,. Fazl Ali was removed from office in 1747 following complaints of "oppression and misgovernment", and Karam-ullah (his younger brother )was restored, but he died a year later and Fazl Ali became governor again. In 1754, after Shuja-ud-Daula succeeded Safdar Jang as Nawab of Awadh, Fazl Ali was removed from his position due to revenue shortfalls, and Muhammad Ali Khan was appointed in his place. Muhammad Ali Khan, however, faced difficulties maintaining order in the region, and Fazl Ali was reappointed as governor. His jurisdiction was expanded to include Azamgarh.in 1757, and Balwant Singh, son of Mansa Ram, got the control of Ghazipur instead. Although one of Sheikh Abdullah's descendants, Azmi Ali Khan , grandson of Sheikh Abdullah and a nephew of Fazl Ali, was successful in getting the control of their ansistoral jagir of Kasimabad, with a pention of rupees 1 lakh, in 1788.

Tombs in the garden of Fazl Ali Khan at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Coloured etching by William Hodges, 1785.

Ghazipur remained under Balwant Singh's son and successor Chait Singh, but the British deposed him in 1781. His successor, Mahip Narayan Singh, was essentially stripped of all administrative powers by the British, who established Ghazipur district in 1818.

There were also quite a lot of Qazis in the area as well as Zamindars. Specifically in Yusufpur, a notable family would be the Ansari sheiks who had held such offices from the 1500s all the way till the late 20th century. Some notables would be Faridul Haq Ansari, Mushir Haider Ansari, Qazi Nizamul Haq Ansari, Khalid Mustafa Ansari and world famous crime master Mukhtar Ansari also is a well known part of this family.

Scientific Society of Ghazipur

In 1862, Syed Ahmed Khan established the Scientific Society of Ghazipur (which was later transferred to Aligarh), the first of its kind in India, to propagate modern Western knowledge of science, technology and industry. It was a departure from the past in the sense that education made a paradigm shift from traditional humanities and related disciplines to the new field of science and agriculture. Some current institution like Technical Education and Research Institute (TERI), part of post-graduate college PG College Ghazipur, in the city, takes their inspiration from that first Society.

Ghazipur at the turn of the 20th century

At the turn of the 20th century, Ghazipur was described as forming "a narrow belt" along the bank of the Ganges. Ghazipur proper extended for about 5.5 km along the river, from Khudaipura in the east to Pirnagar in the west; and about 1.5 km on the other axis, away from the river. West of Pirnagar was the large former cantonment area, which extended for another 4 km along the river. The main business quarter was along the riverfront, while most houses were away from the river. The town was described as generally rather poor, and its streets were winding and narrow. The riverfront, on the other hand, was described as "picturesque", with a number of masonry ghats. On the west was Amghat, where the opium factory was located; other ghats further downstream included Collector Ghat, Pakka Ghat, Mahaul Ghat, Gola Ghat, Chitnath Ghat, Natkha Ghat, Khirki Ghat, and Pushta Ghat.

The main road was the one coming in from Varanasi to the west. It went due east for about 1 km after entering the city, and this stretch was flanked by houses and shops on both sides. Near the entrance, it passed the tank and tomb of Pahar Khan; then the Bishesharganj marketplace; then the Qila Kohna, or old fort; and then the dispensary, which was built in 1881 atop an old mound that may represent an even earlier fort. Beyond this, the road passed through the Lal Darwaza neighbourhood, past the town's sarai, and past the town hall (built in 1878) and adjoining mosque. Past this was the police station, and after that was Martinganj, a marketplace named after a former British official. After this point, the road bent sharply to the left, away from the river, for about 200 m. It then bent to the east to run parallel with the river.

In this area was a major triple junction at Ghazi Mian, where the Varanasi road met with two others: one coming from Korantadih and Ballia to the east and another coming from Gorakhpur and Azamgarh in the north. From Ghazi Mian, a wide highway went south to the riverbank at Pushta Ghat, where a ferry crossed over to Tari Ghat on the other side. The Ghazipur City railway station was also near Ghazi Mian.

The main landmark along the main road in the Ghazi Mian area was the Chihal Satun, or "hall of forty pillars", which was built by Abdullah Khan in the mid-1700s. The main road continued east through Razaganj and Begampur to the Ghazipur Ghat railway station on the eastern city limit.

Meanwhile, across from the Chihal Satun, another major road split off toward the northeast, passing the Jami Masjid and "the Nawab's garden, tank, and tomb" before joining the Korantadih and Ballia road, which then marked the city's northern boundary. Near this point were the garden of Karimullah and the tank of Dharam Chand.

Polpulation

The current estimate population of Ghazipur city in 2024 is 155,000 , while Ghazipur metro population is estimated at 169,000 . The last census was conducted in 2011 and the schedule census for Ghazipur city in 2021 was postponed due to Covid. The current estimates of Ghazipur city are based on past growth rate. Once govt conducts census for Ghazipur city, we will update the same here in 2024. As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Ghazipur in 2011 is 110,587. Although Ghazipur city has population of 110,587; its urban / metropolitan population is 121,020.

Geography

Ghazipur is located at 25°35′N 83°34′E / 25.58°N 83.57°E / 25.58; 83.57. It has an average elevation of 62 metres (203 feet).

Rivers in the district include the Ganges, Gomati, Gaangi, Beson, Magai, Bhainsai, Tons and Karmanasa River.

Demographics

See also: List of cities in Uttar Pradesh

As of 2011 India census, Ghazipur city had a population of 231607, out of which males were 121467 and females were 110140 Males constituted 52.445% of the population and females constituted 47.554% of the population. Ghazipur has an average literacy rate of 85.46% (higher than the national average of 74.04%) of which male literacy is 90.61% and female literacy is 79.79%. 11.46% of the population is under 6 years of age and the sex ratio is 904.

Religions in Ghazipur City (2011)
Religion Percent
Hinduism 72.33%
Islam 26.77%
Christianity 0.32%
Sikhism 0.11%
Others† 0.47%
Distribution of religions
Includes Buddhism (<0.2%).

Places of interest

Sights in the city include several monuments built by Nawab Sheikh Abdulla, or Abdullah Khan, a governor of Ghazipur during the Mughal Empire in the eighteenth century, and his son Fazl Ali Khan. These include the palace known as Chihal Satun, or "forty pillars", which retains a very impressive gateway although the palace is in ruins, and the large garden with a tank and a tomb called the Nawab-ki-Chahar-diwari. The road that starts at the Nawab-ki-Chahar-diwari tomb and runs past the mosque leads, after 10 km, to a matha devoted to Pavhari Baba. The tank and tomb of Pahar Khan, faujdar of the city in 1580, and the plain but ancient tombs of the founder, Masud, and his son are also in Ghazipur, as is the tomb of Lord Cornwallis, one of the major figures of Indian and British history.

Cornwallis is famous for his role in the American Revolutionary War, and then for his time as Governor-General of India, being said to have laid the true foundation of British rule. He was later Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, there suppressing the 1798 Rebellion and establishing the Act of Union. He died in Ghazipur in 1805, soon after his returning to India for his second appointment as Governor-General. His tomb, overlooking the Ganges, is a heavy dome supported on 12 Doric columns above a cenotaph carved by John Flaxman.

The remains of an ancient mud fort also overlook the river, while there are ghats leading to the Ganges, the oldest of which is the ChitNath Ghat. Close to ChitNath Ghat, Pavhari Baba ashram is a place of interest for Swami Vivekananda followers. This ashram is further from the original Pavhari Baba underground hermitage caves, and is somewhat less explored by tourists. Those are the caves where Pavhari Baba, whom Swami Vivekananda considered only 2nd to his guru Ramkrishna, used to meditate, sometimes, as the folklores go, feeding only on air (hence the name Pavhari Baba).

Ghazipur opium factory

The opium factory located in the city was established by the British and continues to be a major source of opium production in India. It is known as the Opium Factory Ghazipur or, more formally, the Government Opium and Alkaloid Works. It is the largest factory of its kind in the country and indeed the world. The factory was initially run by the East India Company and was used by the British during the First and Second Opium Wars with China. The factory as such was founded in 1820 though the British had been trading Ghazipur opium before that. Nowadays its output is controlled by the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act and Rules (1985) and administratively by the Indian government Ministry of Finance, overseen by a committee and a Chief Controller. The factory's output serves the global pharmaceutical industry. Until 1943 the factory only produced raw opium extracts from poppies, but nowadays it also produces many alkaloids, having first begun alkaloid production during World War II to meet military medical needs. Its annual turnover is in the region of 2 billion rupees (approximately 36 or 37 million US dollars), for a profit of about 80 million rupees (1.5 million dollars). It has been profitable every year since 1820, but the alkaloid production currently makes a loss, while the opium production makes a profit. The typical annual opium export from the factory to the US, for example, would be about 360 tonnes of opium. As well as the opium and alkaloid production, the factory also has a significant R&D program, employing up to 50 research chemists. It also serves the unusual role of being the secure repository for illegal opium seizures in India—and correspondingly, an important office of the Narcotics Control Bureau of India is located in Ghazipur. Overall employment in the factory is about 900. Because it is a government industry, the factory is administered from New Delhi but a general manager oversees operations in Ghazipur. In keeping with the sensitive nature of its production, the factory is guarded under high security (by the Central Industrial Security Force), and not easily accessible to the general public. The factory has its own residential accommodation for its employees, and is situated across the banks of river Ganges from the main city of Ghazipur. It is surrounded by high walls topped with barbed wire. Its products are taken by high security rail to Mumbai or New Delhi for further export.

The factory covers about 43 acres and much of its architecture is in red brick, dating from colonial times. Within the grounds of the factory there is a temple to Baba Shyam and a mazar, both said to predate the factory. There is also a solar clock, installed by the British opium agent Hopkins Esor from 1911 to 1913. Rudyard Kipling, who was familiar with opium both medicinally and recreationally, visited the Ghazipur factory in 1888 and published a description of its workings in The Pioneer on 16 April 1888. The text, In an Opium Factory is freely available from Adelaide University's ebook library.

Amitav Ghosh's novel Sea of Poppies deals with the British opium trade in India and much of Ghosh's story is based on his research of the Ghazipur factory. In interview, Ghosh stresses how much of the wealth of the British Empire stemmed from the often unsavoury opium trade, with Ghazipur as one of its centers, but he is also amazed at the scale of the present-day operation.

The Ghazipur Opium Factory may have one more claim to fame, for a rather unusual problem it has. It is infested with monkeys, but these are too narcotic-addled to be a real problem and workers drag them out of the way by their tails.

Climate

Climate data for Ghazipur (1991–2020, extremes 1978–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 30.6
(87.1)
34.1
(93.4)
40.1
(104.2)
45.1
(113.2)
46.1
(115.0)
46.4
(115.5)
43.2
(109.8)
37.2
(99.0)
37.6
(99.7)
36.0
(96.8)
34.0
(93.2)
30.8
(87.4)
46.4
(115.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 20.9
(69.6)
25.7
(78.3)
31.5
(88.7)
37.8
(100.0)
39.0
(102.2)
37.2
(99.0)
33.6
(92.5)
32.5
(90.5)
32.3
(90.1)
31.3
(88.3)
28.3
(82.9)
23.1
(73.6)
31.3
(88.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 7.2
(45.0)
10.2
(50.4)
14.5
(58.1)
20.1
(68.2)
23.6
(74.5)
25.2
(77.4)
24.6
(76.3)
24.2
(75.6)
23.3
(73.9)
19.3
(66.7)
13.5
(56.3)
8.8
(47.8)
17.8
(64.0)
Record low °C (°F) −1.0
(30.2)
3.5
(38.3)
6.2
(43.2)
11.0
(51.8)
16.0
(60.8)
19.5
(67.1)
20.0
(68.0)
19.0
(66.2)
18.2
(64.8)
10.0
(50.0)
5.7
(42.3)
1.5
(34.7)
−0.5
(31.1)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 13.3
(0.52)
14.5
(0.57)
8.7
(0.34)
9.3
(0.37)
26.3
(1.04)
123.6
(4.87)
260.2
(10.24)
277.9
(10.94)
204.9
(8.07)
33.5
(1.32)
7.0
(0.28)
4.5
(0.18)
983.7
(38.73)
Average rainy days 1.4 1.2 0.9 0.8 1.7 6.1 11.6 12.4 8.2 1.8 0.4 0.3 46.8
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 71 61 46 31 39 55 75 79 79 73 67 70 62
Source: India Meteorological Department

Transport

Ghazipur Airport is situated in Ghazipur city. The airport is on the Ghazipur-Mau Road. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is the operator of this Airport.

Notable people

See also

References

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Cities and towns in Ghazipur district
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