Balrampur
Balrampur is a municipal town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, serving as the administrative headquarters of Balrampur district, which spans 3,457 square kilometers and was formed in 1997 by partitioning Gonda district.[1][2] The town, situated on the banks of the Rapti River near the ancient city of Sravasti, derives its name from Balram, elder brother of Lord Krishna, and historically formed the core of a taluqdari estate established around 1600 by Kunwar Balram Das, a scion of the Raja of Tiloi.[3][4] The district's economy centers on agriculture, with major crops including rice, wheat, sugarcane, and pulses, bolstered by prominent sugar mills such as Balrampur Chini Mills, one of India's largest.[3][5] As of the 2011 census, the district population stood at 2,148,665, with a literacy rate of 49.51% and a sex ratio of 928 females per 1,000 males, reflecting its rural character and ties to the ancient Kosala kingdom.[6][7] Key cultural landmarks include the Pateshwari Devi Temple, a significant Shakti Peeth, and educational institutions founded by the former ruling family, such as the Maharaja Pateshwari Prasad Inter College established in 1883, underscoring the region's blend of Hindu heritage and historical patronage.[8][8]