History in Bahraich

Bahraich is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India and is located on the Saryu River, a tributary of river Ghaghra. Bahraich got its name from the Arabic word bahr which means a large body of water. Situated on the bank of river Ghaghra, it was named Bahraich. Bahraich is a very old town of India, inhabited around the 10th century. It is believed that there was an ancient Brahma Temple here (no longer present), thus giving the city the name - Brahmaich, thus, Bahraich. Another beilief is that Bahraich got its name from the Ashram of Mahirshi Bhar. Bahraich was the land of Rishis, Munis and Bhikhkhus (Bhudhhist Monks). A town near Bahraich is named as RISIYA - Rishi Bhumi in ancient times. The main occupation of the residents of Bahraich is agriculture and is famous for products like pulses, wheat, rice, corn, sugar, and mustard. There are dense forests in Nanpara and Bhinga region which account for herbs and timber. ** Dargah of Ghazi Saiyyad Masud** Bahraich is famous because of the mausoleum (Dargah) of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud, a famous eleventh century Islamic invader. His Dargah is a place for reverence for Muslims and Hindus alike and was built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. It is believed that people taking bath in the water of the Suryakund nearby become free of all skin diseases. The annual festival (Urs) at the Dargah is attended by thousands of people coming from far-off places of the country. Roughly 50 km from Bahraich, there are remains of an ancient Buddhist monastery. This place is known as Sravasti - a Holy Place for Buddhists and Jains. Lord Buddha spent twenty four years of his life preaching Buddhism. Other places of interest are the Temple of Junglee Nath, Kailashpuri Barrage, Chittaura Jheel and Kartaniya Ghat Alligator Breeding center.

Bahraich is 125 km north-east of Lucknow, the state capital. The towns of Barabanki, Gonda, Balrampur, Lakheempur and Sitapur share local boundaries with Bahraich. A factor which makes this town important is the international border shared with the neighboring country, Nepal. Bahraich is located at 27.58° N 81.6° E and has an average elevation of 126 metres (413 feet).