Balrampur: A District with a Distinct Identity

Balrampur district, bordering Nepal in the northeastern part of UP, has its own distinct geographical, historical and political identity. There is the famous Devipatan temple of Maa Pateshwari on one side, the forest of Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary and the natural region of the Terai on the other. The Balrampur sugar mill has given the district an industrial identity, while the name of the district is also associated with the former Prime Minister of the country Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the history of politics. He entered the parliament for the first time by winning the election from Balrampur Lok Sabha constituency in 1957. The story of Balrampur is not limited to religious sites and natural beauty. Here the history of the old Terai princely state, sugarcane cultivation, sugar industry, the culture of the Tharu tribe and changing electoral equations are also part of the identity of the district. Balrampur falls in Devipatan division of Uttar Pradesh. According to the district administration, Balrampur was made a separate district on 25 May 1997 by dividing Gonda district. Balrampur earlier had the status of a tehsil. The city of Rapti, the headquarters of the district, is located on the banks of the river Rapti, in the