Sitapur

:"for the villages in Nepal see Sitapur, Nepal" Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Sitapur | type = city | latd = 27.57 | longd = 80.68
locator_position = right | state_name = Uttar Pradesh
district = Sitapur
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altitude = 138
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 151,827| population_density =
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area_telephone =
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Sitapur (Hindi: सीतापुर, Urdu: سیتا پور) is a town and a municipal board in Sitapur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is in the Lucknow Division of Uttar Pradesh. The town is located by the river Sarayan, half-way between Lucknow and Shahjahanpur on the Lucknow-Delhi National Highway No-24 and on the Lucknow-Bareilly railway, 89 km. N.W. from the state capital Lucknow. In British India it was a cantonment, garrisoned by a portion of a British regiment. The traditional origin for the name is said to be by the king Vikarmaditya from Lord Ram's wife Sita.

History and Legend

Sitapur has a long history. It is a land of seers and sufis. According to the Hindu Mythology, purans were written by Rishi Ved Vyas on the ancient location called Naimisharanya. Sitapur is one of the five sacred places the Hindus have to visit in their 'Panch Dham Yatra' journey. Mishrit, near Naimisharanya, holds its religious significance due to the belief that Maharshi Dadhich donated his bones to Devatas for making Vajras. Dargah of Hazrat Makhdoom at Khairabad and Hazrat Gulzar Shah are the symbols of communal harmony.

Geography

Sitapur is located at coord|27.57|N|80.68|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Sitapur.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Sitapur] ] It has an average elevation of 138 metres (452 feet).The "District of Sitapur" has an area of 5743 sq. km. It is located on the gangetic plain, with elevations ranging from 150 m above sea level in the north-west to 100 m in the south-east. It is intersected by numerous streams and ravines, and contains many shallow ponds and natural reservoirs, which overflow during the rainy seasons, but become dry in the hot season. Except in the eastern portion, which lies in the doabs between the Kewani and Chauka and the Gogra and Chauka rivers, the soil is as a rule dry, but even this moist tract is interspersed with patches of land covered with saline efflorescence called reh.

Agriculture

As of 1911, the annual rainfall averaged 38 in. Agriculture is the primary activity, with wheat, rice, and urad being the staple crops with sugarcane, mustard & groundnuts as cash crops.

Industry

Sitapur has a very old history of Handloom Durries (Rugs), 100 of thousands' of weavers and their families are engaged in this. The major part of Durries (Rugs)is exported to other countries and some part is sold all over India.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Sitapur had a population of 151,827. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sitapur has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 63%. In Sitapur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transportation

The district is traversed by meter gauge railway from Lucknow to Bareilly and on broad gauge train network connecting Gorakhpur and Delhi via Gonda, Burhwal. The history of Sitapur is closely associated with that of the rest of Awadh. The district figured prominently in the Indian rebellion of 1857, when the native troops quartered in the cantonments fired on their officers, many of whom were killed, as were also several military and civil officers, with their families, in attempting to escape.

Rivers

There are five rivers Gomti, Kathana, Pirai, Sarayan and Sharda.

Education

Engineering & Management Colleges

* Institute of Engineering & Technology
* Sacred Heart Institute of Management & Technology

Degree Colleges

* Government Degree College (GDC)
* Rashtriya Mahajani Pathshala(RMP)
* Sacred Heart Degree College
* Hindu Kanya Pathshala(Girls College)

Inter Colleges

* Sacred Heart Inter College
* Jawaher Navodaya Vidyalaya, Khairabad
* Sumitra Montessori Inter College
* Anandi Devi Saraswati Vidya Mandir
* Government Inter College (GIC)
* Raja Raghuvar Dayal Inter college (RRD)
* Ujagar Lal Inter College
* Government Girls Inter College
* Arya Kanya Inter College
* Maharshi Vidya Mandir
* R.M.P.Inter college
* Maharishi Vidya Mandir
* Study Well Public School
* Regency Public School
* Sumitra modren school

Parks and Picnic Spots

* Ilasiya Bal Vanodyan (Ilasia Park)
* Mahaveer Udyan (Tikunia park)
* Sarojini Vatika
* Vaidehi Vatika
* Neelgaon Picnic spot
* Cheeta Pasi ka Tila

Historical places

Namisharanya: This Place is a centre of religious and knowledge. There are 30 thousand religious places here.Fact|date=June 2008. Some important holy places at Namisharanya are as follows:-
* Chakratirth: holiest in the Naimisharanya. It is said that Lord Vishnu's chakra fell on this pious land and created a round "Kund" which is named Chakra Tirth.
* Lalita Devi Temple: This is one of the shaktipeeth.
* Panch Prayag: This pond is situated near the Lalita Devi temple.
* Vyas Gaddi: It is situated near Chakratirth where Rishi Vyas divided Vedas in four parts and also created Purans.
* Soot Gaddi: Mishrikh: This is the another religious place situated 10 km away from Namisharanya. Maharishi Dadhichi Asharam and Sitakund are holy pilgrimage of this place.

Shyamnathan Mandir: This Shiv Temple was built 300-400 years ago Fact|date=June 2008 and is situated in old Sitapur City (Munshiganj). The temple has the Nagar style of temple architecture.

References

External links

* [http://sitapur.nic.in/ NIC Website]
* [http://ietstp.ac.in Institute of Engineering and Technology]
* [http://shimt.org Sacred Heart Institute of Management & Technology]