Bara-Banki District of
Uttar Pradesh is located in the heart of Awadh region covering an area of 4,402 sq km. It is bordered by
Faizabad District in the east, Gonda District and Bahraich District in the north-east, Sitapur District in the north-west, Lucknow District in the west, Rae Bareli District in the south and Sultanpur District in the south-east. The total population is 2.6 million.
Bara-Banki had a glorious past. It was under the rule of the Chandravanshi kings for a very long period. During the Mahabharata era, it was part of the 'Gaurav Rajya' and this part of the land was known by the name Kurukshetra. Pandavas along with their mother Kunti had spent some time on the banks of the river Ghaghra during their exile. Bara-Banki is also known as the 'Entrance to Poorvanchal', and has the privilege of being the penance ground to numerous saints and ascetics.
Bara-Banki District lies in the plains, and is hot in summers, cold in winters and humid and sultry during rainy seasons. The temperature rises up to a maximum of 45°C in summer and falls to a minimum of 2°C during winter. The average rainfall is 1,056 mm and most of the rain occurs from June to September and often in November to January. The major rivers and streams are the Ghaghra, Gomti, and Kalyani.
The places to visit are the Lodheswar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the pilgrim town of Dewa, the special tree called Parijaat at village
Kintur and the Siddhaur.
