Varanasi division is one of the 18 administrative geographical units (i.e. division) of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi city is the administrative headquarters of the division. The division consists of 4 districts, i.e. Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, and Jaunpur and is loosely equivalent to the Benares State.
In the 18th century the Mughal Empire was dissolving, and the eastern portion of present-day Uttar Pradesh State came under the control of Saadat Ali Khan I, the first Nawab of Awadh. In 1722, Saadat Ali Khan sublet his southern territories, comprising the present-day districts of Bhadohi, Chandauli, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, and Varanasi, to zamindar Mir Rustam Ali. Mir Rustam Ali was deposed in 1738, and Mansa Ram became zamindar. On Mansa Ram's death in 1739, his son Balwant Singh succeeded him, and established himself raja of Benares State. [1] Balwant Singh and added present-day Ghazipur and Ballia districts to his territories. Balwant Singh died in 1770, and the British intervened to get the Nawab to recognize his son and heir, Chait Singh, as raja. The Nawab of Awadh ceded the territory to the British in 1775, and the British confirmed Chait Singh as ruler.
The British deposed Chait Singh in 1781, and under his heir Mahip Narayan Singh, took administrative control over most of the territory, organizing it into Benares Division, comprising four districts: Benares, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, and Mirzapur. The rajas, later maharajas, of Benares retained certain administrative rights and revenues within the division, and directly governed a portion of the division, known as the Benares Estate. The rajas' principal residence was at Ramnagar, across the Ganges River from Benares. [2] Ballia district was separated from Ghazipur in 1879. [3]
The Division had an area of 10,431 square miles, and was part of the United Provinces of British India. The administrative headquarters was at Benares.
The Division's population was 4,395,252 in 1872, 5,178,005 in 1881, 5,368,480 in 1891, and 5,069,020 in 1901. The decrease from 1891 to 1901 was attributed to an epidemic of fever following disastrous floods in 1894, and to famine and emigration. The 1901 census recorded the division's population as 91% Hindu, not quite 9% Muslim, with small populations of Christians and Sikhs. [4]
In 1911, the Benares Estate, which included two areas governed directly by the Maharajas, was separated from the division to form the Princely State of Benares.
In 1947, after India became independent, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh were renamed Uttar Pradesh. In 1948, the Maharaja of Benares (i.e. King of Varanasi) acceded to the Government of India, and Benares State was reintegrated into the Benares division, with the western portion becoming Bhadohi tehsil and the eastern portion becoming Chania tehsil of Varanasi district.
In 1989, the southeastern portion of Mirzapur district was separated into Sonbhadra district. In 1994, Bhadohi (officially known as Sant Ravidas Nagar) was separated from Varanasi district. In 1997, Chandauli district was separated from Varanasi district. [5]
After 2000, Varanasi division was reduced in size, with the districts of Bhadohi, Mirzapur, and Sonbhadra separated into the Mirzapur division, and Ballia district was made a part of Azamgarh division.
Banaras Pan (Betel Leaf) was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry, under the Union Government of India, on 31 March 2023. [6] [7] [8] It thus became the first Betel leaf variety from Uttar Pradesh and the 47th type of goods from Uttar Pradesh to earn the GI tag. [9] [10]
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The Karamnasa or Karmanasa River is a tributary of the Ganges. It originates in Kaimur district of Bihar and flows through the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Along the boundary between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar it has the districts of Sonbhadra, Chandauli, Varanasi and Ghazipur on its left ; and the districts of Kaimur and Buxar on its right.
Jaunpur is a city and a municipal board in Jaunpur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located 228 km southeast of state capital Lucknow. Demographically, Jaunpur resembles the rest of the Purvanchal area in which it is located.
Ghazipur, is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ghazipur city is the administrative headquarters of the Ghazipur district, one of the four districts that form the Varanasi division of Uttar Pradesh. It is located on the Ganges (Ganga) River near the border with Bihar state, about 40 miles (65 km) northeast of Varanasi (Benares).The city of Ghazipur also constitutes one of the seven distinct tehsils, or subdivisions, of the Ghazipur district.
Chandauli district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Chandauli town is the district headquarters. Chandauli district, a part of Varanasi Division, became a separate district on 20 May 1997.
Mirzapur division, also sometimes known as Vindhyachal division, is one of the 18 administrative geographical units of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Mirzapur city is the administrative headquarters. As of 2018, the division consists of 3 districts:-
Varanasi district is a district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, with the holy city of Varanasi as the district headquarters. It is also the headquarters of the Varanasi division which contains 4 districts.
Bhadohi district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. It is also referred to as Sant Ravidas Nagar. It is the smallest district by area in the state of Uttar Pradesh which was created on June 30, 1994 by dividing western part of the district Varanasi. It is surrounded by Varanasi district district on east, Prayagraj district on west, Jaunpur north and Mirzapur district in south. The state capital Lucknow is distanced at 234 KM from Bhadohi. Its district headquarters is situated in the city of Gyanpur. The district is popularly known for carpet weaving as it is one of largest centres of Carpet Industries in India and therefore it also known as the 'Carpet City of India'. Carpets of Bhadohi have 'Geographical Indication' tag attached to it. Bhadohi has huge geographical significance and position attached to it due to its location between two culturally important and rich heritage cities of Prayagraj and Varanasi.
A Banarasi sari is a sari made in Varanasi, an ancient city in the Bhojpur-Purvanchal region, which is also called Benares (Banaras). The saris are among the finest saris in India and are known for their gold and silver brocade or zari, fine silk and opulent embroidery. The saris are made of finely woven silk and are decorated with intricate designs, and, because of these engravings, are relatively heavy.
Chandauli is a town and a nagar panchayat in Chandauli district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Chandauli District.
Ghazipur district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The city of Ghazipur is the district headquarters. The district is part of Varanasi Division. The region of Ghazipur is famous mainly for the production of its unique rose-scented Spray called Gulab Jal, and for the tomb of the Governor General of British India, Lord Cornwallis, who died here. His tomb is situated in Western part of City, and is conserved by Archaeological Survey of India.
Banaras State, earlier Benares Estate, was an estate, or hereditary jagir, comprising the family domains of the Maharaja of Benares—under the Nawabs of Oudh, East India Company rule, and the British Raj—that from 1911 to 1948 was recognized as a princely state.
Ramnagar is a city, just outside Varanasi city and a municipal board in Varanasi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ramnagar has a fort known as Ramnagar Fort which is still the residence of King of Varanasi (Benares). He was known as Kashi Naresh meaning king of Kashi and is still regarded by old residents of the city of Varanasi. Ramnagar Fort and its museum are the repository of the history of the kings of Benares and since the 18th century has been the home of Kashi Naresh. Even today the Kashi Naresh is deeply revered by the people of Benares. He is the religious head and the people of Benares consider him the incarnation of Shiva. He is also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations. Ramnagar is popular for Ramlila that is held annually under the aegis of King of Varanasi.
The Narayan dynasty was the ruling family of Benares. Ancestors of Narayan Dynasty were rulers of Kashi Mahajanpada but later the Dynasty had lost their kingdom. Raja Mansaram Singh of Narayan Dynasty had again acquired the kingdom of his ancestors. After seceding from Awadh, Benares emerged as a kingdom of its own, ruled by Maharaja Balwant Singh in the 18th century. Since then, the family has ruled Benares. They belonged to the Gautam Gotra in Kitthu Mishra family of the Bhumihar Brahmin community. In 1911, Benares became a full-fledged princely state of British India and the Narayan dynasty ruled it as British vassals until they acceded to independent India in 1947.
The Culture of Uttar Pradesh is an Indian culture which has its roots in Hindi, Bhojpuri and Urdu literature, music, fine arts, drama and cinema. Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, has historical monuments including Bara Imambara and Chhota Imambara, and has preserved the damaged complex of the Oudh-period British Resident's quarters, which are being restored.
Balwant Singh Sahib Bahadur, also known as Maharaja Balwant Singh (1711–1770), was the ruler of Benares State in northern India.
The Banaras Lal Bharwamirch (Red Pickle Chilli) is a variety of chilli grown in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is mainly cultivated in Varanasi, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur & Ballia districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Adamchini Chawal is a variety of non-Basmati, traditional, short-grained aromatic rice mainly grown in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a common and widely cultivated crop in Chandauli, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Sonebhadra, and Vindhya region of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Ramnagar Bhanta (Brinjal) is a variety of brinjal grown in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a common and widely cultivated crop in areas like Ramnagar in Varanasi district along with the entire district and other districts of Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonbhadra.
Banaras Pan (Betel Leaf) is an important traditional crop variety of Betel leaf (Piper betle) cultivated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is mainly cultivated in Varanasi, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Ballia, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mirzapur, and Sonbhadra districts of Uttar Pradesh.
