Ballia
|
Ballia बलिया |
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|---|---|
| city | |
 Ballia
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| Coordinates: 25°45′37″N 84°08′49″E / 25.760392°N 84.147055°ECoordinates: 25°45′37″N 84°08′49″E / 25.760392°N 84.147055°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District | Ballia |
| Elevation | 159 m (522 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 104,424 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, Bhojpuri, Awadhi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 277001 |
| Telephone code | 05498 |
| Vehicle registration | UP-60 |
| Website | ballia |
Ballia is a city with a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh bordering Bihar. The eastern boundary of the city lies at the junction of two major rivers, the Ganges and the Ghaghara. The city is situated 140 km (87 mi) from Varanasi. Bhojpuri, a dialect of Hindi, is the primary local language.
The headquarters of the Ballia district are located here. Due to its significant contribution to the Indian independence movement, Ballia is also known as Bagi Ballia ("Rebel Ballia").
In ancient times the region covered by the present District of Ballia, lay in the kingdom of Kosala. It is probable that the river Ganga, in its sweep towards the north-east of present town of Ballia, formed the boundary of Kosala which included the whole of the present Ballia district as far as the junction of the Sadanira and the Great Gandakil. The back-strewn mounds and fragmentary remains of structural character, which evoke memories not only of mythology but also of history, are found at a number of places in the district. The ruins in the neighborhood of Barhmain and Hanumanganj, consisting of a large mound called Mira Dih, covered with broken bricks and pottery of a dark hue, are probably the remains of an ancient city.
Khaira Dih, near turtipar in tahsil Rasra. which is also a ruined site of a very ancient city named Bhargavapur. is presumed to have been the place where the rishi a Jamadagni lived. The excavations carried out under the auspices of the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, have brought to light relics of the black and red ware civilization (1450-1200 B.C.) at various sites such as Bhumapardih, Bijulipur, Godabirgarh, Lovika-katopa, Maira Dih, Pakka Kot and Vainagadho, indicating that the tract enjoyed settled life and civilization from this early time.
Popular legends also bear witness to the antiquity of these sites, one such being that of the village of Karon, (in tahsil Ballia), its name being considered to be a corruption of the word Kam-anaunya. The legend is that Siva, being enraged at the attempts of Kamdeo (the god of love) to beguile him from his meditations, burnt him to ashes at this spot. Ballia itself is supposed to have derived its name by the eruption of the name Valmiki, that of the great sage who is said to have had his hermitage or to have dwelt here for some time. It is also associated with Bhrigu, another renowned sage who, according to a local legend, came and dwelt here because of the sacredness of the place Other rishis Like Garga Parasar, Vashishta and Atri are traditionally believed to have visited the neighborhood of Ballia attesting to the sacredness of its environs extending to a circuit of about 16 km.
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Wikipedia