Pilibhit district is an administrative district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It lies in the northern part of the state, in the Bareilly division, and forms part of the Terai belt along the foothills of the Himalayas. The district headquarters is the town of Pilibhit.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Bareilly |
| Headquarters | Pilibhit |
| Region | Rohilkhand / Terai |
| Major river | Sharda, Gomti (origin), Deoha |
| Notable protected area | Pilibhit Tiger Reserve |
Geography
Pilibhit district lies in the Terai region, characterised by alluvial plains, dense moist deciduous and sal forests, and a network of rivers and streams fed by the Himalayan foothills. It shares an international boundary with Nepal to the north. Within Uttar Pradesh, it is bordered by Lakhimpur Kheri district to the east, Shahjahanpur district to the south, and Bareilly district to the west. The river Gomti is traditionally regarded as having its origin in the district, near Madho Tanda. The Sharda and Deoha rivers also flow through the district.
Administration
The district is part of the Bareilly division. It is divided into administrative tehsils including Pilibhit, Puranpur, Bisalpur and Barkhera, and is further organised into community development blocks, nyaya panchayats and gram panchayats. The district is administered by a District Magistrate, with a Superintendent of Police heading the district police, and a Divisional Forest Officer for forest areas given the district's significant green cover.
History
The area corresponds to part of the historic Rohilkhand region. Under the Mughals it formed part of the Delhi sarkar's eastern frontier, and in the 18th century it came under the control of the Rohilla chieftains, with Hafiz Rahmat Khan playing an important role in the region's affairs. After the First Rohilla War (1774), Rohilkhand passed to the Nawabs of Awadh, and in 1801 it was ceded to the British East India Company. Pilibhit was constituted as a separate district during the British administrative reorganisation of the United Provinces.
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, notified in 2014, is one of the principal features of the district. It forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape and is contiguous with forests in Nepal and adjoining Indian districts. The reserve is home to the Bengal tiger, swamp deer, leopard, and a wide variety of birdlife, and has received recognition for its tiger conservation outcomes.
Economy
The economy of Pilibhit is predominantly agricultural. Sugarcane is the leading commercial crop, supporting several sugar mills in the district, while rice and wheat are the main food grains. Forest produce, dairying and small-scale manufacturing also contribute to the local economy. Pilibhit town is historically known for the manufacture of bansuri (bamboo flutes), a craft for which it has gained a Geographical Indication–style reputation in Indian markets.
Demographics and culture
The district has a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims, with significant Sikh communities, particularly in the Puranpur area, descended from settlers who arrived after the Partition of India in 1947 and during subsequent resettlement programmes in the Terai. Hindi and Urdu are widely spoken, with Punjabi also used in Sikh-majority pockets. The district lies along several pilgrimage circuits associated with the Gomti's origin and various local shrines.
Transport
Pilibhit is connected by rail to Bareilly, Shahjahanpur and Tanakpur, and by state and national highways to neighbouring districts. The town of Pilibhit serves as the principal road and rail junction within the district.
Related topics
- Pilibhit
- Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
- Bareilly division
- Rohilkhand
- Terai
- Districts of Uttar Pradesh
- Gomti River
References
- Wikidata entity: Q2980705
- Government of Uttar Pradesh, district administration portal for Pilibhit.
- National Tiger Conservation Authority, notifications relating to Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.