Bahraich is a city and municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Bahraich district and lies in the Devipatan division, close to the international border with Nepal. The city is situated on the banks of the Saryu (Ghaghara) river system in the fertile Terai belt of the Indo-Gangetic plain.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Devipatan |
| District | Bahraich |
| Type | City / Municipal board (Nagar Palika Parishad) |
| Region | Awadh / Terai |
| Languages | Hindi, Awadhi, Urdu |
Bahraich lies in the northern part of Uttar Pradesh, in the Terai sub-region adjoining the Himalayan foothills. The district shares an international boundary with Nepal to the north. A large part of the surrounding area falls within or near the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, with riverine forests, grasslands and wetlands fed by the Ghaghara, Saryu and Kauriala rivers. The terrain is largely flat alluvial plain, suitable for the cultivation of rice, wheat, sugarcane and pulses.
Bahraich is an old town with antecedents going back to early medieval times. Local tradition associates the area with ancient kingdoms of the eastern Awadh region. The town gained particular prominence in the 13th century, when it became the site of the shrine of Sayyid Salar Masud Ghazi, a warrior figure whose dargah at Bahraich, often called the Dargah Sharif, became a major pilgrimage centre venerated by both Muslims and Hindus.
Under the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire, Bahraich was an administrative town of the Awadh subah. With the rise of the Nawabs of Awadh in the 18th century, it formed part of their territory. Following the annexation of Awadh in 1856, Bahraich came under direct British rule and was constituted as a district in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. The district was affected by events of the Revolt of 1857.
Bahraich is governed by a Nagar Palika Parishad (municipal board). Hindi is the principal language of administration, with Awadhi widely spoken in everyday life and Urdu also in use, particularly in the older quarters of the town. The city is the seat of the District Magistrate, district court and other district-level offices for Bahraich district.
The economy of Bahraich is predominantly agrarian, with the surrounding district being a significant producer of sugarcane, paddy and wheat. Sugar mills, rice mills and small-scale agro-processing units operate in the area. Trade in timber, forest produce and livestock has historically been important due to proximity to the Terai forests and the Nepal border. The town also functions as a service and market centre for the rural hinterland.