Akbarpur is located at 26.431°N 82.540°E.It has an average elevation of 133 metres (436 feet).
Akbarpur, is situated at river Tamsa. According to Ramayana, it is the place where King Dashratha shot Shravan Kumar. The ashram of the sage Shringi Rishi was also situated here.Eminent personalities Gaurav Chandra, Deep Chandra.
The total area of the district is 2520 km². Approximately 90% of the population lives in small farming villages.There are 3,955 villages in the Ambedkar Nagar District.Because of the dispersed nature of these small villages, the district is divided administratively into nine blocks: Akbarpur, Baskhari, Bhiti, Bhiyam, Jahagirgani, Jalalpur, Katehari, Ramnager, and Tanda.
The city of Akbarpur is situated on the bank of the River Tons (Tamasa), which divides the city into the two parts Akbarpur and Shahzadpur, with the latter being the main commercial centre of the city. The Saryu River is the main river and is located at the northern boundary of the district. The Tanda, Jahagirgani, Ramnager and Baskhari blocks are located along this river and use its water for irrigation. Irrigation in the Baskhari block is also from Lake Devhat and the Hanswar Lakes. Lake Darvan provides water in the Katehari block. The Akbarpur, Bhiti, Bhiyam, and Jalapur blocks depend upon smaller rivers and seasonal streams.
Sarayu River -
The Sarayu (also Sarju; Dev. सरयु saráyu- f., later Dev. सरयू sarayū-) is a river that flows through the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. This river is of ancient significance, finding mentions in the Vedas and the Ramayana. The Sarayu forms at the confluence of the Karnali (or Ghaghara) and Mahakali (or Sharda) in Bahraich District. The Mahakali or Sharda forms the Indian-Nepalese border. Ayodhya is situated on the banks of river Sarayu. On Ram Navami, the festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Rama, thousands of people take a dip in the Sarayu River at Ayodhya.
Etymology - The name is the feminine derivative of the Sanskrit root सर् sar "to flow"; as a masculine stem, saráyu- means "air, wind", i.e. "that which is streaming".
Traditional Significance - The river is mentioned three times in the Rigveda. The banks of the Sarayu are the location of the slaying of two Aryas at the hands of Indra in RV 4.30.18. It is listed together with western tributaries to the Indus: Rasā, Anitabha, Kubha, Krumu, and the Sindhu itself as obstacles crossed by the Maruts in RV 5.53.9. In this verse, Purisini appears as its epithet. At this stage of the earlier Rigveda, it apparently was a river west of the Indus system that corresponds to Iranian Harayu (Avestan acc. Harōiium, Old Persian Haraiva, modern Harē), the Herat river. It is invoked together with Sindhu and Sarasvati (two of the most prominent Rigvedic rivers) in the late hymn RV 10.64. Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana crossing river Sarayu. Later on, according to Ramayana 1.5.6, the Sarayu flowed beside the ancient city of Ayodhya, which is in the modern day Uttar Pradesh. It was a tributary of the Gogra. This Sarayu played a vital role for the city and life of Ayodhya, and according to the great Sanskrit epic Ramayana, is where Rama, the seventh Avatar of Vishnu immersed himself to return to his eternal, real Mahavishnu form, when he retired from the throne of Kosala. His brothers Bharata and Shatrughna also joined him, as did many devoted followers. The Sarayu is also the river upon whose banks King Rama was born. According to a sub-story within the Ramayana, the banks of the River Sarayu is also the place where King Dashratha accidentally killed Shravan Kumar. It is also called the only river flowing beneath the earth. In ancient times Aciravati was one of the tributaries of the Sarayu.
Modern Significance - While the Sarayu river plays an important role in RigVeda and Atharva Veda along with Ramayana. Ayodhya, capital of King Rama is mentioned on the banks of Sarayu river. Sarayu river is mentioned in great details in Ramayana. Ayodhya still exists on the banks of river Sarayu in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a tributary of the Ganges which meets two other rivers at the confluence (sangam) in U.P
Hanswar Lake - Hanswar lake is located at the Hanswar end of the Bhulepur and Chak daudpur Khan Semaur. By volume of water, it is also the largest lake in Ambedkarnagar has a larger surface area, but it is often disregarded as it is directly connected to the Ghaghara (Gogra) River Water hyacinth or Jal-kumbhi blankets on Hanswar lake.Water hyacinth is a very fast growing plant, with populations known to double in as little as 12 days. Infestations of this weed block waterways, limiting boat traffic, swimming and fishing. Water hyacinth also prevents sunlight and oxygen from reaching the water column and submerged plants.
1. Dargah Rasulpur, Kicchocha Sahreef, Dist: Faizabad -
Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf rahmatullahi alayh was born in 708 A.H., in Semnan, Iran.
His father Hadrat Sultan Sayyad Ibrahim Noor Bakshi rahmatullahi alayh governed the city for approximately 20 years. As well as being a highly noble and just ruler he was also a great scholar, theologian and Sufi. His mother Bibi Khadija Begum was also from the pedigree of distinguished and notable mystics and saints. She was a very religious and pious lady particularly renowned for her punctuality in tahajjud prayer.
Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf rahmatullahi alaih, started their education at the age of 4 years, 4 months and 4 days. Allah, the most Sublime, blessed Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf rahmatullahi alaih with immense ingenuity, intellect and knowledge. By the age of 7 they had already acquired and memorized the entire Qur'an al-kareem by heart with seven types of qirat, and excelled in the study of Qur'anic exegesis 'tafseer', narration and sciences of hadith, Islamic law 'fiqh' etc. At 14 years they had mastered all the subjects including theology and philosophy, maturing into the most accomplished and proficient scholar.
Amongst their notable teachers were His Eminence Mawlana Imad al-Din Tabrezi, Imam Abd'ullah Yafai at Makkah Mukarramah, Baba Mufrah (s/o the great Najm 'al-Din Kubra) at Iskandaria and Mawlana Ahmad Haqqani ridwanallahi ta'ala aly'him ajma'een. Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (rahmatullahi alaih), had overwhelmed even the great scholars and theologians from as far as Baghdad with his remarkable talent which was recognized in the historic and famous Persian book Lata'if-e-Ashrafiya, in the following couplet;
'His popularity excelled in his early education, that the learned men acknowledged his ability' After the completion of his education Hadrat Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf rahmatullahi alaih attributed a lot of his time in teaching. Amongst his pupils was his nephew Hadrat Sayyad Abdul Razzaq 'Noor al-Ayn' Jilani rahmatullahi alaih - 11th direct descendant of The Great Ghawth al-A'zam, Sayyad as-Shaykh Abd'al-Qadir al-Jilani Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
Wissal : Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih left this world on the 28th Muharram 808 A.H. Some time before his passing away he had his dargah (shrine) constructed exactly the way he wanted. On the 26th of Muharram he went to visit his dargah and noticed a 'pen' and some paper on the side of the grave. He sat in the grave and wrote two booklets namely 'Basharat ul Muradeen' and 'Resal-e-Qubria', an extract from Resal-e-Qubria is presented below :
" In this short time that i have stayed in the grave seventy thousand splendor (Tajally) of elegance of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, angels descended on this Fakir and intimate Muqaraban of Allah Subhanhu wa Ta'ala Angels showed so much exalting (izaz) and kindness that cannot be expressed in words. The announcer from the sublime court of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala -'Bargahe Elahi' announced in the world of Angels (Alam-e-Malakut) that "Ashraf is my beloved (Mahboob) I write kindness and forgiveness on the forehead of his disciples and show care to his disciples with absolution (Maghferat) and forgiveness (Mafee)". All praise to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala his glad tidings for our companions.
After that it was the order of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and eight thousand angels, thirty thousand of Haramain Shareef, one thousand from Bait al-Muqaddus, one thousand from Abdal of Maghrib (west), one thousand from Rejalud Ghaib of Sarndip, and one thousand Maradaneh Ghaib from Yemen will perform your bath. Your funeral prayer will be said in front of Baitullah Shareef and you will be buried in the earth for the benefit of slaves (Banda) ; he who comes on your grave will get his barkaat and maghferat."
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
It is an accepted fact that the mystics of Islam have rendered valuable services to the cause of Islam in every period. The religious and literary services, done by Hadrat Sultan Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf Semnani Rahmatullahi alayh are the golden chapter of the history of Islam in general, and history of tasawwuf in particularly. He lighted the candle of reformation and spirituality in the darkness of infidelity at Kicchocha Shareef and brought those astray on the right path.
It is narrated that twelve thousand non-believers accepted Islam having been impressed with Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alayh's purity of character and spirituality. Hadrat Nizami Yemani Rahmatullahi alayh in his book, 'Lataif-e-Ashrafi has written that wherever Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alayh went he delivered spiritual lectures in the dialect of that locality and wrote four books in the area dialect and left them with the locals to benefit from.Construction of grave : It is interesting and amazing to say that he got his grave constructed in his life time. He laid the foundation stone of his grave and placed in its foundation stone from Mecca brought by Hazrat Ruknuddin Sair (R.A.) within minutes. He asked to make grave with brick and it should be as wide and high that he could say prayer standing Hazrat Jamshed Qualandar was engaged in its construction for twelve years . Hazrat Noorul Ain (R.A.), Hazrat Shaikh Mohammad Durre yatim and Hazrat Shaikh Marauf Addwmwi also participated. He used to visit grave daily. In his last time he passed whole day and night in the grave and wrote Resalae Quabria and Basharatul Moridin. He also predicted that he who would come to his grave, he would get his desire. The date of its construction can be calculated from " Arshe Akbar" 793.
Education in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
Education in the district has been improving gradually. However, the literacy rate of Ambedkar Nagar is far behind the national average with around 39.7%. Despite this, there are a lot of government and government aided colleges at every level, beside private managed schools and colleges. For higher education, B.N.K.B.P.G.College for humanities streams and Ramabai Government Post Graduate College (for women), Akbarpur, has the graduate and post-graduate level programs in humanities, science and commerce streams. It is located nearby the district headquarter. The other government college, Alapur, provides various education courses for boys and girls. There are government colleges for secondary education as well as private colleges. S.P.S.Inter College, Mahavidyalay Larpur and Chaudhari Hanuman Parshad Krishak Mahaviddayly Rudra Pur Bhagahi are milestones in the field of education. The first law college of the district is Rajesh Pandey College of Law. J.B.I.C.RAM NAGAR is also helping to improve the education level.
Industry in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
Ambedkar Nagar is famous for Tanda Terracotta. The main business depends on power looms and also farming. The district also has a thermal power station belonging to the NTPC. Running on coal, this 440 megawatt plant is extended to 1760 megawatt. There is also a cement manufacturing plant belonging to the Jaypee Group (Jaypee Ayoudha Greeding). The district has one sugar factory called the Akbarpur Sugar Mill, which is situated near Mijhaura, about ten kilometres from the district headquarters. A lots of rice mills are established in Akbarpur. There is a power and distribution transformer manufacturing industry named Achal Electricals situated on Dostpur road. The another tourist place is shivbaba where lots of people come every Monday and Friday It's nice place to visit.
Famous Personalities of Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
Shehzadpur at Akbarpur district headquarters was the birth place of the Indian freedom fighter, socialist, and political leader Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (born on March 23, 1910). Shri Daya Nand Pandey from jahangir ganj village awarded kirti chakra by president of India. Shalik Ram Shukla founded the government degree college at Alapur, Fatehpur.
The village Sethwa near Jalalpur is said to be Sahitya Sadan (the home of literature) as one of the most famous poets in the Hindi language of the district reside there. His name is Satya Narayan Dwivedi "Shreesh". In the year 2000, he received the state level Sahitya Bhushan Award. His son Dr. Prakash Dwivedi is also a poet, claiming the "Naamit puraskaar" in the year 1991.
Bihar became the first state in India to have separate web page for every city and village in the state on its website www.brandbihar.com (Now www.brandbharat.com)
See the record in Limca Book of Records 2012 on Page No. 217