HOW TO REACH THERE
By Train:Trains are the most comfortable mode of travel that one can opt for while visiting Pilibhit. Trains from Pilibhit runs to Agra, Lucknow and also to places like Nainital in Uttarakhand. Trains from New Delhi are taken till the city of Bareilly, and from there one can either opt for buses or local meter gauge trains to reach Pilibhit.
By Road:Pilibhit is well connected by road. National highway 74 and State highways 26 and 29 are the nearest connecting highways to the city of Pilibhit. Once you enter the city, you can take benefits of local buses, autos and taxi services to move within the city.
By Bus:One can drive down or avail the services of local and UPSRTC bus services to move to Pilibhit from the nearby and major cities.
Pilibhit City History-Importance-Origin-Architecture
As per the locals,
Pilibhit was ruled by an ancient king named Mayurdhwaj or Moredhwaj also
known as King Venu, who was believed to be a great devotee of lord
Krishna and a loyal friend of Arjun ( one of the five Pandavas). King
Venu's name and the geography of his kingdom can be traced in the Hindu
epic Mahabharata.
The area of Pilibhit, at the end of 10th century, was ruled by a line of princes of Chhinda dynasty. The record of their names and the fact that they made a canal out of River Sarada is the only thing mentioned in an archaic script written in Sanskrit found near Dewal village.
James Tod (1782–1835), a British historian Lieutenant-Colonel states in his writings that Amar Singh, son of Maharana Pratap fought 17 wars with the Mughal emperor Akbar, but conditionally accepted the Mughals as rulers after Maharana Pratap's death, in 1595. At this time, Maharana Pratap's band of loyal Rajputs which included the groups from Rathores, Deoras, Chauhans, Parihars, Tomars, Kashwahas, Ranas, Tharus and Jhalas (collectively known as Tharu) became disheartened by the surrender and left Rajasthan. They settled mostly in the sub-Himalayan belt on the boundary of Nepal in and around of dense forest of present district Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh. Many of the Tharu tribe are still living in the remote forest area of the district and trying to conserve the tradition and culture they brought from Rajasthan.
The city of Pilibhit was an administrative unit in the Mughal era under Bareilly suba. The Mughal subedar, Ali Mohammed Khan constructed four magnificent gates around the administrative building in 1734 AD due to security reasons. These gates were named Barellwi Darwaza at the west, Hussaini Darwaza at the East, Jahanabadi Darwaza at the North and Dakhini Darwaza at the South. Negligence in maintenance by the local people had resulted in the loss of these historical sites and as a result they are all in ruins.
Marathas invaded this city in 1772 AD. This Kurmi community came into this region during this time. This particular community was believed to be the successors of the Marathas and also the major communities in the region. The last king of the Shah dynasty of Nepal was sheltered in Pilibhit by the ruler of Rampur suba Faizullah Khan in 1789 AD, after being attacked by the Gorakha king of Nepal.
The local history begins in the 18th century, when Pilibhit fell in the hands of Rohella warrior Hafiz Rahmat Khan, after the death of Ali Mohammed Khan. In 1774, Hafiz Rahmat Khan was killed in a battle near Miranpur Katra with the Nawab of Oudh, who was aided by British force lent by Warren Hastings and was added to Oudh. The records available on papers shows that in 1801 when Rohilkhand was relinquished to the British in lieu of payment of tribute, Pilibhit was a pargana of the district of Barielly which was lost in 1833 because the arrangement being temporary and the tract being again united with Bareilly in 1841.
In 1871, the Pilibhit sub-division were formed comprising of Jahanabad, Pilibhit and Puranpur. In 1879, Puranpur was eventually converted into a separate district. The parganas of Pilibhit, Jahanabad and Bisalpur were formed into separate tehsils soon after the introduction of the British rule. Puranpur was united for this purpose with Khutar. In 1824, a redistribution of the area was effected when the Bisalpur tehsil contained the parganas of Bisalpur and Maurari, which afterward become a single area, Jahanabad. Later it was joined with Richha to form tehsil Pareva and Pilibhit with Baheri, the headquarters being at Pilibhit.
Baheri and the other tarai pargana were taken under direct management in 1851. Richha, in 1863, was attached to the new Baheri tehsil. Pargana Jahanabad was assigned to Pilibhit which also received Puranpur on its transfer in 1865. Later in 1871, became a sub-tehsil dependent on Pilibhit. The endorsement of Puranpur into a full tehsil took place in 1879, whereas Bisalpur throughout remained a separate subdivision. Thus the area is now divided into three tehsils and four parganas. Puranpur and Bisalpur constitute individual tehsils and parganas while the tehsil of Pilibhit represents the parganas of Pilibhit and Jahanabad.
Sepoy Mutiny at Pilibhit, 1857
On June 1, 1857 during the great 1857 Indian Sepoy Mutiny, news of the raising of troops under the leadership of Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla at Bareilly reached Pilibhit and tumults at once brook out amongst the population in the city, while the surrounding villages remained prey to the acquisitiveness and extortion of the rival Zamindars. The Joint Magistrate was forced to run to Nainital. The mutineers of city nominally admitted the authority of Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla, Nawab of Bareilly, and the grandson of Hafiz Rahmat Khan. After winning the Bareilly battle, the British order was restored on May 13, 1858 by the British force lent by Commander Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde of 9th Regiment of Foot of British Army with the help of Captain William George Drummond Stewart of 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders of the British Army, some of the mutineers were captured and sentenced to death.
The Rohellas, The Chhinda dynasty, Marathas, Mughals, Rajputs, The British are the rulers who ruled the kingdom.
Besides being known as a place for flute manufacturing there are some famous historical incidences for which the city is famous. A memorial place exists at Khakra chouki (today's Police Center), where 21 freedom fighters were hanged on 14 January 1909, on the day of Makar Sankranti. They were sentenced to death as they refused to follow British government's order and rebelled against them. In respect for these 21 martyrs, a rock (named All Martyrs) was underpinned in the compound of the police center.
Another historical incident took place when Mahatma Gandhi addressed a huge rally on 12th November 1929 in the field of Gauri Shankar temple along with Kasturba and Mirabehn. He planted a tree in the temple campus, which is still there.
Famous personalities- Pilibhit has gifted India with a number of personalities well versed in music, poetry and literature.
Maulana Enayetulla, a freedom fighter from Pilibhit, voluntarily played host to the exiled Queen of Avadh, Begum Hazrat Mahal, who reached Nepal in late 1859.
Anjum Pilibhiti, a poet and song writer, wrote songs in 1940’s for several movies like Najma (1943), Humayun (1945), Badi Maa (1945), Eighteen Fifty Seven/1857 (1946), Hamjoli (1946), Anmol Ghadi (1946), Meri Kahani (1948), Vidya (1948), Anokhi Ada (1948).
Akhtar Pilibhiti, born in Pilibhit on March 12, 1928, is well-known for his famous contribution in the movie Shehnaaz. His song "ai dil tujh hii ko niind na aayii tamaam raat" was the famous song in 1948. During 1940’s, Akhtar witnesssed a hit jugalbandi with young Mohammad Rafi (Famous bollywood singer of Golden era).
Hafiz Pilibhiti, born on November 29, 1860, was a famous writer in Urdu literature. His major contribution includes Urdu Nazam and patriotic Urdu songs which became very famous during the movement against British government. He died on 15 July, 1929. All of this work has been protected National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL).
Rafiq Pilibhiti, an engineer by profession, was born on 14 July 1933. Besides being an engineer by profession, he wrote poetries, started at the age of 50. His major works are His major works are Jahan Numa (Hindi), Hare Zakhm (Hindi, English), Ishq–e–Madaam (Urdu), Zikr Us Parivash Ka (Urdu) and Jahan Numa (Urdu). His father His father late Sheikh Abdul Latif was also a poet and his pen name was 'Naaz'.
Suroor Jahanabadi, real name Munshi Shri Durga Das Sahai, was born in a poor kayastha family of town Jahanbad in Pilibhit district in 1873. He composed poems suffused with patriotic sentiments. His famous collections of Urdu poems are Jama-i-suroor (1911) and Khumkhana-i-surror (1930-posthumous). Some other famous plays written by Surror Jahanabadi are Ruksat-i-Shaheb, Gul-i-firdaus, Diwwar-i-khoon.
Fateh Singh Vatsayan, a Hindi and Sanskrit scholar, was born on 13 January 1913. He has served 41 years as a Hindi and Sanskrit professor in various universities in India. In 1966, he was honoured by prestigious National Literature Award by the President of India for his work Kamayani Sundarya. He also received various awards and honors from various state governments and organizations. His major works include Kamayani Sundarya, Sahitya Aur Sundarya, Bhartiya Samaj Sashtra, and Dayanand Aur Unka Ved Bhasya.
India- Nepal Border at Tanakpur
The area of Pilibhit, at the end of 10th century, was ruled by a line of princes of Chhinda dynasty. The record of their names and the fact that they made a canal out of River Sarada is the only thing mentioned in an archaic script written in Sanskrit found near Dewal village.
James Tod (1782–1835), a British historian Lieutenant-Colonel states in his writings that Amar Singh, son of Maharana Pratap fought 17 wars with the Mughal emperor Akbar, but conditionally accepted the Mughals as rulers after Maharana Pratap's death, in 1595. At this time, Maharana Pratap's band of loyal Rajputs which included the groups from Rathores, Deoras, Chauhans, Parihars, Tomars, Kashwahas, Ranas, Tharus and Jhalas (collectively known as Tharu) became disheartened by the surrender and left Rajasthan. They settled mostly in the sub-Himalayan belt on the boundary of Nepal in and around of dense forest of present district Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh. Many of the Tharu tribe are still living in the remote forest area of the district and trying to conserve the tradition and culture they brought from Rajasthan.
The city of Pilibhit was an administrative unit in the Mughal era under Bareilly suba. The Mughal subedar, Ali Mohammed Khan constructed four magnificent gates around the administrative building in 1734 AD due to security reasons. These gates were named Barellwi Darwaza at the west, Hussaini Darwaza at the East, Jahanabadi Darwaza at the North and Dakhini Darwaza at the South. Negligence in maintenance by the local people had resulted in the loss of these historical sites and as a result they are all in ruins.
Marathas invaded this city in 1772 AD. This Kurmi community came into this region during this time. This particular community was believed to be the successors of the Marathas and also the major communities in the region. The last king of the Shah dynasty of Nepal was sheltered in Pilibhit by the ruler of Rampur suba Faizullah Khan in 1789 AD, after being attacked by the Gorakha king of Nepal.
The local history begins in the 18th century, when Pilibhit fell in the hands of Rohella warrior Hafiz Rahmat Khan, after the death of Ali Mohammed Khan. In 1774, Hafiz Rahmat Khan was killed in a battle near Miranpur Katra with the Nawab of Oudh, who was aided by British force lent by Warren Hastings and was added to Oudh. The records available on papers shows that in 1801 when Rohilkhand was relinquished to the British in lieu of payment of tribute, Pilibhit was a pargana of the district of Barielly which was lost in 1833 because the arrangement being temporary and the tract being again united with Bareilly in 1841.
In 1871, the Pilibhit sub-division were formed comprising of Jahanabad, Pilibhit and Puranpur. In 1879, Puranpur was eventually converted into a separate district. The parganas of Pilibhit, Jahanabad and Bisalpur were formed into separate tehsils soon after the introduction of the British rule. Puranpur was united for this purpose with Khutar. In 1824, a redistribution of the area was effected when the Bisalpur tehsil contained the parganas of Bisalpur and Maurari, which afterward become a single area, Jahanabad. Later it was joined with Richha to form tehsil Pareva and Pilibhit with Baheri, the headquarters being at Pilibhit.
Baheri and the other tarai pargana were taken under direct management in 1851. Richha, in 1863, was attached to the new Baheri tehsil. Pargana Jahanabad was assigned to Pilibhit which also received Puranpur on its transfer in 1865. Later in 1871, became a sub-tehsil dependent on Pilibhit. The endorsement of Puranpur into a full tehsil took place in 1879, whereas Bisalpur throughout remained a separate subdivision. Thus the area is now divided into three tehsils and four parganas. Puranpur and Bisalpur constitute individual tehsils and parganas while the tehsil of Pilibhit represents the parganas of Pilibhit and Jahanabad.
Sepoy Mutiny at Pilibhit, 1857
On June 1, 1857 during the great 1857 Indian Sepoy Mutiny, news of the raising of troops under the leadership of Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla at Bareilly reached Pilibhit and tumults at once brook out amongst the population in the city, while the surrounding villages remained prey to the acquisitiveness and extortion of the rival Zamindars. The Joint Magistrate was forced to run to Nainital. The mutineers of city nominally admitted the authority of Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla, Nawab of Bareilly, and the grandson of Hafiz Rahmat Khan. After winning the Bareilly battle, the British order was restored on May 13, 1858 by the British force lent by Commander Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde of 9th Regiment of Foot of British Army with the help of Captain William George Drummond Stewart of 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders of the British Army, some of the mutineers were captured and sentenced to death.
The Rohellas, The Chhinda dynasty, Marathas, Mughals, Rajputs, The British are the rulers who ruled the kingdom.
Besides being known as a place for flute manufacturing there are some famous historical incidences for which the city is famous. A memorial place exists at Khakra chouki (today's Police Center), where 21 freedom fighters were hanged on 14 January 1909, on the day of Makar Sankranti. They were sentenced to death as they refused to follow British government's order and rebelled against them. In respect for these 21 martyrs, a rock (named All Martyrs) was underpinned in the compound of the police center.
Another historical incident took place when Mahatma Gandhi addressed a huge rally on 12th November 1929 in the field of Gauri Shankar temple along with Kasturba and Mirabehn. He planted a tree in the temple campus, which is still there.
Famous personalities- Pilibhit has gifted India with a number of personalities well versed in music, poetry and literature.
Maulana Enayetulla, a freedom fighter from Pilibhit, voluntarily played host to the exiled Queen of Avadh, Begum Hazrat Mahal, who reached Nepal in late 1859.
Anjum Pilibhiti, a poet and song writer, wrote songs in 1940’s for several movies like Najma (1943), Humayun (1945), Badi Maa (1945), Eighteen Fifty Seven/1857 (1946), Hamjoli (1946), Anmol Ghadi (1946), Meri Kahani (1948), Vidya (1948), Anokhi Ada (1948).
Akhtar Pilibhiti, born in Pilibhit on March 12, 1928, is well-known for his famous contribution in the movie Shehnaaz. His song "ai dil tujh hii ko niind na aayii tamaam raat" was the famous song in 1948. During 1940’s, Akhtar witnesssed a hit jugalbandi with young Mohammad Rafi (Famous bollywood singer of Golden era).
Hafiz Pilibhiti, born on November 29, 1860, was a famous writer in Urdu literature. His major contribution includes Urdu Nazam and patriotic Urdu songs which became very famous during the movement against British government. He died on 15 July, 1929. All of this work has been protected National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL).
Rafiq Pilibhiti, an engineer by profession, was born on 14 July 1933. Besides being an engineer by profession, he wrote poetries, started at the age of 50. His major works are His major works are Jahan Numa (Hindi), Hare Zakhm (Hindi, English), Ishq–e–Madaam (Urdu), Zikr Us Parivash Ka (Urdu) and Jahan Numa (Urdu). His father His father late Sheikh Abdul Latif was also a poet and his pen name was 'Naaz'.
Suroor Jahanabadi, real name Munshi Shri Durga Das Sahai, was born in a poor kayastha family of town Jahanbad in Pilibhit district in 1873. He composed poems suffused with patriotic sentiments. His famous collections of Urdu poems are Jama-i-suroor (1911) and Khumkhana-i-surror (1930-posthumous). Some other famous plays written by Surror Jahanabadi are Ruksat-i-Shaheb, Gul-i-firdaus, Diwwar-i-khoon.
Fateh Singh Vatsayan, a Hindi and Sanskrit scholar, was born on 13 January 1913. He has served 41 years as a Hindi and Sanskrit professor in various universities in India. In 1966, he was honoured by prestigious National Literature Award by the President of India for his work Kamayani Sundarya. He also received various awards and honors from various state governments and organizations. His major works include Kamayani Sundarya, Sahitya Aur Sundarya, Bhartiya Samaj Sashtra, and Dayanand Aur Unka Ved Bhasya.
About Chuka Beach Information-Pilibhit
Chuka Beach, situated between the main Sharda Canal and Sharda Sagar dam,
is within the range of Mahof forest. This forest area is protected by
the Government of India and is among the five forest reserves in the
city: Mala, Haripur, Barahi, Mahof and Deoriya.
About Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Information-Pilibhit
The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is one of the finest examples of the
exceedingly diverse and productive Terai eco-systems. It is home to a
habitat for over 127 animals, 556 bird species and 2,100 flowering
plants. A large number of rare and endangered species which includes
tigers, leopard, swamp deer, hispid hare, Bengal floricans, etc. They
are also home to around 6 million people who depend on them for their
livelihoods.
The reserve has a core area of 1089 sq km and buffer area of 627 sq
km (proposed). The northern edge of the reserve lies along the
Indo-Nepal border while the southern boundary is marked by the river
Sharada and Khakra.
In September 2008, Indian government has decided to reserve four new areas for Tiger including Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve lies on the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalaya and the plains of the ‘terai’ in Uttar Pradesh. This new reserve would run through Pilibhit, Kishenpur sanctuary and Khutar range of Shahjahanpur, the existing one would have Dudhwa, Katarniaghat and Kakraha range of Bahraich division. Pilibhit, Khutar and Kakraha are reserved forest areas which will be converted into protected areas for the reserves.
In actual fact, Dudhwa tigers are distributed in one major and three smaller populations. The major population is constituted by Dudhwa reserve which includes Dudhwa National Park, Kishenpur and Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuaries and forests of Pilibhit, north and south Kheri while the smaller tiger populations are found in Bijnor forests in west, and Suhelwa and Sohagibarwa wildlife sanctuaries in east. The study done by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) shows that Dudhwa-Pilibhit population has high conservation value as it represents the only tiger population with the ecological and behavioral adaptations of the tiger unique to the Tarai region.
In September 2008, Indian government has decided to reserve four new areas for Tiger including Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve lies on the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalaya and the plains of the ‘terai’ in Uttar Pradesh. This new reserve would run through Pilibhit, Kishenpur sanctuary and Khutar range of Shahjahanpur, the existing one would have Dudhwa, Katarniaghat and Kakraha range of Bahraich division. Pilibhit, Khutar and Kakraha are reserved forest areas which will be converted into protected areas for the reserves.
In actual fact, Dudhwa tigers are distributed in one major and three smaller populations. The major population is constituted by Dudhwa reserve which includes Dudhwa National Park, Kishenpur and Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuaries and forests of Pilibhit, north and south Kheri while the smaller tiger populations are found in Bijnor forests in west, and Suhelwa and Sohagibarwa wildlife sanctuaries in east. The study done by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) shows that Dudhwa-Pilibhit population has high conservation value as it represents the only tiger population with the ecological and behavioral adaptations of the tiger unique to the Tarai region.
