Bareilly

Bareilly pronunciation (help·info) (Hindi: बरेली, Urdu: بریلی) is a city in Bareilly district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Standing on the Ramganga river, it is the capital of Rohilkhand Division and is a center for the manufacture of furniture and for trade in cotton, grain, and sugar. The city's population in 2001[1] was 699,839. Geographically it forms the outer gateway to enter Uttarakhand State. According to Government of India, the district Bareilly is one of the Minority Concentrated District in India on the basis of the 2001 census data on population, socio-economic indicators and basic amenities indicators.

This fast-growing city is also known as Bans-Bareilly (Bamboo Bareilly). Though Bareilly is also a production center for cane(Bans) furniture, but it is just a coincidence. The name Bans Bareilly is not derived from its big bans (

bamboo) market. The status of the city has been upgraded when its name was included in the "Counter Magnets" of NCR, because it is equidistant from New Delhi, the Capital of India and Lucknow,the capital of Indian state of Uttar pradesh. Bareilly has a lot of potential for setting up industries and to attract people to settle here. Historically it was the part of the ancient kingdom of Panchal. In the Medieval period it was under the Rohillas. The modern city's foundation was laid by Mukrand Rai in 1657.

Hindu Temples

Bareilly is also home to a host of famous Hindu temples. Four Nath (Shiva) temples are situated on the cities four corners, the Alakhnath, Trivatinath, Madhinath, and Dhopeshwarnath temples.
Another historical temple of Lord Shiva is in Lala Champak Rai Ki Bagia near Alakhnath temple in front of the Ganga Temple. It is roughly 200 years old. Due to limited access, having no paved roads leading up to it, is frequented by fewer devotess than its more popular counterparts.It is also referred to as the Jagannath Temple.

Near the Alakhnath Temple is the Tulsi Math. Tulsidas, the acclaimed writer of the Ramacharitamanas, said to have have been the re-incarnation of Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana, made this site his home sometime around 1600 CE.

Another culturally significant temple is the Chunne Miyan's Lakshmi Narayan Temple (located in Katra Manrya street near Bara Bazar). Its origin dates back to the time when Hindus migrating from the recently formed Pakistan at the time of independence in 1947, came to settle in Bareilly. These Hindu migrants built a small place of worship amongst some existing ruins but later discovered that the place belonged to Fazal-ul-Rahman, whose nickname 'Chunne Miyan'. Chunne Miyan gave not only the land but also financial aid for the construction of the temple. Since then the temple is popularly known as Chunne Miyan's Mandir and is situated in the Katra Maanrai region of Koharapeer.

There is another reputed temple of Lord Doopeshwarnath which is considered the place where Draupadi and Drishtadyumna were born by a grace of Lord Shiva in the Mahābhārata era.

Places of Importance

Museums
- Army Service Corps. Museum, Cantonment
- Panchala Museum, University Campus

Historical sites
- Ramnagar Fort, 25 km Aonla
- Teerthankar Temple, Ramnagar 25 km Aonla

Mall
- Amrapali Multiplex Mall (under-construction) with three screen M.2.M.,

Lohia Vihar residential colony, Delhi Road

Religious sites
- Dhopeshwar Nath Temple, Cantonment.
- Ancient Shiv Temple B.I.Bazar, Cantonment
- Alak Nath Temple, Nainital Road
- Gurudwara Guru Teg Bahadhur Sahib, Farashi Tola
- Teebrinath Temple, BDA Colony
- Chunna Miyan Jii ka Mandir, Bara Bazar
- Pashupati Nath Temple, University Road
- Freewill Baptist Church, Cantonment
- Church of North India, Cantonment
- Bhole Nath Temple, Kurmanchal Nagar
- Bhagwaan Mahaveer Temple, Rampur Garden
- Bada Gurudwara, Model Town
- Dargah Ala Hazrat, Saudagaran
- Anand Ashram, Rampur Garden
- Cathedral of St. Alphonsus de Ligouri, seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bareilly

Parks
- Children's Park, Cantonment
- Phool Bagh, Cantonment
- Company Garden, Civil Lines
- C L Park, Prem Nagar
- Mayur Van Chetna Kendra, University Road
- Maharaja Agrasen Park, Rampur Garden Bareilly

Amusement Parks
- Fun City, University Road
- Boond Water Park, University Road