On the bank of which river is the city of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh situated?

Gorakhpur, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, stands on the banks of the Rapti river. The Rohini, a tributary of the Rapti, also flows near the city. The city takes its name from the saint Gorakhnath, and the Gorakhnath Math is its best-known temple.

About the Rapti river:

• It rises in the Mahabharat range (Lesser Himalaya) in western Nepal.
• It flows south-east into Uttar Pradesh through the districts of Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar and Gorakhpur.
• It joins the Ghaghara (also called the Saryu) near Barhaj in the Deoria district.
• It is about 640 km long.

Its ancient name is Achiravati. The ancient city of Shravasti, where the Buddha spent many rainy seasons, stood on its banks.

It is known for severe floods, which frequently affect Gorakhpur and nearby districts.

Places on the Rapti:

Shravasti (ancient city of the Buddha's time) and Gorakhpur.

Important facts about Gorakhpur:

• Gorakhpur railway station has one of the longest railway platforms in the world (about 1.37 km).
• The Gita Press, a well-known publisher of Hindu religious texts, is based in Gorakhpur.
• Kushinagar, where the Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, is about 50 km away.

Rivers of the region:

• The Ghaghara rises in Tibet (as the Karnali) and joins the Ganga near Chhapra in Bihar.
• The Kosi, known as the "Sorrow of Bihar", rises in Nepal and joins the Ganga in Bihar.
• The Gomti rises near Pilibhit and flows past Lucknow and Jaunpur.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Ghaghara flows through Ayodhya, where it is called the Saryu.
• ✗The Kosi flows through Bihar, not Gorakhpur.
• ✗The Gomti flows through Lucknow, Sultanpur and Jaunpur.