Bareilly district

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Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh

Bareilly district is in northern India. The district capital is Bareilly city. It is divided into six tehsils: Aonla, Baheri, Bareilly (Sadar), Faridpur, Meerganj, and Nawabganj, and it is part of Bareilly Division.

Area and population
The district covers 4,120 square kilometers. As of the 2011 census, it has a population of 4,448,359, with a population density of about 1,084 people per square kilometer. About 1.57 million people live in urban areas.

History and heritage
The region traces back to the ancient Panchala kingdom, with Ahichhatra as its northern capital. In the 18th century, Rohilla Afghans made Bareilly the capital of Rohilkhand. Notable rulers include Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech. Bareilly played a role in the 1857 rebellion against British rule. The area has a long history of coin minting under various dynasties, and today Rohilkhand University (now Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University) is based in Bareilly.

Geography and people
The district borders Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Rampur, Badaun, and parts of Uttarakhand. The Ramganga, Sarda (Gogra), Deoha, and Gomti rivers flow through the area. A tarai forest belt lies in the north. The land is fertile and largely farmed. Hindus form the majority of the population, with a significant Muslim minority. The 2011 literacy rate is about 60%. The sex ratio is 883 females per 1,000 males. About 12.5% of people belong to Scheduled Castes. Around 35% of people live in urban areas.

Language and people
The main language is Hindi, and Urdu is also widely spoken. In 2011, first languages were about 90.8% Hindi, 8.5% Urdu, and 0.5% Punjabi.

Administration and economy
Bareilly is a category A district, with socio-economic indicators below the national average. The district hosts several colleges and educational institutions and remains an important center in Rohilkhand.