📸 Visual Gallery of Chandauli (Free Creative Commons Wikimedia Images & Direct URLs)

1. Rajdari Waterfall (Chandraprabha WLS, Chandauli)

Scenic stepped waterfall on the Chandraprabha river inside UP’s first wildlife sanctuary (Est. 1957).

URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rajdari-waterfall.jpg

2. Devdari Waterfall (500 m below Rajdari, Chandauli)

Located 500 metres downstream of Rajdari in the Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary (Chakia–Naugarh hills).

URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Devdari_Waterfall.jpg

3. Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn. (Mughalsarai)

Home to Asia’s largest railway marshalling yard & birthplace of former PM Bharat Ratna Lal Bahadur Shastri.

URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mughalsarai_Junction_railway_station.jpg

1. Identity, Creation (1997) & Administrative Setup

• HQ: Chandauli; Division: Varanasi (comprises 4 districts: Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, and Chandauli); Region: Eastern Purvanchal & Vindhyan Plateau. RTO Code: UP-67.

• Creation Date (25 May 1997): Carved out of the eastern trans-Ganga portion of Varanasi district on 25 May 1997.

• Name Origin & Epithet: Founded according to tradition by Barholiya Rajput chieftain Chandra Shah (hence Chandauli). Celebrated across Uttar Pradesh as the "Rice Bowl of Uttar Pradesh" (Uttar Pradesh Ka Dhan Ka Katora) due to its fertile Gangetic–Karamnasa alluvial plains and canal irrigation!

• District boundaries (touches 3 UP districts & 1 State — Bihar): Ghazipur (north), Varanasi (west/north-west across the Ganga), Mirzapur (south-west), Sonbhadra (south), and Kaimur (Bhabua) & Rohtas districts of Bihar (east across the Karamnasa river).

• Tehsils (5): Chandauli (Sadar), Sakaldiha, Chakia, Naugarh, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar (Mughalsarai); Development Blocks (9): Chandauli, Barhani, Sakaldiha, Chahaniya, Dhanapur, Niyamatabad, Chakia, Shahabganj, and Naugarh.

2. Archaeology: Malhar, Prahladpur, 7 ASI Monuments (Hetimpur & Bairant) & Shrines

• 1. Malhar Archaeological Site (Karamnasa River Valley, Chakia/Naugarh — ~1800–1600 BCE Iron Age Discovery!):

  • Excavated by the UP State Archaeology Department (Dr. Rakesh Tewari, 1998–99) on the bank of the Karamnasa river near Musakhand Dam.

  • Yielded radiocarbon-dated Iron-smelting furnaces, tuyeres, slag, and forged iron tools (sickle, nails, arrowheads) dating back to ~1800–1600 BCE, establishing the Karamnasa–Vindhya valley as one of the earliest iron-working centres in the world!

• 2. Prahladpur Archaeological Site (Dhanapur/Sakaldiha, on the Ganga Bank — Chalcolithic & NBPW Site):

  • Excavated by Banaras Hindu University (Prof. A.K. Narain & T.N. Roy, 1963); yielded a rich cultural sequence from the Chalcolithic & Black-and-Red Ware (BRW) phase to the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW — 600 BCE), punch-marked coins, copper objects, bone points, and terracotta ring wells!

• 3. Seven Centrally Protected ASI Monuments in Chandauli (Official ASI Sarnath Circle List):

  • (i) Old Ruined Kot (Fortress) at Hetimpur / Hatimpur (Sakaldiha Tehsil — ASI #47): Historic Pathan/Mughal fortress built during the era of Sher Shah Suri / Todar Mal (governor Hetim Khan).

  • (ii–v) Ancient Ruined Fort & Three Mounds at Bairant (Ramgarh/Chahaniya, on the South Bank of the Banganga — ASI #59 to #62): Massive 1350' × 900' ancient fortified city (identified with Vairanti visited by Hiuen Tsang) yielding punch-marked, Kushana, and Gupta coins, plus Devi-ka-Asthan mound!

  • (vi) Large Mound of Brick Ruins near Dhanapur (ASI #63).

  • (vii) Khera / Mound representing Ancient Sukalpura at Sakaldiha (ASI #64).

• Prehistoric Rock Shelters of Naugarh & Chandraprabha: Ancient painted rock shelters at Garuahwa, Jogiya, and Hathini in the Chakia–Naugarh Vindhyan hills.

• Chakia Kali Temple & Latifshah / Naugarh Fort: Built by the Kashi Naresh as royal palaces/forts in the Chakia–Naugarh hills; immortalized in Devakinandan Khatri’s classic novel 'Chandrakanta' (love story of Prince Virendra Singh of Naugarh and Princess Chandrakanta of Vijaygarh!).

• Baba Keenaram Janmasthali & Math (Ramgarh, Chahaniya Block), Baba Jageshwar Nath Dham (Chakia — Swayambhu Shivalinga on Chandraprabha bank), Balua Ghat (Paschim Vahini Ganga!), & Kaleshwar Nath Temple (Sakaldiha).

3. History: Battle of Dhanapur Police Station (16 August 1942 — Quit India Heroes!)

• Heroic Dhanapur Thana Uprising (16 August 1942 — Quit India Movement):

  • On 16 August 1942, during the Quit India Movement, thousands of patriotic villagers led by Kamu Singh (Tej Bahadur Singh) marched to the Dhanapur Police Station in Chandauli and hoisted the national Tricolour.

  • When British police opened indiscriminate fire, three immortal martyrs — Shaheed Heera Singh, Shaheed Mahangu Singh, and Shaheed Raghunath Singh — died on the spot, after which the enraged crowd overpowered the police station and killed the tyrannical station officer and constables, declaring Dhanapur independent for several days!

4. Eminent Personalities: Lal Bahadur Shastri, Baba Keenaram, Namwar Singh & Rajnath Singh

• Bharat Ratna Lal Bahadur Shastri (2 October 1904 – 11 January 1966, Born at Mughalsarai, Chandauli — Exam Superstar!):

  • Born on 2 October 1904 in the Railway Colony at Mughalsarai (now Pt. DDU Nagar, Chandauli); India’s 2nd Prime Minister (1964–1966), giver of the immortal slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" during the 1965 War, and the FIRST person to be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously (1966)!

• Aghoracharya Baba Keenaram (1601–1771 CE, Born at Ramgarh, Chahaniya, Chandauli):

  • Born in Ramgarh village (Chandauli); revered founder-reformer of the Aghor tradition (established the Baba Keenaram Sthal, Krim-Kund in Varanasi and Ramgarh Math) and author of Viveksar, Ramrasal, and Unmuniram.

• Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (1916–1968 — Memorial & Renamed City): Co-founder and President of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and propounder of Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manavavad), who was found martyred at Mughalsarai Junction on 11 February 1968. In August 2018, Mughalsarai Junction & municipality were renamed Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction / Nagar, and a 63-ft Panchadhatu statue was unveiled at Padao (Chandauli–Varanasi border)!

• Dr. Namwar Singh (28 July 1926 – 19 Feb 2019, Born at Jiyanpur, Chahaniya, Chandauli):

  • Born in Jiyanpur village (Chandauli); towering Marxist Hindi literary critic, first Chairman of JNU’s Centre of Indian Languages, and recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award (1971) for 'Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman'! (His younger brother, renowned Hindi novelist Kashinath Singh [author of Kashi Ka Assi & Sahitya Akademi winner for Rehan Par Ragghu], was also born in Jiyanpur, Chandauli!).

• Union Defence Minister & Former UP CM Rajnath Singh (Born 10 July 1951 at Bhabhaura village, Chakia tehsil, Chandauli — Exam Gem!) & Former UP CM Pt. Kamalapati Tripathi (Karmabhumi Chandauli).

5. Language, Culture & Fairs (Balua Ghat Paschim Vahini Ganga)

• Language & Dialect: Bhojpuri and standard Hindi.

• Major Fairs:

  • Balua Ghat Mauni Amavasya & Kartik Purnima Mela (Chahaniya): At Balua Ghat in Chandauli, the Ganga River uniquely flows westwards (Paschim Vahini Ganga), considered as sacred as Uttaravahini Ganga in Kashi!

  • Baba Keenaram Janmotsav / Lolark Chhath Mela (Ramgarh, Bhadrapada) & Latifshah Baba Urs / Mela (Chakia).

6. Geography, Rivers, Famous Waterfalls (Rajdari & Devdari) & 5 Dams

• Two Distinct Physiographic Zones: (1) Northern fertile Gangetic–Karamnasa alluvial plain (Chandauli, Sakaldiha, Dhanapur — the "Rice Bowl"), and (2) Southern rocky, forested Vindhyan–Kaimur plateau (Chakia and Naugarh tehsils).

• Four Major Rivers of Chandauli:

  1. Ganga River: Forms the western and north-western boundary separating Chandauli from Varanasi and Ghazipur; flows westwards (Paschim Vahini) at Balua Ghat!

  2. Karamnasa River: Originates in Kaimur (Bihar), flows northwards through the Naugarh and Chakia hills (forming the eastern UP–Bihar border) before joining the Ganga at Chausa/Bara.

  3. Chandraprabha River (Tributary of Karamnasa): Flows through the Chakia Vindhyan plateau (forming the Rajdari and Devdari waterfalls) and joins the Karamnasa river near Baburi/Chakia.

  4. Garai River: Flows along the western Chakia–Mirzapur border.

• Three Famous Waterfalls of Chandauli (Asked Repeatedly in UPPCS — Do Not Confuse with Mirzapur!):

  1. Rajdari Waterfall (Rajdari Jalprapat): Spectacular stepped waterfall on the Chandraprabha River inside Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary (Chakia/Naugarh)!

  2. Devdari Waterfall (Devdari Jalprapat): Located 500 metres downstream of Rajdari Waterfall inside Chandraprabha WLS!

  3. Aurwatand Waterfall (Aurwatand Jalprapat): Scenic gorge waterfall located in Naugarh tehsil on the Karamnasa river!

• Five Major Dams in Chandauli (High-Yield Match the Following!):

  • 1. Musakhand Dam — Karamnasa River (Chakia tehsil),

  • 2. Chandraprabha Dam — Chandraprabha River (Chakia tehsil),

  • 3. Naugarh Dam — Karamnasa River (Naugarh tehsil),

  • 4. Latifshah Dam (Weir) — Karamnasa River (near Chakia, built in 1917–21), and

  • 5. Bhainsora Dam — Bhainsora / Karamnasa stream (Naugarh).

7. Economy: "Rice Bowl", Adamchini GI (2023), Black Rice ODOP & Asia’s Largest Railway Yard

• Official ODOP (`odopup.in` 2026 Portal):

  • 1. Zari–Zardozi (intricate gold and silver metallic thread embroidery linked to the Varanasi–Chandauli handloom cluster).

  • 2. Black Rice (Chandauli Kala Chawal): Anthocyanin-rich Manipuri Chak-Hao black rice successfully introduced in Chandauli in 2018 (honoured with the PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration and exported to Australia/New Zealand & Qatar!).

• 2023 GI Tag — "Adamchini Chawal" (Registered Feb–March 2023 — Exam Superstar!):

  • Traditional aromatic short-grained rice variety (Adamchini Rice — grains resemble tiny sugar crystals with a rich aroma) cultivated in Chandauli (and adjoining Vindhya districts) — officially granted the Agricultural GI Tag in 2023!

• Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (Mughalsarai — Asia’s Largest Railway Marshalling Yard) & Chandasi Coal Market:

  • Mughalsarai Marshalling Yard (~12.5 km long) is the LARGEST railway wagon marshalling yard in Asia and the key junction of the 1,337-km Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC)!

  • Chandasi Coal Mandi (near DDU Nagar): Largest wholesale coal market in Asia; adjacent to the Ramnagar Industrial Area (UPSIDA) located inside Chandauli district!

8. Census 2011 — Demographic Profile (2.14% ST Share — 3rd Highest ST % in UP!)

• Total Population: 19,52,756 (Male: 10,17,905; Female: 9,34,851) — Rank 48th in UP.

• Geographical Area: 2,541 km² (ISFR 2023 exact GA: 2,541.00 km²).

• Population Density: 769 persons/km² (Provisional: 768/km² — below UP’s state average of 829 persons/km²).

• Decadal Growth Rate (2001–2011): 18.83% (below UP’s 20.23% average).

• Sex Ratio: 918 females per 1,000 males (6 points above UP’s state average of 912!); Child Sex Ratio (0–6 yrs): 915 (13 points above UP’s state average of 902!).

• Literacy Rate: 71.48% (Male: 81.72%; Female: 60.35%) — 3.76 percentage points above UP’s state average of 67.72%!

• Urbanisation: 12.42% urban (2,42,553) and 87.58% rural (17,10,203).

• SC & ST Share (3rd Highest ST Percentage in UP!):

  • SC Population: 4,46,886 (22.88% — above UP’s 20.7% average).

  • ST Population: 41,725 persons (2.14% of district population) — Chandauli ranks 3rd highest in Uttar Pradesh in ST Percentage share (after Sonbhadra [20.67%] and Lalitpur [5.86%]; mainly Kharwar, Gond, and Chero tribes)!

9. Environment, UP’s 1st Wildlife Sanctuary & Complete Forest + Tree Cover (ISFR 2023 #2 % in UP!)

• Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary (Established May 1957 — 1st Wildlife Sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh!):

  • Established in May 1957 across 78.00 km² in the Chakia–Naugarh Vindhyan hills of Chandauli — the OLDEST (FIRST) Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh!

  • Famous for Rajdari & Devdari waterfalls, Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Blackbuck, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Nilgai, Python, and Gharial (and the historic 1957–58 Asiatic Lion reintroduction experiment!).

• ISFR 2023 District Forest Cover (Chandauli — #2 Highest Forest Percentage in Uttar Pradesh! Asked in UPPSC Prelims 2025!):

  • Out of a Geographical Area (GA) of 2,541.00 km², Chandauli has 0.00 km² Very Dense Forest (VDF), 134.19 km² Moderately Dense Forest (MDF), and 415.42 km² Open Forest (OF) = 549.61 km² Total Forest Cover (21.63% of GA), plus 22.86 km² Scrub. *(In ISFR 2021, it was 553.46 km² [21.78%]; net change: **-3.85 km²**).*

  • #2 Highest Forest Cover Percentage in Uttar Pradesh (21.63% — UPPSC Prelims 2025 Question!): In ISFR 2023, only THREE districts in Uttar Pradesh have over 20% forest cover:

    1. 1st: Sonbhadra — 34.87% (2,407.87 km²),

    2. 2nd: Chandauli — 21.63% (549.61 km²), and

    3. 3rd: Shravasti — 20.95% (343.58 km²) — followed by 4th: Chitrakoot (19.79%) and 5th: Pilibhit (18.66% / 19.26%)!

10. Major Schemes: Aspirational District, Indo-Israel Vegetable Centre & Fish Market

• NITI Aayog Aspirational District (1 of 8 in UP): Chandauli is one of the 8 Aspirational Districts of Uttar Pradesh (along with Sonbhadra, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Bahraich, Balrampur, Shravasti, and Siddharthnagar), repeatedly topping NITI Aayog delta rankings!

• Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables (Barhani / Chandauli): High-tech nursery and protected vegetable cultivation hub established in Chandauli under the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project.

• Asia’s Largest Modern Fish Market (Machhali Mandi — Navin Mandi, Chandauli): Ultra-modern 3-storeyed fish-shaped wholesale fish market and processing hub built along NH-19 in Chandauli!

• Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata 6-Lane Greenfield Expressway (NH-319B): Originates from Barhuli/Rewasa on NH-19 in Chandauli district!

11. Important Institutions

• Baba Keenaram Autonomous State Medical College (ASMC), Chandauli: Operational government medical college named after Aghoracharya Baba Keenaram (admitting 100 NMC-approved MBBS seats) affiliated with ABVMU Lucknow.

12. Special Facts & Exam Traps (Quick Revision Box)