From the abode of ancient rishis in mythology books, to the home of Buddhist monks and later the abode of Muslim Sufi saints, Ballia in Uttar Pradesh has an interesting history. The name Ballia was also derived from famous saint Valmiki who is believed to have lived here for a while. Later on, Ballia even played a significant role in the country’s independence struggle. It is where great freedom fighter Mangal Pandey hailed from and started the great uprising against the British Raj. With such a rich history, it is no wonder that the city is making its presence felt on the tourism map of India.
Bordering Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the cultural ethos of Ballia is innately Indian, and one of the biggest examples of this is the huge cattle fair that takes places every year called the Dadri Mela. The festival is all about taking a dip in the Ganges to purge you of your sins, the trade of cattle, and a number of local cultural programs with participants from the city. It is, undoubtedly, a great time to visit Ballia.
Ballia is a city of great historical significance in India. A number of ancient temples dot the city and, as it is on the banks of the holy River Ganga, they are believed to be extremely important from a religious perspective. People visit the Hanumanji Temple and the Chitragupta Mandir from all over the country to seek the Almighty’s blessings.
Another major tourist attraction here is the Surha Tal Bird Sanctuary. Home to a number of indigenous birds, the sanctuary is especially worth visiting in winter, when birds from Siberia and other cold climates migrate here for the season. It covers a vast expanse, and you will even find a lovely fountain here that was created in memory of the freedom fighters belonging to Ballia who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Auto rickshaws are available fairly easily in Ballia, and perhaps are most convenient for traveling when in the city. State run buses run along multiple routes and are available at almost any point within city limits. You can hire a private cab or car so that you can visit the sites and explore the city at your own pace, especially for the visit to the bird sanctuary.
On a daily basis there are approximately 38 flights that operate at Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport.IndiGo and Air India are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Ballia through train.Balliais one of the most popular train stations in Ballia.On an average about 73 trains pass through Ballia on a daily basis.Chapra to Ballia, Varanasi to Ballia, Suremanpur to Balliaare some of the most popular routes to Ballia with 102, 69, 67 trains weekly respectively.
By road Ballia is surrounded by Buxar, Arrah, Siwan which are 16.86 km, 34.28 km, 35.04 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.