Basti district

Basti district occupies low-lying plains in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, bordered to the north by the Ghaghara River. The administrative territory includes agricultural land dotted with villages and small towns connected by a network of roads.

British colonial administrators established this area as a separate administrative unit in 1865, building on earlier governance structures. The earlier name Vaishishthi refers to a sage whose hermitage was believed to have stood here in ancient times.

The region maintains deep connections to Buddhist heritage through its proximity to Kapilavastu and Shravasti, with numerous religious sites across the territory.

The town of Basti serves as the administrative center with government offices and public services coordinating four subdivisions from here. Travelers find connections to other places in the region, with infrastructure kept simple and functional.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many residents left their homeland as indentured laborers and reached Fiji, Mauritius, and the Caribbean. This migration shaped the history of many families and left traces in distant countries.

Location: Basti division

Inception: 1865

Capital city: Basti

Shares border with: Siddharthnagar district, Sant Kabir Nagar district

Website: http://Basti.nic.in

GPS coordinates: 26.82816,82.77924

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:47