Gorakhpur is named after Gorakshanath, the medieval yogi of the Nath tradition, and the Gorakhnath Temple is still the centre of the city's life. It sits in eastern Uttar Pradesh, close to the Nepal border, and has long been a gateway for pilgrims heading to Kushinagar, Lumbini and the other Buddhist sites of the region.
The city is not a conventional tourist town. Its main attractions are a handful of religious and cultural institutions, such as the Gorakhnath Math and Gita Press, the publishing house founded in 1923 that put cheap editions of Hindu scriptures into millions of homes. Alongside them are the large Ramgarh Tal lake, a planetarium and a zoo that opened in 2021, a memorial to the 1922 Chauri Chaura incident and the potters of Aurangabad village, whose terracotta carries a Geographical Indication tag.
That makes it a good base for relaxed, practical travel. The distances inside the city are short, the major sights are mostly level and indoors or in gardens, and Gorakhpur Junction is a major railway hub with a platform of about 1.35 km, one of the longest in the world. The airport has grown in recent years.
Two days covers the city comfortably and a third day works well for Kushinagar. Come between November and February, when days are mild and dry; the summer is hot and the monsoon is heavy. Expect modest hotels, simple food and a pace set by pilgrims rather than tour groups.
Before you plan
Gorakhpur at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is most comfortableNovember to February is most comfortable; October and March are workable. April to June is very hot and July to September is monsoon.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days for the city2 days for the city; add a third for a Kushinagar day trip
- Airport
- Mahayogi Gorakhnath AirportMahayogi Gorakhnath Airport (GOP), about 8 km from the city centre; flights to several large Indian cities
- Railway station
- Gorakhpur JunctionGorakhpur Junction (GKP), headquarters of North Eastern Railway; Gorakhpur Cantonment is a smaller second station
- Getting around
- Cycle rickshawsCycle rickshaws, e-rickshaws, autos and app cabs; hire a car with a driver for Chauri Chaura, the terracotta village and Kushinagar
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹4,000 per person…Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹4,000 per person per day excluding hotel; varies with car hire and dining; confirm current prices locally
- Senior comfort
- Good: short distancesGood: short distances, mostly level sights and indoor options; watch for heat, winter fog and crowded old-city lanes
- Language
- HindiHindi, with Bhojpuri (the local Gorakhpuri dialect) and Urdu widely spoken; English is understood at hotels
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Gorakhpur: February, November. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Gorakhpur itinerary
One good day
1 day in Gorakhpur
Begin at Gorakhnath Temple in the morning, then drive to Gita Press and Gita Vatika for the painted gallery and bookshop. Have a long lunch and rest. In the late afternoon go to Ramgarh Tal for the promenade, and stay for sunset. If you have energy, finish with an evening stroll and a chaat or sweet stop at Golghar.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Gorakhpur
Visit Gorakhnath Temple early, then Gita Press and Gita Vatika. After lunch and a rest, see the Imambara estate and finish with an easy evening at Golghar for chaat and peda.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Gorakhpur
Gorakhnath Temple in the morning, Gita Press and Gita Vatika before lunch, a rest in the afternoon and an unhurried evening at Golghar.
Day-by-day plan →
