Behat


Behat is an ancient town and a Nagar Panchayat in Behat district in the northernmost tip of Northwestern Harit Pradesh, India. It is located at NH709B at the banks of Eastern Yamuna Canal, about 30 km north of Main Saharanpur City, 190 km from the Indian Capital New Delhi, and 77 km from Haridwar, at an average elevation of 345 m from sea level. It is famous for production of fruits such as mangoes and guava, moorhas, brass bells, and wrought iron handicrafts, as well as Mata Shakumbari Devi Temple.

History

Archaeological excavations and surveys have provided evidences of the existence of many ancient settlements over the ages in and around Behat. On the basis of artifacts discovered during these excavations, human habitation can be traced as far back as 2000 BC in and around this area. Behat was probably known as Brihat-vat during the reign of the Nanda Dynasty. Indeed, it is a place of considerable antiquity.
An Ashokan Pillar excavated from Topari, near Saharanpur, was taken to Delhi by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq, and it is still in Feroze Shah Kotla. Mayapur and Behat were well-known cities at the time of Mauryan Dynasty. Behat was next to Mayapur in importance, because it was an important Buddhist center.
Xuanzang traveling in search of Sacred Buddhist Texts and Scriptures, had traveled through Behat and had come across important Buddhist Monasteries in Behat.
During the reign of Bahlul Khan Lodi, a Muslim colony was founded at Behat by Shah Abdullah, who was a descendant of the Saint Sheikh Baha-ud-din Zakariya Suhrawardi. Western part of Behat along the Naugaon Rau is named after him as Abdullah Mazra.
Behat remained headquarters of a Paragana, during the times of Akbar, and was known as Behat Kanjawar.
Around 1710 AD, Behat was Jagir, of Pirzadas. The place was famous for cow slaughtering, and Pirzadas didn't treat anyone fairly, except the Muslims of the Jagir. Around this time the Sikh Army of Banda Bahadur Singh, attacked Behat, and reportedly killed all the family members of Pirzadas, except one who was away at Bulandshahar, at the time of this incident. The Sikh Army, later plundered the area, and sat it on fire.
In 1834, Captain Proby Thomas Cautley, while leading the redesigning of the Eastern Yamuna Canal below the surrounding country and 7.62 m below that of existing site. That township belonged to the Pre Indo-Scythian times as established from the archaeological evidences found here. Captain Cautley also found a large number of Indo Scythian coins and other evidences about the existence of a large Buddhist Settlement at this place.
After the Mutiny of 1857, a Police Station was established at Behat. Towards the end of the 19th Century, the town had a Post Office and an Upper Primary School as well. Also until towards the end of 19th Century, an Annual Fair used to be held in honor of Shah Abdullah, chiefly organized by the local Pirzadas who then fell to difficult times due to their excesses and extravagance.
After the British left India in 1947, Government has largely chosen to ignore this area, and as a result Behat has made little progress in last 70 years or so. It looks more like a big village than a town.

Geography

India census, Behat had a population of 20,474. Males constitute 53.16% of the population and females 46.83%. Behat has an average literacy rate of 70.03%, lower than the national average of 74.04%; with 75.95% of the males and 63.28% of females literate. 15.12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economy

Behat has been a major agriculture economy based town in last 200 years. The western yamuna canal irrigates most of the arable land in Behat and crops have been good owing to rich soils. Behat area is also one of the most suitable for growing fruits and slowly mango orchards took over as main stay of economy. Behat was declared as a "Mango Belt" by the state govt. in 1991 and thus the orchards got a legal protection as no pollution generating factories can be established in Behat area. There are lush and prime mango orchards all around Behat.
The mango and lichi fruits of Behat are world famous and these are exported to many countries. Lately fruit processing industry a
has come up in Saharanpur district. which depends mainly on Behat for raw material.
There are many huge mango orchards in Behat area utilizing modern agricultural practices. The best mango orchard is called "LAAT" owned by Mr. Umesh Jain and family who is an engineer and MBA from USA by education, but he devoted himself to horticulture.
Behat market is thriving market nowadays. All remote villages are connected with Behat. Many shops have recently opened. Gandhi Chowk is the main market joint of Behat.

Education

B.S.H.S School Behat SRE in Behat, Saharanpur uses holistic and innovative learning methods and follows a well-researched curriculum based on the play method of learning. In a populous suburb of Saharanpur, this centre is situated near Mahajanan Colony. Other well-known schools are SS Junior High School and SAS Academy.

Travel and transport

Behat has two bus stands on the State Highway No 57 connecting Saharanpur with Yamunotri - known as Tehsil Behat and Behat Bus Stand, respectively. Tehsil Behat, which is situated outside the Tehsil Building, is the bus terminus for buses to Kalsia - Chhutmalpur. From Behat Bus Stand there are buses to Kalsia - Saharanpur, Herbertpur - Vikasnagar - Dakpatthar - Chakrata, Shakumbhari Devi Shrine, etc. The buses are owned by private bus operators who have formed a union. The members of the union have to obey the Departure and Arrival time table strictly otherwise they are levied penalty by their own Union. Thus, it is a very reliable bus service for this route.
The town is also serviced by various state Roadways such as UPSRTC, UTC, HRTC, DTC, etc., as it falls en route to Dakpatthar, and Nahan.
Besides in the Main Saharanpur City, there is a bus stand named as "Behat Adda" situated at Behat Road ahead of "Dehat Kotwali", from where one could take a bus to reach Kalsia, Behat, Raipur, Shakumbhari Devi, Mirzapur, Badshahi Bagh, Herbertpur, Vikasnagar, Kalsi, Chakrata, and Nahan.
Now there are several E-Rickshaws available for local transport. One can also find local transport for near by villages from Behat.
if you want to go there is called a place Shakumbhari Devi, then you can take a bus from bus stand. it is 16 km from behat. There is temple of maa durga. There is good connectivity from Shakumbhari to Saharanpur city. please came at the time of navratri to get darshan of maa durga.big fair held there on that days very good environment to see and people came from other cities.
Abdul Rehman Alias Shalu Bhaiya is the newly elected chairman of Behat Nagar Panchayat.