Religious Temple
Sheetla Mata Mandir, Mata Pokhara
Popular Shitala Mata Dham near Mata Pokhara in Mau city. It is one of the main religious stops listed by the district tourism page.
TempleSheetla MataMau CityTake the scenic route · Uttar Pradesh
Mau
Textile powerhouse of eastern Uttar Pradesh with Tamasa-Ghaghra heritage, Sufi shrines, temples and 1942 freedom memory
Forest calmSlow trailsEarthy light
THE MOODMoss, monsoon & forest light
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Local discoveries12 places · 0 gems
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GET TO KNOW THE PLACE
Tamasa river memory, Maunath Bhanjan and powerloom heritage
Mau, also known as Maunath Bhanjan, has cultural links with Ramayana and Mahabharata traditions, Tamasa river memory, early forest settlements, Sufi saint traditions, Sher Shah Suri routes and Jahanara-era urban growth. It was created as a separate district on 19 November 1988 after being part of Azamgarh. Today it is one of eastern Uttar Pradesh strongest textile and powerloom centres.
Ancient
Tamasa river and sage traditions
Mau district history links the area with Ramayana and Mahabharata cultural remains, Tamasa river memory and the tradition of Valmiki ashram. The district sits in the fertile Ganga-Ghaghra doab and has old settlement memory along river routes.
1028-1629
Malik Tahir, Sher Shah Suri and Jahanara
District history records Baba Malik Tahir around 1028, Sher Shah Suri visits between 1540 and 1545, and Jahanara Begum receiving the area in 1629. Katra, Shahi Masjid, Malik Tahirpura and weaving settlements belong to this urban memory.
1857-1942
Dubari, Dohrighat and Madhuban freedom struggle
Mau freedom history records Dubari hangings in 1857, Gauri Shankar Ghat firing at Dohrighat, Madhuban police station firing on 15 August 1942, Pipridih train action, Khurhat station burning and Indara-Pipridih railway disruption.
1988-Present
District formation and textile economy
Mau became a separate district on 19 November 1988. Its modern identity is strongly tied to saree production, zari, kashidakari, powerlooms, readymade garments and textile products sold across Uttar Pradesh and other states.
LEAVE ROOM FOR A DETOUR
The places you’ll remember.
Nature Temple
Van Devi Mandir, Kohinaour
Jagat Janani Van Devi temple about 12 km south west of the district headquarters, set in a natural landscape and listed by district tourism.
TempleNatureKohinaour
Ghaghra River Temple Park
Muktidham Dohrighat
Temple and park on the bank of the Ghaghra river at Dohrighat town. It is useful for river views, rituals and eastern Mau travel routes.
GhaghraDohrighatTemple Park
Recreational
Funtasia Water Park and Resort
Recreational water park at Ratanpura, about 7 km from Mau city. It is a practical family leisure listing on the district tourism page.
Water ParkFamilyRatanpura
City Garden
Rose Garden, Mau
District-listed recreational garden for visitors, families and local city leisure. Good for city park and short-stay travel content.
GardenRecreationCitySufi Shrine
Mira Shah Dargah, Kolhuawan
Historic shrine on Madhuban-Dohrighat road near Madhuban, connected with Syed Ahmad Wadpan or Mira Shah and Sher Shah Suri era memory.
DargahSufiMadhubanMughal Heritage
Shahi Katra and Shahi Masjid, Maunath Bhanjan
Jahanara-era urban memory in Mau city with Shahi Masjid, Katra area, old cantonment traces and underground tunnel tradition noted in district history.
MughalShahi KatraMasjidOld City Heritage
Malik Tahirpura and Kasimpura Heritage
Old localities linked by district history to Baba Malik Tahir and Malik Qasim. They help explain the name Maunath Bhanjan and early city settlement.
Old CityMalik TahirKasimpuraFreedom Heritage
Madhuban Shaheed Sthal and 1942 Police Station Memory
Major August 1942 freedom struggle site where firing at Madhuban police station led to martyrdom of thirteen freedom fighters. A martyr pillar keeps the memory alive.
1942MadhubanFreedom1857 Heritage
Dubari Freedom Memory
Village linked with 1857 participation, Kunwar Singh support and the hanging of Harakh Singh and Hulas Singh, as recorded in Mau freedom history.
1857DubariFreedomFreedom Rail Route
Pipridih-Indara-Khurhat Revolutionary Rail Route
Railway-linked freedom route covering Pipridih train action, Indara station burning, Khurhat station attack and Mau-Pipridih line disruption during the struggle.
FreedomRailPipridihODOP Textile
Mau Powerloom, Saree and Zari Cluster
ODOP textile identity of Mau, where household looms and powerlooms produce sarees, zari embroidered cloth, suits, loincloth and readymade garments.
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Local Food And Products
Mau is an ODOP textile products district. Sarees, zari work, kashidakari, powerloom cloth, suits, loincloth, readymade garments and embroidery are central to the local economy. The food belt has Bhojpuri meals, sweets, tea snacks, grain markets and Ghaghra-side pilgrimage food.
Powerloom and handloom clusters
Mau Sarees and Textile Products
Mau ODOP textile products include sarees, zari embroidered cloth, suits, loincloth, readymade garments and cotton textile made through household looms and powerlooms.
Maunath Bhanjan textile markets
Zari Work and Kashidakari
Zari yarn embroidery and kashidakari are core craft identities of Mau sarees and dress material, useful for shopping and artisan content.
Mau city, Ghosi, Kopaganj and Dohrighat
Bhojpuri Market Snacks
Tea, samosa, kachori, jalebi, poori-sabzi and simple thali stops serve textile traders, pilgrims and rail-road travellers.
Dohrighat and Muktidham route
Ghaghra-Side Pilgrim Meals
Simple vegetarian meals, sweets and tea stalls are useful around Dohrighat, Ghaghra river stops and Muktidham visitor routes.
THROUGH ANOTHER TRAVELLER’S EYES
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A LITTLE PLANNING GOES A LONG WAY
Before you set off.
October to March is best for Sheetla Mata Mandir, Van Devi Mandir, Dohrighat Muktidham, Mira Shah shrine, Madhuban freedom sites and textile market visits. Monsoon needs road checks near Ghaghra and low-lying rural routes.
April to June · 33-42 C
Summer
Hot summer, with May around the peak. Visit temples, textile markets and heritage areas in early morning or evening.
July to September · 30-34 C
Monsoon
Humid monsoon with strong rainfall. Check Ghaghra-side routes, Dohrighat access and rural roads before travel.
October to March · 23-33 C
Winter
Best season for Sheetla Mata, Van Devi, Muktidham, freedom sites and textile shopping. Fog can affect rail and road timings.
By Air
Varanasi and Gorakhpur airport access
By Rail
Mau Junction connects Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Chapra
By Road
NH 24 and SH 34 corridor