Stand on the bank at Ram Garh Tal in the late afternoon and you will see the water take the light while cyclists and rickshaws move along the road behind you. This is the Gorakhpur that a short visit can actually cover: a lake, a zoo and a planetarium clustered together, a temple that gave the city its name, and a handful of quieter stops in between.
The city suits travellers passing through the Purvanchal region who want a day or two of temples, water and family-friendly attractions rather than a long sightseeing itinerary. It also works well for anyone travelling with children, since several of the strongest stops sit close to one another near Taramandal.
This guide covers the places worth your time, ordered from the ones most likely to fill your day down to the shorter stops, followed by a plan for a single day and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Gorakhpur
1. Ram Garh Tal
Ram Garh Tal is the lake around which much of a Gorakhpur visit naturally arranges itself. The water is the reason the city's older settlement sat where it did, and today it is the obvious place to slow down and watch the town go about its evening.
Combine it with the Lord Buddha Museum, which sits near the lake, and with Taramandal, where you can go boating. Late afternoon into early evening gives you the best of the light and the activity on the water.
2. Gorakhnath Math
Gorakhnath Math is the temple named after Yogi Gorakhnath, the ascetic from whom the city takes its name. For anyone interested in why Gorakhpur is Gorakhpur, this is the place to begin.
It is a working temple rather than a monument, so plan your visit around the quieter parts of the day and treat it as a place of worship first. Pair it with the other temples on this list if you are spending the day moving between them.
3. Gorakhpur Zoo
The zoo on Buddha Vihar Road holds several big cats, deer, monkeys, bears, reptiles, birds and fish in its aquarium section. It is the second largest zoo in the state and is an easy way to fill a couple of hours, particularly with children.
It sits on the same road as Neer Nikunj Water Park and close to the Rail Vihar Colony area, so you can combine a zoo visit with the planetarium or the water park without crossing town.
4. Vir Bahadur Singh Planetarium
In Rail Vihar Colony Phase 3rd at Taramandal, the planetarium is a good place to spark children's interest in astronomy and physics. It runs 45-minute shows at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm daily, with entry at ₹25.
Because the shows run to a fixed timetable, time your arrival for one of those three slots rather than turning up at random. It pairs neatly with the zoo and the water park, which are all in the same part of the city.
5. Neer Nikunj Water Park
Neer Nikunj Water Park, on Buddha Vihar Road Phase 3 near Rail Vihar Colony, is the only water park in Gorakhpur. It has a number of water slides, pools and wave pools, plus a few non-water rides such as a merry-go-round and a Ferris wheel.
It is open daily from 10AM to 8PM. Entry is ₹650 per person from Monday to Saturday and ₹750 per person on Sunday, so a weekday visit costs less. The phone number listed is +91 92352 51491.
6. Gita Vatika (Radha Krishna Mandir)
Gita Vatika, also known as Radha Krishna Mandir, is a temple of Lord Krishna and Radha. It is a straightforward stop for anyone moving between the city's religious sites.
Visit it as part of a temple circuit rather than on its own, and keep in mind that the atmosphere is calmest outside the busiest hours of the day.
7. Vishnu Mandir
Vishnu Mandir is one of the city's temples and a natural companion to Gita Vatika and Gorakhnath Math if you are spending a morning or afternoon on religious sites.
Group it with the other temples on this list so you are not making separate trips across town for each one.
8. St. John's Church
St. John's Church is a 200-year-old church with a rich history. It offers a change of pace from the temples and the lakeside, and it is worth a short stop if you are interested in the city's older buildings.
Combine it with a walk or cycle-rickshaw ride through the surrounding streets, which is one of the better ways to see the town at an unhurried pace.
9. Lord Buddha Museum
The Lord Buddha Museum, near Ram Garh Tal, is a nice and quiet place to visit. It is open until 4:30PM.
Because it closes in the late afternoon, visit it before you settle in at the lake for the evening. Its position near Ram Garh Tal makes it easy to pair the two.
10. Railway Museum
The Railway Museum holds a lot of collections related to Indian railways and Gorakhpur railway station. It is also a very good picnic place.
Treat it as a relaxed stop rather than a quick one, and bring something to eat if you want to use it as a picnic. It works well for families and for anyone interested in the railway history of the region.
11. Taramandal
Taramandal is where you can go boating. It sits in the same area as the planetarium, the zoo and the water park, which makes it easy to fold into a single outing.
Boating fits best in the cooler part of the day. If you are already at the planetarium for a show, add Taramandal before or after rather than making a separate journey.
12. Ambedkar Park
Ambedkar Park is one of the city's open spaces and a simple place to break up a day of sightseeing.
Use it as a rest stop between the larger attractions rather than a destination in itself, and combine it with a cycle-rickshaw ride around town.
13. Aroyga Mandir
Aroyga Mandir is one of the temples listed among the city's sights and can be added to a temple-focused day.
If you are already visiting Gorakhnath Math, Gita Vatika and Vishnu Mandir, slot this in with them to keep your travel efficient.
14. Chauri Chaura Shaheed Smarak
Chauri Chaura Shaheed Smarak is a memorial connected to the Chauri Chaura incident of February 1922, when a confrontation between police and protestors led to the deaths of 22 policemen and the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement by Mahatma Gandhi.
It is a place for travellers with an interest in the freedom movement rather than a casual stop, so give it the time it deserves and read up on the events beforehand.
15. Budhiya Mai Temple
Budhiya Mai Temple lies about 15 km from the railway station, which makes it the furthest stop on this list.
Because of the distance, plan it as a half-day trip of its own rather than trying to squeeze it between city sights. Arrange your transport before you set out.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Gorakhnath Math, then move on to Gita Vatika (Radha Krishna Mandir) and Vishnu Mandir while the temples are at their calmest. If time allows, add Aroyga Mandir to the same circuit.
Afternoon: Head to the Taramandal area. Visit the Lord Buddha Museum near Ram Garh Tal before it closes at 4:30PM, then take in a planetarium show at 1pm, 3pm or 5pm, and go boating at Taramandal. If you are travelling with children and the weather suits, the zoo and Neer Nikunj Water Park are on the same stretch of Buddha Vihar Road.
Evening: Finish at Ram Garh Tal, watching the light on the water, and take a cycle-rickshaw ride through town on the way back. If you have energy left, the Railway Museum is a good picnic spot, and the town's cinemas, including Raj, Jubilee and Vijay Picture Palace, are an option for a Hindi film.
Frequently asked questions
When should I visit the planetarium?
Shows run for 45 minutes at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm daily, and entry is ₹25. Plan your afternoon around one of those three slots.
How much does the water park cost?
Neer Nikunj Water Park charges ₹650 per person from Monday to Saturday and ₹750 per person on Sunday. It is open daily from 10AM to 8PM.
What can I do with children in Gorakhpur?
The planetarium is a good place to spark an interest in astronomy and physics, the zoo has big cats, deer, monkeys, bears, reptiles, birds and an aquarium, and Neer Nikunj Water Park has slides, pools, wave pools, a merry-go-round and a Ferris wheel.
How do I get around the city?
Hiring a cycle-rickshaw lets you travel slowly around the town, and in some places it is better to travel on foot.
Decide which of these stops matters most to you, check the planetarium show times and the museum's 4:30PM closing, and you have enough to start planning your days in Gorakhpur.