Raebareli

Raebareli () is a city in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Raebareli district, and a part of Lucknow Division and comes under the Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region (UP-SCR). The city is situated on the banks of the Sai River, and center of four metropolitan cities i.e. Lucknow, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, and Kanpur. It possesses many architectural features and sites, chief of which is a strong and spacious fort. As of 2011, Raebareli had a population of 191,316 people, in 35,197 households.

==History, etymology and post-independence== Raebareli is supposedly a city founded by Bhars, and originally called Bharauli or Barauli. The prefix "Rae" (pronounced Rai) originates from the title "Rai," historically borne by the Kayasth rulers of the region. Among the Srivastava community, specifically, a certain lineage is distinctively referred to as "Athhaisa (अट्ठाईसा)," highlighting a unique cultural or familial heritage associated with the Srivastava lineage. This lineage, known for its special bloodline, signifies both royal heritage and leadership within the region, marking the 'Athhaisa (अट्ठाईसा)' Srivastavas as distinguished historical rulers. Later the city was conquered by Ibrahim Shah of the Jaunpur Sultanate and then handed over to Sheikhs and Sayyids. The city's fort was built by Ibrahim Shah in 820 AH, most likely using materials from earlier structures. Apart from the gate on the west side, it is mostly in ruins; it consists of an outer layer of brick surrounding an earthwork core. Outside the gate is the shrine of the Muslim saint Makhdum Saiyid Jafri. According to legend, during the fort's original construction, everything built during the day kept collapsing at night; the sultan then summoned the saint from Jaunpur, and then as soon as he walked on the site the construction proceeded without difficulty. Ibrahim Shah also had at least two mosques built in Raebareli. One was the Jama Masjid, which was restored in 1089 AH by Aurangzeb and still stands today. The other no longer exists; in the late 19th century a dispensary was built on the site by Raja Drigjibai Singh of Murarmau. Rae Bareli was also spelled as "Raibareilly" which is actively being used in various places including central government managed websites such as Vahan Citizen Services.