वाराणसी
Varanasi
Varanasi
Usage
A holy city on the Ganges with riverside ghats and temples. Locals also call it "बनारस". Known for silk saris.
Grammar Note
Stations and tickets write "वाराणसी"; in everyday speech people say "बनारस". Both mean the same city.
बनारस
Banaras
Banaras
Usage
The traditional name of Varanasi, still what local people say in daily speech.
Grammar Note
The official sign spelling is "वाराणसी"; in conversation "बनारस" is the more natural word.
पटना
Patna
Patna
Usage
The capital of Bihar, a big city stretched along the Ganges. Its ancient name was Pataliputra.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
गोरखपुर
Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur
Usage
A large city in eastern Uttar Pradesh and a major railway hub, home of the Gorakhnath temple.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
आरा
Arrah
Arrah
Usage
The district seat of Bhojpur in Bihar, one of the centres of the Bhojpuri-speaking area.
Grammar Note
Stations write "आरा"; in Latin letters it is Arrah.
बक्सर
Buxar
Buxar
Usage
A town on the Ganges at the western edge of Bihar, on the rail line from Patna toward Uttar Pradesh.
Grammar Note
Locals also say "बगसर", but signs and tickets write "बक्सर".
छपरा
Chhapra
Chhapra
Usage
The district seat of Saran in Bihar, a railway junction town between the Ganges and the Ghaghara.
Grammar Note
Stations write "छपरा"; the district itself is called "सारण".
सिवान
Siwan
Siwan
Usage
A town in western Bihar and seat of the district of the same name, not far from the Uttar Pradesh border.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
गोपालगंज
Gopalganj
Gopalganj
Usage
A town in north-west Bihar, from where a road leads on to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
बलिया
Ballia
Ballia
Usage
The easternmost district of Uttar Pradesh on the Ganges, facing Bihar across the river. A Bhojpuri-speaking land.
Grammar Note
Locally "बलियाँ" also appears, but signs write "बलिया".
गाजीपुर
Ghazipur
Ghazipur
Usage
A town on the Ganges in eastern Uttar Pradesh, to the east of Varanasi.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
मऊ
Mau
Mau
Usage
A town in eastern Uttar Pradesh known for weaving.
Grammar Note
It is a short name, so say it clearly as "mau".
आजमगढ़
Azamgarh
Azamgarh
Usage
A town in eastern Uttar Pradesh, near Nizamabad, which is known for black pottery.
Grammar Note
"ढ़" is a flapped retroflex sound; in Latin letters it is Azamgarh.
देवरिया
Deoria
Deoria
Usage
A town in eastern Uttar Pradesh, close to the Buddhist site of Kushinagar.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
कुशीनगर
Kushinagar
Kushinagar
Usage
A Buddhist holy place where the Buddha is said to have passed away. It has a reclining-Buddha temple, stupas and monasteries from many countries.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
जौनपुर
Jaunpur
Jaunpur
Usage
An old town on the river Gomti with medieval mosques and a stone bridge.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
मिर्जापुर
Mirzapur
Mirzapur
Usage
A town on the Ganges known for carpet weaving. The Vindhyachal temple is nearby.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
सासाराम
Sasaram
Sasaram
Usage
A town in south-west Bihar, with the tomb of Sher Shah Suri standing in a lake.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
मोतिहारी
Motihari
Motihari
Usage
A town in the Champaran region of Bihar, on the way to the Nepal border town of Raxaul.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
हाजीपुर
Hajipur
Hajipur
Usage
A town across the Ganges bridge from Patna, known for its bananas.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
सारनाथ
Sarnath
Sarnath
Usage
A Buddhist holy place just north of Varanasi, where the Buddha first taught. The Dhamek Stupa stands here.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
प्रयागराज
Prayagraj
Prayagraj
Usage
A holy place where the Ganges and Yamuna meet. Its former name was Allahabad.
Grammar Note
Tickets and signs write "प्रयागराज"; the older "इलाहाबाद" is still heard in speech.
बीरगंज
Birgunj
Birgunj
Usage
A town in Nepal's southern Terai and a main border crossing with India. The Indian side is Raxaul.
Grammar Note
In Nepali it is spelled "वीरगञ्ज"; here the Bhojpuri spelling is used.
रक्सौल
Raxaul
Raxaul
Usage
A border town in Bihar, facing Birgunj in Nepal.
Grammar Note
The station name in Latin letters is Raxaul.
बोधगया
Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya
Usage
The Buddhist site where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. The Mahabodhi Temple is a World Heritage Site.
Grammar Note
This is Magahi-speaking country, not the Bhojpuri heartland, but it is a common pilgrimage destination.
नालंदा
Nalanda
Nalanda
Usage
The ruins of an ancient Buddhist university in Bihar, a World Heritage Site.
Grammar Note
It lies in Magahi-speaking country but is a standard stop on a trip through Bihar.
वैशाली
Vaishali
Vaishali
Usage
An old town in Bihar north of the Gandak, with ruins linked to Buddhism and Jainism.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
लुंबिनी
Lumbini
Lumbini
Usage
A holy place in Nepal's southern Terai, regarded as the Buddha's birthplace. A World Heritage Site.
Grammar Note
"ं" marks the nasal before "ब". Some sources write "लुम्बिनी"; this set uses "लुंबिनी".
लखनऊ
Lucknow
Lucknow
Usage
The capital of Uttar Pradesh, a big city on the Ganges plain, reached by train from Varanasi or Gorakhpur.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
दिल्ली
Delhi
Delhi
Usage
India's capital. Many people from the Bhojpuri area work there, and direct trains leave from Patna and Varanasi.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
मुंबई
Mumbai
Mumbai
Usage
A huge city on India's west coast. Many people from the Bhojpuri area work there, and trains run home from it.
Grammar Note
"ं" marks the nasal before "ब". Older people also say the old name "बंबई".
कोलकाता
Kolkata
Kolkata
Usage
A big city in West Bengal. People from the Bhojpuri area have long gone there to work.
Grammar Note
Many people still say the old name "कलकत्ता"; signs write "कोलकाता".
काठमांडू
Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Usage
The capital of Nepal, reached by bus from the border town of Birgunj.
Grammar Note
"ं" marks the nasal before "ड".
काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Usage
The best-known Shiva temple in Varanasi, near the Ganges and always full of pilgrims.
Grammar Note
"विश्वनाथ" means "lord of the world", a name of Shiva. Bags usually have to be left at the entrance.
अस्सी घाट
Assi Ghat
Assi Ghat
Usage
The southern end of the stepped riverfront at Varanasi, where people gather for morning prayers and evening lamps.
Grammar Note
"घाट" is a flight of steps down to the river. Boats can be taken from here.
दशाश्वमेध घाट
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Usage
The busiest ghat in Varanasi, where the evening Ganga aarti is held every night.
Grammar Note
The name is long, so say "दशाश्वमेध" slowly to boat and rickshaw drivers.
संकट मोचन मंदिर
Sankat Mochan Temple
Sankat Mochan Temple
Usage
A temple of the god Hanuman in the south of Varanasi, busiest on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Grammar Note
"संकट मोचन" means "remover of troubles", a name of Hanuman.
बनारस हिंदू विश्वविद्यालय
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Usage
A large university in southern Varanasi, with its own temple and museum on the campus.
Grammar Note
It is shortened to BHU. Signs write "हिंदू"; "हिन्दू" also occurs.
रामनगर किला
Ramnagar Fort
Ramnagar Fort
Usage
An old fort of the rulers of Varanasi on the far bank of the Ganges, now a museum.
Grammar Note
Reached by boat across the Ganges or by road over the bridge.
गोलघर
Golghar
Golghar
Usage
An old round granary in Patna. A spiral stair leads to the top, with views of the Ganges and the city.
Grammar Note
"गोल" means "round" and "घर" means "house".
गोरखनाथ मंदिर
Gorakhnath Temple
Gorakhnath Temple
Usage
A large temple in the middle of Gorakhpur, the seat of the monastery that follows Gorakhnath.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
महाबोधि मंदिर
Mahabodhi Temple
Mahabodhi Temple
Usage
The temple at Bodh Gaya beside the tree under which the Buddha is said to have found enlightenment. A World Heritage Site.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
सोनपुर मेला
Sonpur Mela
Sonpur Mela
Usage
A huge fair held at the meeting of the Ganges and the Gandak around the autumn full moon, famous for its livestock market.
Grammar Note
"मेला" means a fair.
गंगा नदी
Ganga River
Ganges River
Usage
The great river that flows past Varanasi and Patna, central to daily life and worship in the Bhojpuri area.
Grammar Note
"गंगा" is the river's name; it is also called a holy mother. In Latin letters it is Ganga.
सरयू नदी
Saryu River
Saryu River
Usage
A river from the Himalaya through eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar into the Ganges. Locally also called "सरजू" and "घाघरा".
Grammar Note
Maps and bridge signs write "सरयू"; in speech "सरजू" is common.
गंडक नदी
Gandak River
Gandak River
Usage
A river from Nepal through Bihar into the Ganges, joining it near Sonpur.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
सोन नदी
Son River
Son River
Usage
A river in western Bihar that joins the Ganges near Patna.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
वाराणसी जंक्शन
Varanasi Junction
Varanasi Junction
Usage
The main railway station of Varanasi, with trains toward Delhi and Kolkata. Also called "Cantt".
Grammar Note
The board in Latin letters reads Varanasi Junction. "जंक्शन" means a junction station.
पटना जंक्शन
Patna Junction
Patna Junction
Usage
The big station in the middle of Patna, with trains toward Delhi, Kolkata and Varanasi.
Grammar Note
The board reads Patna Junction. Say "पटना जंक्शन" to a taxi or rickshaw driver.
गोरखपुर जंक्शन
Gorakhpur Junction
Gorakhpur Junction
Usage
The main station of Gorakhpur, known for its very long platform and a changing point for the Nepal border.
Grammar Note
The board reads Gorakhpur Junction.
लाल बहादुर शास्त्री अंतर्राष्ट्रीय हवाईअड्डा
Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
Usage
The airport of Varanasi, at Babatpur about 25 kilometres north-west of the city.
Grammar Note
In daily speech it is also "बाबतपुर हवाईअड्डा". "हवाईअड्डा" means airport.
जयप्रकाश नारायण अंतर्राष्ट्रीय हवाईअड्डा
Jay Prakash Narayan Airport
Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport
Usage
The airport of Patna, close to the city centre, with flights to Delhi, Kolkata and other cities.
Grammar Note
You can also just say "पटना हवाईअड्डा".
बिहार
Bihar
Bihar
Usage
A state in eastern India. Bhojpuri is spoken in the west of the state, and the capital is Patna.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
उत्तर प्रदेश
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Usage
A big state in northern India. Bhojpuri is spoken in its east, around Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
पूर्वांचल
Purvanchal
Purvanchal
Usage
The name for eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Ballia.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
भोजपुर
Bhojpur
Bhojpur
Usage
A district in western Bihar with Arrah as its seat. The Bhojpuri language takes its name from it.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
नेपाल
Nepal
Nepal
Usage
The country to the north of Bihar. In its southern Terai plain many people speak Bhojpuri.
Grammar Note
The spelling follows signs and tickets.
More Bhojpuri phrases
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