Gorakhpur and Varanasi are important cities in this region.

It primarily consists of the Bhojpuri-speaking areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The region remains one of the most underdeveloped in India in terms of human development index and economic prosperity.

Due to general lack of well-developed industries and employment opportunities, the region suffers significant brain drain.

People from the Bhojpuri region have demanded separate statehood for Purvanchal, with Varanasi or Gorakhpur as its capital[1] and Bhojpuri as the official language of Purvanchal state.