Varanasi division

The division consists of 4 districts, i.e. Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, and Jaunpur and is loosely equivalent to the Benares State.

In the 18th century the Mughal Empire was dissolving, and the eastern portion of present-day Uttar Pradesh State came under the control of Saadat Ali Khan I, the first Nawab of Awadh.

On Mansa Ram's death in 1739, his son Balwant Singh succeeded him, and established himself raja of Benares State.

[3] The Division had an area of 10,431 square miles, and was part of the United Provinces of British India.

In 1947, after India became independent, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh were renamed Uttar Pradesh.