Ballia, city, eastern Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It lies along the Ganges (Ganga) River, 75 miles (120 km) northeast of Varanasi (Benares).
The city developed from an ancient settlement, which occasionally has been moved northward because of changes in the river’s course. Ballia is an administrative, trade, and business centre, with oilseed and flour mills. The city has two colleges and an annual cattle fair. It is connected by rail with Varanasi and other northern Indian cities.
Ballia is situated in an area that comprises the eastern tip of Uttar Pradesh, jutting into Bihar state. That area is a wedge of alluvial plain between the Ganges and Ghaghara rivers at their confluence. The fertile land, frequently flooded by the rivers, supports rice, barley, chickpeas, millet, legumes, oilseeds, and sugarcane. Pop. (2001) 101,465; (2011) 104,424.