| Page Views: 1,583 Last Visit to Kanpur: January, 1979 I Used To Live Here | My Lovin' City - Kanpur !! by offbeatentrekker - last update: Apr 20, 2006 |
History of The City - Kanpur !! | City Railway Station - Kanpur |
Kanpur stands as one of North India's major industrial centers with its own historical, religious and commercial importance. Believed to be founded by king Hindu Singh of the erstwhile state of Sachendi, Kanpur was originally known as 'Kanhpur'.
Upto the 1st half of the 18th century Kanpur continued to survive as an insignificant village. Its fate, however, took a new turn soon after. In May 1765, Shuja-ud-daula, the Nawab Wazir of Awadh, was defeated by the British near Jajmau. It was probably at this time that strategic importance of the site of Kanpur was realized by the British. European businessmen had by this time gradually started establishing themselves in Kanpur. In order to ensure protection to their lives and property the `Awadh local forces? were shifted here in 1778. Kanpur passed into British hands under the treaty of 1801 with Nawab Saadat Ali Khan of Awadh. This forms a turning point in the history of Kanpur. Soon Kanpur became one of the most important military station of British India. It was declared a district on 24th March 1803.
Kanpur was soon to become the epicentre of the outbreak of 1857, as some of the leading luminaries of the War of Independence hailed from her, namely ? Nana Sahib, Tantiya Tope, Azimoolah Khan and Brigadier Jwala Prasad. The three strategic events of the 1857 war at Kanpur were the fight at `wheeler?s entrenchment?, the `massacre at Sati Chaura Ghat? and the `Bibighar massacre?. Nana Sahib had declared independence on the 7th of June 1857 at Kanpur.
The Bibighar was dismantled by the British and reoccupation of Kanpur and a `memorial railing and a cross? raised at the site of the well. The well is now bricked over. Only remains of a circular ridge survive, which can be still seen at the Nana Rao Park. The Kanpur Memorial Church ? `The all soul cathedral? was raised in honor of the fallen at the north-east corner of Wheeler?s entrenchment in 1862 by the British. The marble gothic screen with famous `mournful seraph? was transferred to the churchyard of All Souls church after independence in 1947, and in its place a bust of Tantiya Tope installed as Nana Rao Park.
After 1857, the development of Kanpur was even more phenomenal. Government Harness and Saddler Factory was started for supplying leather material for army in 1860, followed by Cooper Allen & Co. in 1880. The first cotton textile mill, the Elgin Mills were started in 1862 and Moir? Mills in 1882.
Today besides being the most industrialized region of the state, Kanpur is also an important educational centre, with institutions like Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, Agricultural College, Indian Institute of Technology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, National Sugar Institute and Government Textile Institute being located here.
Apart from playing a stellar role in the development of the country as a whole, Kanpur has also been instrumental in making an unforgettable contribution to the Indian freedom struggle. A favorite centre of activities of stalwarts like Nanarao Peshwa, Tantiya Tope, Sardar Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekhar Azad among others, Kanpur is also the birth place of Shyamlal Gupta `Parshad?, composer of the famous patriotic ditty `Vijayee Vishwa Tiranga Pyara?.
The propagation and popularization of Hindi also owes much to this city, with great Hindu literatures like Acharya Mahavir Parasad Dwivedi, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, Pratap Narain Mishra, Acharya Gaya Prasad Shukla `Sanehi? and Balkrishna Sharma `Navin? having hailed from here. |
|  | Places Of Interest in Kanpur ! # The Kanpur Memorial Church
All soul's cathedral The Kanpur Memorial Church was bult in 1875, in honour of the British who lost their lives in the war of 1857. The Church was designed by Walter Granville, architect of the east Bengal Railway. The complete Church in Lombardic Gothic style is handsomely executed in bright red brick, with polychrome dressings. The interior contains monuments to the mutiny, including several memorial tablets. In a separate enclosure to the east of the church is the Memorial Garden, approached through two gateways.
# Harcourt Butler Technological Institute
The Harcourt Butler Institute of Technology was established in 1920 at Kanpur and is engaged in imparting technical training & industrial research.
# Indian Institute of Technology
One of the five IIT's set up in 1959 at Kanpur, it provides education in the fields of engineering, technology, science & humanities.
# Ganesh Shanker Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College
The GSVM Medical College, established in 1957, is one of the leading medical colleges of the country.
# Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology
Established in 1957 to provide education of agriculture, animal husbandry & veterinary sciences for the benefit of rural people.
Among other sites worth visiting at Kanpur are the Hanuman temple-Panki, Anandeshwar temple, Jageshwar temple, Dwarikadhish temple, Prayaganarayan temple, Kailash temple, Buddhadevi temple, Kherepati temple, Varahidevi temple, Bhairav temple and Tulsi Upvan (Moti Jheel).
# Jajmau
The mound of Jajmau, on the eastern end of the city occupies a high place among ancient sites of the region. Excavations of the mound were undertaken during 1957-58 which unearthed antiquities ranging from 600 BC to 1600 AD. Jajmau, known as Siddhapuri in ancient times, is supposed to have been the kingdom of Yayati, the Pauranic king and the high mound overhanging the Ganga is known as the site of his fort. Today, Jajmau houses the Siddhnath and Siddha Devi temples and the mausoleum of Makhdum Shah ala-ul-Haq, the famous Sufi saint, built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1358. a mosque built by Kulich Khan in 1679 also stands here.
# Jain Glass Temple
It is situated in Maheswari Mohal behind behind the Kamla Tower. It is abeautiful temple higly decorated with glass and enamel works.
# Allen Forset Zoo
The Kanpur Zoo was opened in 1971 and ranks among one of the best zoos of the country. It is an ideal place for outdoor life and picnics amongst pictuuersque surroundings.
# Shri Radhakrishna Temple (J.K.Temple)
Beautifully constructed, J.K. Temple is a boon to the devotees. Built by J.K. Trust this architectural delight is a unique blend of ancient architecture with the modern. The even-level roofs of the mandaps have been provided with adequate ventilation for sufficient Light and air. Among the five shrins that the temple has the central one is consecrated to Shri Laxminarayan, Shri Aradhanarishwar, Shri Narmadeshwar and Shri Hanuman.
# Kamla Retreat
Lies To the west of the Agriculture College in immediate nieghbourhood of the Allen Forest. It is under the possession of Singhania family and is a beautry spot of the city. Ther is a swimming tank with an equipment for producing artificial waves and suitable Arrangement for lighting. Besides parks and a cnal with facilities for boating, a zoo is also maintained. Kamla Retreat also houses a museam which has a good coollection of historical and archaelogical artifacts. Visitors are allowed only with prior permission from Deputy General Manager(Administration), Kamla Tower, Kamlanagar
# Phool Bagh
It is a beautiful park in the heart of the city on the Mall Road. In the centre of the park is a building known as Ganesh Shanker Vidyarthi Mororial. After the first World War there was an Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Hospital in this building. It is now known as Ganesh Udyan.
# Nana Rao Park
To the west of Phool Bagh is located the Nana Rao Park. It is the site of the 'Bibighar' og 1857. the Park was renamed as Nana Rao park after independence. |
How 2 reach !! Air
Chakeri Airport, Kanpur, has become operational since January 1996 and is serviced by , Archana Airways and other private airlines. Apart from this the nearest airport is Amausi, Lucknow, 65 km.
Rail
Connections to all the major stations of the country by express, super-fast and passenger trains.
Road
Kanpur is connected by road with all the major cities of the country. It is situated on National Highway No. 2 on the Delhi-Agra-Allahabad-Calcutta route and on National Highway No. 25 on the Lucknow-Jhansi-Shivpuri route. Distances from some destinations in the region:
Lucknow – 79 km.
Allahabad – 193 km.
Varanasi – 329 km.
Khajuraho – 398 km.
Agra – 269 km.
Jhansi – 222 km. | | |
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