Kanpur

Surrounded by Ganga and Yamuna on its sides, Kanpur is the largest city of the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the centre of the state’s commercial and industrial activities. Spread over an area of 1640 square kilometres, Kanpur is the ninth most populous city in India.

The king Kanti Deo of Prayag had established Kanpur in early 13th century. Sur Dynasty was a dominant kingdom in Kanpur during that period. There have been different theories doing the rounds regarding the origination of the city’s name, Kanpur. Whilst some believe that the name is derived from Kanhaiyapur, that translates into ‘Town of Kanhaiya”, there are others who say that it was derived from karnapur, which means, “Town of Karna”.

The history of Kanpur has a major hand in embroiding the culture of the city. British defeated Shuja-ud-daula in 1756 and reigns of Kanpur were passed into British hands in 1801. The change of powers marks an important event in the history of Kanpur. Many significant and progressive changes were made in the city and it became an important military station of the British.

Not only by the British rule, but the history of Kanpur is also decorated by various legendary poets and composers of that era. Gopal das ‘Niraj’ and Bal Krishna Sharma are the most famous poets. The Hindi literatteurs like Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi are credited for popularising the Hindi language in the country. As a culturally event, Ganga mela is the most celebrated festival in Kanpur. This festival is characterized by colours, music, poem recitation and much more.

The climatic conditions in Kanpur are sub-tropical. While summers are long, hot and humid, winters on the other hand can be extremely chilly sometimes but relatively shorter. Its climate makes it suitable for a variety of birds, resident and migratory. The Kanpur zoo is a major tourist spot in the cityand is known to host a vast variety of animals.

Kanpur is famous for its two suburbs, Bithoor and Jajmau. Valmiki, the legendary poet, is believed to have written Ramayana in the Valmiki Ashram, which is located at Bithoor. Kanpur is known to be home for some historical temples that have their roots in ancient history. Kherepati Temple, Radha-Krishna Temple, Siddhant Temple and Anandeshwar Temple are some of the most famous temples in Kanpur.

Kanpur, a combination of modernity with history, is one place you should visit and you are rest assured to have a majestic time.

Advertisements