History Of Kanpur

Positioned on the banks of the River Ganges, Kanpur is the major agricultural and industrial hub of India. Esteemed high for its cultural, historical, religious and economical importance, Kanpur surely has a story to narrate. The textile, leather and chemical industries situated in the place make Kanpur one of the busiest and liveliest cities in the country. Apart from flourishing industries, Kanpur is a home to some of the world famous institutions like IIT Kanpur, Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (HBTI), GSVM Medical College and University and Institute of Engineering and Technology. Just like the spectacular presence of city, the history of Kanpur woos its visitors with hoards of monuments, which conveys oodles on the magnificence and even the bitter side of royal rules. The city, which remained insignificant in early times, started flourishing under the hands of British. To explore the rich history of Kanpur, go through the article below.

Kanpur History

Origin Of The Name
The spectacular city of Kanpur, founded by great Hindu ruler, Singh Chandel, is admired even today for its magnificent history and flourishing industries. The origin of name Kanpur has several myths associated with it. According to a popular legend, the name Kanpur was derived from the word Kanhiyapur that literally meant the land of Krishna. In course of time, it became Kanhapur, which subsequently was changed to Kanpur. According to other belief, the name is believed to be have been derived from Karnapur which is associated with Karna, one of the noted heroes of Mahabharata.

Mythological Links
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma the creator of universe performed an Ashvamedh Yajna and established a shivalingam at Bithoor near Kanpur. As per the great epic Mahabharat, Duryodhana mesmerized by the warrior skills of Karna, presented the land of Kanpur to him. Moving to another great epic of the country Ramayana, it's said that queen Sita, after being abandoned by Lord Rama, spent her days in the tranquil ashram near Kanpur where she brought up her two twins Luv and Kush.

Magnificent Era In The History Of Kanpur
If you happen to go through the historical records, you will know that Kanpur, one of the most archaic townships of Northern India, has seen magnificent rules of Raja Kanti Deo, Harsha Vardhan, Mihir, Bhoj, Jai Chand and even some of the Muslim rulers. In 1765, Shuja-ud-daula, the Nawab Wazir of Awadh was defeated under the hands of British near Jajmau. Later in the year 1801, Kanpur became part of British rule in India after signing the treaty with Nawab Saadat Ali Khan of Awadh. Using this opportunity, many European businesspersons gradually established there trade in Kanpur. What's more, over the years, the place became a major military station for the British.

Satti Chaura Ghat Massacre
Satti Chaura Ghat Massacre was the greatest rebellion of Indians against British rule in 1857 that claimed several hundreds of innocent lives. As per the records, after the protests from several Indians, the British decided to move away from Kanpur to Allahabad through the routes of Satti Chaura Ghat. During their escape, several British officers and innocent people became victims of insurgency attack laid by Nana Sahib. Although many believe the incident was not planned by Nana Sahib and was a great accident, the effect and cruelty of the incident can never be erased from the pages of history.