Kanpur

Kanpur (Hindustani: /kɑːnˈpʊər/ ), originally named Kanhapur and formerly anglicized as Cawnpore, is the second largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh after Lucknow. It was the primary financial and commercial centre of northern India. Founded in the year 1207 by Rajput ruler Raja Kanh Deo, Kanpur became one of the most important commercial and military stations of British Raj. Kanpur had been the major financial and industrial centre of northern India and also the ninth-largest urban economy in India. Today it is famous for its colonial architecture, gardens, sweets, dialect, and high-quality leather, plastic and textile products which are exported mainly to the West. The city is home to historical monuments such as the Jajmau Ghat which dates back to the 17th century AD. Kanpur is also home to several historical sites such as the Kanpur Museum, Bhitargaon Temple, European Cemetery and Nanarao Park. It is the 12th most populous city and the 11th most populous urban agglomeration in India (Census of India, 2011). Kanpur was an important British garrison town until 1947, when India gained independence. The urban district of Kanpur Nagar serves as the headquarters of the Kanpur Division, Kanpur Range and Kanpur Zone. Some of the more popular places in Kanpur include J.K. Temple, Z Square Mall, Blue World Amusement Park, Atal Ghat, Green Park Stadium and Ganga Barrage. It was the most populous urban city in the 2011 Indian census and the largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh while the population of city and its suburbs were around 5 million, making it the eighth-most populous metropolitan area in India.