Kanpur

The city of Kanpur is the largest city in Uttar Pradesh. Located on the banks of the holy river Ganges, this place has received a lot of attention from the ancient times. Kanpur is the administrative headquarters of the Kanpur division and the Kanpur Nagar District.

The name of the city, Kanpur is said to be derived from Kanhiyapur, which means the ‘Town of Kanhaiya’, which changed to Cawnpore during the British rule, gradually transforming to Kanpur. Yet another version suggests that the name comes from Karnapur, which means the ‘Town of Karna’.

The city is famous as the Leather City because it houses tanneries, which are among the largest and the best available in India. Kanpur is also renowned as the ‘Manchester of the East’. Having been a major centre of India’s industrial revolution, Kanpur is now well known for being a prominent centre for industrial and commercial activities.

Stats and Facts

• As per the census report of 2011, the population of Kanpur stands at 34,70,334.
• According to the same report, the sex ratio in Kanpur is 860 females per 1000 males, which is below the national average sex ratio of 940 per 1000 males. The sex ratio, however, has increased from the previous counting that occurred in 2001.
• Kanpur’s literacy rate is 72.80%, according to the census of 2011.
• In the whole of North India, Kanpur is the largest industrial city. Kanpur was ranked 75th in a list of the largest cities in the world.
• The first Indian Institute of Technology was set up in Kanpur. Kanpur is prominent center of education having institutions like IIT Kanpur, HBTI, GSVM Medical College, Sugar Institute and many private engineering colleges. Kakadeo is center of coaching for various competitive examinations.
• Kanpur is straddled by two important rivers, Ganga and Yamuna.
• The city finds place in the mythological tale of Ramayana.

Economy: Leather and Textile Industry

• Kanpur is known for its production and export of leather, which bagged it the name Leather City. The leather industry contributes highly to the economy of Kanpur. This city is the economic capital of Uttar Pradesh. It boasts of the highest GDP in the state and is only after Delhi in the whole of northern India.
• Though the number of textile industries has decreased in Kanpur over the years, it still contributes significantly. The presence of many textile mills in Kanpur resulted in it being known as the Manchester of the East.
• Other products like fertilizers, two wheelers, chemicals, soaps, hosiery, pan masala and engineering industries are present in Kanpur, adding to the growth of the prosperous economic conditions of the city.
• The largest Indian tanneries are located in Kanpur, which formed the base for the industrial sector in Kanpur during the British rule. Although the number of tanneries is decreasing due to the pollution factor, it continues to be a major contributor.

Connectivity

• The city of Kanpur is well connected to major cities like Delhi, Agra, Allahabad, Varanasi, Lucknow, Indore, Bhopal, and Ghaziabad. Many National Highways pass through Kanpur like NH-2, NH-25, NH-86, and NH-91.
• The city has its own Inter State Bus Station (ISBT), also known by the names Shaheed Major Salman Khan Bus Station and Jhakarkati Bus Station. There are other prominent bus stations like Chunniganj Depot, Kanpur Central MS Depot, Azad Nagar AC Bus Depot, and Fazalganj Bus Depot, which have buses plying back and forth within the different places in Uttar Pradesh.
• Kanpur has train connectivity to most of the important cities in India like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Surat, Nagpur, Jaipur, and Srinagar. The city has 18 railway stations, Kanpur Central being the main and largest station under North Central Railways.
• The airport at Kanpur has flights that connect the city to Delhi and Kolkata only. To reach other major cities, the nearest international airport is located at Lucknow, around 80 km from the city.
• The intra-city transport takes place mainly through buses. Buses run by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) connect most places within the city frequently. The Kanpur Upnagariya Parivahan Seva runs buses that connect Kanpur to the suburban towns and surrounding districts.

Lifestyle
Kanpur is home to quite a few places of interest, such as Shri Radhakrishna temple, Jain Glass temple, Allen Forest Zoo, Blue World Amusement Park, Kanpur memorial Church, Moti Jheel, Phool Bagh, Green Park Stadium, among others.

Localities in Kanpur