Cawnpore

Cawnpore, officially Kanpur, is a major urban center in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Kanpur Nagar district and one of the largest cities in the state by population. The city lies on the banks of the Ganges in the central-northern part of Uttar Pradesh.

Historically, the area has hosted settlements since ancient times and developed as a regional trade and manufacturing hub under various rulers. In the 18th and 19th centuries it grew as a textile and leather processing center under the British East India Company and later became a focal point in colonial industry. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Cawnpore experienced a prolonged siege and significant military action, events that are widely referenced in historical accounts. Following 1858 the city expanded as an industrial town, earning the nickname a center for cotton and textile production.

Today, Kanpur retains a diversified economy with strong manufacturing, leather goods, textiles, engineering products, and chemical sectors. It hosts IIT Kanpur, one of India's leading engineering institutes, and the public university known as Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (formerly Kanpur University).

Transportation in Kanpur includes Kanpur Central railway station, one of India's busiest rail hubs, and connections to national highways that link the city with other major urban centers.

Culture and landmarks include sites such as the Allen Forest Zoo, Moti Jheel, and the historic area of Bithoor, associated with mythological traditions and events of 1857.

Name: The English exonym Cawnpore corresponds to the city now officially called Kanpur; both names are used in historical and contemporary contexts.