Kanpur
Kanpur is a large city in Uttar Pradesh situated on the banks of the Ganges River, spanning a wide area. It combines old colonial buildings with modern developments, busy markets full of leather goods, sarees and local crafts, and widespread factory industries producing chemicals, textiles, and leather products.
Kanpur was founded long ago by a ruler named Hindu Singh Chandel and grew from village settlements into a city. During colonial times it became an important British military and trading center, particularly after the Siege of Cawnpore in 1857, a major event in India's struggle for independence.
The name Kanpur comes from a local ruler named Hindu Singh Chandel. The city is known today for its leather industry, and in certain areas the smell of leather fills the air as craftspeople work in workshops and small factories throughout the neighborhoods.
The city is easy to reach by train, as Kanpur Central railway station connects it to many major cities, and there is also an airport for domestic flights. Locally you can travel by buses, auto rickshaws, and the new metro system, though the metro network is currently limited.
Kanpur holds the title Leather City of the World because of its extensive leather production and associated craftsmanship. The smell of leather in various parts of the city and the hands of workers bearing traces of their craft reveal the depth of this tradition.
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