The town of Unnao (Hindi: उन्नाव, ') is the headquarters of Unnao District in Uttar Pradesh, India between Kanpur and Lucknow. It is approximately 18 km from Kanpur & 60 km from Lucknow . It is connected to these two cities by roadway as well as by railway. The nearest airport is at Amausi about 50 km from Unnao. Unnao district is a part of Central Ganges Plain of the state covering an area of 4558 km2.
History
History
The town of Unnao gives its name to the district of which it forms a part. About 1200 years ago, the site of this town was covered with extensive forests. Godo Singh, a Chauhan Rajput, cleared the forests, probably in the third quarter of the 12th century, and founded a town called Sawai Godo, which shortly afterwards passed into the hands of the rulers of the Kannauj, who appointed Khande Singh as the Governor of the place. Unwant Singh, a Bisen Rajput and a lieutenant of the Governor, killed him and built a fort here, renaming the place as Unnao after himself.
In ancient times, the area which comprises Unnao formed part of the Kosala Mahajanapada. It was later included in Oudh. This region has been inhabited since antiquity as traces from ancient times remain at some places in the district.
After the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, power was transferred from the British East India Company to the British Crown, by the Queen's Proclamation of 1858. Once the order was restored, the civil administration was re-established in the district which was named Unnao, with headquarters at Unnao. It assumed its present size in 1869. The same year the town of Unnao was constituted a Municipality.
There are various historical articles available on Unnao. The latest one is still in progress by Shaheer A. Mirza, who is tracking the history of earlyMughal settlements in a village called Jalalabad (settled by one Mirza Jalal Beg during the reign of Humayun) around Qasba Asiwan of Hasanganj Tehseel.
In ancient times the area which comprised of Unnao, the part of the Kosala Mahajanapada, was later included in Subha of Awadh or simply Awadh or Oudh. This region appeared to have seen civilized and settled life since very early times. Leftovers as traces from ancient times remain at some places in the district are however fairly interesting and gives the evidence of those sites.
In 636 AD, the famous Chinese pilgrim to India, Hiuen Tsang, stayed at Kannauj for 3 months. From there he covered a distance of about 26 km and reached the city of Na-fo-ti-po-ku-lo (Navadevakula) which stood on the eastern bank of Ganga. This city was about 5 km in circumference and had a magnificent Deva Temple, several Buddhist Monasteries and Stupas. This place, which is about 3 kms north-west of Bangarmau in tehsil Safipur, has been identified by some scholars with Nawal. It was supposed to represent the site of an important ancient city, believed to have been upturned in the 13th century by the curse of a saint, and still called Aundha Khera or Lauta Shahr both meaning an upturned city. The dargah of the Muslim saint, whose curse is said to have befallen the city, is not only the oldest Muslim monument at Bangarmau but perhaps, in the entire district. By far the most important ancient site in the district is perhaps Sanchankot, also known as Sujankot, which lies in village Ramkot, in Pargana Bangarmau of Tehsil Safipur about 55 km north-west of Unnao.
Godo Singh, Khande Singh, Unwant Singh, The British are the rulers who ruled the kingdom.
After the First War of Independence in 1857, power was transferred to the British Crown from British India Company, by the Queen’s assertion of 1858. The civil administration was re-established in the district immediately after the order was restored, which was named Unnao, with headquarters at Unnao. The same year the town of Unnao was constituted a Municipality.
Famous personalities- Unnao, rich in heritage of sword and pen, have produced great freedom fighters, poets and writers.
Many brave and heroic personalities named Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh, Maulana Hasarat Mohani, Ram Beni Madhav, Pd. Vishambher Dayal Tripathi, Thakur Jsasingh, Narpat Singh, Barjor Singh, Hathi Singh, Devi Bux Singh, Mansab Ali, Kasturi Singh, Bhopal Singh and Chandrika Bux Singh were born here and have played a significant role in the Country's freedom struggle and sacrificed their lives for the country.
The city is not left behind in the field of literature too. It has produced learned poets and writers. These includes Maharishi Valmiki, Pandit Gaya Shukla, Pratap Narayan Misra, Surya Kant Tripathi 'Nirala', Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Nand Dulare Bajpayee, Sumitra Kumari Sinha, Chandra Bhushan Trivedi (Ramai Kaka), Dr. Ram Vilas Sharma, Pandit Jagdambika Misra, Bhagwati Charan Verma, Pratap Narayan Misra and Shiv Mangal Singh 'Suman'.