Kannauj

2021-08-27T10:04:27Z

2409:4064:2107:DC0B:DD87:FB5C:7C2D:4C9A:

{{About|the municipality in Uttar Pradesh, India|its namesake district|Kannauj district}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kannauj
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Goddess Annapurna Temple ,tirwa town,stateUttar Pradesh.jpg| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname = ''Perfume Capital of India''
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India#India Uttar Pradesh
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|27.07|N|79.92|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kannauj district|Kannauj]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 139
| population_total = 84,862

| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 209725
| registration_plate = UP-74

| website = {{URL|www.kannauj.nic.in}}
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi, Urdu]]
}}
'''Kannauj''' ([[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Hindi and Urdu|[kənːɔːd͡ʒ]]]) is a city, administrative headquarters and a [[municipal board]] or [[Nagar palika|Nagar Palika Parishad]] in [[Kannauj district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The city's name is a modern form of the classical name ''Kanyakubja''.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest|author=Rama Shankar Tripathi|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|year=1989|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Tnh2QjGhMQC&pg=PA2|page=2|isbn=978-81-208-0404-3}}</ref> It was also known as ''Mahodaya'' during the time of [[Mihira Bhoja]]<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/sanjeev-singh-blog/why-gurjara-is-not-gujjar-a-historical-perspective/</ref>

Kannauj is an ancient city. It is said that the [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]]s who included [[Shandilya]] (teacher of Rishi [[Bharadwaja]]) were held one of the three prominent families originally from Kannauj.<ref name="US_2008">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA381 |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India |author=Upinder Singh |publisher=Pearson Education India |year=2008 |isbn=9788131711200 |page=575 }}</ref>

In [[Classical India]], it served as the center of imperial Indian dynasties. The earliest of these was the [[Maukhari dynasty]], and later, Emperor [[Harsha]] of the [[Vardhana dynasty]].<ref name="Tripathi, p.192">Tripathi, ''History of Kanauj'', p.192</ref> The city later came under the [[Gahadavala|Gahadavala dynasty]], and under the rule of [[Govindachandra (Gahadavala dynasty)|Govindachandra]], the city reached "unprecedented glory". Kannauj was also the main place of war in the [[Tripartite struggle]] between the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty|Gurjars]], the [[Pala Empire|Palas]] and the [[Rashtrakuta Empire|Rashtrakutas]].

However, the "glory of Imperial Kannauj" ended with conquests of the [[Delhi Sultanate]].<ref name=Sen/>

Kannauj is famous for distilling of scents. It is known as ''India’s perfume capital'' and is famous for its traditional [[Kannauj Perfume]], a government protected entity,<ref name=perfume>{{cite web | url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2012/09/20/2003543194 | title=Life: India's perfume capital threatened by scent of modernity | publisher=The Taipei Times | access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Kanauj |volume=15 |page=648}}</ref>

Kannauj itself has more than 200 perfume distilleries and is a market center for tobacco, ''Ittar'' ([[Kannauj Perfume|perfume]]), and rose water.<ref name=perfume/> It has given its name to a distinct dialect of the [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] known as [[Kanauji language|Kanauji]], which has two different codes or registers.

==History==
=== Early history ===
Archaeological discoveries show that Kannauj was inhabited by the [[Painted Grey Ware]] and [[Northern Black Polished Ware]] cultures,<ref>Dilip K. Chakrabarti (2007), ''Archaeological geography of the Ganga plain: the upper Ganga (Oudh, Rohilkhand, and the Doab)'', p.47</ref> ca. 1200-600 BCE and ca. 700-200 BCE, respectively. Under the names of Kuśasthala and Kanyakubja, it is mentioned as a well-known town in the Hindu Epics, the [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Ramayana]], and by the grammarian [[Mahābhāṣya|Patanjali]] (ca. 150 BCE).<ref>Rama S. Tripathi, ''History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest'' (Motilal Banarsidass, 1964), pp.2,15-16</ref> The [[Pali Canon|early Buddhist literature]] mentions Kannauj as Kannakujja, and refers to its location on the trade route from [[Mathura]] to [[Varanasi]] and [[Rajgir]].<ref>Moti Chandra (1977), ''Trade Routes in Ancient India'' pp.16-18</ref>

Kannauj may have been known to the Greco-Roman civilization under the name of Kanagora or Kanogiza, which appears in ''Geography'' by [[Ptolemy]] (ca. 140 CE), but this identification is not confirmed. It was also visited by the Chinese Buddhist travellers [[Faxian]] and [[Xuanzang]] in the fifth and seventh centuries CE, respectively.<ref>Tripathi, ''History of Kanauj'', pp.17-19</ref>

[[File:Maukharis of Kanauj. Isanavarman. Circa AD 535-553.jpg|thumb|250px|Coin of the [[Maukhari]]s of Kannauj under Maharaja Isanavarman, circa 535-553 CE.]]
[[File:Harshavardhana Circa AD 606-647.jpg|thumb|250px|Coin of [[Harsha|Emperor Harsha]] of the [[Vardhana dynasty]], circa 606–647 CE.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=261204|title=CNG: eAuction 329. INDIA, Post-Gupta (Ganges Valley). Vardhanas of Thanesar and Kanauj. Harshavardhana. Circa AD 606-647. AR Drachm (13mm, 2.28 g, 1h).|website=www.cngcoins.com}}</ref>]]
Kannauj formed part of the [[Gupta Empire]]. During the decline of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century, the [[Maukhari dynasty]] of Kannauj - who had served as vassal rulers under the Guptas - took advantage of the weakening of central authority, broke away and established control over large areas of northern India.<ref>Tripathi, ''History of Kanauj'', pp.22-24</ref>

Under the Maukharis, Kannauj continued to grow in importance and prosperity. It became the greatest city of Northern India under Emperor [[Harsha]] (r. 606 to 647 CE) of the [[Vardhana dynasty]], who conquered it and made it his capital.<ref>Tripathi, ''History of Kanauj'', p.147</ref><ref>James Heitzman, ''The City in South Asia'' (Routledge, 2008), p.36</ref> Chinese pilgrim [[Xuanzang]] visited India during the reign of Harsha, and described Kannauj as a large, prosperous city with many Buddhist monasteries.<ref>Heizman, ''The City in South Asia'', pp.36-37</ref> Harsha died with no heir, resulting in a power vacuum until Maharaja [[Yashovarman]] seized power as the ruler of Kannauj.<ref name="Tripathi, p.192"/>

=== The Kannauj Triangle ===
{{anchor | TKT | | Triangle | Kannauj triangle | Kannauj Triangle | The Kannauj triangle | The Kannauj Triangle }}
{{see also | Roopkund#Jasdhaval | l1= Raja Jasdhaval at Roopkund }}

These wars took place from late 8th to early 9th century CE, after which Gurjara Pratiharas retain control of Ujjain.

Kannauj became a focal point for three powerful dynasties, namely the [[Gurjara Pratihara]]s (r. 730-1036 CE), [[Pala Empire|Palas]] (r. 750-1162 CE) and [[Rashtrakuta]]s (r. 753-982 CE), between the 8th and 10th centuries. The conflict between the three dynasties has been referred to as the [[Tripartite struggle]] by many historians.<ref name="Kannauj">{{cite book|title=Pratiyogita Darpan|publisher=Upkar Prakashan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K7ZZzk8cXh8C&pg=PA9|page=9}}</ref><ref name="R. C. Majumdar">{{cite book|title=Ancient India|author=R.C. Majumdar|author-link=R.C. Majumdar|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=1994|pages=282–285|isbn=978-81-208-0436-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XNxiN5tzKOgC&pg=PA282}}</ref>

[[File:Indian Kanauj triangle map.svg|thumb|left|100px|The [[Kanauj]] was the focal point of three [[empire]]s: the [[Rashtrakuta]]s of [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]], the Gurjara Pratiharas of [[Malwa]], and the [[Pala Empire|Palas]] of [[Bengal]].]]
There were initial struggles but ultimately the Gurjara Pratiharas succeeded in retaining the city.<ref name="Kannauj" /> The Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled [[Avanti (India)|Avanti]] (based at [[Ujjain]]), which was bounded to the South by the Rashtrakuta Empire, and the Pala Empire to the East. The Tripartite struggle began with the defeat of Indrayudh at the hands of Gurjara-Pratihara ruler [[Vatsraja|Vatsaraja]] (r. 780-800 CE).<ref name="Kannauj" /> The Pala ruler [[Dharmapala (emperor)|Dharampala]] (~770-821 CE) was also keen to establish his authority at Kannauj, giving rise to a struggle between Vatsaraja and Dharmapala, in which Dharmapala was defeated.<ref>{{cite book|title=Compendium General Knowledge|author=Kumar Sundram|publisher=Upkar Prakashan|year=2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7XliTyOXI5kC&pg=PA195|page=195|isbn=978-81-7482-181-2}}</ref> Taking advantage of the chaos, the Rastrakuta ruler [[Dhruva Dharavarsha]] (r. 780–793 CE) surged northwards, defeated Vatsaraja, and took Kannauj for himself, completing the furthest northern expansion by a South Indian ruler.<ref name="R. C. Majumdar" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Pratiyogita Darpan|publisher=Upkar Prakashan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K7ZZzk8cXh8C&pg=PA7}}</ref>

When the Rashtrakuta ruler Dhruva Dharavarsha advanced back to the south, Dharampala was left in control of Kannauj for some time. The struggle between the two northern dynasties of Palas and Gurjara Pratiharas continued: the Pala's vassal [[Dharmapala_(emperor)#Chakrayudha|Chakrayudha]] (Dharmapala's nominee for Ujjain) was defeated by the Pratihara [[Nagabhata II]] (r. 805–833 CE), and Kannauj was again occupied by the Gurjara Pratiharas. Dharmapala tried to take control of Kannauj but was defeated badly at [[Munger_Fort#Etymology|Moongher]] by the Gurjara Pratiharas.<ref name="Kannauj" /> However, Nagabhata II was in turn soon defeated by the [[Rashtrakuta]] [[Govinda III]] (r. 793–814 CE) , who had initiated a second northern surge. An inscription states that Chakrayudha and Dharmapala invited Govinda III to war against the Gurjara Pratiharas, but Dharmapala and Chakrayudh both submitted to the Govinda III, in order to win his sympathy. After this defeat, Pratihara power degenerated for some time. After the death of Dharampala, Nagabhata II regained hold over Kannuaj and made it the capital of the Gurjara Pratihara Empire. During this period, the Rashtrakutas were facing some internal conflicts, and so they, as well as the Pala Empire, did not contest this.<ref name="Kannauj" /> Thus Gurjara Pratiharas became the greatest power in Northern India after occupying Kannauj (9th century CE).<ref name="Kannauj" />

===Medieval times===
Famous Pir-e-Kamil, Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna Al-Naqvi Al-Bokhari was also born in Kannauj in 1493 in the reign of King Sikandar Lodi. He was a descendant of [[Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari]] and his father Syed Sadar-ud-din Shah Kabeer Naqvi Al Bukhari was a great saint and was also among the advisors of King Sikandar Lodhi. [[Shah Jewna]] migrated to [[Shah Jeewna]] (a town named after him) now in Pakistan. Shah Jewna’s colonized towns in [[Kannauj]] :- Siray- e-Miraan, Bibiyaan Jalalpur, Makhdoom Pur, Laal Pur (associated with the name of Saint Sayyed Jalaluddin Haider Surkh Posh Bukhari or Laal Bukhari). His descendants still present in various parts of India and Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pir-e-Kamil Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna Al-Naqvi Al-Bokhari|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/469327-pir-e-kamil-hazrat-pir-shah-jewna-al-naqvi-al-bokhari|access-date=2021-01-01|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-05-09|title=Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA)|url=https://nation.com.pk/10-May-2012/hazrat-pir-shah-jewna-ra|access-date=2021-01-01|website=The Nation|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian Journal Of Archaeology|url=http://ijarch.org/CurrentIssue.aspx|access-date=2021-01-01|website=ijarch.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust|url=http://nazariapak.info/Sufism/Pir-Shah-Jewna.php|access-date=2021-01-01|website=nazariapak.info}}</ref>

Sultan [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] captured Kanauj in 1018. [[Chandradeva]] founded the [[Gahadvala]] dynasty with its capital at Kanauj around 1090. His grandson [[Govindachandra (Gahadavala dynasty)|Govindachandra]] "raised Kanauj to unprecedented glory." [[Muhammad Ghori]] advanced against the city, and in the [[Battle of Chandwar]] of 1193 killed [[Jayachandra]]. Jai Chandra had earlier not supported [[Prithviraj Chauhan]] when the latter faced Muhammad Ghori and lost the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192

[[Al-Biruni|Alberuni]] has referred to "Kanoj" as the key geographical point to explain marching distances to other Indian cities <ref>(India, Vol 1, from p 199 onwards, Translated by Dr Edward C. Sachau, London 1910).</ref> The "glory of Imperial Kanauj" ended with [[Iltutmish]]'s conquest.<ref name="Sen">Sen, S.N., 2013, A Textbook of Medieval Indian History, Delhi: Primus Books, {{ISBN|9789380607344}}</ref>{{rp|21,32–33}}

[[Sher Shah Suri]] defeated [[Humayun]] at the battle of Kannauj on 17 May 1540.

===Colonial period===
During early English rule in India, the city was spelled '''Cannodge''' by them. The [[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.81794/page/n70/mode/1up/search/Hakim|Nawab Hakim Mehndi Ali Khan]] has been constantly associated with the development of city of kannouj by the travellers and writers of the period. A ghat ([[iarchive:wanderingsofpilg02parluoft/page/16/mode/1up|Mehndighat]]), a Sarai (for the free stay of travellers and merchants) and various metalled roads were built by the Nawab which also bear his name.

== Geography ==
Kannauj is located at {{Coord|27.07|N|79.92|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Kannauj.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Kannauj]</ref> It has an average elevation of 139 metres (456 feet).

== Demographics ==
{{As of|2001}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Kannauj had a population of 71,530. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Kannauj has an average literacy rate of 58%: male literacy is 64%, and female literacy is 52%. In Kannauj, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

==Colleges==
===Medical College===
[[Government Medical College, Kannauj]] is a government medical college located in Tirwa of Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is affiliated to [[King George's Medical University|King George's Medical University, Lucknow]].

===Engineering College===
[[Government Engineering College, Kannauj]] is a government [[engineering college]] located at Kannauj. It is a constituent college of [[Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University]] (formerly [[Uttar Pradesh Technical University]]) in [[Lucknow]]. The college is situated at Aher, Tirwa.

==Transportation==
The city is served by two major railway station [[Kannauj railway station]] and [[Kannauj City railway station]]. The nearest airport is [[Kanpur Airport]] situated about 2 hours drive from the town.

It is situated on GT road(Delhi to Kanpur). It has road transportation Kannauj Depo. under the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transportation Corporation(UPSRTC).

==Notable people==


*[[Āma]], King of Kannauj
*[[Malini Awasthi]], folk singer
*[[Mihira Bhoja]], King of North India
*[[Shah Jewna]], Missionary or Pir
*[[Sayyid Muhammad Qanauji]], Sufi
*[[Samyukta]], Princess of Kannauj
*[[Yashovarman]], King of Kannauj

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Majumdar, R. C., In Pusalker, A. D., In Majumdar, A. K., & Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,. (1993). The age of imperial Kanauj.

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://kannauj.nic.in/ District Kannauj Website.]
* {{cite news | url=http://travel.cnn.com/mumbai/life/pictures-fading-fragrance-kannauj-indias-perfume-capital-974565 | title= In pictures: Fading fragrance of Kannauj, India's perfume capital | first=Divya | last=Dugar | publisher=CNN | date=7 August 2012 | access-date=1 January 2021 }}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=2Tnh2QjGhMQC&pg=PA78&dq History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest By Rama Shankar Tripathi]

{{Kannauj district}}
{{Historical places of Rashtrakuta}}
{{Kanpur division topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kannauj| ]]
[[Category:History of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]
[[Category:Rashtrakuta dynasty]]
[[Category:Pratihara empire]]

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