- Nana Rao Park
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Nana Rao Park, Kanpur Type Urban park Location Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India Operated by Kanpur Nagar Mahapalika Status Open all year Nana Rao Park / Company Bagh (Hindi: नाना राव पार्क / कम्पनी बाग़, कानपुर ) is an public city park in Kanpur city, the industrial hub of Uttar Pradesh in North India. It was earlier known as Memorial Well and commemorated the British women and children who had been massacred in a building on the site and their bodies dumped into a well in the grounds during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Contents
History
Use before 1857
Bibighar massacre (1857)
Further information: Siege of Cawnpore and Indian rebellion of 1857The park is of immense historical significance as the location of the massacre of around 200 British women and children by the Nana Sahib's forces in the 1857 Indian rebellion. The women and children had surrendered to Nana Sahib, after receiving his oath that they would be allowed to leave Kanpur (then Cawnpore) safely. The bodies were then dumped down a nearby well.[1] Due to the massacre the area within sight of the well was used for punitive actions by British soldiers of the East India Company.
Memorial Well (1858 to 1947)
Originally the park was first called Memorial Well after the memorial which was subsequently raised to commemorate the dead. The memorial had a large railing, a marble gothic screen with "mournful seraph" and a cross at the site of the well. The inhabitants of Cawnpore were forced to pay £30,000 for the creation of the memorial; this was partially their punishment for not coming to the aid of the women and children.[2]
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The memorial. Albumen silver print by Samuel Bourne, 1860.
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A view across the park to the memorial. Samuel Bourne, 1860.
Post Indian independence in 1947
After Indian independence in 1947 the marble gothic screen was transferred to the churchyard of the All Souls Memorial Church, the rest of the memorial was crushed. The remains of a circular ridge of the well can still be seen in the park today.
Nana Rao Park today
Importance
The park is well maintained and is a favorite haunt of many fitness groups. Presently, the park is one of the favorite Kanpur parks frequented by early morning and evening visitors.
For many people in Kanpur, the park serves as an outdoor location for the start of a healthy day. this includes brisk walking, jogging, swimming, badminton and yoga.
Location
The park is located in the central area of Kanpur District and is close to Phool Bagh, LIC Building.
Statues
The park is replete with statues of eminent people who played a part in the Indian independence struggle. The statues include those of Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Lala Lajpat Rai, Ajizan Bai.
Flora
A plant nursery is located inside the park.
Fauna
Nana Rao Park is a favorite resting place for many types of local birds and bats.
Attractions
- Boodhha Bargad, (Hindi: बूढ़ा बरगद, कानपुर ) an old banyan tree, with great historical significance to Indian Independence struggle, is located in the park ground.
- There is a traditional vyayamshala inside the park
- There is a public swimming pool.
Maintenance and sponsors
- The park currently is under the charge of Kanpur Nagar Mahapalika and is well maintained.
References
- ^ English, Barbara (February 1994). "The Kanpur Massacres in India in the Revolt of 1857". Past and Present 142: 169–178. doi:10.1093/past/142.1.169.
- ^ "Angel of Cawnpore". http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/indiancampaigns/mutiny/cawnporewell6.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
Kanpur topics History History of Kanpur · Siege of Cawnpore · Second Battle of Cawnpore · Rebellion of 1857 · War of Indian Independence of 1857 · Development of Industries · Cultural History · Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case · Kanpur Conspiracy Case
Places of worship
and tourist spotsAnandeshwar Temple · J. K. Temple · Sai Darbar · Panki Hanuman Mandir · Jain Glass Temple · Kherepati Temple · Bhitargaon Temple · Bara-Devi Mandir · Kanpur Memorial Church · Allen Forest Zoo · Moti Jheel · Bithoor · Jajmau · Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary · Kanpur Sangrahalaya · Ganga Barrage · Z Square Mall · Rave 3Ghats Public parks Phool Bagh · Nana Rao ParkCompanies Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India · British India Corporation · Rupani Footwear · Dainik Jagran · Inext · Lohia Machinery Limited · Panki Thermal Power StationEducation Universities Medical colleges Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru State Homoeopathic Medical CollegeTechnological institutes Private technological
institutesPranveer Singh Institute of Technology · Maharana Pratap Engineering College · Kanpur Institute of Technology · List of engineering colleges in KanpurLocalities North West Kanpur Central Kanpur Kakadeo · Geeta Nagar · Pandu Nagar · Sarvodya Nagar · Sharda Nagar · Shastri NagarEast Kanpur Jajmau · Lal BanglaWest Kanpur South Kanpur Unsorted Bithoor · Armapur Estate · Chakeri · Shyam Nagar · Cantt · Jaurali · Tatya Tope Nagar · Hanspuram · Keshavpuram · Ravidas Puram Shivaji NagarLeft Bank Shuklaganj · Gangotri TownshipHotels Hotel Landmark · Hotel Megadoot · Hotel Gaurav · Hotel Bliss · Kanha Continental · Kanha International
Economy and transport UP Stock Exchange · Kanpur Electricity Supply Company Ltd.(KESCo) · Auto rickshaw · Kanpur Metropolitan Bus Service · Kanpur Airport · IIT Kanpur Airport · Kanpur Civil Airport · Kanpur Central · Kanpur Anwarganj · Govindpuri · Kalianpur · Kanpur Metro · Trams · Lucknow-Kanpur Suburban Railway · Kanpur Lucknow Roadways Service · Kanpur over-bridge
Sports Other topics Eminent people associated with Kanpur · Kanpur (Lok Sabha constituency) · List of cities in India · Category:People from Kanpur · Renamed places in Kanpur · Lajpat Bhawan
Coordinates: 26°28′16″N 80°21′39″E / 26.471044°N 80.360935°E
Categories:- Kanpur
- Parks in India
- Tourism in Uttar Pradesh
- Visitor attractions in Kanpur
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