Unnao

This article is about the municipality in Uttar Pradesh, India. For its namesake district, see Unnao district.

Unnao
—  city  —
Unnao Location of Unnao in Uttar Pradesh and India
Coordinates	26°33′N 80°29′E / 26.55°N 80.48°E / 26.55; 80.48Coordinates: 26°33′N 80°29′E / 26.55°N 80.48°E / 26.55; 80.48
Country	India
State	Uttar Pradesh
District(s)	Unnao
District Magistrate	Anita Meshram
Population • Density	144,917 (2001[update]) • 32 /km2 (83 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area	4558 km2 (1760 sq mi)
Codes • Pincode • 209 801 • Telephone • +0515 • Vehicle • UP-35

The town of Unnao (Hindi: उन्नाव, Urdu: اناو') 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

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 early Mughal settlements in a village called Jalalabad (settled by one Mirza Jalal Beg during the reign of Humayun) around Qasba Asiwan of Hasanganj Tehseel.

Geography

Unnao lies in the great plains of the Ganges and hence the land is highly fertile. The soil is mostly alluvial. The Ganges separates Unnao from Kanpur district. The district is bounded by river Ganges in the west and the river Sai in the east. The entire district falling in Sai Sub-basin of the Ganges basin represents flat topography. The irrigation in the district takes place through Sharda Canal network system and tubewells. About 92% of the district area is under cultivation.^[1] The district has a subtropical climate. The district is mainly drained by the river Ganges and its tributaries Kalyani, Khar, Loni and Marahai in the western part of the district, and by Sai river in the eastern part of the district. All these rivers are perennial in nature. About 87% area of the net sown area (3,00,000 hectares) is irrigated both by surface water (Sharda Canal network system) and ground water through shallow and moderately deep tubewells. The share of surface water irrigation is 48% while that of ground water is 52%. The economy of the district mainly depends on agriculture.^[1]

Shuklaganj

Shuklaganj is the most prominent town area in the district of Unnao. Because of its proximity to Kanpur city, Shuklaganj is mainly connected to Kanpur rather than Unnao, which is 10 km away. Shuklaganj has been brought under Kanpur Development Authority(K.D.A) for the extension of Kanpur City and better development of Shuklaganj It has got a small railway station called Kanpur Bridge Left Bank.It also has got a famous temple of goddess 'Durga.'

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census,^[2] Unnao had a population of 144,917. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Unnao has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 63%. In Unnao, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Healthcare and industry

UNNAO is a popular destination for patients in nearby villages. The Uma Shankar Dixit hospital is a government-run hospital located in A.B. Ngar near Ram Lila Maidaan. Another government hospital, which serves women, is located near the Unnao railway station.

Tanning is the biggest industry in Unnao. Unnao is well known for its leather industry and its leather goods. Superhouse Group, Mirza Tanners, Rahman Exports, and Zamzam Tanners, Mahavir Spinfab Pvt. Ltd., Parash Nathtech Garments Pvt. Ltd. have large factories in Unnao.

Unnao is famous for its samosas prepared exclusively in Mr. Rajkumar's Shop situated in premises of unnao railway station and kaalajaams of Chakalwansi, which are very popular Indian food items. The main local market is Sadar Bazar. In Sadar Bazar, there are numerous,electronic shops like ASHOO ELECTRONICS etc., cloth shops salma fancy cloth store,roop ratan sarees,praveen saree center,meena saree center,hina garments,roop faishion are famous shops that have been there for decades.

unnao is famous of printing & dying for lihaf(rajai)& mosqiuto net producer firm subhan bux usman bux and company,aman treders.

Education

Unnao has a number of educational institutions: Th. R.N. Singh Public School, Nanda Khera, Sarosi, Unnao Dayanand Subhash National Degree College DVDT Degree College Indira Gandhi Rajkiya Mahavidyalaya Bangarmau Unnao Subhash Inter College, Bangarmau Unnao Sri Durgeswar Vidya Mandir Bangarmau Unnao

• Ben-Hur Inter College
• Th. R.N. Singh Public School, Nanda Khera, Sarosi, Unnao
• St.Jude's College
• St.Lawrence College
• Kingson Inter College
• Kendriya Vidyalaya Unnao
• Divine Mission School
• J.D.V.M. Inter College
• Sri. J.N.Shah Memorial Public School
• S.V.M. Inter College
• Manohara Smriti Mahila Mahavidyalaya
• Adarsh Vidya Mandir
• Adarsh Shishu Mandir
• Bhartiya Vidyalaya
• Dayanand Subhash National College
• Government Inter College
• Amar Saheed Rao Ram Bax Singh Mahavidyalay Gaura Bihar Unnao
• Mahapran Nirala Mahavidyalaya Osiya Beeghapur Unnao
• Primary Vidyalay Kundanpur Unnao
• Dayanand Vishwambhar Dayal Tripathi Krishi Vidyalaya
• Raja & Rani Shankar Sahai Inter College
• Atal Behari Inter College
• Dr G Nath G Dayal Girls Inter College
• Sun-De-Sun Inter College
• Matchless Vidya Mandir

.government inter college Atal-Bihari-Inter-College

• A to Z Knowledge Solutions (Gandhi Nagar Chauraha)
• Rajeev Gandhi Computer Saksharta Mission
• Patriot Inter College
• St.Peter's School

Unnao also has several English language schools, including Ben-Hur Inter College, Kendriya Vidyalaya Unnao, Sir Syed Public School (Unnao), St. Jude's Inter College, St. Lawrence English Medium Inter College, Kingson Inter College, and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. Krishna Bal Vidya Mandir

Malls and Shopping Complexes & markets

• Great Mall(upcomig)
• Vishal Mega Mart
• Salasar Mart(upcoming)
• Spencer Plaza
• Big Bazaar(upcoming)
• Indian Shopping Mall
• New Town Shopping Complex
• Bada Chauraha
• Kesar ganj,

Notable people

One of the most famous personalities of Unnao is Maulana Hasrat Mohani, who was born in 1881 at Mohan. He was a freedom fighter and Urdu poet. After his graduation in 1903, he threw himself into the freedom struggle, inspired by Rao Ram Bux Singh. He took up the editing of the newspaper Urdu-A-Muallah in 1913 and continued his struggle through his articles. As a consequence, he was imprisoned from 1914 to 1918 but continued to write while in jail. He was nominated a member of the State Assembly in 1946. He died at Lucknow on 15 May 1951.Unnao is also a birth place of famous politician Bharat Bajpai from bahujan samajwadi party, who is the nephew of ex prime mininster Atal Bihari Vajpayee ,Sheila dixit Is also belong to this place, right now she is chief minister of delhi.

Transport

Rail

Unnao is very well connected by rail. Unnao R.S is situated on Lucknow-Kanpur line. Trains for Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata can be found here.

Road

The major national highway NH 25 passess through Unnao which has bypass from Unnao.The State Highway 58 which also connects Kanpur with Unnao is in good condition.

Air

The nearest airport is at Kanpur.

Inner City Transport

The city has transport likes auto rickshawa, rickshaws and Sub Metropolitan city buses which are privately run.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://cgwb.gov.in/NR/hydro/dist36.pdf
2. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 

External links

• Unnao NIC website
• eUnnao.com
• The Local City Guide Of Unnao www.onlineunnao.in