# Kanpur

> city in Uttar Pradesh, India

**Wikidata**: [Q66568](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q66568)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanpur)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kanpur

## Summary
Kanpur is a major city located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, situated on the banks of the Ganges River. It serves as the administrative capital of both the Kanpur division and the Kanpur Nagar district. With an estimated population of 4,581,268 as of 2024, it is a significant urban centre historically known as "Cawnpore" and nicknamed the "Leather City of India."

## Key Facts
- **Official Names:** कानपुर (Hindi), کانپور (Urdu); aliases include Cawnpore, Leather City of India, and Manchester of the East.
- **Location:** Situated in the Kanpur Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India; shares a border with Shuklaganj.
- **Geography:** Coordinates 26.4725°N, 80.3311°E; elevation 126 metres above sea level; located on the Ganges River.
- **Area:** 3,155 square kilometres (preferred) or 3,029,000,000 square metres.
- **Population:** 
  - 2024 (est.): 4,581,268
  - 2011 (census): 2,765,348
  - 2008 (est.): 3,067,700
  - 1995 (est.): 2,356,000
  - 1981 (est.): 1,600,000
  - 1971 (est.): 1,300,000
  - 1931 (est.): 243,800
- **Administration:** Capital of Kanpur division and Kanpur Nagar district; governed by Kanpur Municipal Corporation.
- **Timezone:** UTC+05:30.
- **Codes:** Postal Code 208001; UN/LOCODE INKNU; Licence Plate UP-78; Local Dialing Code 512.
- **Historical Status:** Part of British Raj (1858–1947); site of the Siege of Cawnpore.
- **Identifiers:** Geonames ID 1267995; VIAF ID 153615067; Library of Congress ID n81066200.

## FAQs
**What is the population of Kanpur?**
According to a 2024 estimation, the population is 4,581,268. Historical census data from 2011 recorded a population of 2,765,348.

**What are the historical names for Kanpur?**
The city was historically known as Cawnpore during the British Raj. Other variations include Cawnpoor, Cawnpoore, Caunpour, Kanhpour, and Katampur.

**Where is Kanpur located geographically?**
Kanpur is located in the Kanpur Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It lies at coordinates 26.4725° N, 80.3311° E, adjacent to the Ganges River and sharing a border with Shuklaganj.

**What administrative functions does Kanpur serve?**
The city acts as the capital for the Kanpur division and the Kanpur Nagar district. It is locally administered by the Kanpur Municipal Corporation.

**What are the city's "twin" relationships?**
Kanpur maintains twinning relationships with three international administrative bodies: Alexandria, Okayama, and Manchester.

## Why It Matters
Kanpur is a critical urban hub in Northern India, historically pivotal during the British Raj as "Cawnpore" and the site of the Siege of Cawnpore. Its nicknames, "Leather City of India" and "Manchester of the East," underscore its historical and economic significance in the industrial sector. The city's substantial population growth—from 243,800 in 1931 to over 4.5 million in 2024—demonstrates its enduring importance as a settlement and administrative center.

## Notable For
- **Nicknames:** Known as the "Leather City of India" and the "Manchester of the East."
- **Historical Event:** Site of the **Siege of Cawnpore**.
- **Architecture:** Home to the **JK Temple**, a structure noted as a blend of ancient and modern architecture.
- **Global Recognition:** Has a Wikipedia presence in over 100 languages (e.g., en, hi, ur, ru, zh).
- **Administrative Role:** Serves as the capital for both a division and a district.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Kanpur is geographically positioned at 26.4725° N latitude and 80.331111111111° E longitude. The city covers an area of 3,155 square kilometres (per preferred data) and sits at an elevation of 126 metres. It is located in the Kanpur Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, India, and shares a border with the locality of Shuklaganj. The city is situated on the banks of the **Ganges** River.

Demographic data shows significant growth over nearly a century:
- **1931:** 243,800 (est.)
- **1971:** 1,300,000 (est.)
- **1981:** 1,600,000 (est.)
- **1995:** 2,356,000 (est.)
- **2008:** 3,067,700 (est.)
- **2011:** 2,765,348 (census)
- **2024:** 4,581,268 (est., preferred)

### History and Governance
Historically referred to as **Cawnpore**, the city was part of the British Raj from June 28, 1858, until August 15, 1947, when it became part of India. A significant historical event associated with the city is the **Siege of Cawnpore**. The city is described in several major encyclopedic works, including the *Great Soviet Encyclopedia*, the *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, and the *1911 Encyclopædia Britannica*.

Administratively, the city is the capital of the **Kanpur division** and the **Kanpur Nagar district**. Local authority rests with the **Kanpur Municipal Corporation**. The official website, https://kanpurnagar.nic.in/, serves users in English and Hindi.

### Infrastructure and Identity
The city's infrastructure includes a licence plate code of **UP-78**, a postal code of **208001**, and a local dialing code of **512**. The **JK Temple** (Juggilal Kamlapati temple) is a prominent architectural landmark. Kanpur maintains "twin" relationships with **Alexandria**, **Okayama**, and **Manchester**.

The city is identified globally by various IDs including:
- **UN/LOCODE:** INKNU
- **GeoNames ID:** 1267995
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID:** 1180652177
- **BBC Things ID:** 6bb2c78d-f9bf-4817-9342-04c7be4aecea
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n81066200
- **GND ID:** 4029504-7
- **VIAF ID:** 153615067
- **MusicBrainz Area ID:** 9d9d2f21-a6b0-45e9-8de1-b2ad4586eb6b

It is categorized as a **city** and **big city** (large human settlement). The city has native labels in Hindi (कानपुर) and Urdu (کانپور), and its name is pronounced /ˈkɑːnpʊər/. Audio pronunciations are available in the general dialect and specifically in Marathi.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki/Q611969)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. MusicBrainz
6. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
7. [Great Russian Encyclopedia](https://old.bigenc.ru/geography/text/2042057)
8. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947)
9. Great dictionary of geographical names
10. [Source](https://www.census2011.co.in/)
11. GeoNames
12. BBC Things
13. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/in.htm)
14. [Source](https://kanpurnagar.nic.in/demography/)