14 Best Historical Places & Heritage sites near Kanpur

At a distance of 214 km from Delhi, 242 km from Jaipur, 359 km from Lucknow, 576 km from Bhopal, 847 km from Patna and 876 Km from Ahmedabad, Agra, the land of the Taj Mahal, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is situated on the banks of River Yamuna in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra is also among best weekend getaways near Delhi & Noida for a two day trip. Agra is one of the most popular tourist places in India and also one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Uttar Pradesh. Agra is included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, along with Delhi and Jaipur.

Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the World with three UNESCO World Heritage monuments - Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri & Red Fort. Agra was first mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, where it was called Agrevana meaning the border of the forest. Sultan Sikandar Lodi (1488-1517) was the first to move his capital from Delhi to Agra in 1504. After his death in 1517, his son Ibrahim Lodi continued to rule, until his defeat in the first battle of Panipat at the hands of the Mughal Emperor Babur in 1526. Agra famously became the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1658. It was known then as Akbarabad and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under the Emperors Akbar, Jahangir ...

Distance from Kanpur: 275 Kms

Jhansi is a historical city lies in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. About 102 km from Gwalior, 235 from Kanpur, and 314 from Lucknow, it is one of the top places to visit in India, and among the must-visit places as part of Uttar Pradesh tour packages.

Situated between Betwa and Pahunch Rivers, Jhansi is one of the top places to visit near Gwalior. Earlier known as Balwant Nagar, Jhansi was the seat of the Chandela dynasty and flourished under their rule. The region got its name from the fort built by Raja Bir Singh Deo, in 1613 CE, one of the must-include places in Jhansi packages.

The artistic grandeur of the Chandela rulers is still evident in the monuments and other ancient structures standing in the city. Jhansi Fort, Rani Jhansi Museum, Parichha Dam, Rani Lakshmi Bai Park, Barua Sagar, Rani Mahal, and Cenotaphs of Gangadhar Rao are the top tourist places in Jhansi.

Distance from Kanpur: 228 Kms

At a distance of 47 km from Chhatarpur, 118 km from Satna, 179 km from Jhansi, 223 km from Kanpur, 265 km from Jabalpur, 283 km from Gwalior, 283 km from Allahabad, 388 km from Bhopal and 624 km from Delhi, Khajuraho is a historical town located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Khajuraho is one of the top places to visit in Madhya Pradesh and among the must include places in your Madhya Pradesh tour packages.

Earlier, Khajuraho was the cultural capital of Chandela Rajputs who ruled this part of India during 10th to 12th centuries AD. Khajuraho Temples were built by the Chandela monarchs over a span of 200 years, from 950 to 1150 AD. After the fall of Chandela rulers, these temples were abandoned and long-forgotten until rediscovered by British Captain T.S. Burt, in 1838 AD. Known around the world for its stunning temples adorned by erotic carvings, the Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the seven wonders of India.

The marvelous architecture and erotic carvings are the best and most notable aspects of Khajuraho temples. There were originally over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 25 now stand in a reasonable state of preservation, scattered over an area of about 8 square miles. The temples also have numerous other sculptures depicting the life of a common man in that era. Khajuraho ...

Distance from Kanpur: 220 Kms

At a distance of 121 km from Agra, 174 km from Mathura, 268 km from Kanpur, 330 km from New Delhi, 334 km from Lucknow, 346 km from Jaipur, 448 km from Bhopal and 459 km from Allahabad, Gwalior is a historical city situated in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the important tourist places near Agra and also one of the top tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh.

One of the most beautiful cities of Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior is very famous for its glorious history and rich cultural heritage. After being founded by Maharaja Suraj Sen in 8th century AD, Gwalior Fort was described as the pearl amongst fortresses in India. The city and its fortress have been ruled by several historic northern Indian kingdoms. From the Tomars in the 13th century, it was passed on to the Mughal Empire, then to the Maratha in 1754, followed by the Scindias in 18th century AD.

Well-known for its ancient temples, marvelous palaces and alluring monuments, Gwalior is the tourist capital of Madhya Pradesh. Gwalior is best known for being the birthplace of the great musician, Tansen. And apart from all this, Gwalior was also one among the five princely states that got the honor of 21 gun salute during the British rule. Gwalior Fort, Jai Vilas Mahal, Teli ka Mandir, Sun Temple, Gujari Mahal, Sas Bahu Temple, Man Mandir Palace are some of the popular places to visit in Gwalior. Gwalior ...

Distance from Kanpur: 265 Kms

At a distance of 14 km from Varanasi Junction, Ramnagar fort is a medieval fort located on the banks of River Ganges in Ramnagar area of Varanasi. Ramnagar Fort is one of the popular forts in Uttar Pradesh and among the best places to visit in Varanasi.

Ramnagar Fort was constructed by Maharaja Balwant Singh in 18th century CE. This was the royal residence of Raja of Banaras, also known as Kashi Naresh. The fort represents typical Mughal style of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and picturesque pavilions. Built with creamy-coloured Chunar sandstone, the fort houses a temple, a museum and the king's residential complex. The temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, the author of the Indian epic the Mahabharata. As per the legends, it is believed that Ved Vyasa resided within the fort for a short period.

The fort still retains its charm and attracts tourists in large numbers. One can still witness the ornamented swords, photographs of tiger shoots and visits by the King and Queen of Belgium can be seen decorated on the wall. The hall of public audience, popularly known as 'Durbar Hall', is converted into a museum now. The museum is famous for its rare collection of old American cars, ivory works, medieval costumes, and a huge astronomical clock. Ramnagar Fort also houses the Durga Temple, temple of Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman and Chhinnamastika Temple.

Only a part of the structure is open for public as the rest of it is the residence of Kashi Naresh ...

At a distance of 17 km from Kushinagar, Sun Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated in Turkpatti near Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the sacred shrines in Kushinagar, and among the best places as part of the Kushinagar Trip.

Dedicated to the Sun God, the Sun Temple was built during the Gupta Period and is mentioned in the Puranas. The temple is famous for its idol of the Sun God which was carved out of a special black stone (Neelmani Stone). The statue was believed to have been found during excavations conducted between the 4th and the 5th centuries.

Surya is worshiped widely on every Sunday. The Sun Festival, held in November every year, is a center of attraction for the people.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free

At a distance of 35 km from Mirzapur and 40 km from Varanasi, Chunar Fort is an ancient fort located at Chunar town in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. Also known as Chandrakanta Chunargarh and Charanadri, it is one of the best places to visit near Varanasi.

The Chunar Fort was established by Maharaja Vikramaditya, the King of Ujjain for his brother Raja Bhartihari. As per Alha Khand, King Sahadeo made this fort as his capital and renamed as Nainagarh in 1029 AD. Built and rebuilt several times, Chunar first came into prominence in 1177 AD, when Prithviraj Chauhan established his fort here. Later, the fort was ruled by Mughal ruler Babar in 1525 AD and then Sher Shah Suri took control over the fort in 1532 CE. In 1575 AD, Akbar recaptured this fort and then it passed to the nawabs of Awadh in the 18th century. Finally in 1772 AD, it was captured by the British and used it as a warehouse of weapons and missiles till India's independence.

Bordered by River Ganga on two sides, the fort is famous for its natural beauty and historical events. Spread across 34,000 sq. ft, the fort is a solid structure that stands on a rock, a detached part of the Vindhya Range. Due to the steep slope, the rocky fort is practically impregnable. The approach to Chunar Hill is marked by a chain of low hills, running parallel to the river on its right bank, which is covered by plantations and bungalows. The southeastern part of the fort is on the rocky bank of Ganga River, which is navigable ...

At a distance of 24 km from Robertsganj and 105 km from Varanasi, Vijaygarh Fort is a ruined fort located in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. Situated south east to Maunukalana village on Robertsganj-Churk road, it is one of the famous historical forts in Uttar Pradesh and also one of the popular places to visit near Varanasi.

This 5th-century Vijaygarh Fort was constructed by Kol kings. Over time, this fort came under the rule of Chandela kings of Agori Barhar. Later this fort was ruled by Sher Shah Suri and Balwant Singh. The fort was under Kashi King Chet Singh's rule until the arrival of British. The fort is said to be mesmeric and another fort is hidden under the fort called the fort of princess Chandrakanta. This elegant fort has also been pertinently described in the novel Chandrakanta by Babu Devkinandan Khatri along with Princess Chandrakanta.

Vijaygarh Fort has both historical and archaeological importance. Some of the unique features of the fort include cave paintings, statues, rock inscriptions and the four perennial ponds. The main gate is preceded by a tomb of Muslim saint, Sayyed Jain-ul-Abdin Meer Sahib popularly called Hazrat Meeran Shah Baba. An Urs or a fair dedicated to the great saint is held every year in April which draws large crowds of devotees of all faiths. Two other landmarks located near the fort are the tanks known as Mira Sagar and Ram Sagar. Wedged between them is the Rang Mahal Palace which houses beautiful rock carvings.

Timings: ...

At a distance of 26 km from Mathura, 148 km from New Delhi, and 25 km from Vrindavan, Kusum Sarovar is a huge tank, which belonged to the period of Lord Krishna, located between Govardhan and Radha Kund. Kusum Sarovar lies towards the right side of sacred parikrama path. It is among the ideal tourist places near Delhi & Noida for one day trip.

Kusum Sarovar is 450 feet long and 60 feet deep tank and features a flight of stairs on all sides. The Sarovar is believed to be the place where Radha along with gopikas used to collect flowers and meet Lord Krishna. Kadamba trees are found all over the place and it is said that Kadamba tree was the favorite tree of Lord Krishna. During the time of Lord Chaitanya (a great devotee of Lord Krishna), this place was known as Sumanah Sarovar. It is stated in the Chaitanya Charitamrita that Lord Chaitanya took bath here.

The Sarovar is surrounded by magnificent structures which were constructed by Jawahar Singh, the king of Bharatpur in the middle of 18th century, in honor of his father Raja Suraj Mal. A simple earthen pond till 1675, it was properly built by ruler of Orchha, Veer Singh, after which Suraj Mal constructed a garden for his queen, converting it into a beautiful place. Afterwards, Jawahar Singh built astonishing structures in the memory of his parents.

There are three tombs in the upper level. The main tomb of Raja Suraj Mal has beautiful paintings on its ceiling depicting the pastimes of Krishna and the lotus ...

At a distance of 39 km from Bulandshahr, 55 km from Meerut, 58 km from Ghaziabad, 75 km from Noida, 83 km from New Delhi and 172 km from Mathura, Kuchesar is small village in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. Kuchesar is an ideal weekend getaway from Delhi, Noida & Gurgaon. Kuchesar is known for the Kuchesar Fort, also known as Rao Raj Vilas, built by the Jat rulers.

The fort was built in the mid-18th century by the Jat rulers and is surrounded by a 100-acre mango grove. During 1740, the Jats became strong military power who originally belong to Mandoti in Haryana and were the descendants from the Jats of the Dalal sub-caste.

The Kuchesar Fort was brought into the Ajit Singh's family's possession in the 18th century when the Mughal emperor Najib-ud-Daulah bestowed the Jat family with the title of Rao Bahadur and the Jagir of Kuchesar comprising of 365 villages. The mud fort of Kuchesar was captured in 1763 but was recovered by the Jat rulers by 1782 and it remained under their control until British captured it in 1807.

The Mud Fort has seven turrets built in defense against British cannon attack. A wide moat was dug to create the ramparts. The main palace overlooks gardens on three sides and on the west are the ruins of a replica of Robert Clive's house in Kolkata. Now, a part of the Fort was restored by Neemrana Hotels and turned into a heritage hotel in 1998.

The royal family currently resides ...