Acquired by the British in 1801, Kanpur was transformed under British rule from a small village to an important industrialized community. In the Cawnpore Massacre of 1857 during the Indian Mutiny against the British, the entire British garrison here (including women and children) was killed by Nana Sahib and other local terrorists. After India became independent in 1947, Kanpur expanded rapidly as a centre of heavy industry. Population (1991) 1,958,282.
Patna, city in north-east India, capital of Bihar State, on the River Ganges. It is a trade centre for an agricultural area producing rice, grain, sesame, linseed, and sugar cane. Notable features of the city include a mosque built in 1499, Patna Museum, and the University of Patna (1917). Patna also houses a Sikh temple and is a sacred city for Sikhs: their last guru, Govinda Singh, was born here. Patna was settled in the 5th century BC as Pataliputra. In the 3rd century BC the city became the imperial capital of the Indian ruler Ashoka. Patna deteriorated after AD 400, but some of its former importance was restored in the 16th century. The Mughals made it the seat of the viceroy of Bihar and a busy trading city. In 1763 the British seized Patna after a struggle with the Nawab of Bengal. Patna was made capital of Bihar and Orissa Province in 1912, and became capital of Bihar State in 1935. Population (1991) 916,980.
Earlier known as Pataliputra, this city has been the centre of a lot of historical activity in India, and has witnessed many wars from ancient days.
Gaya: a city in north-east India, in Bihar State on the Phalgu River (a tributary of the Ganges). A number of sacred shrines are located in and near Gaya, notably the Vishnupad Hindu temple built in 1787; and Buddh Gaya to the south, the site of the Great Enlightenment of Buddha. The temples are regularly visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year. Hindus offer special ‘Poojas’ to their forefathers.. The city, which became a municipality in 1865, is the site of Magadh University (1962) and of an archaeological museum. The principal products manufactured in the city include metal articles, mats, bamboo baskets, cotton rope, and jute twine. Population (1991) 291,220.
As we further travel down into the state of West Bengal, we enter the Delta Stage of the Ganga. The Brahmaputra also joins the Ganga before entering Bengal.
Calcutta: is the capital of West Bengal. it is also called ‘the City of Palaces’. Before the Indian Independence, the East India Company was situated here. The Ganga in the Delta stage is broken into many tributaries. The Hooghly in Bengal and the Padma of Bangladesh are important. The city of Calcutta gets its name from ‘Kali Ghat’ – where mother Goddess Kali is worshipped. The people of this area are renowned for their artistic talents. It is the land of great people like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Subash Chandra Bose, Mother Teresa etc. The Famous Victoria Memorial built in memory of Queen Victoria attracts a lot of tourists.
The Sunderbans:Before the Ganga joins the sea at Ganga Sagar , its forms a very fertile delta . This area is called ‘The Sunderbans’. This is also the hometown of the Royal Bengal Tigers of India.
At Ganga Sagar, people take a holy dip on Makar Sankranti day (in January) .The sunset at Ganga Sagar is a beautiful picturesque scene.
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