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Kasganj | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Nickname: Kasganj | |
  Kasganj Location in Uttar Pradesh, India | |
| Coordinates:27°48′30″N78°38′45″E / 27.80833°N 78.64583°E /27.80833; 78.64583 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District | Kasganj |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Meena Maheshwari, (BJP) ([1]) |
| Area | |
• Total | 22.18 km2 (8.56 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 177 m (581 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 101,241 |
| • Density | 4,600/km2 (12,000/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 207123 |
| Telephone code | 207123 |
| Vehicle registration | UP-87 |
| Website | kasganj |
Kasganj is acity, ornagar, and the district headquarters ofKasganj district in theIndianstate ofUttar Pradesh. The district was formed by grouping threetehsils on 17 April 2008.[1]
Kasganj, which lies in the historical region ofBraj, was also known as "Khasganj" duringMughal andBritish periods. According toImperial Gazetteer of India Vol. XV (1908) byWilliam Wilson Hunter,[2] Kasganj came in the hands of James V. Gardner, who was employed by theMarathas and later by the British service. Gardner later died in Chhaoni, Kasganj.[3] Gardner's father ColonelWilliam Linnaeus Gardner was also stationed there. William Gardner built his estate in Kasganj after retiring from the army. He also died in Kasganj, in July 1835.[4] William and James Gardner belonged to thelineage ofBaron Gardner ofUttoxeter, England. Famous writer and historianWilliam Dalrymple came to Kasganj in search of Julian Gardner, heir to the English Barony, while researching for his bookWhite Mughals.[5] The bookWanderings of a Pilgrim in Search of the Picturesque byFanny Parkes gives details of her visits to Kasganj (then called "Khasgunge") and mentions the town and the Gardner family.[6]
An older description mentioned Kasganj as standing on an elevated site, its drainage flowing towards theKali Nadi ("black stream"), which runs about a mile southeast of the town. The town was constituted amunicipality in 1868. Kasganj's position in the strategicIndo-Gangetic plain figured in military and political vicissitudes of ancient kingdoms, from theMahabharata onwards. It formed part of the grand empire ofHarshavardhana, and it finds mention in the accounts of the 7th century Chinese pilgrim Hsien Tsang (Xuanzang), who passed this way in 647 AD.[7]
Near Kasganj is avillage called Atranjikhera, where LordGautam Buddha once kept his anniversary, and the place is revered as a holy pilgrim place forBuddhists. Excavations began in 1962 and revealed that site was occupied from 1200 BCE to 300 BCE[8] Various artifacts and ruined structures from the ancient town have been found in Atranji Khera Achalpur (Chauhan's kingdom). Another village near Kasganj, Jakhera, is also a major archaeological excavation site. Iron tools such assickles,hoes,ploughshares andterracotta figurines dating back from 1000 BCE to 600 BCE have been found in Jakhera. This suggests that Jakhera was a part of thePainted Grey Ware culture and theNorthern Black Polished Ware culture ofancient India.[9] Research conducted on these artifacts suggests that Kasganj has had a rich history sinceancient andmedieval times. Kasganj was founded by Nawab Yaqoot Ali Khan, a descendant of theNawabs ofFarrukhabad.[citation needed] The city was known as Yaqoot Ganj in the early sixteenth century.[citation needed] The inscription regarding its establishment is still visible in the city'sJama Masjid ("big mosque"). It is said that the well-protected building at Tehsil Road, which houses thetehsil, was the residence of Nawab Yaqoot Ali Khan until it was acquired by the British after fall of Awadh. Later, the city came into the hands of Kunwar Maharaj Singh Jain, then succeeded by the late Kumar Bhartendra Singh Jain, the onlyZamindars of the city. The city was established in this location because it represented a centre point in the road connections between various small, ancient cities of District Etah, such asBilram,Marehra,Etah, Sakeet, Atranji Khera, andAligarh.
Kasganj is located at27°49′N78°39′E / 27.82°N 78.65°E /27.82; 78.65. It has an average elevation of 177 metres (580 feet) above sea level. The Kasganj block was established 26 January 1956. The Patiyali block was established in 2 October 1957. The Sahawar and Amapur block was established in 1 April 1958. The Soron block was established 2 October 1958. The Ganjdundwara block was established in 1 April 1959. The Sidhpura block is established in 2 October 1959.
Kasganj features ahumid subtropical climate. Close to thefoothills of theHimalayas, the winters are moderate, with temperatures at times reaching 5 °C. The summers are hot and dry, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40 °C. Themonsoon season runs from the end of June to September. During the monsoon season, almost daily showers are not an uncommon phenomenon. From October onward, the weather is pleasant. Proper winter begins in late November.
As per the provisional data of the 2011 census, Kasganj had a population of 101,241, composed of 53,507 males and 47,734 females. The literacy rate was 77.36%.[10] The local languages areBrajbhasha andKannauji.
The Kasganj district has 107 inter-colleges (12th college), 27 I.T.I colleges, 39 degree colleges, 7 post-graduation colleges, and 1 engineering college.
Kasganj is strategically located and is well connected by a road and railway network. It is situated on State Highway 33Agra-Budaun-Bareilly (also known as the Mathura-Barielly highway), and is 30 km away from theGrand Trunk Road. It is 114 km from Agra, 107 km fromMathura, and 220 km from theNational Capital Region via theYamuna Expressway.
Etah is connected to Kasganj by road only. It is also connected to the capital of India,Delhi, through a very frequent roadways service. The frequency of road and rail transport to and from Kasganj makes it easily accessible throughout the year.
Soron, also known as "Soronji" among its devotees,[11] is a small town known for its religious significance. It is located only 15 km from Kasganj. Since the construction of the road bridge on the "Gangaji," it is very convenient to travel toward the Budaun and Bareilly side.
Kachhla, a small settlement on the banks ofGanges, is only 30 km from Kasganj.
Kasganj has a well establishedrailway network since the time of British rule. It lies on a trijunction and it is connected to Mathura, Kanpur and Bareilly through rail network in three different directions. Trains to cities likeMumbai,Kolkata,Ahmedabad, and Kamakhya are easily available.
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