Bithoor

Nana Sahib memorial at Bithoor, which previously had their fort

A temple of goddess Sita in Bithoor, where according to mythology, she left for her heavenly abode by entering into the earth.

An old minaret built by the King of Bithoor

Bithoor has been closely associated with the Indian independence movement, especially the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It was at one time home to many of the rebellion's most prominent participants including the Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai. During the British Raj, Bithur used to be part of Cawnpore district (now Kanpur) in the United Provinces. The last of the Peshwas, Baji Rao II, was banished to Bithur; his adopted son, Nana Sahib, made the town his headquarters. Bithur was captured by General Havelock on 19 July 1857.[2] The town was laid waste by the British who razed Nana Sahib's palace and the temples in the town in retaliation for the brutal killing of over 300 British men, women and children who had been lured out of their defences at Cawnpore with a promise of truce during the Siege of Cawnpore.[3][4] Britishers killed and hanged around 25,000 Bithoor men and women, including children, from 9 to 90 years of age. They hanged the dead bodies from trees so as to spread terror. Bithoor is the only town in the history where so many people were killed for revolting against the British empire. Adding to that India was the only country where the most people sacrificed their lives for the sake of obtaining freedom from British rule.

Bithoor is a Nagar Panchayat city in district of Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The Bithoor city is divided into 10 wards for which elections are held every 5 years. As of 2001 India census,[5] Bithoor had a population of 9647. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Bithoor has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 70% and female literacy of 53%. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Bithoor Nagar Panchayat has population of 11,300 of which 6,088 are males while 5,212 are females as per report released by Census India 2011.Population of Children with age of 0-6 is 1337 which is 11.83% of total population of Bithoor (NP). In Bithoor Nagar Panchayat, Female Sex Ratio is of 856 against state average of 912. Moreover, Child Sex Ratio in Bithoor is around 860 compared to Uttar Pradesh state average of 902. Literacy rate of Bithoor city is 80.61% higher than state average of 67.68%. In Bithoor, Male literacy is around 86.01% while female literacy rate is 74.29%. Bithoor Nagar Panchayat has total administration over 1,999 houses to which it supplies basic amenities like water and sewerage. It is also authorized to build roads within Nagar Panchayat limits and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction.[6]

Religion

Hindus comprise the majority of the population of Bithoor, accounting for 89.54% of the total population, followed by Muslims who comprise 10.19%. Christians and Sikhs are in the minority and are only found in pockets of the city.

Ethnic communities

The majority of Bithoor people are from Uttar Pradesh, though there is a significant Marathi population in the city. The descendants of the migrant Marathi families settled at Bithoor have not only lived in Bithoor for more than three generations, but many of own sizable amounts of land and other immovable properties. The first five families, which came with Nana Saheb were: Moghe, Pinge, Sehajwalkar, Hardekar and Sapre. The majority of them settled in Bithoor or adjoining places.

Valmiki Ashram

Some of the most significant moments of Hindu religion and mythology are said to be created here, as being the place of the forest-rendezvous of Sita after Lord Rama left her, the birthplace of Lav and Kush, the site where the Ramayana was written.

Brahmavart Ghat

This is the holiest of the holy ghats of Bithoor. The disciples of Lord Brahma pray at the altar of the 'Wooden Slippers' after a ritual bath. Later Brahma installed a Shivalinga which is still worshipped as Brahmeshwar Mahadeva at the principal ghat of Bithoor, the Brahmavarta Ghat. A nail of the horse shoe embedded in the steps of the Ghat is an object of special reverence for devotees, considered to be of Brahma's horse, while going for Ashwamedha Yajna. This is also known as the place from where Lord Brahma started mankind according to Hindu mythology On the completion of the yajna, the forests of Utpalaranya became known as Brahmavarta, from which the popular name, Bithoor is derived.

Patthar Ghat

The redstone ghat whose foundation stone was laid by the minister of Avadh, Tikait Rai, is a symbol of incomparable art and architecture. There is a massive Shiv temple where the Shivling is made of 'Kasaauti' stone.

Dhruva Teela

In later centuries Brahmavarta flourished as a capital of the kingdom of Utpalaranya, over which ruled the emperor Uttanpad. His son Dhruva penanced here in order to please Brahma. God was so pleased that he not only appeared but granted him a divine boon—to shine for all time to come as a star. The place is pointed out to be Dhruva Teela.

ISKCON Temple, Kanpur

ISKCON Temple, Kanpur is a part of the worldwide International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) movement, which is a non- profit social welfare and spiritual organization engaged in propagating the teachings and values of the great ancient literatures of the Vedic heritage. It is a charitable trust dedicated to promoting individual and global peace, harmony and prosperity by spreading the Vedic message of divine love and fraternity. ISKCON originates under Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya, one of the main disciplic lineages under Vaishnavism's. A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada originally started the ISKCON movement worldwide in 1966.

Siddhidham Ashram

Artificial Kailash Mountain at Siddhidham Ashram

Siddidham Ashram, also known as Sudhanshu ji Maharaj Ashram, is under "Vishva Shanti Mission", an organisation run by Sudhanshu ji Maharaj. It is situated on Bithoor road. The ashram has a big campus. There is also a Radha Krishna temple and an artificial Kailash Mountain.

Apart from these, there are some other landmarks as well, such as the Ram Janki temple, Lav-Kush temple, Sai Baba temple, Haridham Ashram, Jahangir Mosque and Nana Saheb Smarak.

Airways

The nearest airport is at Chakeri situated 44 kilometres from Bithoor and one and a half hours drive from Bithoor. The proposed Rasoolabad International Airport is at a distance of 33 km from Bithoor.

Railways

The old Brahmavarta station situated near Ganges river was defunct in 2005. The new railway station near Mohammadpur village is ready and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. The nearest major railhead is Kanpur Central situated about 23 kilometres and one hours drive from Bithoor.

Roadways

Bithoor doesn't has its own Bus Station but KMBS has city bus routes to major bus stations of Kanpur like ISBT Jhakarkatti, Chunniganj Bus Station, Fazalganj Bus Station and Azad Nagar Bus Station.

• Sultan starring Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma was shot in Bithoor.[7]
• Mungerilal B. Tech is also scheduled to be shot at Bithoor.[8]

• Bithoor (Vidhan Sabha constituency)

• Media related to Bithoor at Wikimedia Commons

Araul