Bhitargaon
Situated 59 km from Kanpur, on the Ghatampur - Sarh road, 14 km from Ghatampur, Bhitargaon is chiefly noted for its ancient brick temple, a unique specimen of the brick architecture of the early Gupta period. Datable to the first half of the first century A.D., the temple is the oldest roofed Hindu shrine extant with a high Sikhara.

Built of large bricks of size 0.47m x 0.22m x 0.07m, set in mud mortar, the total height of the temple is 15.41m. Inside the temple only the sanctum or garbhagriha and the porch exist. Above the sanctum there was an upper chamber which was damaged when the spire was struck by lightining some time in the 18th century. The most marked feature of the temple is its recessed plan.

The interior of the temple is plain but on the outside it is decorated with carved brickwork and numerous terracotta panels of skillful workmanship. The importance of the Bhitargaon temple lies in the fact that it is the sole surviving record of this early phase of temple archiecture in India.

Musanagar
65 km from Kanpur, the ancient site of Musanagar with innumerable mounds deserves mention on account of the ancient temple of Muktadevi, which is said to have been built in Treta-Yug by Raja Bali. A large fair is held at Muktadevi temple on the occasion of Kartik Poornima. Musanagar is also a rich archaeological site and has yielded a large number of artifacts and specimens of the post Harrapan, Shunga, Maurya & Kushana periods.

The Muktadevi temple also offers an excellent view of the surrounding landscape. One can climb the roof of the temple dharmshala, from where can be seen the meandering Sengar river meeting the Yamuna down below, in a beautiful natural setting.

Archaeological Sites Around Kanpur
Among other notable archaeological sites around Kanpur are the 'Shiv temple at Nimbia Khera', the 'Jagannath temple at Behta Buzurg' and the 'Lala Bhagat Pillar'. Nimbia Khera is 12 km east of Ghatampur, where a 9th-10th Century old Shiva temple at Behta Buzung is supposed to be 200 years old. It is said that a week before the beginning of the rainy season, drops of water fall from the stone which is embedded in the inner roof of the temple. The village of Behta Buzung is 15 km from Ghatampur and 40 km from Kanpur, on the road going from Ghatampur to Sarh. Lala Bhagat, 92 km from Kanpur and 58 km from Derapur, houses the famous Kukkutadhwaj, more known as Lala Bhagat Pillar standing in the middle of a modern temple. This red sandstone-six and a half feet high octagonally carved pillar with a small inscription was once surmounted by a cock capital, which broken from the pillar shaft lies nearby. Datable to the Ist century, AD, the cock capital is of unique antiquity value.

Angira Ashram
Thousands of years ago, one of the saptarishis, Maharshi Angira, chose for his penance a place near Bithoor, presently situated in Ankui village today is known as the Angira Ashram. The ancient Jagannath temple here houses the original wooden idol of Lord Jagannath, said to be identical with that of the famous Jagannath temple.

Kannauj
80 km from Kanpur, it was the capital of King Harshavardhana's empire which encompassed the entire region between rivers Sutlej and Narmada. Today the town is the centre of the Indian essence (ittar) industry. The temple of Ajaipal is worth a visit.

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
43 km. From Lucknow, along the Lucknow-Kanpur highway near Unnao, is the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary attracts rare Siberian migratory birds during winters, the main bird species being Pintain, Pigeon, Common teal, Shoveller, Pochard, Coot, Purple moorhen and others. The ideal season for bird watching is between December and March. The Priyadarshini Motel of U.P. Tourism provides good boarding & lodging facilities at the sanctuary.

Word Of Caution
Every effort is made to make this Guide map up-to-date; however, factual informations are liable to change. Tourists are advised to consult their travel agent & nearest tourist information office for up-to-date information.