Kanpur Memorial Church
Kanpur is a historical city and is believed to have been founded by members of the Chandela Dynasty and formed part of the state of Sachendi. The city's name is believed to derive from Kanhaiyapur (from the Hindi meaning "town of Kanhaiya").
With its amazing variety in culture, rapidly increasing industries and luring tourist destinations, the city witnesses a large arrival of tourists all through the year. One of the city's most coveted sightseeing destination is the famous Kanpur Memorial Church, also known by the name All Souls Church.
Kanpur Memorial Church was erected in 1875. Its architectural design was given by an architect named Walter Granville. With the complete construction in red brick, this church is a reflection of the gothic-architectural style of Lombard.
The monument was built in memory of the British, who sacrificed their lives in the 1857 war. The church building is made in Gothic style. At one time, it had beautifully painted glass windows with interesting memorials. Time has taken a toll and the windows are now discoloured. However, the memorials still exist.
The east side of the church houses the memorial garden. The memorial garden is separated from the main building by an exquisitely carved screen which was Gothic in its pattern. It was designed by Henry Yule. The centre of the church is adorned by a beautiful figurine of an angel, which was created by Baron Carlo Marochetti.
The angel sitting with crossed arms and holding pylons is the 'icon of peace'. The cemetery adjoining the church comprises of many graves that lay there since the 19th century. Some of the ancient graves in the church compound are intriguing with interesting inscriptions.
The Kanpur Memorial Church is a reminder of the unfortunate massacre of the Kanpur Barracks and the betrayal of Nana Sahib. The incident led to him being nicknamed as "The Butcher of Cawnpore".
Kanpur Memorial Church Location
The church is situated in the very heart of the city. The Kanpur Airport is located at about 6.9 km from the church. Also the Kanpur Central Railway station is at a distance of about 1.8 km from the church. There is ample local transport in the form of auto and cab for the church.Entry: Since the church is a very preserved monument and has relevance to India’s struggle for Independence, no fees is taken for entry. Checking is done through metal detector.
Timings: The church is open on all days of the week. Timings of visiting the church are 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Best Time to Visit: Though the church can be visited at any time of the year, the best time to visit church is from October to March.
Local Food Available near Kanpur Memorial Church
Kanpur is a great place for chat lovers; the city is planked with chat shops serving panipuri, alloo tikki, dahi chat, etc. No meal in Kanpur can be completed without eating paan, hence, try the excellent paan options. A striking feature is that the paan shops are open till 2 am, thereby offering a great reason to go out on a drive. There are a number of great eateries around the church which will help you get a taste of Kanpur.
Local Shopping Available
In the vicinity of the church there are some fabulous shopping destinations. The Lalkurti Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar and Baniya Bazaar are all with 2km radius of the church.