Kannauj

Kanauj, or Kannauj, is an ancient city of Uttar Pradesh state of India (1991 pop. 58,932). Kanauj in early times formed the capital of a great Hindu kingdom. Formerly known as Kanyakubja (called Kanogiza by Ptolemy), its prosperity dates from a prehistoric period. It was an important center during the Gupta empire. Kanauj culminated in the seventh century under Harsha as the capital and cultural center of his empire. In the ninth century it became the capital of the Pratihara kingdom, and was known as a center for poetry. In 1019 it fell before Mahmud of Ghazni, and again in 1194 before Mohammed of Ghori. The existing ruins extend over the lands of five villages, occupying a semicircle fully 4 miles in diameter. No Hindu buildings remain intact; but the great mosque, constructed by Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur in 1406 out of Hindu temples, is still called by Hindus Sita's Kitchen. Kanauj, which is traditionally said to be derived from Kanyakubja (the crooked maiden), has given its name to the language or dialect Kanauji. Hinduism in Lower Bengal also dates its origin from a migration southwards from this city, about 800 or 900. Kanauj is known for the distilling of scents, and is a market center for tobacco, perfume, and rose water.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)