On
the eastern side of the city of Kanpur, there is
a mound next to where the river Ganga flows,
known as the Jajmau. The Jajmau is said to be of great historical significance,
which is why it is among the principal tourist attractions in the city of Kanpur.
The
mound of Jajmau in Kanpur, India, had always aroused curiosity
in the minds of historians, who, in order to satiate their curiosity, carried out
excavations. The excavations of the mound were undertaken during 1957-1958, which
unearthed antiquities ranging from 700 BC to 1600 AD. These excavations
resulted in finding various items that threw a light on the life and times of
later Vedic period and beyond. Items that have been excavated include
potteries, utensils and busts among others.
Extensive
research was carried out on the articles that were dug out and finally,
historians came up with the conclusion that the items were of the time of a
Pauranic king who is said to have ruled the kingdom of Yayati and was known for
his bravery and intelligence.
Today
Jajmau houses the temples of Siddhnath and Siddha Devi. It is because of these
names that Jajmau was previously known as Siddhapuri. The other place to see at
Jajmau is the mausoleum of Makhdum Shah Ala-ul-Haq, the famous Sufi saint, which
was built under the patronage of Firoz Shah Tughlaq and a mosque constructed by
Kulich Khan.
Cloaked in ancient Hindu mythology, Jajmau finds adequate mention in the
Puranas and the Vedas. A visit to Jajmau, an ancient town bearing traces of
urbanity and set in a picturesque environment, is most likely to take tourists
down memory lane and cast an unforgettable impression on their minds. Jajmau is
truly a magnificent treasure trove of ancient Indian history.
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