Chunar is a town of 37,000 people (2011) in Uttar Pradesh in India. Visitors come to see the Chunar Fort, and for its handicraft products made from clay and plaster of paris
Understand
Chunar has a triangular form on the right bank of the Ganges and the left bank of the Jirgo.
The oldest name of Chunar was Charanadri, as according to Hindu scripture, Lord Vishnu had taken his first step in his Vaman incarnation in the dynasty of Great King Bali in the age of Satyug. It also told that a very powerful man had travelled from Himalya to Kanya Kumari in the age of Dwapar and took rest here whose feet impression a rock became today's Chunar. The third one deals with Bhartihari, the ruler of Ujjain who came here for penance. A kingdom was later on built here. The fourth story sheds light on a rock statue built by Raja Sahadeo, who named the place as Nainagarh. However Chunar is highlighted after the visit of Babar followed by Shershah Suri, Humayun, Akbar, Aurangzeb and finally the British.
Get in
Chunar can be reached easily from both Varanasi and Allahabad. While Varanasi is just 30 km, Allahabad is about 120 km. The Chunar Junction is on the Howrah Delhi mail line. Being a smaller junction some of the major trains may not halt here. Compared to Chunar, Mirzapur has more train stoppages making it an alternate station. Mirzapur is about 33 km from Chunar and has frequent auto/bus service.
Get around
Auto-rickshaws are available to visit places within and around Chunar.
See
- 🌍 Chunar Fort. Established by Maharaja Vikrmaditya the King of Ujjain to commemorate the stay of his brother Raja Bhartihari who had taken his Samadhi when he was alive and still that Samadhi Sthal is worshipped. As per Alha Khand in 1029 AD. King Sahadeo made this fort as his capital and established the statue of Naina Yogini in a cave of Vindhya hill and put the name as Nainagarh. King Sahadeo built a stone umbrella based on 52 pillars in the memory of the victory on 52 other kings, inside the fort which has been preserved.
There are many other places to visit, include the Durga Ji Temple, Acharya Temple, Sidath Nath Ki Dari Waterfall and the Mausoleum of Iftikhar Khan.
Do
Buy
Local specialities include chini mitti toys and cups.
Eat
Local foods include samosa and lavanglata.