Kalpi is a historic town and municipal board in the Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna river, it forms part of the Jhansi division and lies in the Bundelkhand region. The town has long been associated with trade along the Yamuna, manufacture of handmade paper, and several events of the 1857 uprising.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Jhansi |
| District | Jalaun |
| Region | Bundelkhand |
| River | Yamuna |
| Civic body | Nagar Palika Parishad, Kalpi |
Kalpi stands on the southern bank of the Yamuna in the northern part of Jalaun district, on level alluvial terrain that gives way to ravines along the river. It lies on the route between Kanpur and Jhansi, and is connected by road and rail to other towns of Bundelkhand and the Doab. The climate is typical of the region, with hot summers, a monsoon season between June and September, and cool winters.
Local tradition ascribes the foundation of Kalpi to the king Vasudeva in the 4th century, and the town finds mention in medieval Indian sources. During the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal period, Kalpi was a notable provincial centre, and at different times served as the seat of local governors. It later passed under the control of various Bundela and Maratha rulers, before being absorbed into British territory in the early 19th century.
Kalpi gained particular prominence during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The town became a base for rebel forces in central India and was associated with the campaigns of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Tatya Tope and Rao Sahib. The Battle of Kalpi, fought in May 1858 between the rebel forces and a British column under Sir Hugh Rose, ended in the British capture of the town, after which the rebel leaders moved towards Gwalior.
Kalpi is traditionally known for the manufacture of handmade paper, a craft that has been associated with the town for several centuries and continues at small workshops. The surrounding rural economy is largely agricultural, with crops such as wheat, pulses and oilseeds cultivated in the Yamuna belt. The town also functions as a local market for nearby villages.
Urban administration is carried out by a Nagar Palika Parishad (municipal board). Kalpi falls within the Orai Lok Sabha constituency for elections to the Indian Parliament, and is part of the Kalpi Vidhan Sabha constituency for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Kalpi is connected by road to Kanpur, Jhansi, Orai and Hamirpur, and lies near major highways linking the Doab with Bundelkhand. Kalpi railway station provides rail connectivity on routes operated by Indian Railways. The nearest large airport is at Kanpur, with Lucknow and Gwalior serving as wider air connections.
Kalpi is traditionally associated with the legendary sage Vyasa, and is regarded by local tradition as connected with his birthplace; a number of temples and ghats along the Yamuna are linked to this association. The town's old quarters retain mosques, tombs and havelis from the Sultanate and Mughal periods.