Kalpi is a pretty city located between
Jhansi and
Kanpur on the
National Highway 25 in
Uttar Pradesh. It is 35 km northeast of
Orai.
Kalpi is believed to have found by king Vasudeva, at the end of the 4th century. References about the Kalpi fort, one of the eight great forts of the Chandelas, had been found in the annals, regarding its capture by Qutab-Ud-Din Aibak in 1196. The city had witnessed continued struggles for its possession by subsequent rulers from Sarqi kings of Jaunpur to Daulat Khan Lodhi and Babur. During the reign of Akbar, the town became the ‘gate of the west’ – an entry point for expeditions to central India. In the mid 18th century, the Marathas gained possession of Kalpi and ruled it until the British wrested control in 1803.
Apart from the old fort, other points of tourist interest in the town include the tombs of Madar Sahib, Ghafur Zanjani, Chol Bibi and Bahadur Shahid and several temples of antiquity. The architectural splendor of
Chaurasi Gumbaz, which is attributed to the Lodhis, is another spot worth visiting. Though the new town of Kalpi lies to the southeast of Yamuna , the old town is still the nerve center for local trade. Rampura and Jagmanpur are attractions nearby.
Orai is the nearest railhead. The nearest airport is at Lucknow.
