Massacre Ghat, Kanpur Cantonment

In the beginning of the colonial annexation of Awadh, the ghat had earlier been nicknamed as Massacre Ghat, by the East India Company officials after the historical events of the 1857 Indian Mutiny at Cawnpore.

It was at this location that the initial momentous events of Indian Rebellion of 1857, named as Siege of Cawnpore in British colonial records, took place.

This Ghat has become historically important since the Indian Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. On June 27, 1857, Kanpur saw one of the grimmest stories of Indian history of independence. Around 300 British men, women and children were slaughtered at the Satti Chaura Ghat, Kanpur, later gaining identification as Massacre Ghat. Those who escaped the brutal fate that day were later killed at the ‘Bibighar Massacre’. The rebellion was believed to be led by Nana Sahib of Peshwa from which the Ghat was renamed as Nana Rao Ghat. The Ghat now stands alone evoking the sad story. What was massacre to the Britons, the then colonial masters, was the War of Independence for the colonized Indians. Today the Massacre Ghat bears a tranquil scene marked by a small white temple. The Ganges here has turned unclean and efforts are in process to help regain Ganga its sanctity.