Kanpur has ancient roots, believed to have been settled by a Hindu king, but it remained relatively insignificant until around 1765. A turning point occurred in 1775 with the Treaty of Faizabad. The East India Company agreed to provide a brigade for the defense of the Oudh frontier, and Cawnpore was strategically chosen as the location for these forces. The protected state of Oudh paid a subsidy for the upkeep of these troops. Later, in 1801, Lord Wellesley negotiated the surrender of the district to the Company’s territory in exchange for the subsidy payment. This acquisition provided an important strategic barrier against potential invasions from Kabul and Afghanistan. Consequently, Cawnpore rapidly grew into a significant garrison for the Company. Notably, the Cawnpore Cantonment was a separate entity from the native city, stretching for six miles in a semicircular shape along the Ganges River. It featured numerous colonial bungalows with gardens, interspersed with forest trees, and separate bazaars for each regiment’s barracks, creating a striking scene.