Map - Fatehpur district (Fatehpur)

Fatehpur District is one of the 75 districts of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The district covers an area of 4,152 km2. The district has a population of 2,632,733 (2011 Census). Fatehpur city is the administrative headquarters of the district. Located on the banks of the sacred rivers Ganges and Yamuna, Fatehpur was mentioned in the puranic literature. The ghats of Bhitaura and Asani were described as sacred in the puranas. Bhitaura, the site of the sage Bhrigu, was an important source of learning. Fatehpur district is a part of Allahabad division.

This district is situated between two important cities, Allahabad and Kanpur of the state Uttar Pradesh. It is well connected with those cities by train routes and roads. The distance from Allahabad is 117 km and from Kanpur is 76 km. It falls in Howrah-Delhi train route between Allahabad and Kanpur. Grand Trunk road also passes by from this city. The north boundary of the district is limited by the river Ganges and its southern boundary is the river Yamuna.

Fatehpur district is named after the district headquarters town Fatehpur. According to local legends, the name is derived from a battle won by Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur over Raja Sita Nand of Athgarhia. The name of the conqueror is sometimes given as Jalal-ud-din, the ruler of Bengal. According to another tradition, the name is traced to Fateh-mand Khan who supposedly founded the town. It is based on a fragmentary inscription found at Denda Sai, in tehsil Khaga, which mentions Fatehmand Khan, an officer of Sultan Ala-ud-din, obtained a Farman from him in 1519 A.D. Confusion arises from the fact that in 1519 A.D. there was no king of the name, Ala-ud-din, and the title of the Sultan must be wrong even if the date is correct. Also Denda Sai is about 48 km. from Fatehpur.

In the 18th century the district formed a part of the subah of Korah, and was under the government of the wazir of Awadh. In 1736 it was captured by the Marathas, who retained possession of it until, in 1750, they were ousted by the Pathans of Fatehpur. In 1753 it was reconquered by the nawab of Awadh. In 1765, by a treaty between the East India Company and the nawab, Korah was made over to the Delhi emperor, who retained it until 1774, when it was again restored to the nawab wazir. Finally in 1801, the nawab, by treaty, reconveyed it to the Company in commutation of the amount which he had stipulated to pay in return for the defence of his country. In June 1857 the district rebelled, and order was established after the siege of Lucknow.