Discover Kannauj: fragrance traditions, the Ganges and wetlands

In Kannauj, an internationally renowned fragrance tradition meets a diverse landscape of rivers and wetlands. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can focus on the city’s perfume culture or include natural and cultural sites in the district. The religious traditions along the Ganges and the region’s history also give the destination its distinctive character.

Wetlands, river channels and birdlife

Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary is near the village of Lakhbasohi in Kannauj district. It encompasses the two oxbow lakes, Lakh and Bahosi, as well as adjoining wetlands, and covers 80 square kilometres. According to the description, more than 50,000 birds visit the lakes each year, including the endangered Greater Spotted Eagle. The number may vary seasonally.

Hara Taal, near the village of Ismailpur Digan, is a freshwater wetland and marsh covering about 24.6 hectares; its extent can vary seasonally. A 2021 field survey recorded 18 bird species there, including four species in the IUCN Red List category RET. The two wetlands differ in scale: Lakh Bahosi covers 80 square kilometres, while Hara Taal covers around 24.6 hectares.

The Ganges enters the district at Chiasar and leaves it at Daipur. Its course through Kannauj is about 49 kilometres long. Numerous irregularly shaped river islands divide the river into several channels here. Ganges river dolphins are regularly sighted on the banks of the Ganges near Daipur village as part of the Arth Ganga Trail; sightings are seasonal and variable. Chiyasar Ghat is considered a destination for spiritual, cultural and nature-based tourism, including meditation and yoga.

Experience Kannauj’s fragrance traditions

Kannauj district is internationally known for its industry centred on essences, flavourings, fragrances and perfume. Kannauj attar is made from natural ingredients. Experienced perfumers distil rose and jasmine fragrances, among others. The subject ranges from the regional fragrance industry to hands-on experiences related to production.

Founded by the government, the Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC) in Kannauj focuses on research, development, training and innovation in the fragrance and flavour industry. Laboratories, training facilities and demonstrations offer insight into perfume-making. If you would like to visit the centre, it is advisable to check access arrangements in advance.

The Perfume Distillery Tour takes you through an old perfume distillery and explains distillation methods that have been practised for centuries. With the Create your Own Fragrance experience, you can blend your own fragrance from more than 500 ingredients; ingredient availability may change. The Aromatic Farm Experience includes an early-morning tour of an aromatic farm. Seasonal participation in flower picking depends on the farm’s calendar.

Museum, ghat and religious heritage

The Kannauj Archaeological Museum houses a wide variety of terracotta figurines associated with the region’s ancient art and cultural history. Mehndi Ghat, now also called Mahadevi Ghat, lies on the Ganges in Kannauj and is connected with the city’s cultural and literary heritage. Thousands of devotees visit the ghat every year for Ganga Dashahara, Kartik Purnima and Ashadh Purnima to take ritual baths and perform religious rites.

A one-faced Shiva lingam, an Ekmukhi Lingam, is worshipped at the Gauri Shankar Temple. On special occasions such as Kartik Poornima, Buddha Poornima and Ganga Dushera, residents of Chiasar and nearby villages gather at Chawan Rishi Ashram and the adjoining Durga Temple. These sites complement the fragrance and museum themes with the district’s religious traditions.

Plan your arrival and hotel location

Kannauj lies on the broad-gauge railway line between Kanpur and Mathura and is served by express and passenger trains. As individual train services and timetables may change, check the times for your travel date. For road travel, National Highway 24 is relevant; it is also known as the Delhi–Kannauj–Kolkata GT Road. Check the current route and road designation before travelling.

When choosing a hotel, it helps to decide first on your planned priorities: fragrance traditions and the museum in Kannauj, or the district’s river landscapes and wetlands. Then match the specific hotel address to the destinations on your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Kannauj, Ballia, Varanasi, Barabanki, Mirzapur, Unnao, Lalitpur, Sonbhadra.

For the wider travel overview: Uttar Pradesh.