Hin: उन्नाव unnāva
‘City of Unwant’ – City/District, Uttar Pradesh.
Skt: Unna (उन्न), meaning ‘raised’, ‘elevated’, or ‘prosperous’; pura→wa(r), ‘city’ or ‘settlement’.
Godo Singh, a 12th century Chauhan Rajput, cleared the forests here and founded a town which he called Sawai Godo after himself.
Khande Singh became the Governorunder Kannauj rule. Unwant Rai Singh, his lieutenant and a Bisen Rajput, deposed and assassinated him. He constructed his own fort here and renamed it after himself.
During the Maurya and Gupta periods, Unnao was part of the larger Kosala and Kanauj regions. It is thought to have flourished as an agricultural and trade center due to its location on the banks of the Ganga River.
Under the Mughal Empire, Unnao gained prominence as a major administrative and military centre. The region was a key part of the Mughal province of Awadh/Oudh, which became an important political and economic area in northern India.
In the British colonial period, Unnao was recognized for its rich agricultural resources, especially its production of grain and cotton.
The city is today known for its leather, leather factories, mosquito nets, Zardozi embroidery and chemical industries.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Uttar Pradesh place names.
