Location - Kampil is located at 27.62°N 79.28°E as excavated site.
Ancient Boundaries – Ancient Vedic time Kampilya was a large prosperous kingdom with Chakrabarti Rajas, with boundaries extending from Saket to River Beas in west. After division of Kuru-into Kuru- Panchala, the Panchala Mahajanapada’s Capital City Kampilya was spread across a vast area of Panchaladesha comprising almost eight districts of current-day Uttar Pradesh and parts of Uttarakhand. Ancient Kampilya shared boundaries with Saket (Ayodhya) and River Beas (Punjab).
Panchala extended from Himalayas in the north to the river Charmanwati in the south during the period of the Mahabharata Itihasa of Dwapar era, where Kampilya was the capital of the kingdom. It had Kuru, Surasena and Matsya kingdoms to the west and the forest Naimisha to the east.
Later, Panchala was divided into Southern Panchala (ruled by King Drupad) and Northern Panchala (ruled by Guru Drona and then his son Ashwathama). The Ganges River separated the two Panchalas.
Current Boundaries– Now in Tehsil Kaimganj in District Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. It is a nationally protected site under Archaeological Survey of India. The place has been preserved and there are ancient temples within it. It is about 300 km from New Delhi (Indraprastha), 160 km from Kanpur and 250 km from Lucknow, off Etah via Aliganj Road.
Significance/Itiahasa- Important Events
Kampilya finds mention in sacred texts of Vedas, Purana (Shiv, Skand, Padma, etc), Ramayana, Mahabharata and has a Kampilyamahatmya dedicated to it, explaining its glorious Itihasa.
Kampilya was a very prosperous kingdom with many Chakravarti Rajas. Most ancient Kampilyavasini Devi (Yajurveda mentioned) Mandir is here. A Tretayug Ramashewar Temple was established by Raghuvanshi Shatrughana, and has been documented in Ramayana and Vedic texts. Kampilya became famous in Dwapara as the place of birth and swayamvar of Maharani Devi Draupadi.
Birth of Devi Draupadi - Drupad vows revenge after being defeated by Dronacharya pupils, and performs a year’s ‘Tapasya’ and Yajna for a Yoddha son. He is blessed with twins, son Dhrishtadhyummma and daughter Draupadi. The Yajna becomes the symbol of the fiery strength, power, purity and strength of Agniputri/Yajyasenini Draupadi, who as per our sacred texts is the avatar of Devi Parvati, as ordained by Lord Shiva. She is the ‘Sakha’ of Narayana himself, and is the Narayani who helps him restore Dharma. She becomes the first Maharani of Indraprastha Kingdom. Her valor gives her the title of ‘Yajnasenini’, and being Princess of Panchaladesh she is also popular as Panchali.
Swayamvaar of Draupadi: This is also documented as the place where Draupadi’s Swayamvar took place. As narrated in our Itihasa texts, there was a tournament of ‘Matsya-Bhedan’ (piercing the eye of a revolving fish) and Pandava Prince Arjuna, in the guise of a Brahmin, wins the difficult contest. Kunti thinks of making Draupadi the wife of all five brothers, which goes into much deliberation. Sri Krishna solves the matter by reminding all that Draupadi is the avatar of Devi Parvati and the five Pandavs are the five aspects of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Draupadi establishes a Shiva Temple and accepts the five husbands. We still have Chaumukhi Shiva idols at Kampilya and nearby areas.
Places of Interest
• Kapil Muni Tapasya Sthal (Vedic)
· Kampilyavasini Mandir (Vedic)
• Rameshwar Mandir, Draupadi Kund, (Treta)
• Kalesvar Temple, Kampilyavasini Tempel, (Dwapar)
· Geeta Mandir (Sri Krishna)
• Jain Mandir- 13th Teerththankara Vimal Kumar & Swatambar and Digambar- 2 Jain Mandirs,
• 40km away in the ancient area of Kampilya (current city Farrukhabad) is Pandabagh Mandir where the Pandavas stayed after fleeing from the Lakshagrah. From here they went to take part in Swayambar,
• On the banks of the Ganga are the ashrams of Dhom Rishi and Durwasa Rishi,
• Moghul Ghats, Ganga Ghats, Zardozi Artisans
• 35 km away is Sankisa, which was also part of King Jank’s brother’s (Kushwadhaj) Kingdom and later the place where Gautam Buddha received knowledge about the life beyond t earth that is the knowledge of ‘Swaraga’, that is divine knowledge. Mayadevi temple is also here. Many countries where there are followers of Buddha have their guest houses here.
Important crafts, cuisine
Crafts: Embroidery (Zardozi), Block Making, Printing on cloth. It has been famous for its wedding lehengas, which are much sought after by the rich.
Food: Rich in agriculture and famous for product like potatoes, mangos, fruits and jaggery as sugar cultivation is prominent. Milk products like ‘rabri’ very popular and so are mango and various other fruits like guava, banana, papaya, etc.
Connectivity - Road, Rail, Air
Air: Nearest airport is Kanpur (180 km) or Agra 150 km.
Railway Station: Kampilya Station with connection to Kaimganj Tehsil and Farrukhabad Railway Station. Farrukhabad Station is connected to New Delhi via rail and road. Railway station of Kanpur: 180 km.
Road: Auto & Taxies, Bus Stand:- Kaimganj: 10 km, Kampil. Straight Route:-Kanpur-Achanera Mathura, Bareilly
Incredible Kampilya: Some highlights of Kampilya’s historical and cultural importance
• Vedic Era city with rulers who promoted knowledge (had Philosopher Kings).
It is referred in Balkand of Valmiki Ramayan that Brahmadatta the 12th descendant of Ikshvaku dynasty ruled here like Indra.
Somak,Sanjai, urmukh and Pravahan Jaivali were rulers of this line who are associated with Kampilya.
• Kampilyavasini Mandir of Vedic era (Ref Yajurvada)
· Kapil Muni’s ‘Tapasya Sthal’ (Vedic Era)
• Source of Ayurvedic Gospel ‘Charac Samnhita’ (Grand Meet of Researchers at Ganga Banks here, led to decision on compilation of Charak Samnhita, the book of preventive healthcare).
• Treta Era, Rameshwar Mandir (Shiv linga) established by Raghvanshi Prince Shatrughan,
• Kapil Muni’s ‘Tapasya Sthal’ (Vedic Era)
• Source of Ayurvedic Gospel ‘Charac Samnhita’ (Grand Meet of Researchers at Ganga Banks here, led to decision on compilation of Charak Samnhita, the book of preventive healthcare).
• Treta Era, Rameshwar Mandir (Shiv linga) established by Raghvanshi Prince Shatrughan,
• ·Dwapar Era Rajdhani of Raja Dhrupad (Mahabharata -Source- UP Gazetteer).
• Birthplace of Draupadi – the Yajna (Hawan) kund area is here.
• Arjuna’s Matsya Vedhan took place here & Arjuna Award also and the UP state symbol Dwapar Era Rajdhani of Raja Dhrupad (Mahabharata -Source- UP Gazetteer).
• Birthplace of Draupadi – the Yajna (Hawan) kund area is here.
• Arjuna’s Matsya Vedhan took place here & Arjuna Award also and the UP state symbol derived from this
• Kaleshwar Mandir established by Draupadi, as per tradition, to honour Shiva and accept his five forms in Pandavas as husbands.
• Buddha Visited Kampilya (Sankisa only 35 km from here), and acquired knowledge of ‘Swarga’ or heavenly knowledge beyond the world of illusions or ‘Maya’.
• Also considered Samadhi of 13th Jain Tirthankara Bimal Kumarji
• Many small ancient temples of Vishnu, Krishna, Hanumanji, etc
• Visited by travellers like Chinese Hiuen Tsang, Ibn Batua etc
• It is situated on the banks of the Ganga though the river has changed route.
• Ancient trade routes passed through Panchaladesha, of which Kampilya and Ahichetra were the capital cities.
