town, south-central Uttar Pradesh state, northern India, northwest of Kanpur, on the Ganges (Ganga) River (Ganges River). Baji Rao, peshwa of the Marathas, established his court at Bithur after the British deposed him in 1818. In 1857 the British levelled the town and blew up the temple and palaces in retaliation for Baji Rao's adopted son's part in the Indian Mutiny. The town's ruins are an important Hindu holy place. The principal object of worship is a footmark believed to be that of the god Brahma. The epic Ramayana (Rāmāyaṇa) is said to have been composed there. A large religious festival is held annually. Pop. (2001) 9,652.