Rampur is a small city in Uttar Pradesh's Rohilkhand region, between Moradabad and Bareilly. For nearly two centuries it was the capital of a princely state: the Rohilla state was founded in 1774 by Nawab Faizullah Khan, stayed under British protection and merged into India on 1 July 1949. The Nawabs left a distinct culture of scholarship, calligraphy and cooking.
The heart of a visit is the Qila Mualla, the walled fort compound in the centre of town. Inside, the Nawabs' Hamid Manzil palace houses the Raza Library, one of the notable manuscript collections in India. Beside the fort stands the Jama Masjid, begun in 1775, with three domes and four minarets, and the surrounding lanes are the best place to see everyday Rampur.
Rampur also has a craft and food identity. Rampuri cuisine is a branch of Mughlai cooking, and the town's name was once tied to the Rampuri knife, now restricted. It is a short, quiet destination rather than a resort, best as a day trip from Bareilly or Moradabad or as a stop between Delhi and Kumaon. Come for the library and the old town, and keep expectations simple.
Before you plan
Rampur at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable; October and March are workable. April to June is very hot and July to September is monsoon.
- Ideal trip length
- 1 day covers the fort1 day covers the fort, library, mosque and a meal; 2 days allows a slower pace or a trip to Ahichhatra
- Airport
- Moradabad AirportMoradabad Airport, about 12 km away, began commercial flights to Lucknow in 2024; Delhi (DEL) is the nearest major airport
- Railway station
- Rampur JunctionRampur Junction (RMU) on the Moradabad-Bareilly line, with trains from Delhi and Lucknow
- Getting around
- Cycle-rickshaws and e-rickshaws in…Cycle-rickshaws and e-rickshaws in the old town; a car for outings such as Ahichhatra
- Daily budget
- Modest: local foodModest: local food, transport and entry fees are inexpensive; hotels are basic and drive the cost
- Senior comfort
- Fair: the library is an indoor sightFair: the library is an indoor sight, but gateways, lanes and basic hotels need planning
- Language
- Urdu and HindiUrdu and Hindi; English is limited outside hotels and official places
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Rampur: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Rampur itinerary
One good day
1 day in Rampur
Arrive at the Qila Mualla in the morning and spend time in Hamid Manzil and the Raza Library, after confirming hours. Walk past the Rang Mahal and imambara, then step out to the Jama Masjid outside prayer times. Have lunch at a local restaurant near the mosque and finish with habshi halwa from a sweet shop.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Rampur
Spend a full morning in the fort compound and Raza Library, then lunch and a rest. In the late afternoon walk the Shadab Market lanes and the Jama Masjid.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Rampur
Take a slow morning at the library, then a rest and a walk in the compound.
Day-by-day plan →
