Unnao is an important district of central Uttar Pradesh situated along the banks of the Ganga River. It is renowned for its prosperous agriculture, leather industry, Zari-Zardozi work, and historical heritage. Buxar Fort and the bird sanctuary at Nawabganj—currently known as the Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary—are among the district’s prominent landmarks. Unnao is strategically situated between Lucknow and Kanpur. Under the One District One Cuisine Programme, Kala Jamun, Samosa, Kushli, and Trilok Pari have been selected for Unnao district.
Samosa is an extremely popular street food in Unnao. Being affordable, it provides extensive opportunities for self-employment with relatively low investment. Hot Samosas filled with potatoes and spices and served with chutney are extremely popular throughout the district. More than 6,000 people are employed across over 200 units engaged in this industry.
The melt-in-the-mouth sweets of the Chakalvanshi area have been established as a distinctive culinary identity of Unnao for more than 100 years. More than 500 people are employed across over 100 units engaged in this industry.
Trilok Pari traces its roots to Unnao’s traditional sweet-making culture, where its distinctive recipe has been preserved across generations. Prepared with mawa, sesame seeds, sugar, and dry fruits, this festive sweet is renowned for its rich flavour and soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture. This carefully crafted blend of dairy richness and nutty flavours has made Trilok Pari a cherished part of Unnao’s culinary heritage.
Kushli traces its roots to Baksar village in Unnao, where this distinctive sweet has been prepared for over a century. Unlike the traditional crescent-shaped Gujiya, Kushli is round and filled with khoya, sugar, and dry fruits before being fried and coated in fragrant sugar syrup, Kewra, and white sesame seeds. Its unique shape, rich filling, and aromatic sweetness have made Kushli a cherished part of Unnao’s culinary heritage.