CHUNAR, a town and ancient fortress of India, in the dis trict of Mirzapur, in the United Provinces, situated on the south bank of the Ganges. Pop. (193o) 8,o5o. The fort occupies a conspicuous site on the summit of an abrupt rock which com mands the river. It was at one time a place of great strength, and still contains the remains of a Hindu palace with some inter esting carvings. The town, which consists of one or two strag gling streets, was once a European settlement, for the invalid or veteran battalion of the East India Company's army. In the church, the school, some ruinous houses, and the graveyards, are traces of that colony of war-worn exiles. The chief industry is now the excellent building stone which is found in the neigh bourhood.
In 1530 Chunar became the residence of Shere Shah the Afghan, and forty-five years later was recovered by the emperor Akbar after sustaining a siege of six months. It fell into the hands of the English under General Carnac in 1763 after a prolonged resistance. A treaty with the nawab of Oudh was signed here by Warren Hastings on behalf of the East India Company in Sept. 1781, and for a time it enjoyed a military importance as the frontier post of the company's jurisdiction.