Meerut

After the archaeologist excavated "Vidura-ka-tila", a collection of several moulds were discovered in 1950-52, a site which is 37 km away from North East of Meerut. It was concluded to be the ancient city of Hastinapur, the capital city of Pandavas and Kauravas of Mahabharata, which was washed away by the floods of Ganges. Long before the Vedic period, Meerut contained the Harappan settlement known as Alamgirpur. It is also the eastern most settlement of Indus Valley Civilization. The city has been a center for Buddhism during the Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor (273 BC - 232 BC), and the remains of Buddhist monuments and structures were found in near Jama Masjid.

In the eleventh century AD, Har Dat, the Dor Raja of Bulandshahr who built a fort, ruled the South Western part of the district. He was known for his strength and also finds a mention in Ain-i-Akbari, but he was later defeated by Mahmud Ghazni in 1018. The renowned Jama Masjid, famous land mark, is said to have been built during this period by Mahmud`s Vizir. Though this city was regained by the Hindu Raja later on, but it was again recaptured by Mohammad Ghori, then Qutub-ud-din-Aybak attacked the city and converted all the Hindu Temples into mosques. The city saw a lot of bloodshed as lots of foreign rulers like Afgans, Mughals and British invaded from time to time.

Meerut is popular for the revolt of 1857 against the British East India Company. The slogan, "Delli Chalo" was raised from here. Meerut rose to national prominence during the great revolt of 1857, as it marked for the widespread revolt throughout the country.

Lately in 1984 the city suffered the communal tension- Hindu- Sikh riot and Hindu- Muslim riot in 1982, 1987. Lots of people were killed and looted.

Meerut is a fastest growing urban area in the world and 14th fastest developing city in India, out performing Mumbai and Lucknow. The economic development and infra structure of Meerut is currently going through a booming phase with many new innovative projects coming up in and around the city. There are many new malls, buildings, roads, fly over and apartments coming up. Some of the major investors include Supertech Group, Era Group, Antriksh, Majestic Properties, MSX Developers, Ansal Housing and Contruction, Goldwin Builders, Parsvnath and DLF. The expressway connecting Meerut and Delhi will be completed by 2013. The upper Ganges canal expressway is also expected to get completed soon. A five star hotel in Greenwood city at Baghpat road bypass crossing is under construction and expected to come up soon.

Meerut is a popular metropolitan city of the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is in fact, India`s 16th largest metropolitan city that holds extensive importance for the Mutiny of the Bengal Army in the year 1857. This fastest developing town of Uttar Pradesh has one of the largest Army cantonments of the country. Meerut, which is also known as the educational and industrial hub of India, is popular for its sports goods, scissors and enormous monuments and heritage sites. By the early 19th century it was a deserted town with little trade, but with the establishment of British cantonments here in 1806, the population expanded and trade flourished.

The `Military Cantonment` lying to the north of the old city is an extensive area running from the railway on the west to the police lines on the east. The principal thoroughfare of Meerut is the Mall, one of the finest examples in India, which provides a wide, tree-lined drive flanked by bungalows with fine garden compounds. The `Club and Roman Catholic Church` can be seen here. St John`s Church was built in a classical style in the year 1821, with a striking spire visible from the foothills of the Himalayas. This church has a rich historical significance as during the outbreak of the Mutiny, the British were at evening service in this church. North-west of the Church is the Cemetery, which is divided into two parts. The old part is covered with cupolas, pyramids and obelisks. General Sir David Ochterlony, whose memorial column stands in Kolkata and who served in every Indian war from the time of Clive onwards, terminating in the invasion of Nepal in 1816, was buried here in the year 1825. His tomb consists of a large commemorative plaque of ornamental brickwork carrying a marble slab and dedication. Another memorial is devoted to those officers and privates of the `14th Regiment of Foot` who fell in the storming of Bharatpur in between 1825 and 1826. `Victoria Park` marks the site of the old Central Jail, which was dishonourable during the events of 1857. The earlier antiquarian remains of Meerut are exquisite and highly notable. The `Suraj Kund` or `Monkey Tank` lies to the west of Victoria Park; it was constructed in the year 1714 by a rich merchant Jowahir Mai. Its sides are lined with small temples, sanctuaries and suttee pillars.

Another most popular monument of this city is the `Baleswar Nath Temple` depicts the Muslim conquest. Near the Collector`s Office lies the `Tomb of Makhdum Shah Wilayat` that was apparently built by Shahab-ud-Din Ghuri. The Tomb of Shah Pir is a fine red sandstone structure that was erected in the year 1628 by Nur Jahan, wife of Emperor Jahangir, in memory of a pious fakir. Qutb-ud-Din Aibak is alleged to have built the Maqbara of Salar Masa-ud Ghazi in the year 1194. The mausoleums of Abu Muhammad Kamboh (1658) and Abu Yar Khan (1577) are some other places of interest in Meerut.

Meerut, one of the developing and hugely popular cities of India, offers a number of places of interest to its visitors.

Meerut is bound by Muzaffarnagar in north, Bulandshahr in the south, Ghaziabad in the south and Baghpat in the west. The eastern boundary is formed by river Ganga which separates the district from Bijnor and Moradabad. The western boundary is formed by Hindon and separates the district from Baghpat. There are no mountains and the ground is not rocky. The soil is composed of sub recent alluvial and Pleistocene sediments transported and deposited from Himalayan region by river action. The city is situated between the plains of Yamuna River and Ganga River.

Meerut, with its imminent luxuriant picturesque backdrop and history, is a well developed tourist destination for people. Some of the popular tourist destinations include;

Jain Temple : The Jain Temple is situated at Hastinapur, is one of the earliest cities in India like Kashi and Ayodhya, which came into existence during the time of Rishabhadeva (first tirthankara) whose grandson, Somaprabha, was the first ruler. This place is also the birth place of the three Jain tirthankars; Shantinatha, Kunthnnath and Arahanatha.

Another Jain Temple at Mohalla Teergaran is one of the popular places and is an oldest Jain temple in Meerut among 40 other temples. Its main statue is of Jain tirthankar Shantinath that was built at the same time as the Jain Temple at Hastinapur.

St John`s Church : On behalf of the East India Company this church was built by Chaplin Reverend Henry Fisher in 1819 and it was completed in 1822. This church is considered to be one of the oldest Indian churches. This church was dedicated to people and has a sitting capacity of 10,000 people.

Museum of Pathology at Meerut : Museum of Pathology of Meerut is located inside the campus of L.L.R.M. Medical College. It is under the supervision of Department of Pathology of that college. The museum mainly displays dissected organs of human body obtained after postmortem and surgery. Apart from that it houses several other specimens of pathology. The museum is open on all days from 9.30 in the morning to 4.30 in the evening except on Sundays and other Government holidays.

Augurnath Temple : This temple has a strong historical baggage. At this very site the soldiers of the 1857 revolt planned their strategies. The temple has rooms in the honour of martyrs of revolt of 1857.

Some of the other popular tourist destinations are Jama Masjid, Martyr`s Memorial, Gandhi Bagh, Suraj Kund, Chandi Devi Temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Kali Temple in Sadar Bazar, Bale Miyan ki Dargah, Shahpeer Saheb ki Dargah, Shahi Eid Gaah, Basilica of Our Lady of Graces etc.