Meerut is a city that lies on western part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the ancient cities of India, which have been inhabited by human population since the time of Indus Valley Civilization. It is an important city of Northern India and is well-known for producing sports goods as well as musical instruments. Situated between the plains of the mighty rivers Ganga and Yamuna, Meerut is the second largest army cantonment of India and the second fastest developing city of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated at a distance of 70 km from the capital of India, Delhi, and 453 km from state capital, Lucknow and is a major educational hub of Western Uttar Pradesh. Geography and Climate Sprawling over an area of 2,522 km[SUP]2[/SUP] (974 sq mi), Meerut lies between 28[SUP]o[/SUP]57’N and 77[SUP]o[/SUP]45’ E in the Indo-Gangetic plain. It is bounded by Muzaffarnagar district on the north, Bulandsahar on the south, Ghaziabad and Baghpat on the south west and by the River Ganges on the east. Meerut has a monsoon influenced humid subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and cooler winters. Summers last from early April to late June during and are extremely hot, with temperatures reaching 43 °C (109 °F).The monsoon arrives in late June and continues till the middle of September. Temperatures drop slightly, with plenty of cloud cover but with higher humidity. Temperatures rise again in October and the city then has a mild, dry winter season from late October to the middle of March The lowest temperature ever recorded is −0.4 °C (31.3 °F), recorded on Sunday, 6 January 2013.[35] Rainfall is about 80 cm to 100 cm per annum, which is suitable for growing crops. Most of the rainfall is received during the monsoon. Humidity varies from 30 to 100%. Demographics According to the 2011 census, the Meerut Urban Agglomeration (including the area under the Municipal Corporation and the Cantonment Board), has a population of around 1.4 million, with the municipality contributing roughly 1.31 million of the total population. The sex ratio in Meerut is 888, lower than the state average of 908; while the child sex ratio is 847. The average literacy rate is 78.29%. History of Meerut The city of Meerut has derived its name from Maya Rashtra, the capital of the kingdom of Mayasura, who was the father-in-law of Ravana. However, according to legend, the city got its name after a troop of Marathas resided in the site of present day Meerut. According to another story, Mayasura, being an eminent architect had received the land on which the city of Meerut now stands from King Yudhisthira and he named this place Mayarashtra, a name which in the course of time has been shortened to Meerut. As per another prodigy, the city formed a part of the territory of Mahipala, the king of Indraprastha, and the word Meerut is associated with his name. Meerut was established in the year 1803 and was under Harappan rule during the Vedic period. During r. 273 BC to 232 BC during the rule of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the city was a centre of Buddhism and remains of Buddhist structures were found near the Jama Masjid in the present day city. In a recent archaeological excavation, several remains of the historic town Hastinapur, was also found in the city, which is an evidence of its existence during the ancient times. During 11[SUP]th[/SUP] century AD, the south-west part of the district was ruled by Har Dat, the Dor Raja of Bulandshahr who built a fort known for its strength and finds mention in Ain-i-Akbari. He was later defeated by Mahmud Ghazni in the year 1018. A prominent local landmark, the Jama Masjid, dates from this period and is said to have been built by Mahmud's Vizir. Shortly after its capture the city was regained by the local Hindu ruler. The first big invasion on the city was in the year 1192 AD, when Mohammad Ghori, when his general Qutb-ud-din Aybak attacked the city and a much worse fate lay ahead for Meerut, which came with the invasion of Timur in 1398. The city then came under the rule of the Mughal Empire and saw a period of relative tranquility and during the rule of Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great between 1556 and 1605, there was a cast for copper coins here in the city. After the decline of the death of Aurangzeb, when the Mughal Empire started declining, the city came under the control of local rulers, the Saiyids of Muzaffarnagar in the north, the Jats in the south-east, and the Gujars along the Ganges and in the south-west. The city saw Sikh and Maratha invasions during the 18th century, with interruptions by Jats and Rohillas. Walter Reinhardt, an English soldier, established himself at Sardhana and some parts of it came under his rule. Upon his death, they came into the hands of Begum Samru. During this time, the southern part of the district had remained under Maratha rule. In 1803, with the fall of Delhi, Daulat Rao Scindia of the Marathas ceded the territory to the British. The city was made headquarters of the eponymous district in 1818. Meerut is in particular associated with the Indian Revolution of 1857 against the British East India Company, when chants of popular Hindi slogan "Dilli Chalo” were first raised in this city. Meerut cantonment was the place where the upheaval started when Hindu and Muslim soldiers were given rifle cartridges with a coating made of animal fat. The city leapt into international eminence during the revolution of 1857, when on 24 April, 1857, 85 militants out of ninety of the third cavalry refused to touch the cartridges and after court martial, were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. This marked the beginning of freedom movement in India, with the support of the civilian populace. Meerut is also famous for one of the famous controversial case happened in India which is known as Meerut Conspiracy Case in the year 1929. Culture of Meerut The city of Meerut has a rich cultural heritage and exemplifies Secularism for which India is known for. All traditional Indian festivals, like Holi, Dussehra, Diwali, Eid, etc. are celebrated with great vehemence in the city. Particularly, a fair named Nauchandi Fair is held two weeks after Holi every year, which symbolizes communal harmony among the Hindu and Muslim shrines -Nauchandi temple and Dargah of Muslim Saint Bala Mian in Meerut. Krishna Janamashtam is another festival that is celebrated with grandeur. Tourist Attractions in Meerut Being one of the ancient cities of India the existence of which dates back to the period of Indus Valley Civilization, Meerut is an important tourism destination in Uttar Pradesh. The city boasts of some significant historical as well as cultural heritage sites, which are speckled all over the town. Some of the must-visit tourist destinations in the City are: Jain temples of Hastinapur St. John's Church Augarnath Temple Jama Masjid Martyr's Memorial Gandhi Bagh Shahpeer's Mausoleum Shahi Eid Gaah Parikshitgarh Dargah of Baley Miyan Suraj Kund Kali Paltan Mandir Shaheed Samarak Transportation Roadways Meerut is well-connected via roadways to all the major cities of Northern India, especially with cities like Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Haridwar. Three national highways, namely NH-58, NH-119 & NH-235 pass through Meerut. The city houses two main bus terminals, namely Bhainsali bus terminal and Sohrab Gate bus terminal from where Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses ply to cities all over the state and all nearby cities. City Buses, auto rickshaws and rickshaws are convenient public transport options to commute within the city. Railways The city houses four railway stations, namely Meerut City, Meerut Cantt, Partapur and Pabli Khas of which Meerut City is the busiest among all. The railway line between Delhi and Meerut was constructed in 1864and the Meerut Cant station, which serves as a secondary railway station was established in the year 1865. Meerut lies on the Delhi–Saharanpur railway line. Airways The nearest airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi, which is situated about 100 km from the city. Travelers to Meerut can cover the rest of their journey by hiring private taxis or by buses that ply from Delhi.
