Meerut is a major city in UttarPradesh, an ancient city, with settlements dating back to the IndusValley civilisation. The city few kms from national capital region NewDelhi. The city is one of the largest producers of sports goods, and the largest producer of musical instruments in India. The city is also an education hub in western Uttar Pradesh, and also known as the “Sports City Of India”.. Meerut also contained a Harappan settlement known as Alamgirpur. It was also the eastern-most settlement of the Indus valley civilisation.
Meerut had been a centre of Buddhism in the period of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and remains of Buddhist structures were found near the Jama Masjid in the present day city.The Ashoka Pillar, at Delhi ridge, next to the ‘Bara Hindu Rao Hospital’, near Delhi University, was carried to Delhi from Meerut, by Firuz Shah Tughluq. it was later damaged in a 1713 explosion, and restored in 1867. Meerut is one of the important industrial towns of western Uttar Pradesh with several traditional and modern industries.[6] It is traditionally known for handloom works and scissors industry.
Meerut was one of the first cities in northern India where publishing was set up during the 19th century. It was a major center of commercial publishing during the 1860s and 1870s The city is famous for being the starting point of the 1857 rebellion against British colonialrule and continued to be major hub of anti-British rule sentiments till 1947 acting as hub of armed revolutionary acts as well as non-violent acts. Well connected by air, land and road with major cities, Meerut attracts tourists from all walk of life who visit the ciy to buy traditional artifacts as well as handlooms.
Tourist also visit in large numbers to visit the city for famous Nauchandi Mela, an annual fair held at Nauchandi Ground in Meerut.. The fair started in the year 1672 AD as a one-day cattle trading fair stretches for about a month and is organized by Municipal Corporation of Meerut. It generally starts from the second Sunday after Holi. The main exhibits are the artistic and religious rituals followed in rustic Uttar Pradesh. Since then cattle trading has been replaced by a number of other activities.
The fair feature shops for Lucknow’s Chikan work, Moradabad’s brassware, Varanasi’s carpets, rugs and silk sarees, Agra’s footwear,Meerut’s leather items, ports goods, scissors. Tourist can pick and choose any item for sale at reasonable prices. Tourist can also taste local delicacies like gajaks, nan-khatai at the mela..the mela is known for its recreational arenas where artists perform stunts, remains a big attraction of the fair. The city is home to several prominent educational institutes that attract students from various parts of India.
Tourist visiting Meerut can take a look at various important locations such as Digamber Jain Mandir Hastinapur, Pandeshwar temple, Gurdwara, Hastinapur Sanctuary. Also worth seeing are Shahi Jama Masjid, St. John’s Church, Augarnath Temple, Martyr’s Memorial, Gandhi Bag, Shahpeer’s Mausoleum , Shahi Eid Gaah. Parikshitgarh Fort, Baley Miyan Dargah, and Suraj Kund. the city is a shoppers paradise and tourist can buy various items from shops in various markets. The city is must visit whoo are interested in history of India’s freedom struggle.
