Meerut District of
Uttar Pradesh has an area of 3,911 sq km. It is bounded by
Muzaffarnagar District in the north, Bulandshahar District and
Ghaziabad District in the south, and
Baghpat District in the west. Meerut has a total population of over 3 million. The
Ganges and Hindon are the major rivers.
According to Hindu legend, Maya, the father-in-law of
Ravana, founded this place and called it Maidant-ka-Khera. Another belief is that a famous architect, known as Maya, acquired land from king
Yudishtira and he named this place Mayrashtra, which in course of time came to be known as Meerut. The district’s name is also related to the name of Mahipal, a king of Indraprashta who had ruled the regions covered by the present Meerut long years ago.
Agriculture and industries play a major role in the economy. Wheat, barley, gram, peas, masoor, arhar, mustard, rice, corn, and pulses are the important crops produced. There are many large and medium scale manufacturing units producing alcohol, straw board, transformers, automobiles, tire tubes, cotton yarn, sugar, chemicals, milk products, and paper. Besides this, small scale industries are also there producing electrical equipments, flours, edible items, sports goods, electronics items, and engineering items.
Many tourist destinations and pilgrim centers are located throughout Meerut District, that include Hastinapur,
Suraj Kund,
Chandi Devi Temple,
Mansa Devi Temple, Bale Miyan ki Darghah,
Jama Masjid, Shahid Smarak, Augharhnath Mandir,
Sardhana,
Mawana, Parikishatgarh, Pura, Kharkhauda, Kithore, Lawar,
Bahsuma, Baleni, and Barnawa.
