In every city you can find certain places that its history and culture are often indentified with. In every town there are places that have existed for years and that are considered an important part of its character. There are certainly some places that a city is famous for, and your trip to the city is incomplete without a visit to those places. Such a place may be a hilltop or a riverbank, an old fort or an ancient temple, a monument, an archaeological site, a wildlife sanctuary, or even a market. Here are few must-visit spots in Meerut if you just happen to be in the city. Take a look!
A tall tower with a giant clock at the top, part of a building made of bricks with three gateways, in the very heart of the city – that is probably the first image that enters the mind when you think of Meerut; this is Ghanta Ghar, the most recognized place of the city. Built by the British in 1914, the clock tower today serves as a landmark helping visitors know where they are. The clock installed here was imported from Germany, and the sound of its big bell could be heard kilometers away. In the 1930s, the most revered leader of Indian freedom struggle, Subhash Chandra Bose came here at Ghanta Ghar to address a public meeting at nearby town hall. So the building was later renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dwar.
Augarnath Mandir, a grand Hindu temple, located in Meerut cantonment, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kali Paltan Mandir is another name of this sacred place. The temple is of enormous religious significance, and it attracts innumerable devotees every year. The actual day or year this shrine was built is not known. The Shiva Linga here is believed to have emerged on its own, and it is said that the Maratha rulers used to make pilgrimage to this shrine on auspicious occasions. The temple also has a great historical importance. Kali Paltan Mandir used to be a meeting place for the Indian soldiers who took part in the Revolt of 1857 against the British Raj. The temple complex covers a wide area with high green trees in the vicinity.
Located along the popular Mall Road in the cantonment area of the city, Gandhi Bagh is home to hundreds or perhaps thousands of plants and trees. Locals often call it ‘Company Garden’, a name that reminds that the park was set up by the British East India Company. This place used to be a favorite recreational spot for the British. The park is spread out over a very large area rich in different plant species. You feel connected with nature when you take a walk through the dense trees in the park; you find yourself amid fresh air, blooming flowers, and far away from the noise of the city. It’s really a place to relieve the monotony of everyday life.
By erecting the memorial, Shaheed Smarak, the city of Meerut has honored the bravery and sacrifice of those who laid down their lives during the First War of Independence against the British Raj. The Shaeed Stambh located here is devoted to the martyred freedom fighters. There is a museum that contains exhibits on the Revolt of 1857, and depicts the struggle for Independence through paintings and dioramas. The museum houses galleries where the portraits of freedom fighters and the events of their lives during the Revolt have been displayed. The museum’s collection also includes the statues of key figures of the Revolt, such as Mangal Pandey.
The Church of Sardhana, a magnificent structure, also known as Basilica of Our Lady of Graces in the Christian community, lies around 20 km north-west of Meerut city, at Sardhana which is a town in Meerut district. The church, dedicated to Mother Mary, is the largest Roman Catholic Church in the entire north India. This elegant monument, made up of marble, was built in the beginning of 19th century by Begum Samru who ruled Sardhana in the 18th – 19th century. The church also is the only minor basilica in north India, which is a dignity that is bestowed rarely and only on the churches that are both historically famous and beautiful.
Some 35 km away from Meerut city, there is a town that belongs to a period of history which is thousands of years in the past. Hastinapur, with all its remains of an early civilization, takes you back to the age of Mahabharata. It was the capital of Kauravas and was ruled by the Pandavas after winning the war of Mahabharata. The town has been a silent witness to the grandeur of an ancient capital city and the conflict between royals. Hastinapur is also the birth place of three Jain Teerthankaras, and thus a prominent place of pilgrimage for the Jain devotees too. Furthermore, Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a wide variety of birds, wild animals and plants, is truly a place for a nature-lover.
Shubhra Atreya
Content Writer
IT Department
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
