Meerut Travel Essentials

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"The Sports Capital of India"

Meerut Tourism

Rich culture, stunning monuments, significant history and lip-smacking cuisine awaits you at Meerut. This historical city located in the state of Uttar Pradesh sits at a distance of about seventy kilometres from New Delhi, forming part of the National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR). With an exciting past that dates back to ancient days, contemporary art flourishes along with a healthy dose of history and culture at Meerut.

Meerut is believed to have been established by Maya, the father of Mandodari (Ravana's wife) in the Indian epic Ramayana. Since Meerut served as Maya's capital city, it is sometimes known as "Ravana's Sasural" (the home of Ravana's wife). This connection to the Ramayana makes the otherwise small town of Meerut, a popular place on the religious map of India.

The Sports Capital of India has a lot to offer sports enthusiasts – choose from a myriad of sports gear including cricket bats and tennis balls to add to your collection. The artisan city holds an excellent value in the freedom of the country as well.

Meerut witnesses an influx of devout and tourists from the nearby regions during the Holi festival. Every year, two weeks after Holi, a fair is held at the Nauchandi grounds. What makes it unique is the location of a temple (Chanda Devi Temple) and a mosque located right opposite to each other. This lends the fair a symbol of unity among the two warring religions of India.

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Languages

  • Hindi is the most dominant language in Meerut with some locals speaking Urdu.
  • English is also spoken by most locals, especially at all tourist locations. Most taxi drivers, guides and shopkeepers can converse in English.
  • Signboards display instructions in both English and the regional languages.
  • Khariboli is a local dialect of Hindustani that is spoken by the locals as well. It is musically rustic and fascinating to listen to. Most folk art forms involve Khariboli words.
  • It is recommended that to learn a few phrases in Hindi before you make your way to this city, to explore it in all its glory.

Shopping in Meerut

Nothing says holiday fun like souvenir shopping, and Meerut does not disappoint! While the city boasts of many malls and shopping complexes, the best trinkets and gifts are found in street markets. You can shop for jewellery, handicrafts, metal works and other items in the many markets that line the shopping districts.

Surajkund Road is famous for its metal-embellished vases, jars and boxes that are sure to make memorable souvenirs. The city isn’t called the Sports City of India for nothing – it is the country’s most famous supplier of sports good. Choose from a wide range of sports accessories and paraphernalia, made by talented artisans. The intricate artistry is evident in the high quality of the items.

Meerut also produces musical instruments of high quality, so indulge in your musical fantasies at great rates, straight out of the artisans’ shops. Ansal Plaza is a public hangout spot where you can shop for international brands. Silver jewellery is popular here.

The Colourful Celebrations in Meerut

Meerut is famous for its distinct celebrations. The annual Jain fair is held in April and May, while the celebration of Parshwanath is held in July-August. Diwali festivities are held in October-November and are a must-visit. The entire city comes alive during Diwali, and the firework show is spectacular. The birth of Parshwanath is celebrated in December. Holi is celebrated with enthusiasm in the town in March.

History of Meerut

Meerut is one of the oldest cities in India, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The city’s proximity to Delhi has made it the epicentre of a flurry of activity through the ages. The Alamgirpur diggings are popular in archaeological circles, as the region houses artefacts from the Harappan civilisation. Pots and trinkets from the Mauryan era have been unearthed as well.

Meerut has also been mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata as the region corresponding to Hastinapur, the capital of the Pandavas. This has made it a religious hotspot today.

During the Mughal age, the city resisted invasions of Timur the Lame and Qutub-ud-Din. The most recent and documented brush with history came to Meerut during the iconic Revolt of 1857, which shaped the freedom struggle of India. Meerut was the first place where the revolution broke out – the ripple effect caused the entire country to attempt the first revolt against the colonial masters which bore fruit almost a century later.

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How to Reach Meerut

How to Reach Overview

Meerut being a part of the National Capital Region and being conveniently located in Uttar Pradesh is well connected by train, bus, car and flights. The most convenient way to reach this city from UP is by train and bus. For travelling from any major destination in India, Meerut is connected by flight through New Delhi.

How to reach Meerut by flight

The nearest major airport to Meerut is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, at a distance of about 100 kilometres. Being one of the prime airports in India, it is well connected to all Indian cities and international destinations through regular flights operated by all domestic and international airlines. 

To travel from the airport to Meerut, there is easy availability of airport buses, pre-paid taxis and app-based taxis. 

How to reach Meerut by road

Three National Highways pass through Meerut - NH-58, NH-119 & NH-235 - connecting it to all major nearby cities like New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, Haridwar, Agra, Lucknow, among others. Since the road condition is well enough for comfortable travel, many people opt to travel to Meerut from these cities by taxis and self-drive cars.

The proposed Delhi-Meerut Expressway is in the first phase of construction, touted to be operational from 2021. It will further improve the connectivity between New Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut to Dasna and Hapur.

How to reach Meerut by train

Meerut has two major railway stations – Meerut City Junction and Meerut Cantonment along with two smaller railway stations - Partapur and Pabli Khas. Dehradun Shatabdi, Sangam Express, Ujjaini Express, Chattisgarh Express, Shalimar Express, Utkal Express, Haridwar Mail, Uttaranchal Express, Golden Temple Mail and Delhi Ambala Passenger are some trains that pass through the station.

Meerut falls on the Delhi-Saharanpur railway line making most essential locations across the country connected to Meerut.

How to reach Meerut by bus

Meerut is served by two main bus terminals - Bhansali Bus Terminal and Sohrab Gate Bus Terminal. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) operates daily AC and Non-AC buses between Meerut and all major nearby cities. Apart from this, many private operators run regular AC and Non-AC deluxe, luxury and sleeper buses to and from Meerut.

Local transport in Meerut

To commute within Meerut, city buses and taxis are the most convenient mode of transportation. Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws are the more economical modes, apt for travelling shorter distances within the city.

Meerut Photos

Meerut
Shahid Smarak in Meerut
gandhi bagh
Digambar Jain Temple

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FAQs on Meerut

What is the best time to visit Meerut?

The best time to visit Meerut is between the winter months of October to February. During this time, the temperature ranges between 10°C and 25°C making it ideal for sightseeing and exploring. Meerut is influenced by subtropical monsoon climate having warm summers and cold winters. Summers in Meerut is extremely and uncomfortably hot while the monsoons are characterised by lower temperature but high humidity.
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What is the local food in Meerut?

If you have a sweet tooth, Meerut is the place to be! The locals take their sweets seriously, with many exclusive sweet shops lining the markets. Rewari and Gajak are two must-try sweetmeats made from jaggery, sesame and peanuts. These make for great souvenirs too, so make sure to stock up!

Savouries don’t lag too much either. Street food in Meerut is very popular because of the explosion of exotic flavours and cuisines that rejuvenate your palette. Golgappas made of potatoes and sauces, chaat that bursts with spices, potato Tikki and distinctive paan – you are sure to be spoilt for choice. Gulp down some wheatgrass juice or sweet Lassi to get ready for the next round!

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What is the best way to reach Meerut?

Meerut being a part of the National Capital Region and being conveniently located in Uttar Pradesh is well connected by train, bus, car and flights. The most convenient way to reach this city from UP is by train and bus. For travelling from any major destination in India, Meerut is connected by flight through New Delhi.
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What are the things to do in Meerut?

The top things to do in Meerut are Augharnath Temple, Draupadi-ki-Rasoi, St John's Church Meerut, Vidur Ka Tila, Digambar Jain Temple, Shapir. You can see all the places to visit in Meerut here

What are the places near Meerut?

The top places near to Meerut are Delhi which is 59 km from Meerut, Nainital which is located 176 km from Meerut, Garhmukteshwar which is located 44 km from Meerut, Rishikesh which is located 134 km from Meerut, Mussoorie which is located 167 km from Meerut

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