Welcome to Meerut – a land of India’s first struggle for Freedom, a city which has roots in the ancient history of India. If “a name  is a kind of face whereby one is known” Meerut’s name is associated with the earliest  traditions of the Hindus according to which Maya, the father- in- law of king Ravana, founded this place and was called Maidant-ka-Khera. According to another version Maya, a distinguished architect, got from king Yudhishter the land on which the city of Meerut now stands and he called this place Mayarashtra, a name which in the course of time become shortened to Meerut. It is also believed that this district formed part of the dominions of Mahipal, the king of Indraprashta and the word Meerut is associated with his name.

Whatever source of its name may be taken to be traditionally true, it is the city where the heart of ancient India throbbed and its essential character, heritage and ambition still reveals itself in its socio-cultural wealth. The land exists between the two major rivers of India – Ganga and Yamuna – which has made it a rich agricultural belt of the Western U.P. The place, being a multicultural in its character, has inherited the impact of three significant cultures – the Hindu, the Muslim and the British because of being a very famous Cantonment during the days of British Raj. Consequently two major Indian languages – Hindi and Urdu – grew and flourished here.

The former has its roots in the soil of this city and was then known as “Khariboli” and the latter emerged out of the national and international influences which left the place rich in chaste Urdu adding a special flavor to the effective communication and subtle art of poetry which added elegance to the  local lifestyle. History affirms that even the famous Urdu poet Ghalib was fascinated by this city. Its artistic ambition is realized in various Gharans of classical vocal and instrumental music; its love for higher education reveals itself in having many colleges which are more than hundred years old and have the strength of students ranging in thousands.

Meerut has emerged as an educational hub and has now four Universities and a Medical College. These institutions are supported by the hundreds of colleges in modern disciplines like Management Studies, Computer Application and other Sciences which loudly speak of the academic culture of the place. The establishment of Vidya Knowledge Park has brought Meerut to the fore front of the academic world.

The city has been a centre of Handloom industry as well as Sports goods and scissor making industry and in these ventures it holds an international reputation. It has rich shopping arcades and even exports market in Gold and Costume jewellery also. Another significant business area in which the city has made a mark is in publication and in making musical instruments including brass band, drums and clarinets etc.

Meerut is a thickly populated, fast changing cosmopolitan city which is included in the National Capital Region because of being strategically located on the suburbs of Delhi which is at the distance of 60 km only. For the light entertainment Meerut has Cinemas, Restaurants, Cafes and shopping Malls and offers many opportunities to reach the Ganga and the Himalayan ranges within a couple of hours. The journey by rail and road, taxi and car makes one feel that to be in Meerut is to have an access to all the places within and outside the country. Even the International Airport is just 80 km. away. It shares the national character of receiving and imbibing various influences. Mark Tully said about India in his book, There is No Fullstop in India because it assimilates all the influences gracefully that stands true for Meerut also.