Meerut is an old city in Uttar Pradesh that has been around since the time of the Indus Valley Civilisation. In a city that has thousands of years of history, you are sure to be welcomed with a plethora of amazing tourist spots. From ancient religious temples to historical spots, you can find extraordinary spots of great significance in Meerut.
This trip would be especially more meaningful if you visit after reading up a little bit about the Mahabharata. Why? You will find out soon enough! Before we get into the amazing sightseeing spots and activities you can do in Meerut, let’s get a glimpse of the travel details on how you can get to Meerut.
By Air: The closest airport to Meerut is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. It is located some 88 km from Meerut. You can find public transport such as buses or cabs from outside the airport that can help you reach Meerut. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is well-connected to most of the world, so you can easily get flights to Delhi. From the airport, the transit is easy and quick, which will allow you to get to Meerut in no time.
By Road: You can reach Meerut by taking a bus from the nation’s capital Delhi. In fact, you can get government-run buses from major cities in Uttar Pradesh to reach Meerut. If you are outside of Uttar Pradesh, you can find bus services to reach the state, and from there, you can get buses to Meerut. There are both private and governmental buses that allow you to reach Meerut, so choose as per your trip timing and convenience.
By Train: Meerut has its own train station making trains the easiest and the most straightforward way to directly get to the city. You can find train connectivity from most parts of the country to Meerut directly. The train station is located close to the city centre so you can get easy transportation to and from the station.
7 amazing places to visit & things to do in Meerut
Kalipaltan Mandir
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The Kalipaltan Mandir is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city of Meerut. Located close to the city centre, this temple is said to house a self-manifested shiv-ling. It is the oldest temple of Lord Shiva in the city and one of the most accessible tourist spots for you to visit in Meerut.
The revolt of 1857 against the British Raj started from Meerut. The Kalipaltan temple used to be a meeting spot for the soldiers of the revolt, and it is said that they used to plan their operations from this temple. To commemorate the bravery of the soldiers martyred in the revolt of 1857, there is a memorial on the temple premises.
This important historical spot and temple is located just 2 km from the city centre of Meerut.
Mustafa Castle
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Continuing down the path of spots you can visit within walking distance from the city centre, the Mustafa castle is next on the list. This magnanimous and picturesque castle is more than a hundred years old and was built by Nawab Mohammad Ishak Khan in honour of his late father, Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta.
Nawab Mustafa Khan was a renowned Urdu poet of his time, and his memorial castle was completed in the year 1900. This castle is humongous with extreme attention to detail. Today it stands as a beacon of exquisite architecture and design. However, there is more to this castle than just good looks.
This castle has a lot of historical significance as it was home to political discussions of the highest levels in pre-independent India and hosted eminent political and literary figures of the time. The Mustafa castle is an incredible historical monument in Meerut that attracts thousands of visitors every year from various parts of the world. This castle is located just 1 km from the city centre of Meerut.
Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM
Digambar Jain Temple
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Jainism is one of the major religions in India and Digambar is a sect of Jainism. The Digambar Jain Temple of Meerut has a history of thousands of years and is one of the holiest places for Jain followers. The temple features a six-foot picture of Lord Mahavira in Padmasanastham, which is one of the central attractions of the temple.
This temple also features magnificent architectural structures that have hundreds and thousands of years of historical significance.
This temple houses seven important altars and spires, the most popular of which is “Tilak Wale Baba”. Visiting this temple can be an excellent way for you to catch up on your knowledge about Jainism. The calm and serene temple premises are also a great place for you to get in touch with your spiritual side.
St John’s Church
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Meerut is genuinely a perfect representation of the diversity of India as you will find major tourist attractions from almost all the major religions of India in Meerut. St John’s church is one of the largest and oldest churches in North India. This parish church was built over 200 years ago and is said to have opened its doors in 1819. The humongous church is known to have a seating capacity of 3,000 people.
Apart from the size and classic architecture, this church, as with most tourist attractions in Meerut, has considerable historical significance. St John’s church in Meerut also houses a cemetery. You can find a lot about British history in India by going through the over 200-year-old graves in this graveyard.
The most popular grave to see in this graveyard would be of Sir David Ochterlony. He was the first British citizen of Delhi.
Hastinapur
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Hastinapur is the reason why your trip to Meerut is incomplete without having some knowledge about the Mahabharata. Hastinapur is not a fictional city; it is very much real and is still known by the same name today. The capital of the Kuru kingdom, Hastinapur, is an awe-inspiring historical place to visit.
Whether the existence of Hastinapur proves that the Mahabharat was real or not is up to you. However, even on a short trip to this city, you are sure to see and experience a lot of history, including a temple of Lord Shiva known as the Karna temple. This temple is said to have been built during the time of the Mahabharata.
Bhole Ki Jhaal
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Bhole ki Jhaal, which is also popularly known as Salawa ki Jhaal, is a dam in Meerut. This dam is used for power generation and is responsible for generating the electricity that powers most of the Meerut region. This is a popular picnic spot in the city, so if you are looking for things to do in Meerut, this is undoubtedly one of the best places to spend a day on your trip to Meerut.
Shahid Smarak
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If you visit Meerut in time close to any national holiday, you must see the Shahid Smarak. This park is a memorial for the martyrs of the revolt of 1857, which is considered the first war of independence against the British. This memorial hosts historical information about the revolt, including statues of key figures of the revolt, such as Mangal Pandey.
It is one of the most well-maintained places in Meerut, where you can learn a lot about the history of pre-independent India.