- Muzaffarnagar
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This article is about the municipality in Uttar Pradesh, India. For its namesake district, see Muzaffarnagar district.
Muzaffarnagar The Sugar Bowl of India — city — Coordinates 29°28′N 77°41′E / 29.47°N 77.68°ECoordinates: 29°28′N 77°41′E / 29.47°N 77.68°E Country India State Uttar Pradesh District(s) Muzaffarnagar Population 331,668 (2001[update]) Time zone IST (UTC+05:30) Area
• 272 metres (892 ft)
Website muzaffarnagar.nic.in Muzaffarnagar (Hindi: मुज़फ़्फ़रनगर, Urdu: مظفر نگر
pronunciation (help·info)) is a major city and a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city was established in Mughal period by a Sayyid Jagirdar, Munawar Lashkar Ali, and so named in honour of his father, Muzaffar Ali Khan. It is the headquarters of the Muzaffarnagar district. It is a major steel and sugar manufacturing hub of northern India. Many popular farmer leaders come from Muzaffarnagar. Mahendra Singh Tikait, also known as the second 'messiah' of farmers after Late Prime Minister of India Chaudhary Charan Singh belongs from Muzaffarnagar.It is situated midway on Delhi and Dehradun National Highway (NH 58), the city is also well connected with the national railway network.
Muzaffarnagar lies in the Doab region in the Western Uttar Pradesh and hence is a city in the middle of one of the most fertile farming land in the India. It has one of the biggest jaggery trading markets in whole of Asia. Jaggery is also exported from Muzaffarnagar to countries around Asia. Muzaffarnagar is the education hub for the nearby towns and villages. It is the most developing city of Western Uttar Pradesh after Meerut, Noida and Ghaziabad.
Muzaffarnagar is known for its 'chaat'. [1]
Contents
Geography
Muzaffarnagar is located at 29°28′N 77°41′E / 29.47°N 77.68°E.[2] It is located 125 kilometres NW of the national capital, Delhi, and roughly 200 kilometres SE of Chandigarh.
Demographics
According to the 2001 India census,[3] Muzaffarnagar had a population of 5,08,800 with 14% of the population under 6 years of age. The city has 62% Hindus, 30% Muslims, 7% Sikhs, 2% Christians and 0.5% Jains; Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Average literacy rate is 67% with 71% of the males literate and 64% females literate. Languages spoken are Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.
Economy
Muzaffarnagar lies in what is called the Sugar Belt of Western Uttar Pradesh. The region is one of the important sugarcane producing regions in the world. Sugar and jaggery (Hindi: गुड़) production are important industries in the Muzaffarnagar district. As a result of the farming activities around, the city is an important hub of jaggery trading business. Naveen Mandi Sthal situated in the eastern outskirts of the city is the trading hub for Jaggery and other agriculture produce. Due to its level of production and sophistication in the sugar and related business, the city currently boasts of its riches based on the sugar industry which has been present here since long.
Muzaffarnagar is an important industrial town with sugar, steel and paper being the major industries. District Muzaffarnagar has 11 sugar mills. UP Steels, Rana Steels, Barnala Steels, Sidhbali Steels are some of the major steel companies located near the city. Many steel companies market their steel products, including angles and bars, through media in the country. Hence adding another aspect to Muzaffarnagar's popularity in the country.
More than 40% of the region's population is engaged in agriculture. According to Economic Research firm Indicus Analytics, Muzaffarnagar has the highest agricultural GDP in Uttar Pradesh. It has the largest granary in UP. Despite of this much of economic power, the city has been absent from the map of the foreign and modern business establishments. However, the situation is now changing and many MNC's are looking to open business in the city. Infrastructure development is also happening with several housing, highway and civil works being undertaken by the government. Improvement of the railway infrastructure is also currently underway.
Transportation
Muzaffarnagar is well connected by road and railway networks. The Ghaziabad - Saharanpur line passes through the city thus forming the backbone of the long-distance and best possible travel from the city. Indian Railways provides connections to New Delhi, Western, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, South India and other parts of the country. Dehradun Shatabdi and Dehradun Jan Shatabdi express trains pass through and halt at the Muzaffarnagar station. The Meerut - Shaharanpur section of this railway route is now being developed as a part of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. The corridor extends from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal.
The National Highway - 58 (NH-58) passes through Muzaffarnagar city. This highway provides connections towards Delhi on the southern direction and upper reaches of the Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state on the northern direction. The highway is the backbone of the road transportation for the Muzaffarnagar city as well as Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Cities and areas of Hardwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun as well as Badrinath and Kedarnath are served by this highway.
Environmental Concern
Muzaffarnagar lies approximately at the middle of the road journey from Delhi to Rishikesh (also on NH-58). As a resultant, many roadside resorts and eateries have sprung up on the highway near the city. Especially, the town of Khatauli is famous for its canal side forest park named Cheetal.
Unfortunately, this has also turned into a concern for the wildlife and environment. Once visited for the sight of deers and rabbits and other wild animals, the Cheetal is now encroached by privately owned dhabas and resorts thus sidelining the animals.
City transportation mostly consists of tricycles and 3-wheeled vehicles. Thus leading to a lot of pollution and traffic jams in the city.
Education
There are a number of good schools and colleges in the city. Schools are mostly associated with CBSE and UP Board. A few well-known schools of the city are S.D. Public School, G.C. Public School, Holy Angels Convent School, M.G. Public School, Flora Public Junior High School, DAV Public School, J.V. Public School, Shardein school, Raj Public Inter College,L.J.P.Vidya Mandir Inter College, Bhagwanti Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Stepping Stones School, Shri Guru Ram Rai Public School, S.D. Inter College, Gyan Deep Public School, DAV Inter College, M.M.M Inter Collage and several others.
The city has several institutions of higher education. It is home to a major medical college and also privately funded colleges. The state-sponsored colleges like S.D Degree College, D.A.V Degree College, Choudhary Chotu Ram Gost Graduate College, Jain Degree College also add to this list. Self Finance colleges are SD Group of colleges, Shri Ram Group of Colleges and Deen Dayal Group of Colleges. Dr Sidharth Sharma, (A Retired Defence Serviceman), formerly Director General, Deen Dayal Group of Colleges and now Director (Administration) in S. D.Group of Colleges has taken the higher education in the district to the new highs and created new strategic path. Most of the colleges are associated to CCS university and UP Technical University.
The city also has a Medical College Muzaffarnagar Medical College situated on Meerut - Muzaffarnagar Highway nearly 10 km on the outskirts of the city which is affiliated to CCS university & approved by Medical Council of India. Along with M.B.B.S, this college is offering various other courses.
There is a good track record of city-students scoring places in world renowned institutions of higher education. The great educationist Mr. Bhudev Singh,an Indian Education activist, who propagated and implemented groundbreaking educational ideas in order to spread education in the grass root level also belongs to Muzaffarnagar.
It is important to mention contributions of Swami Kalyan Devji Maharaj in field of education. He was a unique personality who had dedicated himself to community service and had been serving villagers and others. Due to his efforts, nearly 200 institutions of national importance got established during the last one hundred years. These include: Gandhi Polytechnic, Ayurved Medical College, Ayurved Research Centre, Agriculture College, Agriculture Science Centre, Hospitals, Eye Hospitals, Degree Colleges, Inter Colleges, Senior Secondary Schools, Navodaya School, Girls' Schools, Junior High Schools, Primary Schools, Sanskrit Pathshalas, Dumb Deaf and Blind School, Yoga Training Centre, Dharmshalas, Orphanage, Old Persons' Ashram, Old Cow's Protection Centre and several other spiritual and religious centres.
Some important places of Muzaffarnagar
Religious
- Bhairo-ka-Mandir, the Bhairo Temple, looked after by the Paliwal Family of Brahmins, is situated in the heart of the city on Ansari Road.[4] It is a very quiet and spiritual place to spend some time. It is most visited during festival season. This temple is of special significance because it contains Ekadash-Shivlinga (eleven Shivalingas). The temple is situated right in the heart of the city, yet is hidden and few people know about it. If you need spiritual awakening do visit this temple in the morning and evening to chant the daily arti. Pandit Bunty is looking after the mandir premises.
- Dallu Devta, A religious place near Kali Nadi.
- Sankirtan Bhawan, popularly known as Kirtan Bhawan, is also very famous. It is situated in prime residential area of New Mandi. A Kirtan (singing of Bhajans in praise of Lord) is conducted daily in evening here; the temple got its name on this daily activity. It is the only temple in 5 districts nearby to have a statue of Lord Tirupati Balaji (an avatar of Lord Vishnu) in accordance with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. A Bhandaara (free distribution of food as Lord's Prasada) is being organised at this temple's "Anna Shetra" (Food Area) daily at 12.00 noon. More than 1,00,000 poor people are being served annually here. It was started by a well known philanthropist and businessman of his time, Late Giani Ram Gupta, in 1979 out of his own funds but by Lord's blessing very soon the initiative received heavy donations and today it supports similar initiatives in areas nearby.
- Shiv Chowk, it is a place of worship located in the heart of city on the GT Road. Over 300 thousand kawariyas perform parikrama of the Holy temple on the occasion of Shiv Ratri.
- Balaji Dham, (an avatar of Lord Hanuman), aka Balaji Temple, is also famous; it is situated in 'New Mandi' area of Muzaffarnagar. A Bhandaara is also organised here daily at 2.00 PM.
- Kali-Nadi Devi Mandir, at the west end of the town, is one of the oldest temples having a great mythological importance. A very big Bhandara is held here on every Devi Chaudas and, after the day of Holi, here is a big fair.
- Dargah Har Shrinath is one of the famous places for the devotees, situated at Ansari Road. The branches of the place are almost in every city of India with its Head-Office in Delhi. Every Shivratri, here is a very big function. The annual function of the temple is celebrated on 9 March with great pomp and show.
- Vahelna, 4 km from the city, is a holy site for Jains. Vahelna is an excellent example of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood as the walls of Mosque, Shiv Mandir and Jain Mandir touch each other.
- Shukratal, is a well known religious town under Muzaffarnagar district. It hosts sky-high statues of Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. It is famous for a thousands of years old Vat Vraksha (tree) associated with times of Mahabharata. This tree has great historical importance and is said to be immortal. Every year lakhs of devotees come to do Parikrama (circling the perimeter of tree on foot) of this ancient tree. Shukratal is also referred to as a mini-Haridwar as the river Ganges passes through it, flowing straight from Haridwar.
- ram lila tilla is also famous in muzaffarnagar city, ram lila tilla use for ram-lila in dashahara.
Commercial
Shiv Chowk (Heart of the City),Devi Ahiliya Bai Holkar Chock, Bhagat Singh Road (Main Market), Court Road, Lohia Bazaar or Loha Mandi (market of steel and iron products), Ansari Road, Jhansi-ki-Rani Chowk, S.D. Market (of cloth wholesalers), Zila Parishad market (pharmaceutical's wholesalers), Sadar Bazaar (Hospitals, Hosiery wholesalers, Stock-brokers etc.), Gandhi Colony, Roorkee Road Market (Heavy Engineering Products), Meerut Road (Automobile showrooms), and New Mandi (Most private/public banks, Cloth Retailers showrooms etc.). Sadar Bazaar and New Mandi are the most expensive areas in terms of real estate prices. ASJ Grand plaza mall will soon be a part of city where number of branded shops will be available. Reebok, Addidas, killer, Numero Uno, John Players, Weekender, Raymond, Belmonte, Liberty, Spark, Fox, Zod, Richlook, H&A, D'cots, koutons, Priknit, Cantabil, Tycoon, Spyker, Action, Monte Carlo, Levis, etc; have opened their stores here.New Mandi is the place where all types of branded showrooms can be seen.
Residential
Keshav Puri(South Civil line), Gadderia coloney, Numaish Camp, Gandhi colony, Aryapuri, Adarsh Colony, Brahmpuri, Gaushala, Gandhi Colony, Tyagi Complex, Tyagi colony, Rampuri, Kewal Puri, Indira Colony, Jat colony, Khalapar,Malhupura,sarwat,kacchi sadak Kundan Pura, Mahatma Colony, Laddawala, Ramlila Tilla, New Mandi, Patel Nagar, Prem Puri, South & West Krashan puri,Pal nagar Ram Puram, Saket Colony, Sarwat Gate, Kachi sadak, Dayalbagh satsangies colony (a colony of radhaswami faith followers), Laxman Vihar, Agarsen Vihar (by Shubham MIttal),etc. A new residential venture by ANSAL builders is soon to come up in the city
Nearby Cities
The historical cities of Bijnor, Meerut and Hastinapur are close by. Also in proximity are New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Roorkee, Haridwar, Dehra Dun, Saharanpur and Panipat.
References
- ^ Muzaffarnagar City
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Muzaffarnagar
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ District Muzaffarnagar, translated from Hindi.
External links
Saharanpur division topics General Districts Prabudhanagar • Muzaffarnagar • SaharanpurRivers, dams, lakes Ganges • YamunaLanguages, people Transport Lok Sabha constituencies See also Cities and towns in Prabudhanagar district • Cities and towns in Muzaffarnagar district • Cities and towns in Saharanpur district • Villages in Muzaffarnagar district • Villages in Saharanpur district • People from Muzaffarnagar • People from SaharanpurOther Divisions Agra • Aligarh • Allahabad • Azamgarh • Bareilly • Basti • Chitrakoot • Devipatan • Faizabad • Gorakhpur • Jhansi • Kanpur • Lucknow • Meerut • Mirzapur • Moradabad • VaranasiCategories:- Cities and towns in Muzaffarnagar district
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