Hastinapur

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Hastinapur | type = city | latd = 29.17 | longd = 78.02
locator_position = right | state_name = Uttar Pradesh
district = Meerut
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 202
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 21,248| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Hastinapur ( _hi. हस्‍तिनापुर) (Hastinapura in Sanskrit) is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

History

Hastinapura was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings. The throne of this city was the prize over which the Kurukshetra War of the epic Mahabharata was fought. All incidents in the epic Mahabharata have taken place in this city of Hastinapura. The first reference to Hastinapur in Hindu mythology comes as the capital of Emperor Bharata.

Present day location

In the present day Hastinapura is a small town in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, called "Hastinapur", 37 km from Meerut and 110 km from Delhi. Geographical Details: Situated at 29 degree 09'31.50 degree North & 77 degree 59'19.46" East. Hastinapur is 120 KM North-East of Delhi on Delhi-Meerut-Bijnore Highway. You need to take a turn to Bijnore highway from Meerut from where Hastinapur is approx 39 KM away. Road is good & clean (average speed is 50 KM/hour) & green with trees and agricultural farms both sides. Hastinapur is a small town. Population is approx. 20,000. Regular buses are available from 7 AM to 9 PM from Meerut which is the nearest Railway station (42km). Nearest Airport: New Delhi. (120 km)

Brief history

Historical Details: Hastinapura = Hastin (elephant) + pura (city) = city named after the elephants.History of this place begins from the period of Mahabharata. It is also described as Gajpur, Hastinapur, Nagpur, Asandivat, Brahmasthal, Shanti Nagar and Kunjarpur etc. in Shashtras. Grandson of Samrat Ashok, king Samprati has built many temples here during his empire. The ancient temple & the stoops are not present today since this city has come across through many ups & downs like the Mughal Invasion which destroyed and devastated most of the Hindu religious places. Hastinapur city was located on the earlier course of the of holy river Ganga.

Excavation at Hastinapur was carried out in early 1950s, by B.B. Lal, of the Archaeological Survey of India. Although the main aim of this excavation, mentioned by Lal himself, "was to find out the stratigraphic position of the Painted Grey Ware with reference to other known ceramic industries of the early historical period"¹, Lal could not resist attempting a correlation between Mahabharata, the text, and the material remains that he uncovered at Hastinapur. This exercise led him to historicize some of the traditions mentioned in the text, as well as link the appearance of the Painted Grey Ware with the arrival of the "Aryans" in upper Ganga basin areas.

Geography

Hastinapur is located at coord|29.17|N|78.02|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Hastinapur.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Hastinapur] ] . It has an average elevation of 202 metres (662 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Hastinapur had a population of 21,248. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Hastinapur has an average literacy rate of 58%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 47%. In Hastinapur, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References