GHAZIABAD, Uttar Pradesh

Main Attraction: Garh Mukteshwar

The place, Garh Mukteshwar is betterly known for two aspect, one for its historical existence of a fort, built of pucca bricks that decayed through ages and eventually destroyed by Britishers in 1857, and the other for a place of religious importance in the district. Every year, on the occasion of ‘Kartik Poornima’ a big fair is held here and devotees in lakhs take dips in the holy river Ganga. Locally, the main attraction among the Ghats (bathing places) is the Brij Ghat where countless devotees take holy dip in the river. A month long fair, in the month of Kartik, has its own distinctive importance in the entire northern part of the country. The religious importance of Garh Mukteshwar is also based on the fact that people wishing to attain ‘Moksha’ endure ‘Kalpvas’ throughout the month of Kartik, the same way as is observed at Prayag, Hardwar, Ujjain etc. in the month of ‘Magha’ (January / February).

Brief History

Present Ghaziabad city was established by Ghaziuddin, a minister of emperor Muhammad Shah in the year 1740. On his name it was named Ghaziuddin Nagar, which later on changed into Ghaziabad. The district of Ghaziabad came into existence on 14th November 1976. It was formed out of the areas of the old undivided districts, Meerut and Bulandshahr.

Although no much archaeological excavation has been made in the district, but archaeological excavation, research and surveys done in Hastinapur provides information about the history of prehistorical period in this district. Archaeological remains of old civilization are scattered far and wide around Hastinapur. Many items such as copper items, sharp edged weapons etc. found after the excavations of the old mounds relate them to copper age, contemporary of Indus Valley Civilisation. According to Jain tradition Hastinapur was very old town of India which was established by first Tirthankar Rishav Dev. Buddhist relate Hastinapur to Pre-Buddhist age.

Excavations carried out at the mound of Kaseri, at the banks of river Hindon, some 2 km. north of Mohan Nagar have shown that civilisation existed here, as early as 2500 BC. Mythologically, some neighbouring towns and villages of the city including Garhmukteshwar, Pooth Village and Ahar region have been associated with the Mahabharata and the fort at Loni, is associated with the legend of Lavanasura of the Ramayana period. According to the Gazetteer, the fort, "Loni" is named after Lavanasura. The city and its surrounding region have historically witnessed major wars and battles over the last many centuries.

The district is the part of the tract where Vedic Aryans established themselves first which became the first stronghold of Vedic Culture and Brahmanism. Kurus ruled the tract during later Vedic Age. They were dislodged by Mandas who were overthrown by Mauryas in 324BC. The Sungas who followed Mauryas were supplanted by Kushanas. It became part of the Gupta empire in the middle of the 4th Century AD and with its decline Mukharis of Kannauj took over. It was part of the empire of Gurjar Pratihars of Kannauj during 9th and 10th Centuries. These rules held vast empire under their sway while the real power was excercised by local chiefs who ruled the area as feudatories becoming independent as and when the situation suited them. The numismatic evidence suggests that during the second and first centuries BC, this region might have been under the rules of Mathura kings who might have been initially Vassals of Sungas. 

Yandheyas rose to power in the middle of Ist Century and were feudatories of Kushanas but with the decline of their power in the third century AD, they ruled independently till they were brought to submission by Samudra Gupta about the middle of 4th Century. Tomar Rajputs established themselves as rulers of Delhi and surrounding areas and they largely ruled as feudatories of Gurjar Pratihars during middle of the ninth and tenth centuries AD. The third quarter of the 10th Century saw the rise of Chauhans who had a prolonged struggle with the Tomars. Taking advantage of this confusion a Dor Rajput Chieftain Hardatta, captured the district and he is credited to have founded the towns of Hapur in 983 AD which was called Harpur or Haripur. Dors where dislodged by Prithvi Raj Chauhan who is said to have built a fort in Loni. According to historian Farishta Sultan, Mahmud Gazni in his ninth army expedition had captured this district but the territory was vacated by Hardatt by paying the Sultan 25,000 Dinars and 50 elephants.

Military invasion by Muslim continued in this district. In the year 1192 AD decisive battle took place between Prithvi Raj Chauhan and Mohammad Ghori. In that war Prithvi Raj Chauhan was defeated and lost his life. With the defeat of Prithvi Raj Chauhan in 1192, the district was captured by Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak. It remained part of Delhi Sultanate till the establishment of the Mughal dynasty. During the reign of Sultan Mohammad-Bin-Tughlaq this area faced great turmoil due to repressive measures taken by the Sultan. Sultan was very ruthless and cruel and harassed the people of this region, who were forced to leave the area. They came back dud settled during the reign of Feroz Tughlaq. But during the rule of successors of Feroz Tughlaq, the situation again deteriorated due to the attack of Taimur Lang. In AD 1313, the entire region became a huge battle field, when Taimur laid siege on the area during Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign. Taimur Lang plundered and destroyed the whole region and killed thousands of people.

In 1763, the Jat ruler of Bharatpur, Raja Surajmal died at the hands of the Rohillas, at Ghaziabad during the Mughal-Maratha war. Lodi dynasty ruled this region till the battle of Panipat and Babur’s ascendance to the throne of Delhi. During the reign of Akbar, the district was part of Subah of Delhi. In 1740, Ghazi-ud-din the Vazir of the Emperor Mohammad Shah founded the town. Ghaziabad, originally known as Ghazi-Ud-Din Nagar. On February 15, 1771, the emperor Shah Alam II agreed under a treaty to assign the territories including this district to Maratha Chief Mahadji Schindia. After his death he was succeeded by his nephew Daulat Rao Schindia in 1794. After the defeat of Marathas in the English-Maratha battle Daulat Rao Schindia was forced for a treaty at Surji Arjungaon and thus ceded possession of his empire in doab to the British. During the Anglo- Maratha War, Sir General Lake and the Royal Maratha army fought here circa. 1803.

The name "Ghaziuddinnagar" was shortened to its present form, i.e. "Ghaziabad" with the opening of the Railways in 1864. Establishment of the Scientific Society here, during the same period is considered as a milestone of the educational movement launched by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The Ghaziabad Municipality came into existence in 1868. The Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway, connecting Delhi and Lahore, up till Ambala through Ghaziabad was opened in the same year. With the completion of the Amritsar-Saharanpur-Ghaziabad line of the Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway in 1870, Delhi was connected to Multan through Ghaziabad, and Ghaziabad became the junction of the East Indian Railway and Sind,Punjab andDelhi Railway.Ghaziabad, along with Meerut and Bulandshahr remained one of the three Munsifis of the District, under the Meerut Civil Judgeship during most periods of the British Raj.

After coming under the possession of British rule, the main events happened in this region were the famine of 1837-38 and the first movement for freedom in 1857. Fierce battle was fought between Englishmen and Indian soldiers in and around this district. in the subsequent years people of this district took part in every freedom movement. People celebrated the freedom with great enthusiasm on 15th August 1947.