GEOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE

Muzaffarnagar is located at northern part of Uttar Pradesh. The district of Muzaffarnagar forms a portion of division Saharanpur, and situated in the DOAB of the Ganges and the Jamuna, between the districts of Meerut on the South and Saharanpur on the North. On the west, the Jamuna separates it from the Panipat

and Thaneswar tahsil of the Karnal district of Haryana; and on the east the river Ganges forms the boundary between this district and the Bijnor tahsil of the district of same name. It is roughly rectangular in shape, lying between north latitude 29º 11' 30'' and 29º 45' 15" and east longitude 77º 3' 45" and 78º 7'. The greatest length of district from east to west is sixty-one miles, and its greatest breadth from north to south thirty-six miles. The average length and breadths are about fifty-three and thirty-one miles, respectively. The total area in 1901 amounted to 1,963,662 acres, or 1,662 square miles and in 2000 amounted to 4049 square k.m.. The district is well connected by road and railway network. National Higway-58 passes through Muzaffarnagar city. Upper Ganga & Lower Yamuna canal lie in this district.

A HISTORICAL OUTLINE

In pages of history and revenue records SARVAT was known as pargana which was given as JAGIR to one of the chieftains named SAIYED MUZAFFARKHAN by emperor SHAHJHAN. He founded the city of Muzaffarnagar in 1633 with lands of KHERA & SUJRU. His project was completed by his son MUNAWAR LASHKAR KHAN who in turn named the city after his father MUZAFFARKHAN.

But recent finding of archeological site at village MANDI (Tehsil SADAR) in west of river KALI takes the roots of district Muzaffarnagar to HARAPPAN civilization. Hordes of gold ring like objects and other precious stones prove that the site was the part of mature HARAPPAN culture and also important center of trade during ancient times. More excavations are being carried out by Archeological Survey of India and in near future better picture will emerge from these findings.

Proximity with HASTINAPUR and KURUKSHEHTRA indicates that this district was hub of activities during the MAHABHARAT era. With exceptions of few findings of GREECO-ROMAN coins, there is hardly any direct mention of the region for a long period of time. But with strategic location of MUZAFFAR NAGAR, it can be safely presumed that there were a lot of political as well as economic activities here. RAJPUTS, TAGAS and BRAHMINS dominated the area according to C.H.NEVILLE, I.C.S. in his compilation of Muzaffarnagar Gazetteer. Later JATS replaced the TAGAS.

Persian literature has mention of the place during TIMUR's invasion of India. A large number of Hindus gathered at BHOKAR HERI on the banks of river GANGA to resist his armies according to TIMUR. But unorganized Hindu force were defeated by him in year 1399.

Tomb of wife of Sayed Munawar Lashkar Khan S/O Sayed Muzaffar Khan(founder of the district)

Pt. SUNDER LAL, LALA HARDAYAL, SHANTI NARAYAN of Khatauli are some of the most famous names of intellectuals who were related to national movement. Apart from them there is an unending list of the persons who sacrificed their lives during the freedom struggle.

LIYAKAT ALI KHAN the first prime Minister of PAKISTAN was from Muzaffarnagar. Thus we have tried to scan through the historical out lines of the district. From the period of HARRAPAN culture to present day Muzaffarnagar has been full of activities and always in the news.