The Meerut area has been inhabited since ancient times. It was the original location of one of the pillars erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century bce before it was moved to Delhi in the mid-14th century by Firuz Shah Tughluq. The British built a large cantonment (military installation) there in the early 19th century. It was there, in May 1857, that the initial uprising of the Indian Mutiny (1857–58) occurred when sepoys (Indian troops employed by the British) attacked and killed their British officers and then marched on Delhi.
Meerut is located at the junction of several roads and rail lines. It is a trade centre for agricultural products and has a considerable amount of industry, including manufacturing, smelting, handicrafts, and the milling of sugar, cotton, flour, and oilseeds. Meerut University (1965) is located in the city; Meerut College (1892) and several other colleges are affiliated with the university. Meerut also has a 12th-century mausoleum and a number of old temples and mosques. There is still an important military presence in the city. Pop. (2001) 1,068,772; (2011) 1,305,429.