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Augurnath temple is located at Meerut in the Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The temple is a little-known place of worship but of great historical importance all over northern India. Its significance comes out from religious significance but also for its distinctive role in India's freedom struggle.

The legend goes like 'shiv linga' embedded in this temple has emerged on its own - it being one of the miracle which has been attracting the followers of Lord Shiva ever since its inception. According to local priests, near the temple, the great Maratha rulers used to worship and seek blessings before proceeding with their victory processions.

During British times the Indian army was called 'Kali Platen' known as the black army. As the temple was located close to the army barrack, it is been known by the name of 'Kali Paltan mandir'. Its close proximity to the Indian army camps offered a safe haven for freedom fighters, who used to visit and stay here for their secret meetings with the officers of 'Kali Paltan'.

During the Revolt of 1857 there was a well inside the complex of the temple that the soldiers used to quench their thirst frequently. In the year 1856, the Government introduced new cartridges and the soldiers which were supposed to remove its seal using their teeth. Since the seal was made of cow fat and as the cow was sacred in Hinduism, the priest disallowed them to use the well.

About the outer gopurams, historians say the western gopuram is the oldest among all. The base for this was built by Vallala Maharaja. The top of this particular gopuram belongs to a later style. Inscriptions attribute this to Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagar. This king had undertaken the important construction work in this temple. It is said that he built the base of the other three gopurams. But the architectural style of the base of the Western gopuram was constructed first and then those of the South, East and North. Though the Eastern gopuram, known as the Rajagopuram looks older, it was built after the Western one. This was constructed by Krishna Deva Raya and renovated by king Sevappa Naicker of Tanjore. There is another view that this was completely built by Sevappa Naicker. Tamil and Sanskrit inscriptions on the Western gopuram dated 1690 A.D. bear witness to this. Krishna Deva Rayer of Vijayanagar also constructed the hundred pillared and thousand pillared halls in the temple. He dug the Sivagangai Thirtham in front of the thousand pillared hall. As mentioned earlier, he built the base of the three gopurams and either began or finished the Eastern Rajagopuram with eleven storeys.

Best time to visit the Augurnath Temple is in the month of March and July. And even during the Festivals like Shravan Month, Shiv Ratri, Holi Utsav and Annual Utsav.

• Jain temples of Hastinapur - as per the Jain tradition, Hastinapur was one of the earliest Indian cities those like the Ayodhya and Kashi and had come into existence during the time of Rishabhadeva (the first tirthankara) whose grandson, Somaprabha, who was the first ruler of the place. It has the birth place of three Jain tirthankars, Shantinatha, Kunthnnath and Arahanatha.


• Jain Temple at Mohalla Teergaran - It is one of the oldest Jain temple of Meerut amongst 40 Jain temples. Its has the main statue of Jain tirthanker Shantinath, which was built at the same time when the main statue of Jain Temple, Hastinapur was built. This temple is preserved by the Indian government since many days for its old art work. The Digumber statues in the temple are really fascinating. Its full name is 'Shri Shantinath Digamber Jain Madir - Teergaran (Meerut)'.


• The Jama Masjid was built by Hasan Mahdi, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi's Wazir in 1019 AD which is older than the Qutb Minar. Which makes it the first Masjid in North India. And although it was restored by Humayun, the great- it is one of the oldest Muslim mosques in India.


• The Tomb of Shah Pir was erected by the empress Nur Jahan in honour of a local Muslim saint.


• Qutb-ud-din Aybak is believed to have built the Maqbara of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud (Baley Miyan).

There are other mausoleams and mosques indicating the strong Muslim presence in Meerut like: Bale Miyan ki Dargah Shahpeer Sahab ki Dargah Chandi Devi Temple Basilica of Our Lady of Graces, Sardhana (Sardhana Church) Parikshitgarh Baleni Barnawa Martyr’s Memorial (Shaheed Smarak) Gandhi Bagh (Company Garden) Suraj Kund Chandi Devi Temple Mansa Devi Temple

Nearby tourist places to Ananta Vasudeva Temple Agra Allahabad Lucknow Varnasi

Good Accomodation facilities are being provided by the government and private services with innumerable hotels like the famous ones are Hotel Naveen Deluxe, Hotel Crystal Palace,etc.

• By Road one can reach the temple in 24 hours. Bus service is available from the national capital of india- Delhi. Meerut city is just 60 Kms from Delhi. AC bus services are also avaliable from Anand vihar (ISBT) Delhi to Bhaisali bus satnd Meerut. Meerut is well connected to Delhi by national highway 58. Another National Highway 119 connects Meerut to the state of hills, Uttrakhand.


• By Train - devotees have options to reach Meerut city which has 4 railway stations. All are well connected to Delhi and other parts of India.


• By Airways- Meerut can be reached through Dr. Ambedkar Airport in Meerut which is a single airstrip airport in Meerut which is used by government officials.