Ghaziabad is a city in the western part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Ghaziabad district and forms part of the National Capital Region (NCR), lying immediately to the east of Delhi. The city is one of the largest industrial centres in Uttar Pradesh and an important commuter and transport hub linking the national capital with the Doab region.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District | Ghaziabad |
| Region | National Capital Region (NCR) |
| Founded | 1740 (as Ghaziuddinnagar) |
| Founder | Ghazi-ud-Din ibn Imad-ul-Mulk |
| Civic body | Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) |
| Languages | Hindi, Urdu, English |
The city was founded in 1740 by Ghazi-ud-Din ibn Imad-ul-Mulk, a Mughal-era wazir, and was originally called Ghaziuddinnagar. After the construction of the railway line through the area in the mid-19th century, the name was shortened to Ghaziabad.
Ghaziabad lies in the upper Ganga–Yamuna Doab, on the banks of the Hindon River, a tributary of the Yamuna. The terrain is largely flat alluvial plain. The city shares its western boundary with east Delhi, while Noida lies to the south-west, Meerut to the north, and Bulandshahr to the south-east. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot summers, a monsoon season from late June to September, and cool winters.
The area around Ghaziabad has been settled since ancient times, with archaeological remains reported from sites such as Kaseri and Mohan Nagar. During the medieval period, it was part of the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire. After the founding of Ghaziuddinnagar in 1740, the settlement gained importance as a halting point on the route between Delhi and the upper Doab.
The opening of the Delhi–Meerut railway link in the 1860s transformed the town into a junction settlement. During the Revolt of 1857, areas around the Hindon witnessed engagements between British forces and Indian sepoys.
After Indian independence in 1947, Ghaziabad received a substantial population of refugees from west Punjab, which contributed to its rapid urban growth. It was made a separate district carved out of Meerut district on 14 November 1976.
Ghaziabad has historically been one of the principal industrial cities of Uttar Pradesh. Major industrial areas include Sahibabad, Mohan Nagar, Kavi Nagar and Bulandshahr Road Industrial Area. Industries present in the city include heavy engineering, steel and tube manufacturing, electronics, glassware, textiles, chemicals, and consumer goods. Proximity to Delhi has also made the city a hub for warehousing, logistics and real estate.
Ghaziabad Junction is a major railway station on the Northern Railway, lying on the Delhi–Howrah, Delhi–Moradabad and Delhi–Meerut routes, making it one of the busiest junctions in north India.
The city is connected to Delhi by the Delhi Metro Red Line, which terminates at Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda), and the Blue Line, which extends to Vaishali. Ghaziabad is also served by the Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), with stations including Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot.
Major roads passing through or near the city include National Highway 9 (the old NH-24), National Highway 34 (formerly NH-58), the Delhi–Meerut Expressway and the Eastern Pe