Roorkee is a small town located in the northern state of Uttarakhand in India. It is situated on the banks of the Ganges river and is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. The town was founded in the 18th century by the British East India Company and was an important center of trade and commerce during the colonial era.
Roorkee is also known for its educational institutions. The town is home to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, which is one of the premier engineering institutes in the country. The town is also home to the University of Roorkee, which is one of the oldest technical universities in Asia.
The town is also famous for its historical monuments and temples. Some of the popular tourist spots in Roorkee include the Roorkee Cantonment, the Roorkee Aqueduct, and the Jama Masjid. The town also has a number of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities.
Roorkee is also known for its proximity to the Himalayas. The town is a popular base for trekkers and hikers who want to explore the beautiful mountain ranges of Uttarakhand. The town is also popular among adventure enthusiasts who come here to indulge in activities like rock climbing, paragliding, and bungee jumping.
In conclusion, Roorkee is a small town with a rich history and cultural heritage. Its educational institutions, historical monuments and temples, natural beauty, and proximity to the Himalayas make it an attractive destination for tourists and visitors.
The famous Ganga Canal which was constructed more than 150 years ago can well be said to be the identity of the place. And a very important one too, after all it was from here that Roorkee started its march towards glory and prosperity
IIT
IIT is another reason that makes Roorkee a globally recognizable face. It would be of great interest to know that the famed IIT has its genesis in Roorkee College constituted in 1847 with the purpose of providing survey and technical training to the locals for the construction of Ganga Canal.
The institute was elevated to the status of Independent India’s first engineering university in 1949. And on September 21, 2001 Government of India elevated this institute to the level of IIT. It would not be a misnomer to state that IIT Roorkee is a jewel not only for Roorkee or Uttarakhand, but a pride for the entire nation.
Cantonment
No description of Roorkee can be complete without the mention of Roorkee Cantonment. One of the oldest cantonments in the country, it is the headquarter of Indian Army’s Bengal Engineering Group and Centre, also popular as Bengal Sappers. War memorial is another highpoint of Roorkee. Replica of Mahmood’s tower, it is one of the attractions of Roorkee and was built to commemorate the bravery of Subedar Devi Singh and his men who stormed the Ghazni fort in Afghanistan.
Roorkee is also home to several important research centers. Some of the important ones are:
- Central Building Research Institute (Government of India)
- National Institute of Hydrology (M/o of Water Resources, Government of India)
- Irrigation Research Institute (Under State Government)
- Irrigation Design Organisation (Under State Government)
- Government Irrigational Workshop (Under State Government)
Roorkee is also famous for its Drawing and Survey Instrument Industry. Right from the time of British, Roorkee has remained an important place for the manufacture of survey instruments. Construction of Ganga Canal, coming up of the engineering college, and later the shifting of Bengal Engineering Group and Centre gave much needed boost to the survey instrument industry. Today there are 75 big, small survey and drawing instrument units which are into production of instruments worth crores of rupees annually. With the export-oriented industry expecting a boom, the annual export of the industries of Roorkee is expected to touch a whopping Rs. 70 crore mark.