Saharanpur district attained the status as Saharanpur division in 1997 of Uttar Pardesh. As regards its physical features, the north and the northeast of the district is surrounded by Shivalik hills and separates it from the Dehradun district in the recently created state of Uttranchal. The river Yamuna forms its boundary in the west which separates it from Karnal and Yamunanagar districts of Haryana. In the East lies the district of Haridwar which was the part of district Saharanpur before 1989 and in the south lies the district Muzafarnagar. At the time of the British Rule District Muzafarnagar was also a part of district Saharanpur. The district is in a rectangular shape and it lies between 29 degrees 34 minutes 45 seconds and 30 degrees 21 minutes 30 seconds north lattitude and 77 degrees 9 minutes and 78 degrees 14 minutes 45 seconds east longitude. Its total area is 3860 square Kilometers. According to 1991 census the population of Saharanpur is 2309029. Saharanpur is primarily an agricultural district . Roughly 70 % of the land is under agricultural use still the region is of little importance from the point of view of pastures. Agriculture plays an important role in the economy of the district. One significant feature is that even though the agricultural land for food crops has reduced in recent years the food production has increased considerably. The significance of commercial crops have increased manifold as a consequence of sugarcane production. The important food crops of the region are wheat, rice, maize, jawar, bajara, sugarcane, oilseeds, cotton and jute are the main commercial crops. Eventhough Saharanpur district does not have enough mineral resources many agrobased industries have developed in the region. Many cottage industries have also developed. Here sugar industry and paper, paperboard industry is found. The large scale production of sugarcane encourages the sugar industry. Saharanpur is famous for its wood carving industry. The shivalik range provides the raw material for the industry. Wood work is exported to countries like Germany, U.K., USA, Canada, Kuwait, Sweden, Singapore and many others. Besides exporting goods from here the region also imports Coal, iron - ore, cement, salt, petroleum products, fertilizers, oil - seeds and leather from Punjab, Haryana, Rajsthan, Delhi and Bihar.

Places of Interest

Shakti Peeth Shakumbari

Shakti Peeth Shakumbari is situated at a distance of 40 Kilometer to the north of Saharanpur. The Devi temple situated in Shakumbari area dates back to ancient times although there is no concrete historical and archeological evidence. The popularity of this temple has been increasing day by day and lacks of devotees visit this temple for "Darshan". Twice a year i.e. in the month of Ashwin and Chetra the famous Shakumbari mela is organised during the days of Navratra. The idols at Shakumbari temples do not seems to be of a very ancient architecture. Some people believe that this temple was constructed during the Marathas while other believe that Adi Sankracharya performed his Tapshaya here and these idols were installed by him in this temple. It is said that Maa Shakumbari killed Mahishasur Maha Daitya. About Shakumbari it is also believed that the Devi performed Tap for 100 years having a vegetarian meal only once every month end. During this the Rishi Munis who came for devi's Darshan were welcomed and honoured with vegetarian meals. Because of this the temple was named as Shakumbari devi temple. About one kilometer east of Shakumbari lies the Bhura Dev (Bhairav temple which is considered to be the guard of Shakumbari Devi. Because of this all the devotees to Shakumbari first visit Bhura dev temple.

Shakti Peeth Deoband

Along The Saharanpur-Muzaffarnagar Highway lies a small town of Deoband. Thousands of years back, a very dense forest existed here. Since, this forest served as a residence of Goddess Durga, it came to be known as Devi Van, which was later named as Deoband. According to another belief, since goddess Durga had killed 'Asur' Durg here, she was worshipped here by many 'Devtas' (Gods). It is because of this Devi-Vandan, this place got its present name. To the east of Deoband lies a large ancient lake, which is widely, known as Devi-Kund. It is said that Devi Dugra had killed the Maha Asur Durg at this kund only. A temple of Bala Sundari has been built near this Devi Kund in the memory of the above event, which is a famous center for the worshippers of goddess Durga. A naked statue of goddess Durga exists here. This temple belongs to ancient times and this is proved by the fact that the inscriptions engraved on the door of the temple have not been deciphered till now. Every year a large festival (mela) is organized here in Chaitra Shukla Chaturdasi. Innumerable devotees throng this place to take a dip in the holy waters of this Kund and worship goddess Durga. People believe that Devi of Deoband and Shakumbari are sisters. Devi Kund and the Bala Sundari temple of Deoband are considered as one of the two Shakti Peeths of Saharanpur.

Guggha Veer / Gughal

Guggha Veer or Ghughal has a great importance in Saharanpur Districts. It is also known, as Jahar Deewan Guggha peer is a religious place situated along the Gangoh road 5 km to the south west of Saharanpur. It is said that the King of Patan (Rajshthan) Raja Kunwar Pal Singh had two daughters Vachhal and Kachhal after marriage Vachhal provided dedicated worship to Guru Gorakhnath to be blessed with a son. But When Guru was providing blessing Kachhal reached there and obtained Guru blessing for two sons, which was, actually meant for Bachhal. Guru Gorakhnath realized this and later gave is blessing to Vachhal in the form of a son Gugghal with the condition that Ghugghal would kill the sons obtained by Kachhal as a result of Guru blessing. Ghugghal was highly disappointed with this and he went to the forest for Tapshya. Guru Gorakhnath was pleased with his Tapshya and blessed him as a Veer. This place later came to be known as Ghuggha veer ki Marhi since then every year at the time of Shukla Paksh Dashmi in the month of Bhado a large festival (mela) is organized here which is a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity. This festival is popularly known as Mela Ghughal.

Nau Gaza Peer

Among the different Peer existing in this region Nau Gaza has a unique identity. It has 26 feet long 'Mazaar' . The most peculiar features of this Mazaar is that every time this Mazzar is measured it appeared to be of a different size. The Mazaars of the Nau Gaza exists at Gagalheri and Baliakheri. Outside Saharanpur these Mazar exists at Mangalore Town(District Haridwar), Meerut and Bareilly also. There is different versions about Nau Gaza. Some Muslim say that during Musa Ale Salam, the height of a man used to be around 26 feet and these Mazar have been built around that time. According the some Hindu scholars in ancient times there existed some saints who could read peoples mind with in 9 Yards distance. Hence they were known as Nau Gaza. Whatever the reason may be, nau Gaza Peer has a great religious significance in Saharanpur. Every year a large festival (mela) is organized here and thousands of hindus and Muslims visits this place for worship.

Bada Shri Lal Das

Saharanpur had the distinction of having a noble soul like Baba Shri Lal Das on its soil. Baba Lal Das performed his Tapshya in Saharanpur as a result of which Mughal ruler Dara Shikoh had to bow in front of Indian culture. Baba was born in Kaloor town near Lahore in Pakistan. The great Tapasvi Shri Chetan Swami was his Guru. After obtaining his education from his Guru, Baba came to Saharanpur and performed Tapshya for hundred years. This place in Saharanpur is famous as Bada Shri Lal Das or "Lalvadi". It is situated along the chilkana road four Km to the north Saharanpur bus station.