Bareilly,
city, central Uttar Pradesh state, northern India, on the Ramganga
River. Founded in 1537, the city was built largely by the Mughal governor
Makrand Ray. It later became the capital of the Rohillas, a migrant
clan that gained control of the surrounding territory. In 1774 the ruler
of Oudh conquered the area with British aid, and Bareilly was ceded to
the British in 1801. It was a centre of the 1857 Indian Mutiny against
British rule. Situated at a major rail and road junction, it is a trade
centre for agricultural products and has a number of industries (sugar
processing, cotton ginning and pressing). Bareilly is the site of Rohilkhand
University (1975) and Bareilly College (1837), and the Indian Veterinary
Research Institute is in the suburb of Izatnagar.
Bareilly has many fine mosques. The ancient fortress city of Ahicchattra
near Bareilly is believed to have been visited by the Buddha. Pop. (1991
prelim.) city, 583,473; metropolitan area, 607,652.
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