Moradabad, city, northern Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It is situated on a ridge along the Ramganga River (a tributary of the Ganges [Ganga] River), about 15 miles (24 km) west-northwest of Rampur.
Moradabad was founded in 1625 by Rustam Khan, a Mughal general who built the fort north of the city as well as the Jāmiʿ Masjid (Great Mosque). The city, located at a major road and rail junction, is a trade centre for agricultural products. Industries include cotton milling and weaving, metalworking, electroplating, and printing. Moradabad’s surrounding region consists of a level plain bounded by the Ganges River on the west and drained by the Ramganga. Grains, cotton, and sugarcane are grown. Sugar milling and cotton weaving are the principal industries. Pop. (2001) 641,583; (2011) 887,871.