Agra was once the capital of the Mughal empire and even today it seems to linger in the past. The city is best known as the location of the Taj Mahal, the single most important sight a visitor to India can see. The elegant structure was ordered built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. It took some 20,000 laborers 22 years to build the Taj, and every detail is absorbing: the classical gardens, the reflecting pool, the elaborate patterns of semiprecious stones decorating the white marble. So precious is the Taj, more than 200 factories in the area have been shut down to prevent air pollution from discoloring the marble. If time permits, schedule at least two days to visit the Taj and plan to spend at least an hour on each visit because the beauty of the structure changes with the time of day. Hours are from sunrise to sunset.
Agra therefore holds its place in the annals of history as the heart of social, political, economic, and artistic life of India. The present day city of Agra has lived up to this image and a visit to this part of the world will ensure, among other things, the memories of the Taj Mahal, which shall remain with you long.
History :
Agra has rich historical background which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the city. The city of taj was established in 1475 by Badal Singh. This city in those days was considered to be the sister city of Mathura which was more prominent than Agraban. Agra came into its own when the Lodhi Kings chose this place beside the river Yamuna to be their capital city. Sikander Lodhi made Agra his capital but Babur defeated the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also laid the foundation of the Mughal empire. Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri remained his capital for around fifteen years after which the city was left isolated in mysterious circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending most of his time in Kashmir with which he was passionately attached. Agra came to its own when Shahjahan ascended to the throne of Mughal Empire. He marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In his later years, Shahjahan shifted his capital to the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi and ruled from there. Shahjahan was dethroned in 1658 by his son, Aurangzeb who imprisoned him in the Agra Fort. Aurangzeb shifted the capital back to Agra till his death. After the death of Aurangzeb, Mughal Empire could not touch its peak and many regional kingdoms emerged. The post-Mughal era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city
Cities of Uttar pradesh
Agra,
Lucknow,
Benaras,
Allahabad,
Kanpur,
Mathura,
Jhansi, Mahoba, Meerut, Muradabad, Gorakhpur..
Tourist Attraction of Agra :-
Taj Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Chisti's Tomb, Itmad-ud-daulah's Tomb,
How to get there
By Air
Agra is connected by air with Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Khajuraho, Kanpur and Varanasi
By Rail :
Agra is connected by rail with all major cities of the country.
By Road
Agra is well connected by road with all major cities of the state, Delhi and Harayana.
