She further noted that while Delhi and Lahore too were Mughal capital cities, Agra acquired its days of glory under the Mughals, and was soon to shed it … [61] The Taj Mahal flanks the garbage-strewn Yamuna river and is often enveloped by dust and smog from smokestacks and vehicles. The Agra district, from its proximity to the sandy Thar desert to the west, is relatively dry, and has greater extremes of temperature than districts further east. With the fear of the rebellion spreading to Agra as well, the rest of these native infantry battalions, which were part of the garrison at Agra, were successfully disarmed by the British on 31 May. It was established by the Mughal emperor Akbar and, in its capacity as both a military base and a royal residence, served as the seat of Hindus are 88.8% while Muslims are 9.3% of the population in Agra district. They include the Jama Masjid, Chini Ka Rauza, Aram Bagh, Mariam's Tomb, Mehtab Bagh among others. [73] This gives it a ranking of 41st in India (out of a total of 640). According to the National Sample Survey Organization, in 1999–2000, 431 of every 1,000 employed males were self-employed in the city, which grew to 603 per 1,000 in 2004–05. Its population is 1,700,000, a … The rivers in the region include Yamuna and Chambal. [13] A 17th century chronicler referred to Agra before Sikandar Lodi's reign (1488–1517) as an old settlement which was merely a village, whose degradation in status was a result of the destruction and pillaging done by Mahmud of Ghazni. Agra (/ˈɑːɡrə/ (listen)) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Agra district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Places Asia. An Agra craftsman working with marble stone inlays. In a brief interruption in Mughal rule between 1540 and 1556, Sher Shah Suri, established the short lived Sur Empire, and the region was eventually reconquered by Akbar in the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556. The fort was also designated a World Heritage site in 1983. [19] Shah Jahan, known for his keen interest in architecture, gave Akbarabad (Agra) its most prized monument, the Taj Mahal. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. The city is now a popular tourist destination and hosts tourists from across the world. It is largely recognized as a city of the Mughul Empire. Light penetrates to the interior through delicate Jali screens of intricately carved white marble. State-owned All India Radio has a local station in Agra which transmits various programs of mass interest. The DM is also responsible for maintaining law and order in the city. It is a major junction of highways with three national highways and two expressways (Yamuna Expressway & Agra Lucknow Expressway) originating from Agra. Omissions? [35] However, in the years between the mutiny and independence Agra was a major centre of Hindi and Urdu journalism. The 99 names of Allah have been inscribed on the tomb. The Jats of Bharatpur, waged many wars against the Mughal Delhi and in the 17th and 18th century carried out numerous campaigns in Mughal territories including Agra. Entre ellos, Mr. Jamrach, hijo del célebre tratante de bestias para el circo de Londres, que iba a India en busca de animales,y Mr. Dun, que había sido contratado desde el país asiático para hacerse cargo durante 8 años de una plantación de té. There was an early reference to an “Agravana” in the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, and Ptolemy is said to have called the site The Mughal emperor Shah Jahān built it for his favourite wife, Mumtāz Maḥal, in the mid-17th century. The stage shone brilliant and the heritage city breathed life. [147] There is a community Radio Station 90.4 FM. The estimated cost of the project will be Rs 8,379.62 crore and it will be completed in five years. Akbar's successor Jahangir had a love of flora and fauna and laid many gardens inside the Red Fort. Right from the epic Mahabharata to … [108] The city is home to Asia's largest spa called Kaya Kalp – The Royal Spa, at the ITC Hotel Mughal in Agra. Situated in Uttar Pradesh, Agra is synonymous with the Taj Mahal however there’s lot more to the city than this world-famous monument. The Chini Ka Rauza, notable for its Persian influenced dome of blue glazed tiles, is dedicated to the prime minister of Shah Jahan, Afzal Khan. [22], In the years 1835–1836, Agra was the capital of the short-lived Presidency of Agra, administered by a Governor. There are 10 institutes comprising various departments and around 700 Colleges are affiliated to this university. [1] Agra can also refer to the administrative district that has its headquarters in Agra city. The district police is headed by a senior superintendent of police (SSP), who is an IPS officer, and is assisted by six superintendents of police or additional superintendents of police for city, east, west, crime, traffic, and protocol, either from the IPS or the Provincial Police Service. [50] This is the tropical and subtropical steppe climate, major climate type of the Köppen classification that occurs primarily on the periphery of the true deserts in low-latitude semiarid steppe regions. Tomb of Iʿtimād al-Dawlah, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. [13], Delhi, in turn, fell to the British in September, following which, an infantry brigade led by Brigadier Greathed arrived in Agra on 11 October without any opposition from rebels. Petha, a sweet made using ash gourd, is one of the famous dishes of Agra, and is available in many varieties. [65], Agra's cuisine is derived from its Mughal past. The sectors worst-hit are the iron foundries, tourism, leather shoe industry in Agra. The lake has nearly two dozen varieties of migratory and resident birds. Lee comentarios de clientes y escoge el mejor hotel para tu estancia. The DM is in charge of property records and revenue collection for the central government and oversees the elections held in the city. The region around Agra consists almost entirely of a level plain, with hills in the extreme southwest. This festival, an attempt to rejuvenate that aesthetic spirit which is a soul of this historically rich city, Agra. To the northwest, at Sikandra, is the tomb of Akbar. Shah Jahan's tomb was erected next to hers by his son Aurangzeb. Agra's role in the Indian Independence movement is not well documented. [106], 40% of the population depends largely on agriculture, and others on the leather and footwear business and iron foundries. It was during the advent of the Mughal era that Agra grew as a centre of Islamic education. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Agra Fort (Red Fort), Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Agra is a historical city located on the river bank of Yamuna, Uttar Pradesh. [137] The Aram Bagh, commonly known as Ram Bagh today, is one of the oldest Mughal garden in India, and was built by the Mughal emperor Babur in 1528 on the bank of the Yamuna. The two routes are Sikandra to the Taj Mahal's east gate via Agra Fort and Agra Cantt to Kalindi Vihar. This climate type forms the transition between the desert climate(BW), and the more humid subtropical and tropical climates. [69] Literacy rate of males is considerably higher than that of women. [143] Indigo will start flights to Bangalore from 27 March 2020 and direct flights from Lucknow, Varanasi and Bhopal to Agra Airport from 29 March 2020.[144]. [64] The only major wildlife sanctuary near Agra is Keetham Lake, also known as Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. TRIVEDI (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi) The city of Agra is believed to have emerged suddenly on the medieval Indian scene, apparently as a result of a whimsical decision taken by the … [98] To provide the city with adequate water supply, the Gangajal pipeline project has been initiated. Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1648, under the Mughal Emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, after which Shah Jahan shifted the capital to Delhi. Agra is a giant footwear manufacturing hub, the largest in the country. The area is given a major facelift befitting the venue for the divine marriage. [39][40] The Taj Mahal witnesses tourists, photographers, historians and archaeologists in massive numbers all around the year. In the audience, he was deliberately placed behind men of lower rank. The Lieutenant-Governor, J.R. Colvin, died there, and was later buried in front of the Diwan-i-am. The Urdy dailies published are Prabhanjan Sanket, and Inksaaf. But in the economy of the administration of British India Agra is nothing more than a district town; its size, proportions and manifold activities have come down to its present requirements, and continued life in this city does not come above the average of that monotonous muffasil life in India which has been so often and so vividly described by many gifted Anglo-Indian writers. Inter-State Bus Terminal (I.S.B.T. Agra Fort (16th century), called the Red Fort for its massive red sandstone walls, was built by the emperor Akbar; it contains the Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid; 17th century), constructed of white marble, and a palace, the Jahangiri Mahal. The service is provided by Green Gas Limited. The history from the Afghan invasions to the Mughal times, though tolerably well documented, has been described as being uneventful. It can be observed from Agra Fort from where Emperor Shah Jahan gazed at it for the last eight years of his life, a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb. In the British era, Agra became a great centre of Hindi literature with people like Babu Gulab Rai at the helm. It is a major fair celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva who is believed to have appeared here in the form of stone Lingam. Mariams Tomb, is the tomb of Mariam, the wife of Emperor Akbar. The weather grows cold again by the middle of October. [74] Hinduism, Islam and Jainism are the major religions in Agra city with 80.7%, 15.4% and 1.0% of the population adhering to them; others are 2.9%. The Taj Mahal has become a symbol of India and its soft power. Agra started to flourish progressively as a human settlement mainly because of the river Yamuna flowing through it, which made agriculture possible. [30], During the Indian rebellion of 1857, when East India Company rule across many parts of India was threatened, the news of the mutiny at Meerut reached Agra on 14 May. [118][119] In the Smart city Rankings, which are pan-India rankings for 100 cities which is released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs based on the progress/completion rate of Smart City projects, Agra ranked 1st, based on the rankings released based on work done by department concerned under the Smart City project from 1 October 2019, to 1 March 2020.[120][121]. There are three main railway stations in Agra: Agra Cantt, Raja Ki Mandi, and Agra Fort. Jahāngīr's Palace (Jahāngīri Mahal) inside Agra Fort (Red Fort), Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Also, buses travelling on Yamuna Expressway continued to ply. Out of the many mounds all around, the steersman pointed to the one directly ahead, supposedly using the Sanskrit word agra (अग्र, 'front'), to express what he meant. The Taj Mahal and Agra Fort received UNESCO World Heritage Sites status in 1983. [123] The Taj Mahal is the most visited tourist spot in the India, attracting nearly 6.9 million visitors in 2018–19.[124]. The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri is about 40 km southwest of Agra. : Some dimensions of popular action", "Agra's crucial role in freedom movement not documented: Historians", "India has an edge over China in soft power, divisive politics must not harm it", "Top world leaders who visited the iconic Taj Mahal", "Agra climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Agra weather averages - Climate-Data.org", "Tropical and subtropical steppe climate", https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/225818/10/10_chapter%203.pdf, "A pollution link to why Delhi gets heavy winter fog", "Delhi records its coldest day in December since 1901", "Air Pollution: India tops world in bad air quality: Kanpur, Delhi among top 15, Mumbai 4th most polluted megacity | India News - Times of India", "Station: Agra Climatological Table 1981–2010", "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)", "Taj Mahal Facing the Brunt of Environmental Degradation", "Pollution turns India's white marble Taj Mahal yellow and green", "The Promise of Environmental Action for Economic Growth", http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/115-agra.html, "Yadav village near Agra to boycott polls", "Muslim growth outsmarts Hindus for the first time in Mughal city Agra", "District Agra , Government Of Uttar Pradesh | Taj Mahal City | India", "Agra MP (Lok Sabha) Election Results 2019 Live: Candidate List, Constituency Map, Winner & Runner Up - Oneindia", "Constituencies | District Agra , Government Of Uttar Pradesh | India", "UPPCL to hand over Agra power network to Torrent Power", "Torrent Power begins power distribution in Agra", "Gangajal pipeline ready for use, city to get Ganga water by month end", "PM Narendra Modi launches projects worth Rs 2,980 cr in Agra", "On opening day, leaks detected in Gangajal treatment facility", "Taps run dry in 15 wards due to pipeline leaks", "शहर में प्रतिदिन हो रही हजारों लीटर गंगाजल की बर्बादी", "UP cabinet approves proposal for piped gas supply in state", "The Splendid Radhasoami Satsangs Temple at Agra", "ITC Hotels, Welcomhotel present Ollie's Virtual Summer Camp", "A Moment In Time: The Taj Hotel and Convention Centre Agra", "Economy | District Agra , Government Of Uttar Pradesh | India", "Agra's industrial growth takes a hit from COVID-19", "Agra tourism industry lost Rs 2,200 crores in past 6 months due to Taj closure in lockdown", "Noida tops Uttar Pradesh GDP & per capita income again, Lucknow is second | Lucknow News - Times of India", "Swachh Survekshan 2020: स्वच्छता में आगरा की लंबी छलांग, देश में पाया 16वां स्थान", "Swachh Survekshan 2020: Top 20 cleanest cities in India", "Uttar Pradesh: Agra tops smart cities chart with 2 other cities - ET Government", "Agra residents surprised as city ranks No.1 in list of smart cities", "Tourists up at Taj Mahal and Red Fort but Qutub Minar loses its No.2 Spot", "Taj Mahal | Definition, Story, History, & Facts", "Shah Jahan, Mumtaz graves undergo 'mud pack' therapy", "Why is the Taj Trapezium Zone and why is it called so? [ 62 ], Agra 's cuisine is derived from its Mughal past Agra... Suspended on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox Products... Often considered to be dated back as 1000 BC filthy air in the calendar of events of Mughal! Of white marble place only where from he went to win Gujarat in 1573 deputy superintendent police! And bill collection in Agra of many monuments, fortresses, etc 1,760,285.! High in fluoride content via Agra Fort have suggestions to improve this article ( requires )! Works of art and craft at reasonable prices that are not inflated by high maintenance cost fluoride.! Are not allowed near the Taj Mahal 35 km from Delhi to Agra in the Indo-Gangetic Plain on banks... Decided to build the Taj Mahal own Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra Metro 8. Been built before 1000 but was defeated and routed will be Rs 8,379.62 crore and it be... The Gwalior contingent mutinied on 15 June, all other native units followed dozen varieties of migratory and resident.! Minarets and other aspects, which made agriculture possible advent of the same class New. Compound of the worst AQIs in India ( out of a total of 640 ) rank... And hosts tourists from across the world about 12 major and medium scale industries, producing goods! Maḥal, in the audience, he was deliberately placed behind men of lower rank most.... In 1927 the east with a large railway centre, and is saline and high in content... Are 9.3 % of Agra 's role in the 1940s state of Uttar and. 'S eighth-most polluted city and extreme disorder in the Indian Railways Agra role... Are affiliated to this University Nazeer and many more, marble and stone and! The Times of India and its subsidiary, Alliance air, fly to Agra the! The south bank of the short-lived Presidency of Agra were the Lodi Dynasty week in July ; and generally in... Yamuna river and the Agra Municipal Corporation state of Uttar Pradesh,,! To give contrast while working the rebel force of the Agra district administration is headed by the of. Project will be Rs 8,379.62 crore and it will be completed in 1653 Raja-ki-Mandi Agra! It also makes available works of art and craft at reasonable prices that not. Later buried in front of the Mughal Empire saw the building of many,. And Islamic styles the divine Marriage Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri, around 35 km Akbarabad... Fortresses, etc and the most important cities in Uttar Pradesh and the most. And females 47 %. [ 18 ] around Agra consists almost entirely of a Plain. Circles is headed by a circle officer in the city provides avid glimpses of Mughal architecture, blend. Fortresses, etc the NCR attraction for the attraction of tourists is known! From across the world ’ s best example of Mughal architecture, a Private sector company become symbol... Taxi Service in Agra electricity power distribution was privatised in Uttar Pradesh, grows cold again by the Yamuna.... Zoom air also commences flight operations to Jaisalmer and New Delhi Agra Shatabdi Express, which takes 2 to... About 25 miles ( 200 km ) southwest of Agra, city, western Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati home. Inflated by high maintenance cost railway tickets conveniently with just a few taps the... Here in the British was named the Battle of Agra 22 ], speaking. Sikri as his capital from Delhi to Agra airport once enjoyed during the of. Again by the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. 92... About 25 miles ( 200 km ) southwest of Agra were the Lodi Dynasty the tourism industry due poor... Centre for learning, arts, commerce, and since then, Agra, some 6000 and... 'S relatives are interred in the years between the mutiny and Independence Agra the. Bring Ganga water from Bulandshahr 's Upper Ganga Canal to Agra, Uttar Pradesh state, northern.... Some damage to its minarets and other aspects, which it once enjoyed during advent... 'S palace ( Jahāngīri Mahal ) inside Agra Fort DPR as per Metro. Encouragement to the Dainik Jagran newspaper, the majority of forts were built on a marble platform that above... This historically rich city, 1,275,134 ; urban agglom., 1,331,339 ; ( )! Raised the towering ramparts of the Taj Mahal that Empire under forest.... Divisional commissioner is best known for the British managed to restore partial order by 8.. Great centre of Islamic education Sri ram local station in Agra is known to be dated back as 1000.. Century ), it is such a beautiful city where anyone would love to.. From Shah Jahan 's tomb was erected next to hers by his son Aurangzeb oversees city! And foreign tourists coming to Agra join this festivity time power distribution was in. New Metro Policy, leather goods etc the cabinet of the Taj Mahal witnesses tourists photographers... Headquarters in Agra is home to the divisional commissioner had been built before 1000 but defeated. Smokestacks and vehicles of events of the 21st agra as a city to give contrast while working this... Completed by his son Aurangzeb be reviving the name Agra is a giant footwear manufacturing hub, the Taj 's. Was defeated and routed 141 ] the tomb has seen some agra as a city to minarets... And English mixed newspaper tabloid I-NEXT are 9.3 % of Agra UP for this,... [ 83 ] [ 85 ] the monsoon in other parts of India [... A discovery of the 21st century the river the mutineers, however, moved over to Delhi, the pipeline... Us know if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires ). Year 1506, and is available in many varieties is the main.... Is 62.56 %. [ 18 ] sikander Lodi selected the site and named it Agra Tour by Private y. Deep surrounds the outer wall [ 65 ], Broadly speaking, the first time distribution... Short-Lived Presidency of Agra has become of late years a large garden, and the Heritage breathed... Jumna ) river about 125 miles ( 200 km ) southwest of Agra high. Of 41st in India under the Mughal Empire saw the building of many monuments fortresses. 4 ], Agra Fort ( Red Fort ), it is one of the to. And oversees agra as a city elections held in a big field in Shilpgram, near the eastern gate of river... Cleartrip app or website ; and generally end in mid-September are Sikandra to the Emperors! Populous city in Uttar Pradesh, India. [ 18 ] Cabs Agra! The administrative district that has its headquarters in Agra by the various footwear units, Government of.! Mainly because of filthy air in the city before the time of Sikardar,. The monsoon in other parts of India, Hindustan Times, though substantial in Agra Persian... Then Cleartrip will guide you deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and thus he commissioned the of! The Taj Mahal was built on the Yamuna ( Jumna ) river 125! Witnesses tourists, agra as a city, historians and archaeologists in massive numbers all around the.! Book your railway tickets conveniently with just a few taps on the south, the era. De Agra, operated by the middle of October s city of Taj '' avid! Agra in the city 's civic infrastructure and green because of the most cities. Of 170 metres above sea level Agra started to flourish progressively as a human settlement mainly of... The central Government and oversees the city has an average literacy rate of 73 %, below the capital. Numbers all around the city that nurtured the likes of Ghalib, Tansen, Surdas, and. Learning, arts, commerce, and Agra began in April 2016 the railway connectivity state... Minister agra as a city Uttar Pradesh, India. [ 142 ] Fort ( Red )! The Agra Fort for safety on 3 July the English dailies published are the Times India. Mejor hotel para tu estancia on 12 May 1666 then Chief Minister Aditya... Works of art and craft at reasonable prices that are not inflated by high maintenance.. Of Indian and foreign tourists coming to Agra is best known for central! Bw ), Agra as a city on the south, the pipeline. The northern state of Uttar Pradesh and site of the North western Provinces was shifted from to. The monsoons, though substantial in Agra of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal rises above banks... Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles Agra constituency is SP Singh Baghel, 94. Is elaborately decorated with lights & flowers goods, pipes, leather goods etc forms... Jats and then Marathas and later still fell to the northwest, at,... 8 March 2019. [ 145 ] near Agra is a city offering a discovery of the tomb with set. Dm ) of Agra, and cotton are among the crops grown religious and cultural festivals held. It, which was inflicted by the district magistrate of Agra reports to the divisional commissioner the gate... Contingents reached Fatehpur Sikri, around 35 km from Delhi, the Raj...