Agra

Agra is a historic city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Agra district and Agra division, and is internationally known as the location of the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with the Agra Fort and the nearby city of Fatehpur Sikri, Agra contains three of the World Heritage Sites in Uttar Pradesh, making it one of the most visited tourist destinations in India.

Key facts

Geography

Agra lies in the western part of Uttar Pradesh, in the Doab region between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, with the Yamuna flowing through the city. It is situated in the plains of north India and experiences a semi-arid climate with hot summers, a monsoon season, and cool winters. Dust storms in summer and winter fog are common features. The city is roughly 200 km south-east of Delhi and is connected to it by the Yamuna Expressway.

History

Early history

The region around Agra has been inhabited since ancient times and finds mention in the epic Mahabharata as part of the Braj region. The town came into prominence in the medieval period under the Delhi Sultanate. The founding of Agra as a city is traditionally credited to Sikandar Lodi of the Lodi dynasty, who shifted his capital here in the early sixteenth century.

Mughal period

After the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, Agra came under the control of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. Under Babur's successors—Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan—Agra became one of the most important cities of the empire and served for long periods as the imperial capital. Akbar rebuilt the Agra Fort in red sandstone and also founded the planned city of Fatehpur Sikri nearby. The city's most famous monument, the Taj Mahal, was commissioned by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal and was built during the mid-seventeenth century. Other major Mughal-era buildings in and around Agra include Itimad-ud-Daulah's Tomb (often called the "Baby Taj"), Akbar's tomb at Sikandra, and the Jama Masjid.

Later history

After the decline of Mughal authority, Agra passed through the control of the Jats of Bharatpur and the Marathas during the eighteenth century. It came under British rule in the early nineteenth century. From 1835, Agra served as the capital of the North-Western Provinces of British India until the seat was shifted to Allahabad (Prayagraj) in 1868. After Indian independence in 1947, Agra became part of the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Economy

Agra's economy is driven by tourism, owing to the presence of the Taj Mahal and other heritage sites, and by traditional industries. The city is a long-established centre for leather goods and footwear manufacture, marble inlay handicrafts (parchin kari) reflecting Mughal-era artisanship, and the manufacture of petha, a sweet made from ash gourd that is closely associated with the city. Iron foundries, carpet making, and small-scale engineering units also contribute to the local economy.

Transport

Agra is well connected by rail, road and air:

• Rail: Agra Cantonment is the main railway station, situated on the busy Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Chennai trunk routes. Other important stations include Agra Fort and Raja ki Mandi.
• Road: The Yamuna Expressway connects Agra to Greater Noida and Delhi, while National Highway 19 (the historic Grand Trunk Road alignment) passes through the city. The Agra–Lucknow Expressway links it eastwards.
• Air: