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Agra

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Agra



 
 
Agra (pronounced ) () is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River
Yamuna

The Yamuna is a major tributary river of the Ganges in northern India. With a total length of around , it is the largest tributary of the Ganges....
 in the northern state
States and territories of India

India is a Federal_republic union of states comprising twenty-eight State s and seven Union Territory. The states and territories are further Subdivisions of India into districts and so on....
 of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh , [often referred to as U.P.] is a States and territories of India located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 190 million people,...
, India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. It finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana, or Paradise. Tradition and legend ascribe the present city of Raja Badal Singh (around 1475) whose fort, Badalgarh, stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 12th century Persian poet Salman writes of a desperate assault on the fortress of Agra, then held by one King Jaipal, by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.






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Agra (pronounced ) () is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River
Yamuna

The Yamuna is a major tributary river of the Ganges in northern India. With a total length of around , it is the largest tributary of the Ganges....
 in the northern state
States and territories of India

India is a Federal_republic union of states comprising twenty-eight State s and seven Union Territory. The states and territories are further Subdivisions of India into districts and so on....
 of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh , [often referred to as U.P.] is a States and territories of India located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 190 million people,...
, India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. It finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana, or Paradise. Tradition and legend ascribe the present city of Raja Badal Singh (around 1475) whose fort, Badalgarh, stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 12th century Persian poet Salman writes of a desperate assault on the fortress of Agra, then held by one King Jaipal, by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. It was ruled by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in the year 1506. It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal
Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire was a Muslim imperial power of the Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century....
 emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Empire list of Mughal emperors Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal....
, Agra Fort
Agra Fort

Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra....
 and Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the States and territories of India of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign, from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned, ostensibly due to lack of water....
, all three of which are UNESCO
UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on 16 November 1945....
 World Heritage Sites.

Geography

Agra is situated on the banks of Yamuna river. It has an average elevation of 171 metres (561 ft). On the north it is bound by Mathura, on the south by Dhaulpur, on the east by Firozabad
Firozabad

Firozabad is a city in India, within the state of Uttar Pradesh.This city was built by Firuz Shah Tughluq, a Tughlaq king. From the earliest it was famous for glass and bangle works, and its related small scale industry is famous throughout the world....
, on the south-east by Fatehabad
Fatehabad, Agra

Fatehabad is a city in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is nearly 35 km south-east of Agra in the direction of Bah....
 and on the west by Bharatpur
Bharatpur

Bharatpur may refer to:*Bharatpur, Nepal, a city in Nepal.*Bharatpur, Dhanusa, village in Nepal*Bharatpur, Mahottari, village in Nepal*Bharatpur, India, a city in India....
. Agra is the third biggest city in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh , [often referred to as U.P.] is a States and territories of India located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 190 million people,...
. The Agra district is divided into Six Tehsils and 15 Blocks. Total number of Nayay Panchayats in the district are 114 while Gram Sabhas stands at 636. The total populated villages are 904. The total number of police stations in the district are 41 out of which 16 are in Urban area and 25 are in Rural area. The total number of Railway Stations (including Halts) are 29 and Bus Stands/Bus Stops are 144. Total number of Broad Gauge lines is 196 K.M. and Meter Gauge is 35 K.M.

Climate


Agra, located on the Indo-Gangetic plain has a humid continental climate, with long, hot summers from April to September when temperatures can reach as high as 45 °C (113 °F). During summers dry winds (loo) blow in this region. The monsoon months from July to September see about 69 cm (27 inches) of rainfall annually. Winters last from November to February, with day time temperatures comfortably warm, but temperatures below freezing are not uncommon during the night. Agra is also prone to dense fog during the winter months of December & January.

A major tourist destination, Agra is best visited in the months of October, November, February and March, when the average temperatures are between 16-25 °C (60-75 °F). The monsoon season should be avoided by non-Indians due to the risk of disease and flooding, and the months of April to June due to the extreme heat. The months of December and January are to be avoided due to the dense fog and often freezing temperatures, especially since much of the city has no heating system.

Demographics

As of the 2000 Indian census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
, Agra had a population of 1,800,000. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Agra has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 63.5%; with 76% males literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. Hindi is spoken by virtually everyone. English & Urdu are also spoken.

History


Agra is a medieval city situated on the banks of the river Yamuna
Yamuna

The Yamuna is a major tributary river of the Ganges in northern India. With a total length of around , it is the largest tributary of the Ganges....
. It is generally accepted that Sultan Sikandar Lodi, the Ruler of Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate

The Delhi Sultanate refers to the many Muslim countries that ruled in Hindustan from 1206 to 1526. Several Turkic peoples and Pashtun people dynasties ruled from Delhi: the Mamluk Sultanate , the Khilji dynasty , the Tughlaq dynasty , the Sayyid dynasty , and the Lodhi dynasty ....
 founded it in the year 1504. After the sultan's death the city passed on to his son Sultan Ibrahim Lodi. He ruled his Sultanate from Agra until he fell fighting to Babur
Babur

Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal Empire of Indian subcontinent....
 in the First battle of Panipat
First battle of Panipat

The first battle of Panipat took place in North India India, and marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire. This was one of the earliest battles involving gunpowder warfare firearms and field artillery....
 fought in 1526.

In the year 1556, the great Hindu warrior, Hemu
Hemu

Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also known as Hemachandra Bhargava or simply Hemu was a Hindu Emperor of India during the 1500s....
 Vikramaditya also known as Hem Chander Vikramaditya won Agra as Prime Minister cum Chief of Army of Adil Shah
Adil Shah

Adil Shah Afshar or Ali Qoli was Shah of Persia from 1747 until 1748. Subsequent to the assassination of Nadir Shah in Fathabad , his nephew declared himself Adil Shah , and shah of Persia....
 of Afgan Sur Dynasty
Sur Dynasty

The Suri Dynasty was founded by the powerful medieval Indian conqueror of Pashtun people descent Sher Shah Suri, after he defeated Mughal Empire Emperor Humayun in the 1539 Battle of Chausa....
. The commander of Humayun / Akbar's forces in Agra was so scared of Hemu that he ran away from Agra without the fight. This was Hemu
Hemu

Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also known as Hemachandra Bhargava or simply Hemu was a Hindu Emperor of India during the 1500s....
's 21st continuous win, who later on won Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 also and had his coronation
Coronation

A coronation is a ceremony marking the investiture of a monarch with regal power, specifically involving the placement of a coronation crown upon his or her head, and the presentation of other items of regalia....
 at Purana Qila in Delhi and re-established Hindu Kingdom and the Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya

Vikramaditya was a legendary king of Ujjain, India, famed for his wisdom, valour and magnanimity. The title "Vikramaditya" has also been assumed by many kings in Indian history, notably the Gupta King Chandragupta II and Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya ....
 Dynasty in North India
North India

Northern India is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage. The dominant geographical features of northern India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from Tibet and Central Asia....
.

The golden age of the city began with the Mughals. It was known then as Akbarabad and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire was a Muslim imperial power of the Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century....
 under Emperor Akbar, Jahangir
Jahangir

Nur-ud-din Salim Jahangir Born as Prince Muhammad Salim, he was the third and eldest surviving son of Mughal Empire Emperor Akbar. Akbar's twin sons, Hasan and Hussain, died in infancy....
 and Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan

Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I , was the ruler of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent from 1628 until 1658. The name Shah Jahan comes from Persian meaning "King of the World." He was the fifth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Jahangir....
. Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan

Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I , was the ruler of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent from 1628 until 1658. The name Shah Jahan comes from Persian meaning "King of the World." He was the fifth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Jahangir....
 later shifted his capital to Shahjahanabad in the year 1649.

Taj Mahal in March 2004
Since Akbarabad was one of the most important cities in India under the Mughals, it witnessed a lot of building activity. Babar
Babar

Babar may refer to:* The Babur , 16th-century ruler of the Indian Subcontinent and founder of the Mughal Empire*Babar the Elephant**Babar **...
, the founder of the Mughal dynasty laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of river Yamuna. The garden is called the Aram Bagh or the Garden of Relaxation. His grandson Akbar raised the towering ramparts of the Great Red Fort besides making Agra, a center for learning arts, commerce and religion. Akbar also built a new city on the outskirts of Akbarabad called Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the States and territories of India of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign, from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned, ostensibly due to lack of water....
. This city was built in the form of a Mughal military camp in stone.

His son Jahangir
Jahangir

Nur-ud-din Salim Jahangir Born as Prince Muhammad Salim, he was the third and eldest surviving son of Mughal Empire Emperor Akbar. Akbar's twin sons, Hasan and Hussain, died in infancy....
 had a love of gardens and flora and fauna and laid many gardens inside the Red Fort or Laal Kila. Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan

Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I , was the ruler of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent from 1628 until 1658. The name Shah Jahan comes from Persian meaning "King of the World." He was the fifth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Jahangir....
 known for his keen interest in architecture gave Akbarabad its most prized monument, The Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Empire list of Mughal emperors Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal....
. Built in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal
Mumtaz Mahal

Mumtaz Mahal is the common nickname of Arjumand Banu Begum, an Indian-Persian Empress in the Mughal Dynasty. She was born in Agra, Hindustan....
, the mausoleum was completed in 1653.

Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan

Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I , was the ruler of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent from 1628 until 1658. The name Shah Jahan comes from Persian meaning "King of the World." He was the fifth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Jahangir....
 later shifted the capital to Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 during his reign, but this son Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb Aurangzeb ruled India for 48 years, bringing a larger area under Mughal rule than ever before . He is generally regarded as the last Great Mughal ruler....
 shifted the capital back to Akbarabad and had his father imprisoned in the Fort there. Akbarabad remained capital of India during the rule of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb Aurangzeb ruled India for 48 years, bringing a larger area under Mughal rule than ever before . He is generally regarded as the last Great Mughal ruler....
 until he shifted it to Aurangabad
Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Aurangabad is a city in Maharashtra, India. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as Bibi Ka Maqbara....
 in the Deccan in 1653. After the decline of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire was a Muslim imperial power of the Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century....
, the city came under the influence of Marathas and Jats and was called Agra, before falling into the hands of the British Raj
British Raj

British Raj primarily refers to the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; it can also refer to the period of dominion, and even the region under the rule....
 in 1803.

In 1835 when the Presidency of Agra was established by the British, the city became the seat of government, and just two year later it was the witness to the Agra famine of 1837–38
Agra famine of 1837–38

The Agra famine of 1837?38 was a famine in the newly established North-Western Provinces of Company rule in India that affected an area of and a population of 8 million people....
. During the Indian rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of British Honourable East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon erupted into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests and central India, with the major hostilities confined to present-day Uttar Pr...
 British rule across India was threatened, news of the rebellion had reached Agra on 11 May and on the 30th of May two companies of native infantry, the 44th and 67th regiments, rebelled and marched to Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
. The next morning native Indian troops in Agra were forced to disarm, on 15 June Gwalior
Gwalior

Gwalior ,, is a city in Madhya Pradesh in India. It lies 76 miles south of Agra and has a population of over 12 lakh . The Gwalior metropolitan area is the 46th most populated area in the country....
 (which lies south of Agra) rebelled. By 3 July the British were forced to withdraw into the fort. Two days later a small British force at Sucheta were defeated and force to withdraw, this lead to a mob sacking the city. However the rebels moved onto Delhi which allowed the British to restore order by the 8th of July. Delhi fell to the British in September, the following month rebels who had fled Delhi along with rebels from Central India marched on Agra - but were defeated. After this British rule was again secured over the city until the independence of India in 1947.

Agra is the birth place of religion Din-i-Ilahi
Din-i-Ilahi

The Din-i Ilahi , was a syncretism religious doctrine propounded by the Mughal Empire emperor Akbar the Great intended to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire and thereby reconcile the differences that divided his subjects....
, which flourished during the reign of Akbar and also of the Radhaswami Faith, which has around two million followers worldwide.

Transportation


Getting In


By Air
Agra Airport
Agra Air Force Station

Air Force Station Agra or Agra Airport or Kheria Airport is a military airbase and public airport serving Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India....
 at Kheria is about 6 km from the city centre, but is not very well connected. It has flights to very few cities. Indira Gandhi International Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport is an airport located in Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, it is the busiest airport in India in terms of number of daily flights and the second-busiest in India in terms of passenger volume....
 in Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 is the best option. Agra
Agra

Agra is a city on the banks of the Yamuna in the northern States and territories of India of Uttar Pradesh, India. It finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana, or Paradise....
 is very well connected to Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 both by rail and road.

By Rail
Main Article : Railways in Agra
Railways in Agra

Agra is of interest to the railway enthusiast, as it has a complicated railway geography as a result of its history. The complications involve a north-south broad gauge line intersecting an east-west broad gauge line....

Agra is on the main train line between Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 (Station Code : NDLS) and Mumbai
Mumbai

Mumbai— formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the World's largest urban agglomerations according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report with around 19...
 (Bombay) (Station Code : CSTM) and between Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 and Chennai
Chennai

Chennai , formerly Indian renaming controversy , is the fourth largest metropolitan area of India and the capital city of the Indian states and territories of India of Tamil Nadu....
 (Station Code : MAS) and many trains connect Agra with these cities every day. Some east-bound trains from Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 also travel via Agra, so direct connections to points in Eastern India (including Kolkata
Kolkata

, Indian renaming controversy , is the Capital of the Indian States and territories of India of West Bengal. It is located in East India on the east bank of the River Hooghly....
) (Calcutta) are also available. There are close to 20 trains to Delhi every day, and at least three or four to both Mumbai and Chennai. There are three stations in Agra:

  • Agra Cantt
    Agra Cantt

    Agra Cantt is the main railway station in the Indian city of Agra. It is located near the Sadar Bazaar, Agra towards the Southwest of the city. Agra Cantt is directly managed by the North Central Railways....
     (Station Code : AGC) is the main railway station and lies southwest of the Taj and Agra Fort, both of which are a short ride from the station by car, auto-rickshaw, or cycle rickshaw. There's a prepaid taxi stand right outside that charges a flat Rs.120 to any hotel in the city. The station has a pretty good Comesum food court that also sells cheap, hygienic takeaway snacks (sandwiches, samosas, etc).


  • Agra Fort Railway Station
    Agra Fort Railway Station

    Agra Fort Railway Station, is located near Agra Fort, in Rawatpara, Agra. It is the only station in Agra and one of the few in India which has both broad as well as metre gauge....
     (Station Code : AF) near Agra Fort, is infrequently serviced by the interstate express trains. The station serves trains to the east (Kanpur
    Kanpur

    Kanpur is the seventh most populous city in India and the most populous within the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and in terms of area, Kanpur is the fifth largest city in India .It is also known as the Manchester of Asia....
    , Gorakhpur
    Gorakhpur

    Gorakhpur is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, near the border with Nepal. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur District and Gorakhpur Division and of baba goraksh nath....
    , Kolkata
    Kolkata

    , Indian renaming controversy , is the Capital of the Indian States and territories of India of West Bengal. It is located in East India on the east bank of the River Hooghly....
    , Guwahati
    Guwahati

    Guwahati is a major city in eastern India, often considered as the gateway to the North East India Region of the country and is the largest city within the region....
    ) some of these trains also stop at Agra Cantt.


  • Raja Ki Mandi
    Raja ki mandi

    Raja Ki Mandi is a area in Agra. This is the shoppers paradise, with shops selling all sort of clothes lining the streets. There is also a railway station at Raja Ki Mandi by the same name....
     (Station Code : RKM) is a small station. Some of the train which stop at Agra Cantt
    Agra Cantt

    Agra Cantt is the main railway station in the Indian city of Agra. It is located near the Sadar Bazaar, Agra towards the Southwest of the city. Agra Cantt is directly managed by the North Central Railways....
     also stop here. Its a very laid back station and springs into life at the arrival of Intercity Express
    Intercity Express - Agra

    Intercity Express provides link between Agra Cantt in Agra to New Delhi Railway Station in Delhi. The train starts from Agra at 6:00 AM. and reaches Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi at around 9:45 AM....
     and Taj Express
    Taj Express

    The Taj Express was started in 1964 to serve tourists traveling from Delhi to Agra. It reduced the traveling time from over three hours to around two and a half hours....
    .


The luxury train - Palace on Wheels
Palace on Wheels

The Palace on Wheels was the first of four luxury trains on Indian Railways. It was launched to promote tourism in Rajasthan and has been highly popular since its launch....
 also stops at Agra on its eight day round trip of tourist destinations in Rajasthan
Rajasthan

Rajasthan is the largest States and territories of India of the Republic of India in terms of area. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with Pakistan....
 and Agra.

By Road
Idgah Bus Stand
Idgah Bus Stand

Idgah Bus Station is the biggest bus station in Agra. The Bus Stand is in Idgah Colony. The bus Stand is very close to both the Idgah Railway Station as well as the Agra Cantt, which is the main railway Station in Agra....
 is the biggest Bus Stand in Agra and is connected to most of the bigger cities in North India.

  • From Delhi
    Delhi

    Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
    : NH2
    National Highway 2 (India)

    National Highway 2 or NH 2, commonly referred as Delhi-Kolkata Road is a busy highway that runs through Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal states in India....
    , a modern divided highway, connects the 200 km distance from Delhi to Agra. The drive is about 4 hours. The primary access to the highway is along Mathura Road in Delhi but, if coming from South Delhi or Delhi Airport, it is easier to take Aurobindo Marg (Mehrauli Road) and then work up to NH2 via Tughlakabad.


  • From Jaipur
    Jaipur

    Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan States and territories of India, India. Historically rendered as Jeypore, Jaipur is the former capital of the princely state of Jaipur State....
    : National Highway 11
    National Highway 11 (India)

    National Highway 11 links Agra in Uttar Pradesh with Bikaner in Rajasthan. This 582 km-long highway passes through Bharatpur, Dausa, Jaipur, Sikar and Fatehpur before terminating on National Highway 15 at Bikaner....
    , a two lane undivided highway, connects Agra with Jaipur
    Jaipur

    Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan States and territories of India, India. Historically rendered as Jeypore, Jaipur is the former capital of the princely state of Jaipur State....
     via the bird sanctuary town of Bharatpur
    Bharatpur

    Bharatpur may refer to:*Bharatpur, Nepal, a city in Nepal.*Bharatpur, Dhanusa, village in Nepal*Bharatpur, Mahottari, village in Nepal*Bharatpur, India, a city in India....
    . The distance of around 255 km can be covered in around 4 hours.


  • From Gwalior
    Gwalior

    Gwalior ,, is a city in Madhya Pradesh in India. It lies 76 miles south of Agra and has a population of over 12 lakh . The Gwalior metropolitan area is the 46th most populated area in the country....
     A distance of around 120 km, takes around 1.5 hours on the National highway 3
    National Highway 3 (India)

    National Highway 3 or NH 3, commonly referred as the Agra-Bombay Road or AB Road, is a busy Highway that runs through Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra States and territories of India in India....
    , also known as the Agra - Mumbai
    Mumbai

    Mumbai— formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the World's largest urban agglomerations according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report with around 19...
     Highway.


  • From Lucknow
    Lucknow

    Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous States and territories of India of India. It has a population of 4,875,858. Lucknow is also the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
     / Kanpur
    Kanpur

    Kanpur is the seventh most populous city in India and the most populous within the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and in terms of area, Kanpur is the fifth largest city in India .It is also known as the Manchester of Asia....
     NH2
    National Highway 2 (India)

    National Highway 2 or NH 2, commonly referred as Delhi-Kolkata Road is a busy highway that runs through Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal states in India....
    , the divided modern highway, continues on to Kanpur (285 km, 5 hours) and from there to points East ending in Kolkata
    Kolkata

    , Indian renaming controversy , is the Capital of the Indian States and territories of India of West Bengal. It is located in East India on the east bank of the River Hooghly....
    . From Kanpur, NH25 heads for the city of Lucknow
    Lucknow

    Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous States and territories of India of India. It has a population of 4,875,858. Lucknow is also the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
     (90 km, 2 hours).


Local Transportation

Auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaw

An auto rickshaw or tuk tuk is a motor vehicle that is one of the chief mode of transport across many parts of South Asia and East Asia, especially as a vehicle for hire....
 and Cycle Rickshaw
Rickshaw

Rickshaws are a mode of human-powered transport: a runner draws a two-wheeled cart which seats one or two persons. The word rickshaw came from Asia where they were mainly used as means of transportation for the social elite....
 are the main mode of transport in Agra and are available very readily. The Rickshaw are not metered so its best to negotiate the fares before the ride.

City Buses are there but they frequency is very low.

Polluting vehicles are not allowed near Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Empire list of Mughal emperors Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal....
, so one needs to take electric Auto's or Tanga
Tanga (carriage)

A tanga or tonga is a light horse-drawn carriage used for transportation in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.Tangas are a popular mode of transportation because they are fun to ride in, and are usually cheaper to hire than a Taxicab or rickshaw....
 (Tonga) from few KM outside Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Empire list of Mughal emperors Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal....
.

Places of Interest


Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Empire list of Mughal emperors Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal....

Taj Mahal in March 2004
Agra's Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Empire list of Mughal emperors Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal....
 is one of the most famous buildings in the world, the mausoleum of Shah Jahan's favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal
Mumtaz Mahal

Mumtaz Mahal is the common nickname of Arjumand Banu Begum, an Indian-Persian Empress in the Mughal Dynasty. She was born in Agra, Hindustan....
. It is one of the New 7 Wonders of the world, and one of three World Heritage Sites in Agra, the others being Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

Completed in 1653 CE., the Taj Mahal is believed to have been built by the Mughal Badshah (king) Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his beloved wife, Mumtaz. Finished in marble, it is perhaps India's most fascinating and beautiful monument. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652) of hard labour and 20,000 workers, masons and jewellers to build and is set amidst landscaped gardens. Built by the Persian architect, Ustad Isa, the Taj Mahal is on the bank of the Yamuna River. It can be observed like a mirage from the Agra Fort from where Emperor Shah Jahan stared at it, for the last eight years his life as a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb. It is a masterpiece of symmetry, seeming to be floating in the air from a distance, and each revealed as an illusion experienced as one enters through the main gate. Verses of the Koran are inscribed on it and at the top of gate 22 small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to build. The Taj Mahal was built on a marble platform that stands above a sandstone one. The most elegant dome of the Taj, with a diameter of , rises over the building and directly under the dome is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan's tomb was erected next to hers by his son Aurangzeb. Fantastic inlay works using semi-precious stones decorate the interiors.

Opening Times: sunrise to sunset (closed Fridays)

Agra Fort
Agra Fort

Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra....

Agrafort
Another world heritage site in Agra. Agra's dominant structure,purushotam the Agra Fort
Agra Fort

Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra....
 (sometimes called the Red Fort), was built by Akbar in 1565. Be Noted that a Stone Plate located at the Gate of Fort describes it to be built before 1000 and later renovated by Akbar. The red sandstone fort was renovated and converted into a palace during Shah Jahan's time, and reworked extensively with marble
Marble

Marble is a nonfoliated metamorphic rock resulting from the metamorphism of limestone, composed mostly of calcite . It is extensively used for Marble sculpture, as a architecture material, and in many other applications....
 and pietra dura
Pietra dura

Pietre dure is an art-historical term for the technique of using small, exquisitely cut and fitted, highly-polished colored stones to create what amounts to a painting in stone....
 inlay. Notable buildings in the fort include the Pearl Mosque
Pearl Mosque

The "Pearl Mosque" is a name given to several religious structures:#The Moti Masjid is located inside the Lahore Fort in Lahore, Pakistan, that was built between 1630-35 and is referred to as the 'Moti Masjid'...
, the Diwan-e-Am and Diwan-e-Khas (halls of public and private audience), Jehangir's Palace, Khaas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal (mirrored palace), and Musamman Burj.

The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1565 CE., although additions were made till the time of his grandson Shah Jahan. The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. The fort is crescent shaped, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. It has a total perimeter of 2.4 k.m., and is ringed by double castellated ramparts of red sandstone punctuated at regular intervals by bastions. A 9 mt. wide and 10 mt. deep moat surround the outer wall.

Shivaji visited Agra fort as per the "Purandar Treaty" entered into with Mirza Raja Jaisingh to met Aurangzeb in the Diwan-i-khas. In the audience he was deliberately placed behind men of lower rank. Insulted Shivaji stormed out of the imperial audience and was confined to Jai Sing's quarters on 12 May 1666. Fearing the dungeons and execution, in a famously sweet legend, he escaped on the 17th of August 1666. A heroic equestrian statue of Shivaji has been erected outside the fort.

The fort standing as a typical example of the Mughal architecture.It shows how the North Indian style of fort construction differentiated from that of the South.In South majority of the beautiful forts were built on the sea beds like the one at Bekal in Kerala [for more details refer 'History of Bekal Fort' by Nandakumar Koroth]

Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the States and territories of India of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign, from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned, ostensibly due to lack of water....

Audienzhalle
The Mughal Emperor Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri about 35 km from Agra, and moved his capital there. Later abandoned, the site displays a number of buildings of significant historical importance. A World Heritage Site, it is often visited by tourists to Agra. The name of the place came after Mughal Emperor Babur defeated Rana Sanga in a battle at a place called Sikri (about 40 km from Agra). Then Mughal Emperor Akbar wanted to make Fatehpur Sikri his head quarters. So he built this majestic fort. But due to shortage of water he had to ultimately move his headquarters to Agra Fort.

Buland Darwaza
Buland Darwaza

Buland Darwaza meaning 'high' or 'great' gate in Persian language, is the largest of gateways in the world. It is located in Fatehpur Sikri which is located 43 km away from Agra, India....
 or the loft gateway was built by the great Mughal emperor, Akbar in 1601 CE. at Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar built the Buland Darwaza to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. The Buland Darwaza is approached by 42 steps. The Buland Darwaza is 53.63 m high and 35 meters wide. Buland Darwaza is the highest gateway in the world and an astounding example of the Mughal architecture. The Buland Darwaza or the magnificence gateway is made of red and buff sandstone, decorated by carving and inlaying of white and black marble. An inscription on the central face of the Buland Darwaza throws light on Akbar's religious broad mindedness, here is an inscription one on the monument which is a message from Jesus advising his followers not to consider this world as their permanent home.

Itmad-Ud-Daulah
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb

Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb is a Mughal era mausoleum in the city of Agra in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Often described as 'jewel box', sometimes called the Baby Taj, the tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah is often regarded as a "draft" of the Taj Mahal....

Empress Nur Jehan
Nur Jehan

Begum Nur Jahan also known as Mehr-un-Nisaa was an demographics of India Emperor of the Mughal Empire Dynasty, of Persian people origin whose tomb lies in Lahore, Pakistan....
 built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb

Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb is a Mughal era mausoleum in the city of Agra in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Often described as 'jewel box', sometimes called the Baby Taj, the tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah is often regarded as a "draft" of the Taj Mahal....
, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Located on the left bank of the Yamuna river, the mausoleum is set in a large cruciform garden criss-crossed by water courses and walkways. The mausoleum itself is set on a base about 50 meters square and about 1 meter high. The mausoleum is about 23 meters square. On each corner are hexagonal towers, about 13 meters tall. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework
Latticework

Latticework is an ornament , lattice framework consisting of a criss-crossed pattern of strips of building material, usually wood or metal, but it can be made of any building material....
 presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.

The walls are white marble from Rajasthan encrusted with semi-precious stone decorations - cornelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and topaz in images of cypress trees and wine bottles, or more elaborate decorations like cut fruit or vases containing bouquets. Light to the interior passes through delicate jali screens of intricately carved white marble.

Many of Nur Jahan's relatives are interred in the mausoleum. The only asymmetrical element of the entire complex is that the cenotaphs of her father and mother have been set side-by-side, a formation replicated in the Taj Mahal

Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

Sikandra, the last resting place of the Mughal Emperor
Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire was a Muslim imperial power of the Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century....
 Akbar the Great
Akbar the Great

Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar , also known as Akbar the Great was the son of Nasiruddin Humayun whom he succeeded as ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605....
, is on Delhi-Agra Highway, is only 13 kilometres from the Agra Fort
Agra Fort

Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra....
. Akbar's tomb
Tomb of Akbar the Great

The Tomb of Akbar the Great is an important architectural masterpiece set in 48 Ha of grounds in Sikandra a suburb of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India....
 reflects the completeness of his personality. The vast, beautifully carved, red-ochre sandstone tomb with deers, rabbits and Langoor
Langoor

The gray Langoors are a group of Old World monkeys and make up the entirety of the genus Semnopithecus.Gray Langoors are large and fairly terrestrial, inhabiting open wooded habitats and urban areas on the Indian subcontinent....
 is set amidst a lush garden. Akbar himself planned his own tomb and selected a suitable site for it. To construct a tomb in one's lifetime was a Tartary
Tartary

Tartary or Great Tartary was a name used by Europeans from the Middle Ages until the twentieth century to designate a great tract of northern and central Asia stretching from the Caspian Sea and the Ural Mountains to the Pacific Ocean inhabited by Turkic peoples and Mongols peoples of the Mongol Empire who were generically referred...
 custom which the Mughals
Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire was a Muslim imperial power of the Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century....
 followed religiously. Akbar's son Jahangir
Jahangir

Nur-ud-din Salim Jahangir Born as Prince Muhammad Salim, he was the third and eldest surviving son of Mughal Empire Emperor Akbar. Akbar's twin sons, Hasan and Hussain, died in infancy....
 completed the construction of this pyramidal tomb in 1613.

Swami Bagh Samadhi

The Swami Bagh Samadhi is the mausoleum of Huzur Swamiji Maharaj
Shiv Dayal Singh

Shiv Dayal Singh was the first Satguru to start the teachings of Radha Soami faith. His actual name was Seth Shiv Dayal Singh ji. He was born on August 25 1818 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India on the Janmashtmi day....
 (Shri Shiv Dayal Singh Seth) in the Swamibagh
Swamibagh

Swamibagh is a town and a nagar panchayat in Agra district in the Indian States and territories of India of Uttar Pradesh....
 section, on Bhagwan Talkies to Dayal bagh road, in the outskirts of the city. He was the founder of the Radhaswami Faith and the Samadhi is sacred to its followers. Construction began in February 1904 and still continues. It is believed that the construction will never end at Swami Bagh. It is often seen as the "next Taj Mahal". The carvings in stone, using a combination or coloured marble, is life-like and not seen anywhere else in India. The picture shown is taken from the backside and shows only two floors. When completed, the samadhi will have a carved dome and a gateway.

Mankameshwar Temple
Mankameshwar Temple

Mankameshwar Mandir in Agra is devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple is situated at Rawatpara, near Agra Fort Railway Station. It is one of the temple devoted to Lord Shiva located at four corners of Agra ...

MankaMeswar Temple is one of the four ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva
Shiva

Shiva: is a major Hinduism god, and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the supreme God. In the Smarta tradition, he is one of panchadeva....
 that are located on the four corners of Agra City. It is located in the near the Jama Masjid and is about 2.5 kilometers from Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Empire list of Mughal emperors Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal....
 and about less than 1 km from Agra Fort
Agra Fort

Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra....
. Being located in the old city, the temple is surrounded by Mughal-era markets, some of which date back to the early days of Mughal rule in India.

Guru ka Tal
Guru ka Tal

Guru ka Tal is a historical Sikh pilgrimage place dedicated to the memory of ninth Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahudar Ji. Guru ka Tal is near Sikandra, Agra in Agra....

Guru ka Tal
Guru ka Tal

Guru ka Tal is a historical Sikh pilgrimage place dedicated to the memory of ninth Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahudar Ji. Guru ka Tal is near Sikandra, Agra in Agra....
 was originally a reservoir meant to collect and conserve rainwater built in Agra, near Sikandra, during Jehangir's reign next to the Tomb of Itibar Khan Khwajasara in 1610. In 1970s a gurudwara was erected here. Guru ka Tal
Guru ka Tal

Guru ka Tal is a historical Sikh pilgrimage place dedicated to the memory of ninth Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahudar Ji. Guru ka Tal is near Sikandra, Agra in Agra....
 is a holy place of worship for the Sikh. Four of the 10 Sikh gurus are said to have paid it a visit. Enjoying both historical and religious importance, this gurudwara attracts number of devotees and tourists. Boasting elaborate stone carvings and 8 towers of the 12 original towers, this gurudwara beckons travelers from far and away to bask in its glory.

Jama Masjid

The Jama Masjid is a large mosque attributed to Shah Jahan's daughter, Princess Jahanara Begum
Jahanara Begum

Shahzadi Jahanara Begum Sahib was the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal....
, built in 1648, notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.

Chini Ka Rauza
Chini Ka Rauza

Chini ka Rauza is the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan Mullah of Shiraz, Iran a renowned scholar and poet who was the Prime Minister of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan....

Notable for its Persian influenced dome of blue glazed tiles, the Chini Ka Rauza
Chini Ka Rauza

Chini ka Rauza is the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan Mullah of Shiraz, Iran a renowned scholar and poet who was the Prime Minister of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan....
 is dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz.

Ram Bagh
Ram Bagh

The Ram Bagh is the oldest Mughal Gardens in India, originally built by the Mughal Empire Babur in 1528 A.D., located about five kilometers northeast of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India....

The oldest Mughal garden in India, the Ram Bagh
Ram Bagh

The Ram Bagh is the oldest Mughal Gardens in India, originally built by the Mughal Empire Babur in 1528 A.D., located about five kilometers northeast of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India....
 was built by the Emperor Babur
Babur

Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal Empire of Indian subcontinent....
 in 1528 on Yamuna's bank. It lies about 2.34 km north of Taj Mahal. The pavilions in this garden are designed in such a manner that the wind from the Yamuna, combined with the greenery, keeps these pavilions cool even during the peak of summer. Aram Bagh is also incorrectly called Ram Bagh by the locals. It was the place where Mughal emperor Babar used to spend his liesure time and at the same place he died and his body was kept here for sometime before sending it to Kabul

Mariam's Tomb

Mariams Tomb, is the tomb of Mariam, the wife of great Mughal Emperor Akbar. The tomb is within the compound of Christian Missionary Society.

Mehtab Bagh
Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh , is a charbagh located to the north of the Taj Mahal complex, across the Yamuna River. It was designed as an integral part of the complex in the riverfront terrace pattern seen elsewhere in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India....

Mehtab Bagh
Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh , is a charbagh located to the north of the Taj Mahal complex, across the Yamuna River. It was designed as an integral part of the complex in the riverfront terrace pattern seen elsewhere in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India....
, is on the opposite bank of River Yamuna on which the Taj is present.

Keetham Lake
Keetham Lake

Keetham lake is a scenic lake just outside Agra on the Agra - Delhi highway . The Keetham lake is also known as the Sur Sarovar. It is a tranquil spot, ideal for a relaxed outing....

Also known as Sur Sarovar, the Keetham Lake
Keetham Lake

Keetham lake is a scenic lake just outside Agra on the Agra - Delhi highway . The Keetham lake is also known as the Sur Sarovar. It is a tranquil spot, ideal for a relaxed outing....
 is situated at about 23 kilometres from Agra within the Surdas Reserved Forest. The lake has an impressive variety of aquatic life and water birds. The tranquil surroundings present an ideal relaxing place.

Mughal Heritage Walk

Mughal Heritage Walk is a 1km loop which connects the agricultural fields with the Rajasthani culture, river bank connected with the ancient village of Kuchhpura, the Heritage Structure of Mehtab Bagh
Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh , is a charbagh located to the north of the Taj Mahal complex, across the Yamuna River. It was designed as an integral part of the complex in the riverfront terrace pattern seen elsewhere in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India....
, the Mughal aqueduct system, the Humanyun Mosque
Humanyun Mosque

Humanyun Mosque is situated in the village of Kachhpura in Agra on the left bank of River Yamuna....
 and the Gyarah Sidi
Gyarah Sidi

A stone?s throw from Babur?s Mehtab Bagh, in a field on the banks of the Yamuna in Agra, are the remains of Humayun?s observatory. It?s called Gyarah Sidi ....
.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra is an archdiocese located in the city of Agra in India....
.




Economy


Tourism contributes to a large extent in the economy of Agra. Agra has some of the finest Hotels & Spa's in India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. Agra is home to Asia’s largest spa called Kaya Kalp — The Royal Spa, at Hotel Mughal in Agra .

The city also has a substantial industrial base. A lot of manufacturing plants and industry related wholesale markets are prominent in Agra. Agra's industries are doing a fine job in various fields. Producers and dealers of Agra have a vast market to support them.

Agra has a good number of apparel and garment manufacturers and exporters. Agra has also an important market for the automobile industry. Anil Diesels, Harvest Group of Industries, Indian Agriculture & Automobile Corporation(IAAC) and Malloys India are some of the major players of the automobile industry in Agra.

Over 7200 Small Scale Industrial Units are spared all over the district. Agra city is famous for the Leather Goods, Handicrafts, Zari Zardozi, Marvel and Stone carving & inlay work. Agra is also welknown for its sweets (Petha & Gajak) and Snacks (Dalmoth)

The leather industry is among the most traditional and original industries of Agra. Some of the leading manufacturers, exporter and sellers of leather in Agra are Polyplast Industries, Royal International, Eskay Sales Corporation, Best Buy, Bandejjia Traders and Expomore.

With the expansion of the Agra city, more and more construction works are going around the city. To facilitate the flow of work, a lot of organizations dealing in building materials have come up. A few leading names are Silver Gatta Agency, Yashoda Exports, Glass Expressions and Sharda Enterprises. The jeweleries of Agra is a great favorite with the tourists and is in good demand in the international market also. The Yoga Handicrafts and the D.R.Chain and Wire Manufacturing Company are two of the several important names of the related industry.

Education

Agra has always been a centre for education and learning. It was during the advent of Mughal era that Agra grew as a centre of Islamic education. In the coming decades Agra saw great literary figures come from the city. Abul Fazl and others were among the pioneers. The Urdu literature grew by leaps and bounds in the city. Mir Taqi "Mir" and Mirza Asadullah Beg "Ghalib" were the icons produced by the city.
Britishers introduced the western concept of education in Agra. In the year 1823, Agra College, one of the oldest colleges in India was formed out of a Sanskrit school established by the Scindia rulers.
In the British era, Agra became a great center of Hindi literature with people like Babu Gulab Rai at the helm.

University

  • Agra University
    Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University

    Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, also Agra University is one of the oldest institutions in India. It is located in Uttar Pradesh, in the historic city of Agra....
      was established on 1 July 1927 and catered to colleges spread across the United Provinces, the Rajputana, the Central Provinces and almost to entire North India, at present around 142 Colleges are affiliated to this University. The historic Agra University was later rechristened as Dr. BhimRao Ambedkar University by the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Mayawati.


  • Dayalbagh Educational Institute
    Dayalbagh Educational Institute

    Dayalbagh Educational Institute or D.E.I. is an educational institution located at Dayalbagh on the outskirts of the historic city of Agra, approximately 200 kilometers from New Delhi....
     . Radhasoami Satsang Sabha, started the Radhasoami Educational Institute, as a co-educational Middle School, open to all, on January 1, 1917. It became a Degree College in 1947, affiliated to Agra University. In 1975, it formulated an innovative and comprehensive programme of undergraduate studies which received approbation from the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the University Grants Commission, as a result of which in 1981 the Ministry of Education, Government of India, conferred the status of an institution deemed to be a University on the Dayalbagh Educational Institute, to implement the new scheme.
  • Central Institute of Hindi . Central Institute of Hindi (also known as Kendriya Hindi Sansthan) is an autonomous institute under Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India engaged in teaching Hindi as a foreign and second language. Apart from running regular and residential Hindi language courses for foreign students, the institute also conducts regular training programmes for teachers of Hindi belonging to non-Hindi states of India.The institute is situated at a 11 acres campus on the outskirts of Agra city. Headquartered in Agra the institute has eight regional centers in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore, Shillong, Dimapur, Guwahati, Ahmedabad and Bhubneshwar. The institute is the only government run institution in India established solely for research and teaching of Hindi as a foreign and second language.


College

Agra is also home to some of the oldest and renowned colleges
  • The Institute of Engineering & Technology Khandari, Agra (I.E.T. Khandari, Agra), is the prestigious and renowned engineering institute of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra (formerly Agra University), situated at Khandari, Agra in Uttar Pradesh [1] [2].


  • Sarojini Naidu Medical College
    Sarojini Naidu Medical College

    Sarojini Naidu Medical College or SNMC, is a Medical College situated in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India....
     , Agra, named after the first lady Governess of Uttar Pradesh, poetess and freedom fighter, Bharat Kokila Smt. Sarojini Naidu, is one of the first three Medical Schools of the country. During year 2004-2005, S. N. Medical College & Hospital is celebrating its 150th Foundation year (1854-2004)
  • St. John's College, Agra , was established in 1850 by the Church Missionary Society of England through the efforts of the Agra C. M. S. Association which came into being in 1840. Shankar Dayal Sharma
    Shankar Dayal Sharma

    Shankar Dayal Sharma was the 9th President of republic of India serving from 1992 to 1997. Prior to his presidency, Dr. Sharma had been the 8th Vice President of India under President Ramaswamy Venkatraman....
    , the 9th President of India received his education from St. John's college.
  • F.E.T Agra College,Agra Carrying the legacy of Agra College and Agra University, Faculty of Engineering and technology came into existence in the Year 2000, the college which is nearly 9 years old can boast of strong alumni base which is spread all across the world.
  • RBSCollege,Agra RBS College is one of the biggest college of ASIA , It has a prestegious history and was started by AWAGARH Kingdom.This college is having the largest campus area and maximum number of education branches.


School

Britishers also introduced English medium schools to the city known as convent schools as they were attached to a church. Some of the prominent school are
  • Air Force School, Kheria, Agra.
  • Army School Agra Cantt.
  • RBS Inter College, Khandari, Agra
  • N. C. V. Inter college, Agra Cantt.
  • St. Peter's College, Agra
    St. Peter's College, Agra

    St. Peter?s College, Agra is one of the oldest convent school in India. It is a Minority Anglo-Indian Christian Institution granted Minority Rights under Article 30 of the Constitution of India....
     , built in 1846, is in fact one of the oldest of its kind in the country.
  • Sumeet Rahul Goel Memorial Senior Secondary School, Kamla Nagar, Agra
  • St. Patrick's Junior College, Agra [Built in 1842, 1st Convent of Jesus and Mary in Asia, and IInd in the world]
  • St. Conrad's Inter College, Transport Nagar
  • St. George's College, Hariparvat
  • ROYAL PUBLIC SCHOOL, Transyamuna, NH-2, Agra
  • St. Andrew's Senior Secondary School, karmayogi Enclave
  • DPS , Shastripuram
  • St. Clare's Senior Secondary School
  • St. Francis Convent School, Wazirpura Road, Agra
  • B.R.B. Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Runakta, Agra
  • St.Paul's Church College, bagh farzana agra
  • Wellam Garden School, Nehru Enclave, Shaheed Nagar
  • Saraswati Vidhya Mandir, Vijay Nagar, Agra
  • Saraswati Vidhya Mandir, Kamla Nagar, Agra
  • INDRABHAN G. INTER COLLEGE, DARESI NO. 2, Agra
  • Mahavir Digember Jain Inter College Agra


Further reading



External links

  • -Agra Information