Know The City Agra

Origin and Development

Agra is the city of the inimitable Taj Mahal. The story of Agra begins much earlier then the Taj, However it finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana are Paradise. Ptolemy, the famous second century A.D. geographer, marked it on his map of the world as Agra. Tradition and legend ascribe the present city of Raja Badal Singh (around 1475 A.D.) whose Fort, Badalgarh, Stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 12th century A.D. persian poet Salman, too, Speaks of a desperate assault on the fortress of Agra, then held by one King Jaipal, by sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. It was Mughals who finally nurtured Agra with the finest monuments architects could design: The Taj Mahal of Shah Jhan, Agra Fort of Akbar, Itmad-Ud-Daulah and neighboring Sikandra are but few of the many that spangle the city, each of which stands in mute testimony to the city's grandur over the ages.

Location, Boundaries and Weather

The Agra district is situated in western U.P., between 27.11' degree Latitude North and 78.0' degree to 78.2' degree Longitute East. Its Altitude is 169 meters above sea level. On the North it is bounded by Mathura District, On the South it is bounded by Dhaulpur District, On the East it is bounded by Firozabad District and On the West it is bounded by Bharatpur. Agra is situated on the bank of Yamuna river.

Lesser knows historical places to visit around Agra

CHINNI KA ROJA

This was constructed by Afzal Khan, A high official in the court of Shah Jahan. Decorated by glazed tiles on the facade, the structure clearly depicts the Persian influence in architecture.

MARIYAM'S TOMB

This uniqe tomb in red sandstone was built in 1611 A.D. a memory of Emperor Akbar's Goan christian wife Mariyam. The tomb has some exceptional carvings.

JAMA MASJID

This building, with a rectangular open forecourt was constructed in 1648 A.D., by Shah Jahan's daughter, Jehanera Begum in memory of the famous Shiekh Salim Chistti and his grand son Islam Khan. Of particular important is its wonderful assimilation of Iranian architecture.

FAIR & FESTIVALS

TAJ MAHOTSAV

Agra city is known for its Taj Mahotsav (Taj Festival). This cultural festival is held every year in the month of February. The Taj Mahotsav brings traditional Indian music and dance on a single platform for the tourist to relish.

KAILASH FARE

Held at Kailash about 12 km from Agra in the month of August/September. It is a major fair celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva who is believed to have appeared here in the form of stone Lingam.

SHEETLA FAIR

It is held near Delhi Gate in July/August month.

BATESHWAR FAIR

A month long festival is held annually during the month of November at the place called Bateshwar, Which is about 65 km from Agra.

URS (FATEHPUR SIKRI)

This fair is organized at Sheikh Salim Chistti's Dargah during the month of Ramzan.

Shopping in Agra

Apart from the magnificent monuments, a delightful shopping experience awaits tourists when they travel to Agra. The city of the Taj has both traditional and modern shopping areas. It is known for leather products, jewelry, rug weaving and marble work. The Sadar Bazaar area, and the area south of Taj Ganj, boasts of many emporiums and shops. Shilpgram or crafts village is located 1 km from the eastern side of the Taj Mahal, from where one can buy good quality craft items. Of special importance is the miniature marble replica of the Taj Mahal.

Accommodation in Agra

Agra offers different categories of boarding and lodging facilities suited for every pocket. The Taj Ganj area near the Taj has a number of low-budget hotels and lodges. One can find such accommodation in the Sadar Bazaar area. Agra boasts of some of the best five-star hotels in India.

Places to Eat in Agra

Agra is known for its traditional Mughlai cuisine. A traveler can find a number of eating-places across the city, depending on his budget. One can choose from makeshift restaurants in the Taj Ganj area to the luxury hotels in Agra, which are famous for their Mughlai dishes. Agra is famous for its local specialty, the peitha, which is sweet candied pumpkin.

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