Agra India, Tajmahal Agra India, Agra Fort

History of Agra

Agra ( Urdu: ????) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana, or Paradise. Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ptolemy, the famous 2nd century geographer, marked it on his map of the world as Agra . 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.[1] It was ruled by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in the year 1506. It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. .

Geography of Agra

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, on the south-east by Fatehabad and on the west by Bharatpur. Agra is the third biggest city in Uttar Pradesh. 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 of Agra

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, on the south-east by Fatehabad and on the west by Bharatpur. Agra is the third biggest city in Uttar Pradesh. 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

Taj Mahotsav

Taj Mahotsav is an annual 10 day event at Shilpgram in Agra, India. Every year in February tourists flock to Agra for this mega event, just a stone throw from the majestic Taj Mahal. This festival invokes the memories of old Mughal era and nawabi style prevalent in Uttar Pradesh in 18th and 19th centuries. The festival starts with a grand road procession with decorated elephants and camels like victory processions of Mughal Emperors and warlords. Drum beaters, trumpet players, folk dancers, skilled crafts men and artisans also join the procession to make it a grander affair. Artists from all over India come here to display their art and craftmanship. The Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society has understood the importance of the event and use different folk dances to campaign about AIDS awareness. Taj Mahotsav serves exotic cuisine's and delicacies from all over Uttar Pradesh and also other parts of India.