Agra

INTRO
The City of the Taj Mahal Taj Mahal is a symbol of Love, The love of a king for his queen. Here lovers meet by moonlit nights, Lovers- Unsung! Unseen! -By Syed Mohammad Asrar-ul-Haq Agra is invariably included on every first-time visitor's list, for Taj is a must when visiting India. In the past Agra was home to three generations of Mughal dynasty, one of the most dynamic in the mediaeval world. Among many examples of the finest Mughal architecture in India, Taj is the most famous. Together with Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, its is enscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

City Profile
City: Agra
Country: India
Area: 188.40 sq km
Population: 1,259,979
Districts: 15 Blocks
Governor: Anjula Mahaur
Language: Hindi, Rajasthani, Urdu and English
Rating: #2 / 126 at Asian-Cities

LOCATION
Situated on the banks of Yamuna river, Agra is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Paradesh, some 200 km from the Indian capital of New Delhi. It borders Rajasthan to its west and south, the district of Firozabad to its east and to its north - the districts of Mathura and Etah. Agra is the third biggest city in Uttar Paradesh.

TIME TO VISIT
Like most cities of North India, the climate of Agra is extreme and tropical. In Agra and the surrounding areas, summers are extremely hot as the temperatures reaches 45 degrees Centigrade, while the weather during winter could be foggy and cold at times. During the monsoon season, the city receives heavy rains and it is hot and humid. You can visit Agra in every season but it is recommended to avoid the extremely hot summers (April - June) and the rainy season (July - September).Thus, the best time to visit Agra is during winters (October - March).

POPULATION
According to official information (Census 2000) the number of urban residents in Agra is estimated at 1,259,979 people. Other sources speak of as many as 4 million people, which includes both urban population and the people living and commuting from the surrounding areas.

DISTRICTS
Agra city consists of several townships that combine all the features of modern life style with traditional values. These areas are well connected with a number of roads and rail lines, running through the city. Eastern areas and the right bank of the Yamuna river are occupied by Etmadpur region, connected with the city mainland with Agra By-Pass Road and the Yamuna Bridge. Majority of Agra area lies left of the Yamuna. In the northern part of Agra, there are districts of Dayal Bagh, Civil Lines, Khandari and Sikandra. Other city areas are Loha Mandi, Mantola and Shahganj in the centre and Idgah, Rakabganj and Tajganj in the south-eastern part of Agra. Vast network of roads makes transportation within the city borders easy. The most important areas are:

Civil Lines One of the busiest and most developed regions in Agra city, situated towards the north of Agra city. The area is provided with all one can find in a commercial zone, including excellent markets, hotels, restaurants, banks, training institutes, cinemas and more. There are also some important institutions, such as Income Tax Office, City Civil Court and Agra University.
Idgah Colony Placed in the south-west part of Agra, Idgah Colony has evolved into an important township. There are many important premises, institutes and administrative offices. Idgah Bus Station and Agra Cantt Railway station lies in the vicinity, as well as the Idgah Railway Station.To supplement all this the Agra Airport is few kilometres west of the area.
Mantola Mantola area lies towards the centre of Agra city. Densely populated and inhabited by several communities, it has a good proportion of Hindu as well as Muslim people dwelling there. A lot of worshipping places in Mantola includes Akbari Masjid and Jama Masjid where muslims offer prayers as well as a popular temple called Mankameshwar Temple. Tourist attractions in the vicinity include Agra Fort and Moti Masjid.
Sikandra Sikandra town is located towards the west of the city centre and separated by a distance of about 10 km. It took its name Afghan ruler Sikandar Lodhi who. The prime attraction of the Sikandra is the tomb of Akbar - an Indian variant of the pyramids of Egypt. Its architecture reflects Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Jain influences.
Tajganj The region around the Taj Mahal, a magnificent mausoleum of unique beauty, is called Tajgunj. The area lies east of the city centre, playing a role of bustling commercial centre with its Tourist Shopping Arcade, presumabely the best place for shopping in Agra. What's more, a number of 5 star, deluxe and budget hotels are also situated in the area.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
The forts and tombs of Mughal kings, such as Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra Fort, Itmad-Ud-Daulah and Chini Ka Rauza, belong to the most interesting tourist places. Taj Mahal, visited by people from all over the globe, is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built in red sandstone and marble and decorated with semi-precious stones, it is the prime places of interest in Agra. The mausoleum and forts are surrounded with magnificent gardens, that form appropriate background for their striking architecture.

The Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal was constructed during the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan rule in 1653 as the final resting place for his favourite queen, Mumtaz. These perfectly symmetrical monuments took 22 years of hard labour of about 20,000 workers. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/agra/A33223.html
Agra Fort The construction of the Agra Fort was commissioned by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565, though were made till the time of his grandson Shah Jahan. Crescent shaped, the fort is flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall overlooking the river. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/agra/A33224.html
Sikandra is the last resting place of the Mughal Empror Akbar. It combines the best of Hindu and Muslim architectures to represent Akbars's philosophy and secular outlook. Completed in 1613 by his son Jahangir, Akbar's Tomb is one of the well-preserved monuments of the area. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/agra/A33226.html
Itmad-ud-Daulah The tomb of Mirza Ghyas Beg, a Persian who served in Akbar Court, was commissioned by Jehangir's Queen, Noorjahan during 1622-1628. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/agra/A33225.html
Fatehpur Sikri, a beautiful tomb in red sandstone (about 39 km from Agra), was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar during 1564 A.D. in gratitude to Sheikh Salim Chishti, a saint from the village of Sikri who foretold the emperor that he would have a son. When his son was born, he constructed his capital city and named it Fatehpur Sikri. More info on the admission fee and how to get there: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/agra/A33227.html
Radha Swami Samadhi is the spiritual centre of Radhaswami religion, since the holy ashes its founder have been preserved there. Beautifully carved, the temple is a distinctive specimen of the plastic arts.
Chinni Ka Rauza was built by Afzal Khan, a high official in the court of Shah Jahan. With glazed tiles on its facade, the structure reminds of the Persian influences in architecture.
Mariyam's Tomb is a unique tomb made of red sandstone that was built in 1611 A.D. in memory of Emperor Akbar's Christian wife Mariyam. The tomb is adorned with some exceptional carvings.

AIRPORT
The city has a single domestic airport - Agra Civil Enclaves, situatedonly 3 km away from the central bus stand that is Idgah bus stand. All the major domestic airlines offer flight services to and from the city of Taj. The best way to travel to the city centre is to hire a taxi.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
There are several ways of travelling round the city of Agra:

City Bus Service:Buses are the cheapest though not the most comfortable means of transport in Agra. The main bus station is Idgah bus stand, where buses to other towns depart.
Taxis:Air-conditioned and non air-conditioned taxis are easily available at the railway stations, airport, hotels and Partap Pura.
Other transport: Rickshaws, tongas and cycle rickshaws are available. Their rates can be negotiable, but Rs. 50 is enough for almost any trip.

HISTORY
In the famous Hindu epic Mahabharat Agra has found its mention as the forest of Agraban close to Mathura. It was Badal Singh who found the city in 1475 and made it his capital. Later, the city situated on the banks of Yamuna river was captured by Barbur and thus the long association of Mughals with Agra started. The Mughals, lovers of architecture and art, constructed beautiful monuments such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Kikri,and Sikandra. The golden age of Agra came during the reign of Akbur, Jehangir and Shah Jahan, when the city turned into the centre of art, culture and commerce.

CITY LINKS

General Administration: http://www.agra.nic.in/admin.html
Department of Tourism, Government of UP, Uttar Paradesh: http://www.up-tourism.com/destinations/adra/agra.html
Interesting Places in Agra: http://www.india.journeymart.com/agra/sightseeing.asp
Useful Tips: http://wikitravel.org/en/Agra
AgraNews.Com (an online newspaper providind the latest and updated political, cultural, business and sports Indian news): http://www.agranews.com

UNIVERSITY LINKS

Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Uviversity (formely Agra University), one of the oldest universities in India: http://www.indiaeducation.ernet.in/institutions/PROFILE.ASP?no=U00805