Agra

Agra

Agra is located about 230 kilometers southeast of the national capital, Delhi, on the banks of the Yamuna River. The remarkable historical period of Agra began during the reign of Sikandar Lodi, but the golden age of the city began with the Mughals. As the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra was the most important city in the Indian subcontinent. It was under Mughal rule that Agra became a center of learning, art, commerce and religion, and witnessed the erection of Agra Fort, Sikandra and Agra's most treasured monument, the Taj Mahal, which was built by Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1648 in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is a complex mausoleum; it is often considered the world's finest example of Mughal architecture. As the Mughal Empire declined in the late 18th century, the city successively fell to the Marathas and later to the East India Company. After independence, Agra became an industrial city with flourishing tourism, along with shoe, leather and other manufacturing. The city's most famous sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The The Sixteenth-century Agra Fort, known as Red Fort for its massive red sandstone walls. It is home to the white marble Pearl Mosque and a palace, the Jahangiri Mahal. Near the Taj Mahal are the Jāmiʿ Masjid, or Great Mosque, and the elegant white marble tomb of Iʿtimād al-Dawlah. There are many religious and cultural festivals that are held in Agra. The birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated on Janamashtami. The annual Taj Mahotsav is held in Shilpagram, an artisan village near the Taj Mahal, and is a 10-day arts, crafts and music carnival usually held in February.