Description

Situated on the banks of Yamuna River, the city hosts many UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Traditions ascribe the foundation of the city of Agra to Raja Badal Singh around 1475 A.D. The city came into limelight during the rule of Afghan King Sikandar Lodhi - who had made it the capital of his empire. Agra has witnessed the rise of the pomp and pageantry of three great Mughal monarchs - Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. They transformed the land into one of the greatest centres of art, culture, learning and commerce. In modern times, the city of Agra is famous for its superb inlay work on marble, soapstone by craftsmen, carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather work.

Sightseeing - Places to visit

For most of the time Agra alternated with Delhi as the capital of the Mughal Empire. As such one finds many marvels of the Mughal architecture in and around the city, the most famous of them being the Taj Mahal. Besides the Taj, the Agra Fort (also called the Red Fort) makes an interesting sight. Other major attractions include the tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah, Jama Masjid, Akbar's tomb at Sikandra, Rambagh, the Mughal Garden and Dayal Bagh Temple. Besides the historical monuments, one can also explore Agra's rich heritage of handicrafts in its markets.