History Of Agra

Overwhelming splendor, attractive monuments and exquisite traditions makes Agra cynosure India. Being the ultimate stopover for travelers from around the world, Agra stands as a true masterpiece of Mughal architecture that truly captivates your attentions with its buzzing lifestyle and spellbinding history. The city of Agra, which once served as the majestic dais for Indian rulers, has its mention even in the greatest Hindu epic of Mahabharata. Much of the city's inspiring past breathes even in this contemporary world through its alluring structural gifts. With the vibrant cultural and religious history of nearly 3000 years, Agra boasts of power, compassion, love, refinement and above all the affection towards art and artifacts. The land, which testifies to the magnificent Mughal rule, is popular in the entire world for its stunning white marble beauty, the Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. With fond reminiscences, royal heritage, rich culture and cherished legacies of nostalgic past, Agra holds on to its historical heritage with great pride. Go ahead and explore the history of Agra and explore the majesty of the land.

Agra History

Agra, The Land of Glorious Past
Agra, perched on the banks of the River Yamuna, is one of the oldest cities in India. In fact, one can find the mention of this city in the great epic of Mahabharata, in which the region of Agra is described as 'Agraban', which served as an integral part of Brij Bhumi, the land of Lord Krishna. In the pre-historic period, Agra was believed to be inhabited by the Aryans who named the land as 'Arya Griha'. However, according to the records, the earliest mention of Agra was made in 1475 A.D, during the reign of Raja Badal Singh, who is believed to be the actual founder of the city. The glorious history of Agra starts during the Afghan ruler Sikandar Lodhi era, who made Agra his capital. After the death of Sikandar Lodhi, his son Ibrahim Lodhi administered the entire Delhi Sultanate from Agra.

Golden Age Of Mughal Rule
Agra, the land of finest culture and unique character flourished under the hands of the spectacular Mughal rule. In the year 1526 A.D, Babar defeated Lodi's in the First Battle of Panipat and conquered Agra. After Babar, his grandson Akbar became the most noted ruler under whom the city transformed into a hub of art, culture, commerce and learning centre. The city flourished into a land of astonishing architectures. His son Jehangir also built a number of monuments in Agra such as palaces, courts and gardens. After the death of Jehangir, his son Shah Jahan shifted his empire to Delhi and left the impact of his rule by building the world famous Taj Mahal in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. The ravishing Taj Mahal, which took nearly 20 years to complete, stands as a brilliant venture of Shah Jahan. Later, during the rule of Aurangzeb, Agra regained its captaincy. Thus, with nearly a century of Mughal rule, Agra became the pride of the country by its skilled craftsmanship, contemporary Mughal style architecture and most importantly, the luscious Mughlai cuisine. However, with the end of Mughal rule, Agra came under the Marathas, Jats and then British until the country's Independence in 1947.