Agra

Agra, in Uttar Pradesh, is one of India’s most historic cities, known globally for the Taj Mahal. Its early references appear in ancient texts like the Mahabharata, where the region is called Agravana, though the modern city was founded in 1504 CE by Sikandar Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate. Under the Lodis, Agra became a strategic capital on the Yamuna River.

The city reached its peak under the Mughal Empire. In 1526, Babur captured Agra after the First Battle of Panipat and made it his capital. His successors—Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan—built palaces, gardens, and monuments that turned Agra into a grand imperial city.

Akbar constructed the Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which became the seat of Mughal governance. The city also flourished as a centre of art, architecture, and trade.

In 1632, Shah Jahan began building the Taj Mahal, the world-famous white marble mausoleum for his queen Mumtaz Mahal, completed in 1653. This masterpiece became the symbol of Agra’s heritage.

Agra declined after the capital shifted to Delhi in 1648 but remained important under the Mughals, Marathas, and later the British.

Today, Agra is a major cultural and tourist hub, renowned for its Mughal monuments, handicrafts, and rich historical legacy.