35 Fascinating Facts About Agra: The City Of Taj Mahal

Agra, also called 'The City Of The Taj', is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh and one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.

Three presence of UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri; make Agra a special Indian city. This city of beautiful architecture and colorful cultures is located in North India, approximately 130.48 mi (210 km) to the south of India's national capital, Delhi.

The name of this beautiful city has had multiple derivations and origins over the years. The name Agra is derived from the Sanskrit term 'Agravan', referring to an ancient town mentioned in the Indian epic 'Mahabharata'.

Texts on Indian History claim that the city of Agra was founded by the Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, Sikander Lodi, in 1504. Later during the rule Mughal Empire, the city was renamed Akbarabad by Badshah Akbar, which remained the empire's capital city from 1556 to 1648.

If you want to learn more facts about India, take a look at our articles on Ancient India Religion Facts or Famous Rivers In India to explore the wonders of culture and geography in the country.

Facts About Agra

Agra is located along the Yamuna river and covers an area of 25 sq mi (40 sq km). Here is a list of interesting facts about Agra if you want to know the city in more detail.

According to the 2011 census, the average literacy rate in Agra was 71.58%.

The current population of the city is around 1.6 million.

The Agra Bear Rescue Facility is the world's largest rescue facility for sloth bears, established in 2002.

There are several tourist attractions all over the city, like - Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Mehtab Bagh, Sikandar Fort, Agra Museum, and Aram Bagh.

Agra is a part of the rich Ganga-Yamuna Doab region and is famous for its delectable cuisine and fine carpets.

Agra lies on the banks of the Yamuna river, which was once referred to as the 'Blue River' due to its clear waters. The river has become highly contaminated through the years.

Air pollution and sewage dumping in the Yamuna river have severely deteriorated the environment in Agra, evident from the damages to the Taj Mahal.

Agra has one of the largest shoe-manufacturing markets in India, covering around 28 % of India's footwear exports.

The creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, mentioned the Agra Fort in his novel 'The Sign Of The Four'.

Agra's History

The city of Agra has a rich history, with mentions in ancient Indian literature and being under the rule of different rulers of India through time. Read along to find some interesting facts about the history of Agra.

Sultan Sikandar Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate had shifted to Agra and made it the second capital city of the Sultanate after Kabul.

The Battle of Samugarh (1658) was fought about 10 mi east of Agra at Samugarh. The famous battle occurred between Dara Sikon and his brothers Aurangazeb and Murad Baksh.

Agra is the birthplace of the syncretic religion established by Emperor Akbar in 1582, known as 'Dīn-i Ilāhī'.

During Mughal rule, Akbar was also involved in developing Agra into a center for learning, facilitating the study of religion, commerce, and arts.

Shiv Dayal Singh started the spiritual tradition known as Radha Soami in Agra in 1861.

Agra was made a British Presidency in 1835 and became a prominent seat of government for strengthening British rule in India.

Some recent reports suggest that the second century geographer Ptolemy coined the name 'Agra' in his descriptions and maps of ancient India as early as the 11th century.

In 1635, Shah Jahan ordered the demolition of the Agra Church, which Portuguese Jesuits held.

Shah Jahan was crowned the emperor of the Mughal Dynasty in Agra Fort in 1627. Later in 1658, he was put under house arrest at the fort by his son Aurangazeb.

Agra's Culture

Want to know how the culture and society of Agra have developed after the influx of so many traditions, religions, and lifestyles throughout history? Delve into these cultural facts about Agra to dig deeper.

Agra College is one of the first colleges in India, founded by Pandit Gangadhar Shastri in 1823. It was later named Agra University and renamed Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University in 1927.

Thomas Valpy French founded St. John's College in 1850 in Agra.

Food in Agra is widely inspired by Mughal cuisine, such as - the sweet delicacy called 'petha' and the spicy snack of fired lentils, raisins, and nuts called 'Dalmoth'.

Some major festivals celebrated in the city are Taj Mahotsav and Ram Barat, along with fun fairs like the Bateshwar Mela and Kailash Mela.

Hinduism is the most prominent religion in Agra. However, other religions like Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism also flourish in the city.

Agra is known for its delicate fabrics, artwork, and leatherwork. It has a trading legacy that dates back to Mughal times. The city is known to be one of India's largest exporters of handicrafts.

Agra is known as the 'shopping capital of Uttar Pradesh.' Agra is known for its delicious and mouth-watering street food, including kachori, mathi, gajak, and petha. Agra also has many delectable treats, such as rose milk and peda.

Non-vegetarian delicacies in Agra include kebabs, kormas, and curries made with various spices.

Agra has India's largest free-air private park, the Taj Nature Walk. Agra is one of the best cities in India to learn music, dance, and art, as it has some of the oldest institutions for these practices.

Apart from several regional languages, the most common languages spoken in Agra are Hindi, Urdu, and English.

Agra's Tourist Attractions

Agra places worth visiting are - Aram Bagh, Mehtab Bagh, and Akbar's tomb. Take a look at more of such tourist attractions found in the city.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, was built by Shah Jahan in 1631 as a memorial and tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Fatehpur Sikri is the first planned city of the Mughal era, commissioned by Akbar and constructed between 1571-1573.

Fascinating tourist locations within the city of Fatehpur Sikri include; Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Jama Masjid, and Buland Darwaza.

The majestic Agra Fort, built alongside the Yamuna river in 1565 by the Mughal emperor Akbar, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is also called Brick Fort or Red Fort.

For travelers who want to see the different religious structures in Agra, the city offers sites like - Guru Ka Tal, Moti Masjid, Bageshwarnath Temple, and Soami Bagh Samadh.

I'timād-ud-Daulah, famous as the 'Baby Taj' or 'jewel box', is another tourist attraction in Agra.

Sikandra Fort is located in Agra, to the west of Fatehpur Sikri. It is named after Sikandar Lodi and was the resting place of Akbar.

The Tomb of Akbar is also an exciting tourist destination located in the suburbs of Agra in Sikandra.

The Tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani lies next to Akbar's Tomb. Jahangir built the mausoleum of Akbar's wife in Sikandra.

'Jaswant Ki Chhatri', or the Chhatri of Jaswant Singh, built by Amar Singh Rathore in 1658, was the only Hindu monument to be built in Agra during the rule of the Mughal dynasty.

Mehtab Bagh is a magnificent garden complex, also located on the banks of the Yamuna river.

Aram Bagh is the oldest garden built in Agra during the Mughal rule by Babur in 1528.