Agra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the municipality in Uttar Pradesh, India. For its namesake district, see Agra district.
For other uses, see Agra (disambiguation).
| Agra आगरा آ گرہ | |
| Akbarabad | |
| — city — | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 27°11′N 78°01′E / 27.18°N 78.02°ECoordinates: 27°11′N 78°01′E / 27.18°N 78.02°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District(s) | Agra |
| Population • Density • Metro • Urban | 1,686,976 (19) (2010[update])• 8,954 /km2 (23,191 /sq mi)• 1,727,275 (20)• 63.62 |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area • Elevation | 188.40 km2 (73 sq mi) • 171 metres (561 ft) |
| Website | agra.nic.in |
The city finds mention in the epic Mahābhārata where it was called Agrevaṇa, or 'the border of the forest'.[3] Legend ascribes the founding of the city to Rājā Badal Singh, a Sikarwar Rajput king (circa 1475), whose fort, Badalgarh, stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 11th century Persian poet Mas'ūd Sa'd Salmān writes of a desperate assault on the fortress of Agra, then held by the Shāhī King Jayapala, by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.[4] Sultan Sikandar Lodī was the first to move his capital from Delhi to Agra in the year 1506; he died in 1517 and his son Ibrāhīm Lodī remained in power there for nine more years, finally being defeated at the Battle of Panipat in 1526.[5] It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr Sikrī, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
[edit] Climate
Main article: Climate of Agra
Agra features a semiarid climate that borders on a humid subtropical climate. The city features mild winters, hot and dry summers and a monsoon season. However the monsoons, though substantial in Agra, are not quite as heavy as the monsoon in other parts of India. This is a primary factor in Agra featuring a semiarid climate as opposed to a humid subtropical climate.Agra is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata as Agraban, the sister city of the more prominent Mathura. Agra was established in 1475 by Badal Singh and came into its own when Sikander Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty chose it for his capital because of its proximity to the Yamuna. Babur defeated the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also to lay the foundation of the Mughal empire. In the mid-16th and earlier 17th centuries, Agra witnessed afrenzied building activity and it was during this time that the symbol oflove, the Taj Mahal, was built. The buildings made during this era were purely in the contemporary Mughal style and of very high quality. Besides the monuments, Agra is worth a visit for the master pieces of craftsmen recreating the glory of the Mughal period and for the Mughlai cuisine, the aroma of which fills the narrow lanes of Agra.
[edit] Demographics
According to the 2011 India census,[6] Agra has a population of 3,575,134, while the population of Agra cantonment is 50,968 and that of Agra district is 3,620,436. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Agra district population grew by 31% in the decade 1991–2001. Roughly 57% of the population of Agra district lives in urban areas. Agra has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 86% males literate. Literacy rate of males is considerably higher than that of women. Agra district literacy rate is 62.56%Hinduism, Islam, and Jainism are three major religions in Agra district with 89.6%, 8.93%, and 0.51% of the population following them. Jatavs, Baniyas and Jats are most numerous castes in Agra. Agra is also considered as dalit capital because Jatavs form a large section of the population and maintains a substantial middle class in society. Some Scheduled Tribes like the Bhotia and Jaunsari have marginal presence (about 0.02% of the population).
52.5% of Agra's population is in the 15–59 years age category. Around 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. Hindi is the most widely spoken language in Agra. Urdu and Punjabi are also spoken.
[edit] History
Though Agra's history is largely recognised with Mughal Empire, but the place was established much before it and has linkages since Mahabharat period and Mahirshi Angira in 1000 BC. It is generally accepted that Sultan Sikandar Lodī, the Ruler of the Delhi Sultanate founded Agra in the year 1504. After the Sultan's death the city passed on to his son Sultan Ibrāhīm Lodī. He ruled his Sultanate from Agra until he fell fighting to Bābar in the First battle of Panipat fought in 1526.In the year 1556, the great Hindu warrior Hemu Vikramaditya, also known as Samrat Hem Chander Vikramaditya, won Agra as the Prime Minister cum Chief of Army of Adil Shah of the Afghan Sūrī Dynasty. The commander of Humāyūn / Akbar's forces in Agra, Tardi Beg Khan, was so scared of Hemu that he retreated from the city without a fight. This was Hemu's 21st continuous win since 1554, and he later went on to conquer Delhi, having his coronation at Purānā Qil'a in Delhi on 7 October 1556 and re-established the Hindu Kingdom and the Vikramaditya Dynasty in North India.
The golden age of the city began with the Mughals. It was known then as Akbarabād and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under the Emperors Akbar, Jahāngīr and Shāh Jahān. Shāh Jahān later shifted his capital to Shāhjahānabād in the year 1649.
Since Akbarabād was one of the most important cities in India under the Mughals, it witnessed a lot of building activity. Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of river Yamuna. The garden is called the Arām Bāgh or the Garden of Relaxation. His grandson Akbar raised the towering ramparts of the Great Red Fort, besides making Agra a center for learning, arts, commerce and religion. Akbar also built a new city on the outskirts of Akbarabād called Fatehpūr Sikrī. This city was built in the form of a Mughal military camp in stone.
His son Jahāngīr had a love of gardens and flora and fauna and laid many gardens inside the Red Fort or Lāl Qil'a. Shāh Jahān, known for his keen interest in architecture, gave Akbarabād its most prized monument, the Tāj Mahal. Built in loving memory of his wife Mumtāz Mahal, the mausoleum was completed in 1653.
Shāh Jahān later shifted the capital to Delhi during his reign, but his son Aurangzeb moved the capital back to Akbarabād, usurping his father and imprisoning him in the Fort there. Akbarabād remained the capital of India during the rule of Aurangzeb until he shifted it to Aurangabad in the Deccan in 1653. After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the city came under the influence of Marathas and Jats and was called Agra, before falling into the hands of the British Raj in 1803.
Agra is the birth place of the religion known as Dīn-i Ilāhī, which flourished during the reign of Akbar and also of the Radhaswami Faith, which has around two million followers worldwide. Agra has historic linkages with Shauripur of Jainism and Runukta of Hinduism, of 1000 BC.
Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr Sikrī, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
[edit] Air
Agra Airport is about 12.5 km (8 mi) from city center[edit] Rail
Main article: Railways in Agra
Agra is on the central train line between Delhi (Station Code: NDLS) and Mumbai (Bombay) (Station Code: CSTM) and between Delhi and Chennai (Station Code: MAS) and many trains like Bhopal Shatabdi, Bhopal Express, Malwa Express, Gondwana Express, Jabalpur - Jammutawi Express, Shreedham Express, Garib Rath, Tamil Nadu Express, Chennai Rajdhni etc. connect Agra with all major Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Bhopal, Indore, Kochi, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Jaipur, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram etc. every day. Some east-bound trains from Delhi also travel via Agra, so direct connections to points in Eastern India (including Kolkata) (Calcutta) are also available. There are close to 20 trains to New Delhi and Gwalior Junction every day, and at least three or four to Bhopal, Indore, Nagpur, Mumbai and Chennai. There are three main railway stations in Agra:
- Agra Cantt (Station Code: AGC) is the main railway station and lies southwest of the Taj and Agra Fort, both of which are a short ride from the station by car, auto-rickshaw, or cycle rickshaw.
- Agra Fort Railway Station (Station Code: AF) near Agra Fort, is infrequently serviced by the interstate express trains, it is one of the oldest railway station in the country. The station serves trains to the east (Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Kolkata, Guwahati) and central India Ratlam, Nagda, Kota (Haldighati Express). Some of these trains also stop at Agra Cantt.
- Raja Ki Mandi (Station Code: RKM) is a small station. Some of the trains which stop at Agra Cantt also stop here. Other stations are Idgah, Billochpura, Agra City, Yamuna Bridge.
[edit] Road
Idgah Bus Stand, Taj Depot, Ford depot and Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) are the major Bus Stands in Agra and is connected to most of the bigger cities in North India.- From Delhi: NH2, a modern divided highway, connects the 200 km (124 mi) distance from Delhi to Agra. The drive is about 4 hours. The primary access to the highway is along Mathura Road in Delhi but, if coming from South Delhi or Delhi Airport, it is easier to take Aurobindo Marg (Mehrauli Road) and then work up to NH2 via Tughlakabad.
- From Jaipur: National Highway 11, a Four lane divided highway, connects Agra with Jaipur via the bird sanctuary town of Bharatpur. The distance of around 255 km (158 mi) can be covered in around 3–4 hours. Caution: When you enter from Jaipur / Bharatpur side, beware of robber in uniform (State police / RTO) at the entry point of Agra City. They will chase you and threaten you for no fault of yours. By doing these they will loot big amount of money from you and make you uncomfortable.
- From Gwalior A distance of around 120 km (75 mi), takes around 1.5 hours on the National highway 3, also known as the Agra – Mumbai Highway.
- From Lucknow / Kanpur NH2, the divided modern highway, continues on to Kanpur (285 km, 5 hours) and from there to points East ending in Kolkata. From Kanpur, NH25 heads for the city of Lucknow (90 km, 2 hours).
[edit] Taxi
Tourists can hire a taxi for local sight seeing or Agra visit from local taxi stand. A prepaid taxi counter is available at Agra Cantt railway station.[edit] Local transport
Recently, under JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) in order to revamp city's urban infrastructure Tata-Marcopolo's city buses are being run by Agra Municipal Corporation covering whole city in an efficient way.Other para-transit modes includes auto-rickshaws and rickshaw. While passengers need to negotiate rates for the rickshaws and they are usually expensive, there is a system of (what is called) 'Tempo' which are autorickshaws that run on specific routes called out by drivers. Tempos take around 6 people simultaneously and work out to be most economical and practical.
Polluting vehicles are not allowed near Tāj Mahal, so one needs to take electric autos or Tanga (Tonga) from a few kilometres outside the Tāj Mahal.
Agra is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata as Agraban, the sister city of the more prominent Mathura. Agra was established in 1475 by Badal Singh and came into its own when Sikander Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty chose it for his capital because of its proximity to the Yamuna. Babur defeated the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also to lay the foundation of the Mughal empire. In the mid-16th and earlier 17th centuries, Agra witnessed afrenzied building activity and it was during this time that the symbol oflove, the Taj Mahal, was built. The buildings made during this era were purely in the contemporary Mughal style and of very high quality. Besides the monuments, Agra is worth a visit for the master pieces of craftsmen recreating the glory of the Mughal period and for the Mughlai cuisine, the aroma of which fills the narrow lanes of Agra.
[edit] Places of interest
[edit] Tāj Mahal
Main article: Taj Mahal
Agra's Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world, the mausoleum of Shah Jahan's favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the world, and one of three World Heritage Sites in Agra.Completed in 1653, the Tāj Mahal was built by the Mughal king Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his beloved wife, Mumtāz Mahal. Finished in marble, it is perhaps India's most fascinating and beautiful monument. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630–1652) of labour and 20,000 workers, masons and jewellers to build and is set amidst landscaped gardens. Built by the Persian architect, Ustād 'Īsā, the Tāj Mahal is on the bank of the Yamuna River. It can be observed from Agra Fort from where Emperor Shāh Jahān gazed at it, for the last eight years of his life, a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb. It is an acknowledged masterpiece of symmetry. Verses of the Koran are inscribed on it and at the top of the gate are twenty-two small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to build. The Tāj Mahal was built on a marble platform that stands above a sandstone one. The most elegant dome of the Tāj Mahal has a diameter of 60 feet (18 m), and rises to a height of 80 feet (24 m); directly under this dome is the tomb of Mumtāz Mahal. Shah Jahān's tomb was erected next to hers by his son Aurangzeb. The interiors are decorated by fine inlay work, incorporating semi-precious stones.
[edit] Agra Fort
Main article: Agra Fort
The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1565 CE., although it was converted into a palace by his grandson Shāh Jahān, being reworked extensively with marble and pietra dura inlay. Notable buildings in the fort include the Pearl Mosque or Motī Masjid, the Dīwān-e-'Ām and Dīwān-e-Khās (halls of public and private audience), Jahāngīr's Palace, Khās Mahal, Shīsh Mahal (mirrored palace), and the Musamman Burj. The forbidding exteriors of this fort conceal an inner paradise. The fort is crescent shaped, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. It has a total perimeter of 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi), and is ringed by double castellated ramparts of red sandstone punctuated at regular intervals by bastions. A 9 metres (30 ft) wide and 10 metres (33 ft) deep moat surrounds the outer wall.
Chhatrapati Shīvajī visited the Agra Fort, as a result of the conditions of the Treaty of Purandar entered into with Mirzā Rājā Jaisingh to meet Aurangzeb in the Dīwān-i-Khās (Special Audience Chamber). In the audience he was deliberately placed behind men of lower rank. An insulted Shīvajī stormed out of the imperial audience and was confined to Jai Sing's quarters on 12 May 1666. Fearing the dungeons and execution he escaped on 17 August 1666. A heroic equestrian statue of Shīvajī has been erected outside the fort.
The fort is a typical example of Mughal architecture, effectively showing how the North Indian style of fort construction differentiated from that of the South. In the South, the majority forts were built on the seabed like the one at Bekal in Kerala.[10]
[edit] Fatehpūr Sikrī
Main article: Fatehpur Sikri
Buland Darwāza or 'the lofty gateway' was built by the great Mughal emperor, Akbar in 1601 CE. at Fatehpūr Sikrī. Akbar built the Buland Darwāza to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. The Buland Darwāza is approached by 52 steps. The Buland Darwāza is 53.63 m high and 35 meters wide. it is made of red and buff sandstone, decorated by carving and black and white marble inlays. An inscription on the central face of the Buland Darwāza demonstrates Akbar's religious broadmindedness, it is a message from Jesus advising his followers not to consider this world as their permanent home.
[edit] I'timād-Ud-Daulah
Main article: Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb
The walls are white marble from Rajasthan encrusted with semi-precious stone decorations – cornelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and topaz in images of cypress trees and wine bottles, or more elaborate decorations like cut fruit or vases containing bouquets. Light penetrates to the interior through delicate jālī screens of intricately carved white marble.
Many of Nūr Jahān's relatives are interred in the mausoleum. The only asymmetrical element of the entire complex is that the tombs of her father and mother have been set side-by-side, a formation replicated in the Taj Mahal is very famous.
[edit] Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra
Main article: Tomb of Akbar the Great
Sikandra, the last resting place of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, is on the Delhi-Agra Highway, only 13 kilometres from the Agra Fort. Akbar's tomb reflects the completeness of his personality. The vast, beautifully carved, red-ochre sandstone tomb with deers, rabbits and langurs is set amidst a lush garden. Akbar himself planned his own tomb and selected a suitable site for it. To construct a tomb in one's lifetime was a Turkic custom which the Mughals followed religiously. Akbar's son Jahāngīr completed construction of this pyramidal tomb in 1613. The 99 names of Allah have been inscribed on the tomb.
[edit] Swāmī Bāgh Samādhi
The Swāmī Bāgh Samādhi is a monument to hold the ashes of Huzūr Swāmijī Mahārāj (Shrī Shiv Dayāl Singh Seth) in the Swāmībāgh section, on the high road that goes from Bhagwan Talkies to Dayāl Bāgh, in the outskirts of the city. He was the founder of the Radhāswāmī Faith and the Samādhi is sacred to its followers. Construction began in February 1904 and still continues. Many believe that construction will never end at Swāmī Bāgh – it is often seen as the next Tāj Mahal. The carvings in stone, using a combination or coloured marble, are life-like and not seen anywhere else in India. The picture shown is taken from the rear of the building and shows only two floors. When completed, the Samādhi will have a carved dome and a gateway.[edit] Mankameshwar Temple
Main article: Mankameshwar Temple
The Mankameshwar Temple is one of four ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva located on the four corners of Agra City. It is located near the Jāma Masjid and is about 2.5 kilometers from the Tāj Mahal and less than 1 km (1 mi) from Agra Fort. Being located in the old city, the temple is surrounded by markets, many of which date back to the Mughal Era.[edit] Indrabhan Girls' Inter College
It is widespreadly considered to be the birth place of great poet Mirza Ghalib. It is located near the Mankameshwar Temple and is about 3 kilometers from the Tāj Mahal and less than 1 km (1 mi) from Agra Fort. Being located in the old city, the College is surrounded by markets. Approximately four or five years back, the birth room of Mirza Ghalib was hidden behind the wall by the Management of the college to keep the identity of the place secret.[edit] Ankit kā Tal
Main article: Ankit ka Tal
Ankit kā Tal was originally a reservoir meant to collect and conserve rainwater built in Agra, near Sikandra, during Jahāngīr's reign next to the Tomb of I'tibār Khān Khwājasara in 1610. In 1970s a gurdwāra was erected here. Ankit kā Tal is a holy place of worship for the Christians and Jains. Four of the ten Sikh Gurus are said to have paid it a visit. Enjoying both historical and religious importance, this holy shrine attracts a large number of devotees and tourists. Boasting elaborate stone carvings and 8 towers of the twelve original towers. It is located by national (Delhi-Agra- Delhi) highway-2.[edit] Jamā Masjid
Main article: Jama Masjid (Agra)
The Jāma Masjid is a large mosque attributed to Shah Jahan's daughter, Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648, notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets. The inscription at its entrance shows that it costed Rs 5 Lakhs at that time for its completion.
[edit] Chīnī kā Rauza
Main article: Chini Ka Rauza
Notable for its Persian influenced dome of blue glazed tiles, the Chīnī kā Rauza is dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shāh Jahān, 'Allāma Afzal Khāl Mullā Shukrullāh of Shirāz.[edit] Rām Bāgh
Main article: Ram Bagh
The oldest Mughal garden in India, the Rām Bāgh was built by the Emperor Bābar in 1528 on the bank of the Yamuna. It lies about 2.34 km (1 mi) north of the Tāj Mahal. The pavilions in this garden are designed so that the wind from the Yamuna, combined with the greenery, keeps them cool even during the peak of summer. The original name of the gardens was Ārām Bāgh, or 'Garden of Relaxation', and this was where the Mughal emperor Bābar used to spend his leisure time and where he eventually died. His body was kept here for sometime before sending it to Kabul.[edit] Mariam's Tomb
Main article: Mariams Tomb
Mariams Tomb, is the tomb of Mariam, the wife of great Mughal Emperor Akbar. The tomb is within the compound of the Christian Missionary Society.[edit] Mehtāb Bāgh
Main article: Mehtab Bagh
The Mehtāb Bāgh, or 'Moonlight Garden', is on the opposite bank of the River Yamuna from the Tāj Mahal.[edit] Keetham Lake
Main article: Keetham Lake
Also known as Sur Sarovar, Keetham Lake is situated about 7 kilometres from akbar tomb Agra, within the Surdas Reserved Forest. The lake has an impressive variety of aquatic life and water birds.[edit] Mughal Heritage Walk
The Mughal Heritage Walk is a part of community development programme being implemented with support of Agra Municipal corporation, USAID and an NGO; Center for Urban and Regional Excellence. It seeks to build sustainable livelihoods for youth and women from low resource communities and improving their living environments through infrastructure services and integration within the city.The Mughal Heritage Walk is a one kilometer loop which connects the agricultural fields with the Rajasthani culture, river bank connected with the ancient village of Kuchhpura, the Heritage Structure of Mehtab Bagh, the Mughal aqueduct system, the Humanyun Mosque and the Gyarah Sidi.
[edit] The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra.
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[edit] Economy
Today 40% of the population depends largely on agriculture, and others on the leather and footwear business and iron foundries. Agra is the second most self-employed in India in 2007, behind Varanasi, followed by Bhopal, Indore and Patna. According to the National Sample Survey Organization, in 1999-2000, 431 of every 1,000 employed males were self-employed in the city, which grew to 603 per 1,000 in 2004-05.[11] Tourism contributes to the economy of Agra. Agra is home to Asia’s largest spa called Kaya Kalp — The Royal Spa, at the Hotel Mughal in Agra.[12]
The city has many industries. Agra has Uttar Pradesh's first plant biotech company Harihar Biotech located near the Taj. It is one of the largest plant tissue culture laboratories in North India with a production capacity of 2 millions plants annually.
Agra has garment manufacturers and exporters, and an automobile industry. Auto companies include Anil Diesels, Harvest Group of Industries, Indian Agriculture and Automobile Corporation (IAAC) and Malloys India.
There are about 7000 small scale industrial units. Agra city is known for leather goods, handicrafts, Zari Zardozi, Marvel and stone carving and inlay work. Agra is known for its sweets (Petha and Gajak) and Snacks (Dalmoth).
Some of the leading manufacturers, exporter and sellers of leather in Agra are Hindustan Rubber and Plastic Industries, Polyplast Industries, Royal International, Eskay Sales Corporation, Best Buy, Bandejjia Traders and Expomore.
The city center place at Agra (Kinari Bazar) has jewellery and garments shops. The silver and gold jewellery hub is at Choube Ji Ka Fatak.
With the expansion of Agra, organizations dealing in building materials have flourished. A few names are Silver Gatta Agency, Yashoda Exports, Glass Expressions and Sharda Enterprises. The Amar Paper Agency in Agra dealing in paper related products was established in 1986 by Hon. Shri Ram Nath Agarwal. Other companies are the Yoga Handicrafts and the D.R.Chain and Wire Manufacturing Company.
Agra has Transformer manufacturers. The Shah Market area is an electronics market while Sanjay Place is the trade center of Agra.
[edit] Education
Agra has always been a centre for education and learning. It was during the advent of Mughal era that Agra grew as a centre of Islamic education. British people introduced the western concept of education in Agra. In the year 1823, Agra College, one of the oldest colleges in India was formed out of a Sanskrit school established by the Scindia rulers. In the British era, Agra became a great center of Hindi literature with people like Babu Gulab Rai at the helm.[edit] Schools
Holman Institute (english Medium) Affiliated to ICSE, Agra- Baptist Higher Secondary School, Sai ka takia, Agra
- Air Force School, Agra
- Army School, Agra
- St. Andrews Public School, Agra.
- St Clare's Senior Secondary School, Agra
- St. Peter's College, Agra
- St. Paul's Church College, Agra
- St. Patrick's Junior College, Agra
- St. Anthony's Junior College, Agra
- St. Conrad's Inter College, Agra
- St. George's College, Agra (Inter College)
- Maharaja Agrasen Inter College, Agra
- St. Francis School, Agra
- Delhi Public School, Agra
- Agra Public School, Agra[13]
- Holy Public School, Agra.
- St. Clare's Senior Secondary School, Agra
- Government Inter College (G.I.C.) Agra
- M. D. Jain Inter College, Agra
- Queen Victoria Girls Inter College, Agra
- Saket Inter College, Agra
- St. Johns Inter College, Agra.
- Saraswati Vidya Mandir Inter College, Agra
- Raja Balwant Singh Inter College, Agra
- Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Agra
- Sumeet Rahul Goel Mem. Sen. Sec. School, Agra
- Simpkins school, Agra
- Dayanand Bal Mandir, agra
- Radhaswami Educational Institute (R.E.I), Agra
- Sachdeva Millenium School, Agra
- Gyandeep High School, jagdishpura Agra
- Tagore Bal Niketan, agra
[edit] Universities in Agra
Holman Institute (collectory Agra)Agra University was established on 1 July 1927 and catered to colleges spread across the United Provinces, the Rajputana, the Central Provinces and almost to entire North India, at present around 142 Colleges are affiliated to this university. The historic Agra University was later rechristened as Dr. BhimRao Ambedkar University by the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Mayawati.
- Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Radhasoami Satsang Sabha, started the Radhasoami Educational Institute, as a co-educational Middle School, open to all, on January 1, 1917. It became a Degree College in 1947, affiliated to Agra University. In 1975, it formulated a programme of undergraduate studies which received approbation from the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the University Grants Commission, as a result of which in 1981 the Ministry of Education, Government of India, conferred the status of an institution deemed to be a University on the Dayalbagh Educational Institute, to implement the new scheme.
- Central Institute of Hindi, Central Institute of Hindi (also known as Kendriya Hindi Sansthan) is an autonomous institute under Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India engaged in teaching Hindi as a foreign and second language. Apart from running residential Hindi language courses for foreign students, the institute also conducts regular training programmes for teachers of Hindi belonging to non-Hindi states of India. The institute is situated at a 11 acres (4.5 ha) campus on the outskirts of Agra city. Headquartered in Agra the institute has eight regional centers in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore, Shillong, Dimapur, Guwahati, Ahmedabad and Bhubneshwar. The institute is the only government run institution in India established solely for research and teaching of Hindi as a foreign and second language.
[edit] Colleges
Agra is also home to colleges:- Seth Padam Chand Jain Institute of Business and Economics (SPCJ), is the oldest management institute in Agra. It provides Masters Degree in Business Management and offers specialisations in Marketing, Finance and Human Resources Management.
- School of Life Sciences(SLS Khandari, Agra), is the biggest college for Master's education of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra (formerly Agra University), situated at Khandari campus, Agra(UP).
- Dau Dayal Institute Of Vocational Education is an institute run by Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra (formerly Agra University) and is situated at Khandari campus, Agra (U.P.). Students can pursue courses like Masters in Computer Management, B.Com.(Voc.) Adevertising and Sales Promotion, Bachelor of Science (Computer Applications, Instrumentation and Optical Instrumentation) Vocational and other job-oriented courses in Tourism Management, M.Sc (Electronics and Instrumentation) and Ph.D. (Instrumentation).[14]
- Agra College
- Institute of Engineering & Technology Khandari (I.E.T. Khandari, Agra), is the engineering institute of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra (formerly Agra University), situated at Khandari, Agra in Uttar Pradesh.
- Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, named the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the Governor of Uttar Pradesh: the freedom fighter and poet Sarojini Naidu. Founded in 1854, S. N. Medical College & Hospital is one of the three oldest medical schools in India.
- St. John's College, Agra was established in 1850 by the Church Missionary Society of England through the efforts of the Agra C. M. S. Association which came into being in 1840. Shankar Dayal Sharma, the 9th President of India and Ankit Seth, a visionary leader received his education from St. John's college.
- F.E.T Agra College, Agra, Carrying the legacy of Agra College and Agra University, Faculty of Engineering and technology came into existence in 1999.
- Raja Balwant Singh College, RBS College is one of the biggest college of Asia and was started by Awagarh Kingdom. This college has the largest campus area and maximum number of education branches.
- Anand Engineering College, Agra is affiliated to U.P. Technical University Lucknow. It is a part of SGI(Sharda Group of Institutions) an educational group of North India.
- B.M.A.S Engineering College, Agra is affiliated to U.P. Technical University Lucknow. It is a part of SGI(Sharda Group of Institutions) an educational group of North India.
- IBRC, Agra (Institute of biotechnology and research center) provides training in biotechnology.
- Dayalbagh Educational Institute -DEI (Deemed University)Is one of the oldest university in INDIA. And is relatd to religious faith of Radha Soami. It has been known for its pioneer engineers right from 1951A.D.
[edit] Gallery
Akbar's Tomb
Akbar's Tomb
Akbar's Tomb ceiling detail
Marble stone inlay worker
Carpet maker
Taj Mahal
Taj painted geometry
Taj Mahal wall close-up
Agra Fort rampart
Agra Fort gate
Soami Bagh Samadh, in Dayalbagh.
Panch Mahal in Fatehpur Sikri.
Taj Mahal
Panoramic view of the Taj Mahal
Kanch Mahal, Sikandara
Taj Mahal at dawn
Mehtab Bagh (Moonlight Garden)
Jama Masjid
Streets of Agra (Jama Masjid backside)
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[edit] References
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Agra |
- ^ World Gazetteer online India: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population". Accessed 25 Mar 2010.
- ^ Green.in.msn.com
- ^ Williams, Monier. "Sanskrit-English Dictionary". Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries. Cologne University. http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Agra District profile". Official Website of Agra maintained by National Informatics Centre (NIC) of the Government of India. http://agra.nic.in/hist.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Agra Fort". Archaeological Survey of India. http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agrafort.asp. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "Agra City" (GIF). Imperial Gazetteer of India (Digital South Asia Library of University of Chicago) 5: 83–84. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V05_091.gif. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Sole bidder bags Agra Inner Ring Road project". http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sole-bidder-bags-agra-inner-ring-road-project/585674/0. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^ "Inner Ring Road Agra". http://awas.up.nic.in/IURP-June%2009/Inner%20Ring%20Road%20,%20Agra.pdf.
- ^ Koroth, Nandakumar. History of Bekal Fort.
- ^ "India’s new Entrepreneurs". Mint. May 16, 2007. http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/16001310/Indias-new-Entrepreneurs.html.
- ^ "ITC unveils Asia's largest spa in Agra". Economic Times (India). 2008-03-09. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/The_Sunday_ET/Economy/ITC_unveils_Asias_largest_spa_in_Agra/rssarticleshow/2848717.cms. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ Agrapublicschool.com
- ^ Dbrau.ac.in
[edit] Further reading
- Cole, Henry Hardy (1873). Illustrations of buildings near Muttra and Agra. India Office. http://www.archive.org/stream/illustrationsbu00colegoog#page/n7/mode/1up.
- Agra, Archaeological Society of (1874). Transactions of the Archaeological Society of Agra, Jan–June 1874. Delhi Gazette Press. http://www.archive.org/stream/transactionsarc00agragoog#page/n4/mode/1up.
- Mukerji, Satya Chandra (1892). The Traveller's Guide to Agra. Sen & Co., Delhi. http://www.archive.org/stream/travellersguidet00mukerich#page/n7/mode/2up.
- Fanthome, Frederic (1895). Reminiscences of Agra. Thacker, Spink & Co.. http://www.archive.org/stream/reminiscencesag00fantgoog#page/n3/mode/1up.
- Latif, Muḥammad (1896). Agra, Historical & Descriptive. Calcutta Central Press. http://www.archive.org/stream/agrahistoricald00latgoog#page/n9/mode/1up.
- Keene, Henry George (1899, Sixth ed.). A Handbook for Visitors to Agra and Its Neighbourhood. Thacker, Spink & Co.. http://www.archive.org/stream/ahandbookforvis00keengoog#page/n8/mode/1up.
- Smith, Edmund W. (1901). Moghul Colour Decoration of Agra, Part I. Govt. Press, Allahabad. http://www.archive.org/stream/moghulcolourdec00smitgoog#page/n7/mode/1up.
- Havell, Ernest Binfield (1904). A Handbook to Agra and the Taj, Sikandra, Fatehpur-Sikri, and the Neighbourhood. Longmans, Green & Co., London. http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00artlinks/agra_havell/index.html.
- Agranama: The authentic book about the history of Agra by Mr. Satish Chandra Chaturvedi
[edit] External links
| Find more about Agra on Wikipedia's sister projects: | |
 | Definitions and translations from Wiktionary |
 | Images and media from Commons |
 | Learning resources from Wikiversity |
 | News stories from Wikinews |
 | Quotations from Wikiquote |
 | Source texts from Wikisource |
 | Textbooks from Wikibooks |
- Agra City portal
- Official website of Agra
- Agra travel guide from Wikitravel
- Agra at the Open Directory Project
- Agra News
- Taj Mahal Agra
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