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About Agra |
Agra travel info |
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Introduction:
Agra, the city of Taj was established in 1475 by Badal Singh. Agra finds mention in the Mahabharata as Agraban. Agra city in those days was considered to be the sister city of Mathura which was more prominent than Agraban. Agra came into its own when the Lodhi Kings chose this place beside the Yamuna to be their capital city. Sikander Lodhi made Agra his capital but Babar defeated the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also laid the foundation of the Mughal empire.
Today whatever remains, has become a major tourist attraction which has taken Agra again to the heights of glory but this time as a major tourist destination of India.
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Facts And Figures:
Area: 62 sq km
Altitude: 169 metres above sea level
Temperature: Summer-21.0 C-45.0 C
Winter--4.2 C-32.0C
Language: Urdu, English, Hindi
STD Code: 0562
Rainfal: l66 cm average yearly
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How Tow Reach:
Air :
Agra Airport is 7 km from the city center and 3 km from Idgah Bus Stand. All major airlines operate daily tourist shuttle flights to Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi and back. It only takes 40 minutes from Delhi to Agra.
Road :
Idgah Bus stand is the main bus stand in Agra, from where one can catch buses for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc. Buses for Mathura also leave from Agra Fort bus stand.
Rail :
Agra is connected throughout India by a well-organised rail-network and specially to New Delhi, Varanasi and cities of Rajasthan. The main railway station is the Agra Cantonment Station. As Agra lies on the main railway line between Delhi and Varanasi a number of trains pass through the city.
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History:
Agra is an old city and it derived its name from Agrabana, a forest which is mentioned in the epic Mahabharta. In recent times Agra came into prominence when Sikandar Lodi made it his capital city in 1501. The Lodi ended very soon and Agra passed into the possession of the Mughals. The Mughal emperors with their passion for building, endowed the city with some of the finest structures in the world. During the time of the third emperor Akbar Agra came into its own. He embarked on the construction of the massive Agra Fort in 1565. Agra continued to retain its importance and Shah Jehan, Akbar's grandson ornamented the city with that masterpiece of Mughal architecture -The Taj Mahal and built several other beautiful buildings within the Agra Fort.
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Best Season:
Best Season to visit Agra is in the month of September to March. It is preferable to wear cotton clothes in summer and light woollens in winter.
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Festivals:
▪ Taj Mahotsav
This cultural festival is held every year in the month of February in an open emporium in Shilpgram close to the Taj. It also brings traditional Indian music and dance on a single platform for the tourist to relish.
▪ Eid-ul-Fitr
Celebrated on the first day of the new moon in Shawwal, this festival marks the end of Ramzan, the ninth month of the Muslim year.
▪Eid-ul-Adha
Eid-ul-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice) is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for God. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Zul-Hijja, when the Haj celebrations at Mecca are rounded off by the sacrifice of goats or camels.
▪ Deepawali
It is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. A family festival, celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asvin.
▪ Muharram
Muharram is not a festival in the celebratory sense.
▪ Ram Barat
The marriage procession of Sri Ram, is held every year during Ramlila celebrations at Agra. Every year a new locale of the town is chosen as Janakpuri, which is elaborately decorated to perform the royal wedding.
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